Mexican Folk Dancing

Another Animoto example using Flickr Creative Commons photos of various folk dancing scenes from Mexico.

Tour of Paris

A series of photos of Paris from Flickr Creative Commons for demonstration purposes to show the fun behind creating an Animoto example.

Embedding A Video into a Blog Post

I did this in helping someone else learn how to put a video from Teacher Tube (and YouTube ) into a blog post so they could write about it.

I will come back and give more directions ...soon!

In the meantime...if you need to show the modern 7 Wonders of the World, enjoy!

Adding a PhotoStory to Your Blog

I created these screen shots to help some Library2Play 23 Things bloggers upload PhotoStory samples for Thing 21 about podcasts. I need to remember the steps myself and so now I can...and can also be reminded to be patient because it does take awhile for the file to upload!

SBISD folks are reminded that PhotoStory3 is already loaded on your new laptops.

this is a test load of a PhotoStory

Literary Elements Analysis Animoto

Used to stimulate conversation, discussion about literary elements. Could be arranged to talk about the elements in general or those tied to a particular piece title, or even genre. This was used in a 9th English class as a review generator.

Texas: An Introductory Animoto

Created by Librarian to introduce state symbols to bilingual elementary students. Images came from Facts on File and Britannica Online.

Bill of Rights Animoto

Tied to 8th grade TAKS Objective 4, TEK 8.20 B. Images came from Flickr Creative Commons.

Do the Bird Walk? Animoto

Teacher-made showing various types of bird feet for the 2nd grade bird unit. The images came from Flickr Creative Commons

A World Geography / Current Events Animoto

A high school teacher created this to use in a discussion about the country of Tibet and the Olympic protests that were held regarding its status with China.

Students could create one as a product on the their research of a country or a state. They could include visuals representing the location or news surrounding it.

Another Science Animoto Example - Magnets

Use this in a class introduction to magnets and magnetism.
This was used as a TEASe (Technology Enhanced Anticipatory Set) in an 8th grade science class.

An Animoto could be created to show the process of an experiment as well. Students could use it as part of their end product.

Simple Machines: A Science Animoto

A basic science concept. Used as an introduction in an 8th grade class. Real-world connections.

Fractions Animoto

Example of a math idea. Pictures taken from Microsoft Clipart.

Animoto Issues: a Health Fitness Sample

Have been having issues with Animoto on my possessed computers (yes, I have 2, well, actually 3) and I have had terrible trouble getting Animotos to play. I need to be able to demo this Animoto first thing in the morning so I'm trying this as a way of being able to see it! It is for a Health Fitness group teachers to see what a self-made video can be used for! It represents healthy habits! Can you list all the habits?

Texas Library Conference

If you would like to see what I am learning at the TLA conference in Dallas this week, hop on over to A Library By Any Other Name starting Tuesday, April 15th (hope you have your taxes done!) Not sure how often I will be able to do "live" blogging, but I will try to blog about many of the things I see and the speakers I hear.

Dancing a Little Jig...

...over the new educator features for Animoto!

Check out all the information and how to obtain a passcode.

Virtual Photos in Flickr

As a part of the 23 Things, we all have visited Flickr to see all kinds of photos...educational and personal interests.

Go here to see some information for virtual photos in Flickr, i.e. photos of Jokaydia Island in Second Life. If you are at school, you can see the flickr collection, but not the gallery views on the island...blocked in district.

Use the tag jokaydiaphotocomp08 to see what's been posted. Look for the one with the butterfly overlay...can't post it here...rights reserved! And one of the the upper portion of the lighthouse...you feel like you are flying!

Thing #23 Summing Up! Is That All There Is?

When I started this task, it looked daunting. I wasn't sure I would reach the end. I feared I would get hung up on Things I couldn't do or understand. The finish line looked far away and uphill all the way!

x

And I was not a huge fan of online learning...don't have much experience in learning thru online resources. I knew I would miss the face-o-face interactions with my fellow students.

x

But I knew that was one of the major objects for me...learning by doing...by reading the directions...the FAQs...the help pages...reviewing the samples. One reason is because that is the way things come now...there are no more manuals...and more importantly, there is SO much stuff out there now that NO one can be the "expert", i.e. the teacher, of everything I need to know how to do.

What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

All the fun sign generators! Google Reader, Google alerts, Google docs.

How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?

letting me know I can do these things...that I can figure this stuff out on my own. Makes me want to find other fun things!

Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?

How much I enjoyed it all...even the podcast!

It was very interesting to see the different reactions from all the different players and how we viewed the value of different things! nothing was consistent...thought that was very interesting...different strokes for different folks.

What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?

Nothing really...but I will join the consensus that is building for splitting a new group of Things into 2 smaller groups. I wish there was a way to get more Players to comment to each other...that is a critical component to social networking! Hopefully, folks will be more comfortable with the concept and do it more often in the future as they read and use blogs, etc. that they have discovered.

If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate?

AB-SEW-LUTE-LEE! Where do I sign up!

How would you describe your learning experience in ONE WORD or in ONE SENTENCE, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things learning activities?
One word: Fun!

