Thing #18 Google Docs or Open Office?

Google, google, google! Have I made my preference clear enough? When it comes to working on documents, forms, and spreadsheets, Google Docs is very user friendly. I am probably a bit biased due to the fact that I am very comfortable with using other Google programs. However, I was first introduced to Google Doc by my husband who began using it this year. He showed me how he was able to create a spreadsheet that was easy to format and use. He loved the fact that he could create the spreadsheet and then send a form to co-workers. The form asked for specific data from the coworkers and this information was sent from the form to the spreadsheet to update his records. He was able to keep up with dates to ensure everyone from his team was current on a particular mandatory training. He could have also set up the spreadsheet to be shared by all. However, by creating the form, this allows only one person to manage the spreadsheet, which creates less confusion and error. In a way this feature reminds me of the Wiki. Instead of using e-mails that can get disorganized, Web 2.0 makes sharing so much easier. Collaboration has never been so simple! By using a document, spreadsheet or form that you can share with others, you are able to plan and organize most anything with little to no fuss. Another thing I loved about Google Docs is having free access to a large amount of templates. They had all types of forms from budgets to to-do lists.

I did check out the Open Office but I was somewhat discouraged by the fact that you have to download the program. I already have so many programs on my computer that I would rather not download another one. I did read the information provided in the site about the Open Office program and I can see that it would be another program that could be just as useful as Google Docs. I think it really just depends on what you are comfortable using. They both create similar products and have similar features.

Thing #17 Rollyo Over, It's the Search Engine Express

Rollyo just makes sense. With all the search engines on the web today and the massive amounts of information to sift through, doesn't it just make sense to have one place to search? I really can see how useful this can be in a classroom, especially in the intermediate grade levels. It would be helpful to have the students access only the tried and true web sites or search engines that the teacher or librarian can trust. The only thing I wish I could figure out is why I was only able to pull up the sites based on a key word or two. Is it possible to just click on the site itself in your searchroll and go straight to the site without choosing a word first? For example, I have blogs in my first searchroll. I do not want to search a key word(s) to get to the site, I want to go straight to the site from my roll to check the current day's blog. Is this possible? If it is, I haven't quite figured it out yet. I did set up my searchroll under Library Queen. I know that I will need to tweak it in the next few weeks. The teachertube video created by Bruce Goodner was very helpful at providing the fundamental knowledge for setting up Rollyo.

Thing # 16: To Wiki or not to Wiki

What a great idea! I am constantly amazed at all the terrific tools and apps out there that I was totally unaware of before 23 Things entered my life. For most classes and all libraries, this would be a perfect way to coordinate ideas for students and possibly for parents. I think that for me, it would be hard to use it now for my students because they are at a different level in regards to technology usage. However, I am considering setting up a Wiki to use with my parents of my students. I liked another posting I read from a student's blog mentioning posting on a Wiki information about supplies. I could use a Wiki to post information to all of my student's parents about parent conferences and trainings, supply lists, school menus, calendar information, etc. Thanks to Lee Lefever from the Common Craft videos for his helpful Wikis in Plain English video I was able to find several Wiki sites to use when I am ready. I will probably use either PB Wiki or Wikispaces for Educators to set up my classroom Wiki. Thanks again 23 Things for providing such great ideas that can be used both in my current situation with my classroom and in my future career as a librarian.

Thing # 15 Library 2.0

In the short time that I have attended my Library Science classes I have already discovered that the library I grew up with will soon be obsolete. The future holds a new opportunity for virtual libraries. Patrons will have a collaborative role in the development of the library and what it contains. They will be able to create, edit, or at the least participate in book talks, wiki pages, web pages, and discussion groups. Information will no longer be print content but electronic. In the article "Service for the Next-Generation Library"
by Michael E. Casey and Laura C. Savastinuk found in the Library Journal from 9/1/2006, the authors write about how the tide is changing in the libraries of the 21st century. As a future librarian I need to be in tune with these changing tides and accepting of the new virtual environment. Rick Anderson also writes about this change in his featured article titled "Away from the Icebergs". He writes about the "icebergs" that can cause problems for our future growth in libraries. We need to be prepared to teach students how to search and organize the information that they access on the web. Gone are the days of a print rich collection, now we need to embrace the access of information through other outlets such as Flickr and Google Reader. Our students will be able to pull up journals, books, web pages and other digital collections on the computer.Will the patrons always seek out the library? According to Rick Anderson the library needs to bring it's services to the patrons not the other way around.

