Week 14: Playtime - Glogster

OK I read that some of you were playing around with something called glogster so since I had no idea what it was I thought that I would chose it for my new tool to learn, I will keep you posted on my learning curve!!

Can't believe it took less than 5 min. to get a quick grasp of this, the kids would love to play around with this, great for making title pages.
Take a look
http://agrannary.glogster.com/glog-7765/

Week 14: Changing Collections

Once again as with all new things there are those who are for it and those who shy away or are negative towards it. There are pros and cons to all things. J Esposito would have us think that we are to be swallowed up by this new technology, that it will overtake and ruin all that has been established, a bit of a fatalistic outlook. Willinsky on the other hand is totally supportive and all for the new thing taking its place in the academic world. After reading these articles I always turn to basic understanding that in the end there will always be good and bad, and what matters is how you deal with it that counts. I feel that anything that gives us the opportunity to open up knowledge and resources and increase access to perhaps previously unattainable resources is in the end a good thing as Willinsky quotes, "To do more to extend the circulation of knowledge, and to increase participation in a global exchange around that knowledge, than print has been able to achieve." Will it be an easy and smooth road to get there, probably not, but that is where the challenge lies. We use what we have available to us and we strive to continue to make it better. We use our professional judgement and make decisions accordingly, all in the interest of providing the best learning opportunities for our students.

Vision of the future: Final Presentation

Here is the link to my final presentation representing my views of the future library and in particular the vision for my library.
Enjoy
http://www.slideboom.com/presentations/154698/future-library

Vision of the Future

I have been working on my vision of the future project and I made up this wordle for the 21st century learner, it is based on the AASL standards, take a look. Gives us some insight into how and what we should be teaching. Next I am going to try a wordle on 21st Century libraries and see how they compare.

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/1863205/21st_century_learner

 


Here is the wordle representing the libraries of the future



http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/1863304/21_century_library

Week 13: Reflection on reading

I love this, "The worth of a learning management system ultimately is measure by the same yardstick as every other educational tool: student performance."
This is what it is all about, we use and try new tools to see how they effect learning. If we use them correctly and they have positive benefits then we continue to use them. Very simple. I feel that this pretty much sums up this course. We have learned so much about what we can use to ultimately improve our learning environments. We are all striving to provide the best opportunities for our students. The tools are there, we need to learn them, use them and monitor their effectiveness.
Waymack and Ross have not accumulated sufficient data to confirm the positives of LMS but they have been able to credit the LMS with improving learning environments, "the climate is better, the overall feeling of being engaged is better."
That's what we want, enthusiastic, motivated, and engaged students.

Week 13: My Thoughts

Just off the top of my head I think that on-line learning is great. It embraces the whole idea of making education accessible to all. It permits those who have time or distance constraints to continue to seek educational possibilities. It opens up the parameters of discussions making it possible to collaborate and discuss with colleagues or professionals that one would not have the opportunity to given a classroom situation. I know I always approach topics with the pros and cons, and given there are a few cons to consider, but in the long run I think that they do not measure up to all the enriching benefits that is offered through this method of learning and instruction. Now I will do the readings and comment later on what the professionals have to say!!

Week 12: Podcasting - Reflections

I learnt a lot this week presenting the topic and then leading and managing the discussions. I think that it is a great experience to oversee and direct the group discussions, it gets you really involved trying to push the thinking further, something that we always try to do with the students but it is different when dealing with adults. Some great ideas and additions were made to the subject. Thanks to all those who participated and shared their thoughts.