One sentence: Life-long learning & social networking experiences all wrapped up in fun!

(yes, grammar teachers...not a sentence-- but sums up my thoughts any way)

I am looking forward to following the adventures of other Players now without the pressure of thinking I need to be working on my own assignments! I hope many of the Players who have seemed to embrace blogging will keep their blogs active and continue to share their thoughts and ideas on things that would benefit us all.

I think it is pretty appropriate that I finished this up on March 17th cuz I can tell you..I am jumping for joy and dancing a jig! I would have had fireworks going off in this blog...but they are banned in the city. I'll save my civil disobedience for more important things!

Hope I see you around the virtual learning pool!

Take care,

Froggy Wart

Thing #22 Nings

I have been using TeacherLibrarianNing for sometime now...looking at topics, seeing what's on people's minds, looking up members for various reasons...went ahead and made it formal and joined. Also joined the Texas School Librarian group tonight as well...I was a little behind the times and really did not realize this group existed or maybe I did and got it confused (easy to do in my mind lately) with the other one! I do want to support the efforts of the state group so one more sign-up...easy to do tho'!

I can't say that I have really used these resources...simply because I have a network...physically and virtually. As is well known, my circle is "tight"...we meet regularly, we communicate regularly, we collaborate regularly, we have forward-thinking/future thinking leadership, and we "argue" just enough to be a professional family!

I have built up a comfortable group of on-line experts that I look to for advice and counsel...albeit one-way mostly, ideas and information. It is amazing to me how easy it is to get anything straight from the horse's mouth these days!

But I will check in with the nings and will try to do so more regularly now.

Another thing I joined recently is not really a ning...more of a directory--The Edubloggers International Directory, but I find it fascinating because it is global. I have accessed the award-winning edublog lists for several years and now I can check out even more edubloggers through a new directory. If you have a few minutes, you might want to take a virtual world tour of people who are doing what we are doing!

See ya,

Froggy Wart

Thing #21 Podcasting...Can I Cast Someone Else?

I have been dreading this Thing since this whole L2P came together last semester! No, not the program, not even the material to include...it is a voice thing...my voice! I was thinking I would rope one of my kids into helping their ol' mom. Didn't happen...gee, they have lives of their own.

Podcasts (or picture-filled vidcasts) are all over the internet... I follow a book review site Just One More Book that is nothing but podcast reviews and interviews. Cool Cat Teacher includes an audio copy of her posts, but she must use a format that my computer doesn't recognize because I can't play them. There are hundreds of educational podcasts at the I-tunes store. The EPN (Education Podcast Network) brings together many sources of podcasts and arranges them buy curriculum or purpose. Many publishers include them as promotional materials for new books. Even the traditional communication tool NPR now has a podcast directory of many of its broadcasts.

Ok, a little bit of background about my podcast below. I used Photostory since I could not find a free host for an audio-only sample. The visuals you will recognize. I planned the order, wrote my scripting so I would not loose my place, unplugged my phone (no interruptions!), plugged in my headphones, took a big, deep breathe, and plunged in...and heard n-o-t-h-i-n-g. Messed around with the sound settings on my computer although all seemed right and tried it again...nothing, nada, zip, zero. Unplugged the headphones, turned up my personal volume a bit... and thank goodness, SOUND! All was good during the preview until I came to the picture where the sound ended about 30 seconds before the picture did...had about 3 of those to adjust. Whew!

Not the greatest sample I have ever produced. If I had had about 2-3 more hours and a bigger bottle of asprin (for my headache) and cotton balls for my ears so I would not have to hear it over & over & over (hey, forget the asprin, give me Pepto Bismol), I might have cleaned it up a little better.

It did scare me when it took almost as long to upload as Open Office took to download...Walked away for a bit and kept one eye on it in case the computer "blew up" from the attempt. All is well.

I will listen to podcasts. I will use podcasts as teaching tools. I will use PhotoStory to make teaching/learning tools..................................I ... will ... make ... more ... podcasts, but will line up voice sources!

Bye-bye for now!
FW

Hearing Game...of sorts?

Want to see if you can hear those funky ringtones the kids are using on their cellphones?

Check out this test (and info.)

Thing #20 "Tube"ing the Info..."shZAMZAR!"

I have been using YouTube and to a lesser extent TeacherTube seems like FOREVER...and probably in 2.0 terms it has pretty much been that long! Not sure where I would place the "tubes" on my scale of greatest thing since sliced bread, but it would be close to the top...guess you could say it is all a part of the broader resource videostreaming. Which IS very close to the top.
YES...I know videostreaming can be a pain inside our district, but the "concept" is fantastic and the experience will become that once again when the district gets all its little ducks in a row...

And YES, YouTube is blocked...mostly because there are blockheads out there that upload junk that wouldn't be good for schools to have popping up. But as much as I want things open...it really doesn't concern me too much at this point about YouTube...
#1 because educators have now discovered TeacherTube and are uploading much of their material there instead of the broader based YouTube.
#2 the little handy-dandy little gem of a tool called ZamZar that will take your YouTube video and convert it to something that will play in the district.


