Digital Bookends

While the summer started slow and rainy, it’s ending much faster and with a bit more sun (although I’m loving the mild summer after the past few).  With all of this “lazy daze of summer” atmosphere, you’d think I’d be resting and relaxing, but it seems that I’ve managed to schedule several workshops for myself during these last few weeks just before school starts (what was I thinking??) 

Actually, I’m glad I did.  I’ve learned a lot (and I’ve started compiling even more ideas) after attending them.  Last Thursday, I went to the Library Sparks Road Show in Irving.  Toni Buzzeo, Pat Miller, and Rob Reid presented their program ideas for storytelling, music, and library programming for elementary students.  Aside from the entire Upstart /Highsmith (mini) catalog being marked down to unbelieveable prices (which eliminated much of that “heavy change”  from my wallet—and credit card), the resource ideas and suggestions really sparked some creative energy.

Toni shared some resources (and philosophies) for storytelling, Rob shared musical materials and contacts for purchasing some of the unique content that is so often hard to find, and Pat shared some interesting ideas for teaching library content while keeping students engaged in assignments related to the TEKS.  With more to carry home that I intended (and additional materials purchased once I got home….to start creating some of the unique storytelling props), I’m starting to panic that I won’t have enough time to get everything done before school starts for teachers on August 16th!

Tomorrow I’m attending the Suzy Red workshop at Region XI and hope to learn more ideas for sharing books with elementary and middle school students.  I have several of her material already, but it’s always fun to see what’s new and how I can use the state reading book lists in more ways than just a booktalk.

Finally, I have a few additional projects left to complete which will require some investigation, writing, and research.  I know that by the end of August I will be kicking myself for not enjoying the summer more, but the reality is I hate “down-time” that lasts too long.  I’m usually ready to go back to school after two weeks of any type of vacation, so I guess that makes me a work-aholic.  In the meantime, I guess I’ll follow through on my workshops and complete these project ideas to use this year.  There’s only three weeks before school starts…and then the fun really begins!!

I realized yesterday that I have less than a month before school starts (at least for the teachers), so I am “on a mission” to locate resources that might be useful during the next school year.  Among some of the really cool things that I’ve found are:

 Gliffy: A free online program that allows you to create diagrams, flowcharts, and floorplans online.  This is a great alternative to Inspiration software.

Bubbl.us :  A free online tool to allow you to “brainstorm” with others by creating “bubbles” (that represent ideas).  The brainstorming session can then be emailed to others, posted on a webpage or printed.  Imagine how you can use this with students as you instruct ways to determine what keywords might be used with a database.

Interactive Periodic Table of Elements: What a way to get your science teachers (and their students) excited about using the Periodic Table of Elements.  This interactive table allows users to click on each element square which opens another webpage to Wikipedia’s definition of the element and examples.  Another, more artistically appealing version is the Visual Elements Periodic Table which includes photos, as well as interactive components.

ThinkFree : A completely free “online alternative to Microsoft Office”, ThinkFree lets you create, collaborate on and store documents and files.

Google Docs and Spreadsheets:  A combination of Google’s great features such as Gmail, Talk, Docs & Spreadsheets and Google Calendar in one place for immediate access from any computer. The service comes complete with a “custom domain” on which your documents, mail and conversations are stored.

Zoho: Includes Writer, Spreadsheet, Show, Wiki, Virtual Office, Project management, planner and chat feature. This program offers several options for teachers and librarians —working together??

Backpack: Backpack is loaded with useful organizational tools. Keep your pages private or share them, schedule text message and email alerts and enjoy regular online-office services such as a calendar and to-do lists. 

These are only a few of the long list of new resources that I’ve discovered.  I’m looking for additional links of how others are using these tools in educational settings.  There are SO many interesting things to use—-now, can librarians have access to them or will they be blocked in most districts?  How can we teach students ways to work in a 2.0 world when we are only given access to early 20th century resources (printed books, magazines, films, audio recordings, etc.)? 

More to come….

Living vicariously through others, I’ve visited blogs describing the recent conferences (NECC and ALA) and the presentations at each.  (Next year’s NECC conference will be in San Antonio…and I’ll definitely be there!  Here’s more…. )  But this year’s NECC presentations brought me to an interesting instructional concept and wiki entitled Flat Classroom Project.

Based upon the concepts behind Thomas Friedman’s book “The World is Flat,” the project brought two classes (which were literally a world apart)  together as they examined the technologies that make the world a much smaller place.  The students involved in the project examined how technology has changed the world and how productivity can be increased through the use of such technologies.  (The “Flat Classroom” blog by Julie Lindsay is posted here.)

As I read through the wiki and the blogs dealing with this concept, I am reminded that I am also being introduced to new ideas that were once never even considered by school librarians.  The teachers involved in this project were technology instructors with a definite interest in the use of these new types of interactive technologies, but how could librarians incorporate these ideas into their libraries?  How can we create Flat Libraries….have we already created Flat Libraries without realizing it? 

Okay, it’s the summer…and things happen.  Things like unexpected visitors camping at your home for weeks….or library conferences…or unending rain….it all combines to make blog writing less important (or at least unable to be remembered during the waking moments when a thought might be considered important to note).

 Regardless, I am certainly guilty of “blog neglect”…although I have a thousand ideas, resources, links, and questions to ponder, I have neglected to compile my thoughts here as I should.  I plan to become much better at this as I continue developing my writing skills (which most bloggers are convinced they acquire as they continue writing on forums like this.)

Although it is late, I do plan to get back to my regular schedule this week and continue blogging the topics that I have allowed to run wild in my head over the past few weeks.  Things like:

 *  flat classroom projects

*  2.0 applications and mashups

* assessments in library instruction / programs

….and so much more. 

 Stay tuned for new links and thoughts.  I have them all saved…somewhere….safely…to share with you.