My Space

It was interesting to see My Space. I actually thought it would be sort of like a yearbook with pictures and some information and then if you were invited, you would go into an account and see more. Imagine my surprise!!

I can see why some large libraries would utilize this because so many young people spend so much time on these sites. I most likely will never again venture onto one of these sites. I don't think I would use this in my library. But I am glad to be experiencing so many of these sites that I have heard about, and so many that I had never heard of. It is good to be at least a little up on what is going on. I suppose in no time, this will be a drop in the bucket to what else is out there.

I do see pictures, words, etc. that I think are inappropriate and feel bad to see that it is considered "normal" by many people.

I likes some of the reviews I read about books. And spent some time on the Hennepin County Library My Space page.

Podcasts

I really enjoyed using the podcast links and listening to a variety of information. Although each was a little different, all were easy to use. I liked the ease of finding categories of interest to listen to. Some of the subjects were not what I was expecting to hear. I recently purchased a iPod for the main purpose of listening to podcasts and this has really helped me in finding lots of interesting things to listen to. I find interesting things to listen to but don't want to sit at the computer to listen to them, these directories give me lots to choose from.

You Tube

I posted my You Tube video before I saw it as one of the links in our assignment. Darn! But it was still one of my favorites, along with the young man and the creativity found in reading his WWI book. I had a lot of fun looking at these. I have looked at You Tube some but not about libraries so it was a new experience.

I think that I could use it as an advertizement with older students in my elementary school, but otherwise it most likely wouldn't be suited to an elementary school. It would be fun to shoot video such as the library tour and post, or give assignments to students and post those. Although You Tube is blocked (and rightfully so) that may make it difficult to do much with.

I think the site a lot of fun, and can be valuable. Sorry, I didn't recognize a local librarian!

You Tube Video -Blonde at the Library

#17 ELM Productivity Tools

There is a lot to do and to learn on this assignment. Ninety minutes later, I feel as though I have just made a dent in investigating the material that is available. I often get frustrated with the amount of time I seem to spend on many of the assignments.

I use the Gale Learning Databases often at my elementary school. Usually the infobits areas and the online encyclopedias get the most use. We seem to be finding more objectionable sites on the internet while using search engines lately and are leaning towards using these areas more. THere is so much available here. I particularly like the folder available for making assignments in EBSCO, and I want to explore this more and use it with classes. I just wish that I had the time at school to explore the many areas available. I hear so many teachers say the same thing about technology and using it in their classrooms and here I am doing the same!

The one hindrance that I see for most of us media specialists is that we are one person in charge of so many areas that our time is so limited. In my 8 years of being in this job, I see my position continuing to get added responsibilities with no extra time or help. I think it is a sign of the schools economic difficulties and it probably isn't going to improve. We just keep doing our best.

Thanks for the assistance through 23 things on a stick...I can learn about so many new things, and for the wonderful resources that ELM offers to the school community!

#16 RPC and Assignment Calculator

I thought the Research Project Calculator was an awesome tool for students. I liked the suggestions and things to consider and the ability to have prompts e-mailed to yourself as a reminder.

Being in an elementary school library I am unsure of how much help this would be except possibly with the 5th or 6th grade on occassion.

I was unable to get on the assignment calculator, the web site must have been down but will look at that later.

#15 Second Life

I looked at the video and I can see that this sort of thing would be of interest to young people, but there isn't any interest for me. I could certainly see the value of libraries having information on something like this and also having research of some sort available there. Young people who grow up using the internet would be very apt to use that.