As with many things technology, I worked around the YouTube issue with a conversion program that required a player. Worked pretty well, once you got all the pieces in the right place, but then my colleague LP found this nifty little conversion program that converts a YouTube video into a format that will use a video player that already exits on your computer.

You submit the video to the site, they convert it and email you the results! It is so simple...YES it still has to be done at home because you initially have to access the video from YouTube. And that's a good thing. Means that you have to preview the material before using it!

It's free...you do not need to register unless you want some special additions. You do have to claim your conversion withing 24 hours of its arrival in you email. And the conversion can come fairly quickly...I have gotten mine from a few minutes to a couple of hours later. They were relatively short videos.

They have extended their conversion services beyond just YouTube. From the ZamZar blog site, they list the following video sources that they can convert:
Youtube
Google Video
Myspace
Revver
PutFile
Break.com
Apple Trailers
Dailymotion
Metacafe
IFilm
Grouper
Blip.tv
Just copy the link from the video site and paste it into the "Add URL" box on our URL file conversion page

So I hope blocked video sites and the ease of conversion will give you more freedom in using these useful tools and resources in your lessons, for you patrons, and for fun...when appropriate!

For the purpose of this Thing, I selected this video that Cool Cat Teacher Vicki Davis created and uploaded to TeacherTube.

If you STILL need to be convinced about 21st learning & teaching and the NEED for technology to be a apart of this change, maybe her message will help you. It's pretty simple & straightforward to me. But I have to admit...my cheese has been moved. I do still worry about the guppies in my pond!

Not much left now...will touch base with you again soon!

Froggy

Thing #19 2.0 Winners, What Fun!

I really took advantage of the directions on this one and looked at SWOmoz choices for award-winning tools that interested me.
I didn't necessarily think about finding things what would be "useful"....I just played!

But as with many things fun (and potato chips), I couldn't stop with just one. So here are the ones that bubbled to the top for me.

I love cute little widgets (almost as much as image generators) so I went looking at that category. And found a source called SpringWidgets. I added one to my other blog counting down the days until TLA conference, but don't bother looking at it in district. Same song, forgotten what verse...it's blocked! I clicked on the Widget Gallery and selected the one called Countdown to Summer...but what is cool is you can change the text to say what you what the countdown to be about...it is "posted" on a little yellow sticky note complete with push pins! I added a couple pf widgets from the "currently popular" on the home page...take a look towards the bottom of the side bar if you have a "light bulb moment" or need a "fortune." Treat yourself at home...of course!

Another award choice for me is Guess-the-google. TH first brought this fun little guessing game to my attention so I was glad to find it on the award list, play it some more, and get to write about it a bit. From the web site:

Guess-the-google reverses this process by picking
the keywords for you, the player must then guess what keyword made up the image - it's surprisingly addictive.

BTW...I do see some educational value in this particular little game...vocabulary building, drawing conclusions...ok, you can think up the reasons for using. I just want to play!

CAUTION: This fun little game is out on the WWW. That means it is available to anyone and everyone. The game is NOT the problem...some of the players are. Especially if they are high scorers. Their inappropriate screen names will appear to the right of the game screen...you can click into the game to get rid of the list. Do try the game for the game's sake and if you think it is useful in class, work you magic for figuring a workaround to the list of names should it hold some less than appropriate examples. I WISH there was a way to close that part...I wish the creator would realize his game would get more "press" if that element wasn't so in-your-face so to speak.

Update late Thursday night...the list of high scorers looks better than it did yesterday!

O, yes...it also takes Flash 8 to work, but that can be downloaded from the site should you need it.

When I found DonorsChoose.org on the awards list, it triggered something I had participated in earlier this year. I have a friend who applied for some financial assistance through this organization and was able to get some resources for her class...materials that had long-ago gone out of date and the school/district was not able to replace with updated versions. So she wrote the "grant" and after about 6 weeks, she was awarded her money, purchased her materials, received a digital camera to record the learning and has been busy sharing her "wealth" with her students. She will turn in a results report later this year.

As a contributor, it was easy for me. I wrote a check, but donations can be made online...partial or full. You can see a complete breakdown of the proposed expenses and how the request is to be used. I did a search for projects for here in Houston...there are pages and pages ranging from batches of spiral notebooks to a copier/printer!

Maybe this the way to go for something you need?
x

Can't wait to see the new list of web winners when it comes out in May!

Hopping towards the finish line...good night!

Froggy Wart

Thing #18 Open Sesame Open Sources

Some more tools for that ever-expanding toolbox.

Been using Google Docs, particularly the spreadsheet, for the last few months. For several reasons...

1. it's a Thing!

2. Spreadsheets, any spreadsheets are my nemesis, my Achilles' heel or any other negative term you can come up with. I just have so much trouble with them. I FORCE myself to use them to try and "get-over-it." I think I can finally say I can use them with text fairly well. Formulas..nope! Calculator for me!

3. Collaboration/sharing. Needed to share some information that could be manipulated or changed.

Like the fact that I have a place to park things on something other than my computer. Yes, thru the district I have some storage places, but it's limited for a variety reasons and by putting things in Google Docs, I can get to it when I need to, no matter where I am. And frankly, district storage makes me nervous...there are so many variables.