Thing #14: Technorati

I am sorry to say that I was not at all impressed with Technorati. After watching the video clip and listening to the management team and developers of Technorati speak about their vision, I was very interested and willing to dig in and get started. I especially enjoyed listening to Liz Dunn, Product Manager for Technorati, speak on how information is shared between real people instead of paid critics and writers. She shared her real life experience on reading blogs to find a consumer of a particular band's concert venue. She wanted to make sure that the concert would be worth the money of a ticket. Music critics will not necessarily lead you in the right direction, but real life consumers can give you first hand knowledge. So, needless to say after reading and listening to information shared regarding Technorati, I was excited about the possibilities. Then I tried it for myself and was disappointed with what I found.
First of all, I could not complete the activity because the popular blog searches and tags page was unavailable. I then began to search for the keywords "School Library Learning 2.0" using Blog posts, Blog directory, and Tags and found nothing. I also tried the Technorati widgets and it was also unavailable. So, though in theory the idea of being able to search for bloggers all in one site sounds great, I think I will stick with my tried and true Google Reader. I have enjoyed organizing my Google Reader with all my favorite blogs and love the idea of deleting and adding to this group whenever I like.
While learning about de.licio.us and Flickr and Diigo and other similar sites, I have realized the importance of such tools for organizing your interests and putting everything in one place to manage effectively. I do love that information is easily accessible and shared by those that are actually, readers, consumers, and professionals just like me. When I want to find out information I can look to these sources, not the paid advertisement.

Thing # 13: Tag Your It!

Delicious or Diigo, that became the question of the hour. And the winner is Diigo for me. I did follow the discovery exercise guidelines and played on Delicious for a while. I even set up an account. However, in this exercise we are also asked to check out other social bookmarking sites as well. I have to say that by far, for me, Diigo was much more user friendly. I like the way the site is organized; crisp, clean and again, easy to use. I was able to find several groups and tags that are helpful to me within the first few minutes of searching. At this stage in my life, I need easy and manageable. Balancing home life, teaching, and school work means I need search engines, tools, sites that speak to me. Diigo not only spoke to me, I think it was singing my song. I liked it so much I decided to share and send out invitations to several class members to share this bookmarking site with them.
I can definitely see the potential for bookmarking and in Diigo you can share your ideas with others in your social networking community. I tagged subjects that are dear to my heart, Special Education, Autism, Education, etc. Hopefully in time, others will enjoy what I find and I will search for articles and sites that others have shared with me.
You can also set up a blog page in Diigo, which is another feature I liked. Now that I know how to blog, I find it fun and another great way to share ideas.
One of the best features of Diigo is that it allows you to highlight text and use sticky notes.
I think that both libraries and classrooms could benefit from using bookmarking. If I was looking for specific resources I could look under a tag and find what I need quickly and readily. As so many of the sites and tools we have studied in the 23 Things, bookmarking helps to organize what you use for personal use or professional use.

Thing #12: Creating a Community

Blogging can be a great way to establish a community of people that share ideals, thoughts, or views similar to your own. I know that as I continue to blog and learn more about blogging I will keep in mind the importance of repecting others in the blogging community. Sometimes it is hard to bare your heart and soul and lay it all out for someone to read. I will always try to consider this when responding and commenting to others blogs. I feel that respect is the number one rule in blogging. Also, it is important to remember that everyone has something important to share. Similar to a yard sale, one person's "junk" may be another person's treasure. I need to consider this as I share my tidbits of information. Something I write could actually be helpful and shed insight for someone. Never sell yourself short.

I have enjoyed beginning to read other's blogs and enter this community of blogosphere. I think my favorite two blogs so far are Cool Cat's blog by Vicki Davis and the Blue Skunk blog by Doug Johnson. Already I have used information from both of their blogs to help me learn about many different subjects. Some topics for blog posts that have been shared have actually helped me in my posts on discussion questions. They seem to have a plethora of useful information to share.