Thing #23 Summarize Your Thoughts About This Program

I finished a little late, but I'm glad I stuck with it. This has been a very worthwhile professional development opportunity. Below are my responses to the follow-up questions.

1. By far, my favorite experience was Thing #21 - creating the podcast. I wasn't aware that I had the capability of creating a podcast from home. I plan to send online videos to my family far away as a way to keep in touch with each other.

2. This program has assisted me in numerous ways. Most important, I feel that I'm somewhat up to speed on these new technologies that seemed so impossible to learn. I want to take what I now have learned and pass it on to my family (husband, children, etc.) I hope I will still be able to access the Library 2 Play site later one.

3. Again, I'm very pleased with the amount of Web 2.0 skills that I learned and will be immediately able to incorporate into both my personal and professional life.

4. I'm unable to think of any suggestions to improve the program at this time. Perhaps it would have been neat to have completed the program with a group of people instead of alone. I know I kept bothering my husband to join me with several activities.

5. If you offer another program like this, please contact me. I would love to participate.

6. COOL!

THANKS LIBRARY 2 PLAY. I HAD FUN!

Thing #22 Nings

I chose to visit the Teacher Librarian Ning. I read some great suggestions to start the beginning of the school year. Other librarians were discussing how to introduce students to Web 2.0 technologies. I also think a Ning would be a great social and motivational tool for students. However, I think this is a good social networking site where librarians can collaborate and toss ideas around.

Thing #21 Podcasts and Audio Books

I had so much FUN creating this podcast! Amazingly, it wasn't that difficult. I'm so proud of myself.

Thing #20 YouTube, TeacherTube and Zamzar

WOW! Can you imagine the impact upon student achievement by utilizing such tools in the curriculum. Here's a video I found on TeacherTube that addresses one difficulty students encounter when writing: "Who are your students writing for? Who is the audience?" This is a great video to encourage the use of advance technologies into the curriculum.

Thing #19 Web 2.0 Awards

I saw many recognizable names that Library 2 Play has introduced me to this summer. After some consideration, I selected the Photos and Digital Images catergory. In first place was Flickr. Are you surprised? Flickr is a wonderful invention.

What makes this site special is the ability users have to share their photos with anyone, or everyone, in the world. The tagging feature is very practical for users, librarians as well, when searching for items for various projects. There are numerous uses librarians, teachers, students and others can enjoy from Flickr.

Thing #18 Online Productivity Tools

I know that I've said this before, but "I didn't know these tools existed." And their free! I have friends and coworkers who have not purchased wordprocessing, spreadsheet software due to the cost. I can't wait to pass this information on to them.

I chose to play around with Google Docs since I already have an account with Google (thanks to Library 2 Play). The features do not seem as extensive as Microsoft Word but you can't complain - remember it's free. I will have to explore more to uncover any disadvantages, but for the moment, Google Docs appears to be a great web tool, especially for those with tight budgets.

Thing #17 Rollyo

I've always wandered if there was a simple way to save some of my frequent searches other than bookmarking it. Now look what has come along, Rollyo! I think this is a fantastic timesaver.

Of course, I'm thinking that this will be a great electronic resource to aid students with their web searches. Finally, a way to avoid all those useless sites that take up too much of our valuable time. Below I have included a link to a searchrool I created titled "Reference Aids." I decided to create this searchroll to aid my children with their homework next year.

My "Reference Aids" searchroll: http://rollyo.com/michellemoore123/reference_aids/

Hope you like it!