Downloaded and set-up Open Office. Took awhile. Felt like I was back in my days of dial-up waiting for my genealogy documents to open! Anyway, I know I will use it (despite the fact I have a perfectly good set of MS Office tools on both my home and office computers.) I know the district has been tossing the idea around of going with an open source resource so I want to be up on the idea if and when it comes.

It will not be easy for me. I am SUCH a creature of habit. I will use older versions of things just because I know how and don't need to change to do what I need to do. But I have come to the realization over the last few years that change or adaptation is necessary...need to keep moving to keep up. So I will tackle the various parts of Open Office "soon." I will find a project and force myself to get through it and come out on the other side. If you don't understand what I mean, go back and read my first posting about my first wiki development. Arrrggghh!!!

The Draw portion has appeal for me. I used Appleworks/ClarisWorks Draw for almost everything I did for several years "way long time ago." Never got over not having it when I made the move to MS products..UNTIL I let PowerPoint become my work surface. I use PPT for probably 90% of any product...be it graphic/photo manipulation to training materials. Hummm, maybe that's 95%. So it will be interesting to see how Open Office Draw factors into my methods...but the buttons looked so intimidating...SOOOOO many of them!

It will be good to have knowledge of something that more people could access and not have the software themselves. Again with the sharing and collaboration issues mentioned above. And I will try very hard to accept and use the presentation system, but o, my PPT...it's like that one old worn out pair of comfy shoes that are STILL in my closet...

But I will try, I really will try! I promise!

More later,
Froggy Wart

Thing #15 2.0 The Future is Us

Been doing the "library thing" for a long time and can't tell you how exciting it is to be immersed in this whole 2.0 version of "life in the library." Yes, with it comes the need to change...and I have handled it better than I ever thought because it has been so exciting.
And F-U-N!

One of the hardest things for me to accept was that in the 2.0 world I can NOT know all there is to know. I do have a responsibility to be familiar with as many things as I can so I can assist people within my circle of influence who want to use or experience something 2.0. AND I have to be ahead of the curve as well...I have to be the experimenter, the tester, the pioneer as much as I can.

There is so much choice in the 2.0 world. I have to be flexible and guide those who seek my assistance in the direction that best fits their needs. I can't make them do it the "old" way just because I'm more familiar (or comfortable) with that way. The user should determine the format, not be locked into a more traditional method.

But users have a responsibility as well. No one will know everything so everyone will have to learn parts on their own. That is one reason this 23 Things is so important to me. I have had to discover how some things work on my own with only the directions, FAQs, and samples. Even the teachers I support have to become users to a certain extent and must take on some responsibility to familiarize themselves with the 2.0 tools their students may want to use, simply because I can no longer "know it all." Teachers and librarians are going to have to be partners in this endeavour even more than in the past. None of us will be able to handle it alone.

The statements brought out in the video must be a wake up call that students are going to use the technology...with or without us! We need to rethink policies that keep them away from the very tools they find most useful and we need to provide the information as freely as possible to as many points of access as we can on a 24/7 timeline. And we need to understand they don't do these things in isolation...group dynamics is all a part of the learning process...no learning in isolation any longer.

And just a short statement about books because they are a part of this 2.0 picture as well. In my opinion, books will not disappear. The types of books we purchase for our libraries will change. We don't need the big, heavy, expensive research volumes...that info is available on line in much more appealing format...multiple users, printouts or emailed copies of only what is needed. Audio books, whether in a mp3 or "Kindle" format, are still "books." And yes, the beautifully illustrated picture books, the graphic novels, and the throw-away pocket book novels for a visit to the beach will still be around.

I think I said it before...choice. In many formats for many reasons. That's my view of 2.0. For now. Watch out, it will change!

Whew, Have finally caught up!

Froggy Wart

Thing #17 Playing Around in the Sandbox

I did go to the L2P Wiki Sandbox and made a few comments. I have been in other wikis as contributor so I am comfortable with the wiki experience.

What I did realize is, I have to jump back and pick up Thing #15...just leaped right over it, but don't want to neglect it. But that will have to come later.

Gotta walk the dog and then jump into bed!

FG

Thing #16: It's Been a Wiki of a Month

Ok, am updating my original thoughts about my wiki experience so that I can move onto other Things!

I did get two wikis created for two assignments I was given. The first one was an excruciating painful experience as are most of my maiden voyages into something new technology-wise. The second one was a much more positive experience...mainly because I controlled all of the variables this go-round.

I have to remember to work with the software and not try to make the software work with my pre-conceived notions. Once I remembered that, the second attempt went much faster and smoother.

I am fully committed to using wikis for other things now. I like the PBWiki format so probably will stay with it when I can. Again, that is something I have had to learn about 2.0 web tools...there are many that will do virtually the same thing. Find one or two, learn to use them and don't worry too much about all the other similar ones...personal choice should play into it.

I have reviewed many of the wikis included in the assignment over the last year. At first I was not too impressed because I saw many incomplete, messy-looking, or "dead" wikis...when I finally realized that many wikis are simply workspaces for team collaboration and that final "products" are probably elsewhere, it made sense.

The major purpose of wikis is the collaboration piece and I have participated in a few...most to just add an idea or thought and one to add multiple resources as I come across them.

I do plan to use the wiki format soon, but not for a collaboration in the normal sense. Because our district's source for webpages is changing and the current choice is not very easy to work with, I have decided to make a framework withing the district's software and add the bulk of my materials, resources, and notes to a wiki. It will be much easier for me to update and change to meet my needs...and I have the option of making it collaborative later!

So, ok, you can call me a wiki fan now...albeit on my own terms (as often happens with me.)

Moving on,
The Frog

P.S. Here are the wikis I worked on during the last month. The groups have the option of adding to and/or changing but so far I have not had any inquiries.
ScoreWrite Research Topics
A Raisin in the Sun Project

Celebrate Leap Day

[Technical note: the district firewall is blocking 2 pictures of a leaping frog...category--forum/blog. I got the 1st one from my file...when it showed blocked I went to MS Clipart and captured the same frog...blocked again!! Why did I do that ....because I ALWAYS doubt myself...thought maybe I had forgotten where I got the first one!

Nevertheless..it is a picture of a leaping frog for crying out loud...nothing more...more a "trusted" site. I had noticed over the past few days more & more of my pictues/book covers are showing up as dreaded red Xs.

I - do - not - get - it

To the people who look at this outside the district, no, I'm not crazy (and neither are you), yes there are 2 pictures of the same frog and now you know why.

Saturday update: took one off...seems they now load in district (including other pix that were not loading...not sure how or why...don't really care...just as long as they do.

Ok...back to our regularly scheduled proram...]

Is this just too perfect!

February 29th is Leap Day...the initial day of the Year of the Frog as designated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

See more over at A Library By Any Other Name including some great book resources (again)put together by one of my favorite book review bloggers.

Doing a little happy leap about it all! :-)

Wanna See or Hear More about 2.0?

Check out this free magazine about blogging and podcasting...I have been reading it for interest's sake for about a year. It will give you some perspective of these two tools outside the realm of education. Pretty amazing to get a glimpse at just how much is out there!

You can register for a free online podcast version or online version with the coolest reader technology--love watching the pages turn (yes I am easily entertained!)

I know what you are thinking...Yup, another email/password but you can use one you already have! :-)

Blogger & Podcaster For Aspiring New Media Titans...perfect title for all us 23 Things media titans, don't you think?

Enjoy! ...or not, the choice is yours.

Yahoo News Globe: Another Mash-up Tool for Your Virtual Tool-box

Here's some information about the Yahoo News Globe...an interesting way to combine the news with world geography. One the major components is an RSS feed.

It will be interesting to see how this is used.

Thing #14 Technorati is Worth a Claim

I have used Technorati for many months. My main purpose was that that comes from claiming a blog. I claimed my first blog so that I could see all the different blogs known as authorities that "found" it because of the tags or things I mentioned and for whatever reason either mentioned it in their blogs or put it on ther blogrolls.

Because Technorati keeps a list of these blogs for me, I am able to go in and study these blogs individually and learn from them, see what we have in common, and follow them if they fit a need. Several times a curriculum-related blog has latched onto something I posted and I get to see how the information does work out in a classroom.

In the beginning, I also took a look at the Top 100 blogs...amazing how many are educationally technology or library related...lots of good "stuff" to learn about. Take a look at Engadget, Mashable, ReadWrite Web, 43 Folders.

I have done searches through it as well, but not too many because I have so many other ways to locate resources. I think it comes down to whatever works for you and whatever you get used to first. Choice...that's the key!

Technorati...another way to share the wealth of information.

Goodnight,

Froggy Wart

Note to Self

A tag can replace a folder...JUST like an OPAC replaced all those catalog drawers...long ago & far away. So get over it...and move on.

Now this problem with alphabetizing by first name...sorry, some things are just sacred.

Thing #13 A Del.icio.us Taste

Tags and tagging I have down...in another part of my world we have spent many hours discussing the difference between subject headings and keywords...tagging is a kissin' cousin to the keyword idea...

Subject headings - controlled vocabulary
Keywords & Tags - not so much...or are they somewhat created from a "controlled" set of terms.
Del.icio.us is set up to assist you with tagging in that it gives you "hints" at the tags others have used for your links. But you do have the freedom to use any and all words that will help you organize your links.

I have used several things throughout the years to keep up all the great things on the Web. Links worked until you realized that they are computer specific...so when you set up a links bar for your students...you have to go add it to every one of the computers your kids might use!
And then IE7 hid it from you...and it took awhile to figure out where it went...whew, I found it.

Then the matriarch of blogging in my circle taught me about Ikeepbookmarks.com. Set up your bookmarks and they go with you from computer to computer. I put lots of personal things on there and can always have them. I am not good at remembering addresses or sometimes even the title of the site so this little tool solved that problem.

Then when I started on the blogging path...a whole other set of sites to keep up with! Blogrolls helped, but they get longer and longer! Google Reader helps keep up with the reading by showing only those that have updated and then the public reader allows me to share.

Through 23 Things, I have even found more ways that information I use and need can be organized...Google notebook, iGoogle page, Rollyo...and now del.icio.us with Technorati just around the corner.

I have seen del.icio.us lists before thru at least one of the blogs I follow. I noticed Cool Cat is also posting her del.icio.us links as well. The lists overwhelm me. But at least I had some background before tackling it myself.

As has been mentioned before by several of the 23 Things participants, I had to create yet another account...apparantly I must have done so because my user name was taken (and no one else would being using it, I guarantee), but I couldn't come up with a passwrod and they couldn't find my email...but my username was not useable. Ok...so I use another one that I use sometimes for such incidents and go to add my password...not "strong" enough so I have to fiddle with the password. Ok...I surrender... I now have a secret page on one of the many services I use so I can go look up my virtual ids and passwords. O brother!

Finally...to the assignment. I decided to build a list of cataloging sites and information so I can keep up with all the discussions about all the cataloging changes that are coming...RDA, FRBR, tagging!, the debate over to have call #s or not, yada, yada, yada.

BUT...it is already a long list...and I have not yet discovered the "folder" system...if there is one. My email allows for folders, my reader allows for folders...even my computer desk top has folders. I think I am suppose to work with the tags in del.icio.us to achieve some semblance of "order." Am gonna have to get my head around this one...may take me awhile.

More later,
The Frog

Thing #12 What's this Rollyo All About, Tootsie?

hummm... I was an "M" student on this one.

Although I love the name and the cute little red symbol...brand!...I wasn't getting the point. I looked, I read, stopped thinking so hard, and finally, just did what it asked.

I think I finally understand...it is JUST a cleverly named, little red-enhanced S-E-A-R-C-H E-N-G-I-N-E...not rocket science, but certainly Greek to me .

I selected a subject that SHOULD be near and dear to my heart...cataloging issues, and particularly, the future of cataloging...plenty of things I need to be learning about and learning how to do. I dutifully added several sources I want to use in getting this information. Includes Catalogblog, The FRBR Blog, OCLC Bib Formats, The Dewey Blog, LOC MARC Holdings, etc.

But when I went to search something, it included the Web and that muddied the results I had to wade through. That was one of the things that was mentioned in the intro as a reason for using..."clean" searches! Hummm....not doing something right maybe?

So I put the cute little search widget on my sidebar, added some search locations including this blog itself...now if that works, then this whole experiment will be worth it and I will add it to my other blog...where I have trouble sometimes finding things (because my tags are too general.)

BTW, help yourself if you want to and see what you can see from what I selected.

And I'm gonna muster up some patience and use it awhile to see if I get used it...which usually happens to me and most of this 2.0 stuff...in the meantime, can I go back and do another image generator?

Gotta go wash the mud off,
Froggy

Thing #11 That Library Thing...Organized Info...Eventually

Added a few more books to my pile over at Library Thing. I have had an account for awhile but have been very slow at adding for 2 reasons...don't take (or have) time and SO many of my books are not in the database or the other sources. I collect a lot of specialized, small press books and no one else has added them and amazon.com or THE Library have never "heard of them." So I will have to actually sit down and input them...almost like "real" cataloging. Not my favorite "busman's holiday."

TH over at Connected But Hassled had a great idea about including the literary element or other purpose/use for the book in its description...BECAUSE as we all know, those mean, ol' grumpy cataloger people won't let us muddy up those MARC records with made-up subject headings. And those stodgy, serious, and weird (cookery--what real normal person USES that word?) subject headings just don't always fill the bill.

I put one of those cute little cover widgets over on my sidebar so you can see some of the random books that I have in my LibraryThing..at least the ones whose covers show up. I wish I could select what shows...I have others that are more "favorite." But anyway, I wanted to have something to show you!

And I do want to find some groups that share my interests...but that is going to be a challenge from what I can tell so far!

I would love for my girls to put all their books in so that they know what they have...especially for teaching needs. But also because it would mean that stack of storage boxes would be at their houses, not mine!

O, I almost forgot...here is another place called Shelfari where you display your own collection of your books in your blog; it puts them in a little "wooden" bookshelf...cute!I have seen it inaction on some blogs I follow, but I aven't had a chance to pay with it myself yet.

Gotta go, it's dog-walking time,
Froggy Wart


P.S. Yes, those MARC records with their controlled vocabulary subject headings DO serve a very important function so take the pins outta that poor cataloger's voodoo doll. Remember-- tag 500a General Note can be used for all kinds of valuable information like literary elements, etc.
Be happy to have this discussion anytime!

It's a Disease...and I Have Caught It

This morphing, mashing, image generating thing...

I have let myself go and I can't keep myself straight anymore!

Kid-friendly avatar, image generator Build Your Wild Self from the NY Zoos & Aquarium, I think! T-O-O - MUCH - FUN!!!!

You HAVE to go play with this one!

(Yes, I could have morphed into frogs' legs, but the tennis shoes are part of my "retirement" look of the future...and besides someone might wanna snack if I had 'em. You never hear of anyone eating frog arms!)

P.S. it allows for printing, emailing...but no "code" so I just took a screen shot, dropped it into PPT, cut away all the "junk" and saved it as a png (jpg would work too!)..and yes, I know some of you have some sort of fancy-shmancy program that will do that too! Whatever works for you!

Thing #10 Playing Around with Image Generators

I have been playing around so much with these things that I have neglected the necessary post! In looking thru all the other blogs that have gotten this far, I see so many clever ideas that can be incorporated for various things in a library or classroom. And i have palyed and played and sprinkled a few throughout the blog.


The idea that I will zero in on is signage...this previous post in my other blog will give you a better idea WHY signage is a hot button issue for me.


In so many libraries (including the ones I used to manage!), lots and lots of signs are needed to assist patrons in finding their way around and in finding just the right book or resource. All of these image generators can make solving that problem F-U-N. You can select a theme or style or color scheme to tie everything together...whatever meshes with your personality. (huuummm..is THAT a mashup of sorts?)


The sign above is from Image Chef in the Sign-Banner section. The one over on the sidebar is Image Chef's License Plate generator. Image Chef animated below, too!

I have and will use others throughout the blog...and will try to remember to tell you where they came from.

Later,

FG

Comic Relief

Too many cute & funny examples floating around the 23 Things Players' blogs. I had to "experience" one as well!

Yes...for all those inquiring minds (and I know there are 1 or 2 out there), I TRIED to find a frog cartoon, but there were SOOOOOOOO many choices and it was/is late!

"Banking" it at the edge... of the pond!
Froggy

Thing #16 It's Been A Wiki of a Week!

...actually about 10 days worth of personally induced "pain and suffering" thru the development of my first "real" wiki all on my own! I got a crazy idea to use one for a major project I was working on, and completely forgot how - long - it - takes - me - to - do - anything - the - first - time.

Yes, I know I'm jumping ahead of some Things in order to share the "hard" time I gave myself over the last several days, but o, well...maybe it's in my nature to "jump to conclusions!"

Now, do NOT think that I am bashing wikis because of my difficulties. The idea behind wikis is great...collaboration tool, communication tool, sharing tool. 95% of my problem was me...not wanting to adapt to the restrictions of the program. Remember these things are FREE and are not gonna necessarily meet all my self-imposed standards of what it should do or look like... or for that matter, what you want from it! :-)

The other 5% mostly has to do with formatting...and o, yes, the poor way you can not use tables very effectively! I just finally had to get-over-it and move on. I did learn that it is much easier to start from scratch and not try to import a bunch of things that are inconsistently formatted from different sources.

Now that might not be a problem for others, but I have never been one for using "help"...I don't want my program to think for me...don't want it to assume I want bullets, indentations, or text /image boxes...I like plain blank screens, thank you very much!

Anyway, after I get group approval of what I created, I will revisit #16 and share my "creation!"

O, in case you are interested...I used PBWiki based on the reading I did (lots of support for it is included on Thing #16) and the recommendation of someone who successfully used it for something she needed. I am going to quiz her about just how easy she found it to use.

And I must always remember...all of these experiences mean I am a life-long learner!!

Now, maybe I can spend some "fun" going thru some other Things...and more importantly, reading thru all the great posts of all the Players...Have you SEEN the LENGTH of the list!!

Talk to you later,
Froggy

Thing #9 Too Many Blogs, Too Little Time

I have a pretty extensive list of blogs in my blogroll over at my other blog. I collected those blogs thru a variety of ways over the last 3+ years and finally dropped them in my blog about 14 months ago when I finally broke down and created one!

My history with blogs started with teenage angst blogs and that is NOT a great way to start, believe me! Then I started hearing/reading about blogging leaders in education and particularly, librarianship, through conferences and professional websites and journals. Can't remember the first batch too much, but really caught the blog fever at the Texas Library Association conference a few years ago when I attended two sessions on the subject.

More recently, I have used the traditional methods of discovering blogs to follow. I do check out award winners such as found at Edublogs and I use web sites such as Technorati to see who has connected to my blog...it is always such a surprise who picks up my blog thru the tags I have included there and words in my posts! I am currently following several Google Alerts for blog content that is of interest as well. Another way I find and follow blog postings is to read someone else's public reader page. In other words, I let an expert pull the materials I should read! Works for me!

x

But I have found most of the blogs I follow and many of my very favorite blogs by checking out what other bloggers post about, have on their blogrolls, and thru birdwalks from one blog to another, to another, to another. This is why Google notebook should prove to be helpful to me.

x

I have many blogs not on my blogroll simply because I read them for fun. Some include friends' blogs and non-educationally based blogs. I enjoy the subjects like recipes or places where people live, but mostly importantly, these non-work-related blogs are just plain fun to read. The writers are talented story tellers and can make a great story out of a crazy beagle, squirrels in the belfry, travels to bookstores or around the world, and make me laugh every time I open their blogs!

x

My current problem because of all these blogs...I need to cull out the dead wood...blogs that have not updated in awhile, have changed the focus and I don't follow that line of thought, or just plain don't say it with the same enthusiasm as someone else I read as well. Maybe if I can around to doing this, my list will be a better fit for the time I can devote to it all!

See you around the pad,

Froggy Wart

Thing #8 I'm a Reader Readin' Fool!

I have known about the little orange icons and RSS boxes on web sites for a few years. I never forced myself to learn the "how to" make one for my stuff...didn't figure I had enough worthy info.

During this early period, I knew it would be useful to subscribe to feeds of some of the things I followed regularly...until I really saw how it worked (or at least used to work)...I was at a conference and the presenter was using the Internet as part of his presentation and all thru his talk, the little pop up came up telling him something was updated...DROVE ME CRAZY! I knew that was not something for me...so I relied on bookmarks/favorites and even things like I Keep Booksmarks so I would always have the things I wanted to check handy.

Then I discovered the readers about a year or so ago. Bingo! That is what I wanted. A way to keep up where I could read on my own timeline...and no bothersome pop-ups...and I didn't have to be a computer genius to figure how to get the code, etc.

I played a bit with Bloglines, but it had a little too much "geekiness" for me...had to understand the behind-the-scenes code stuff a little too much and I didn't care too much for how it "looked." Don't mean to sound negative...I know bunches of bloggers who use it quite successfully and many more who will use it.

My reader of choice is Google Reader. I took to it immediately...it was easy to set up and because it fit with all my other Google stuff, I could sign in with the same information. It is a very necessary tool in my work and my free time reading. I follow way-too-many blogs and web sites to go to each one individually. I have set up folders for different types of information so that I can check on groups of blogs at different times. For example, I have put all the L2P players in a folder so I can see who has written new posts in their blogs with out having to go down the ever-growing list of Players!

I have added my public page of my Google Reader to my sidebar. It is made up of bloggers who blog about children's and YA books and authors. The only weakness of this service is I wish I could make several public pages from the same list of subscriptions in my reader. In other words, to have separate lists of children's books and authors and YA books and authors, I would have to set up separate subscription lists and sign in differently...in essence, become a separate person. Nope, not going to do it...the point of the reader is to have everything in one place accessible from any Internet-connected computer I happen to be around. So, Google, if you are listening (oops, reading) think about this issue. You would make me a really happy camper!

Ok, I'm jumpin' over to #9,
Froggy Wart


P.S. In looking for some artwork for this post, I came across this site that helps you create RSS graphics for free. I won't be using it, but there is someone out there who might want to do it!

A "Tree" of the Pad!

The Lily Pad Playground looks like this if you go here.

And here is all the background and some other examples!

and it is also another activity for Flickr... websitesasgraphs is the search term.

Thing #7 Google Tools: It's a Big Pile!

I honestly don't remember when I did not google (the verb.) I do remember switching from Yahoo searches to Google searches ... not because of the difference in results necessarily, but because the Google search page was so clean...and you never knew when a surprise logo would pop up!

One reason I have enjoyed my little corner of the online world is because of the sense of humor so many of the creators have had along the way. I loved the idea of a "trash can" for throwing things away...the name Yahoo always made me smile, the guys who created it always looked like they were enjoying the ride, and early commercials amused me with the long drawn out yaahoooo! Then another group comes along, thinks up a great name like Google, creates a simple clean search page and then just when you aren't expecting, adds a bit whimsy with the various logos celebrating things of choice!

Who wouldn't enjoy the often mundane chore of research when you can do it in a fun way? Ok, I enjoy research. What can I say! When I worked in high school, I always made sure the students used the materials we provided for them FIRST...number 1...because we had them there for just for that reason...and number 2...everyone was relatively new to this online stuff...and not all of us knew how to separate the wheat from the chaff. But high school students often stretch beyond the typical boundaries of research topics and we had to make forays into the uncharted territory of this vast world of online information. It was a blast!

At that time I was also on my own personal genealogy research trip and really learned what was available online. I was a confirmed googler!

So Google itself is something and then to add all the extras that have come is special icing on a pretty tasty cake! I have been a Google Maps fan since day 1...so incredible....only improved by Google Earth. I have really enjoyed getting the bird's-eye view of many places I know...and ones I don't! And Google Images...a place for graphics and images...ONLY problem there is you don't have the "rights" necessarily to use everything that comes up so copyright and fair use come into play as well.

A few months ago, I did set up an I-Google page, but truthfully, have not used it too much...I am such as a creature of habit and have a had a pretty robust Yahoo personal page for years tied to my home service. So even tho' I had great fun choosing the banner themes...the planets and beach views are quite impressive but the seasonal scape that changes as the day progresses is my theme of choice...it is such fun! Just yesterday, I discovered that you can have a different theme for each of your tabs (pages) so I played around selecting some others to enjoy. I like some of the widgets like the little notepad where you can write reminders to yourself. But I am just not sure I will really "use" my I-Google page...only time will tell.

Now one of the things I did add because of this activity is the Google Toolbar...I have a links bar on each of my primary computers that fits my needs and when IE7 came about I was quite distressed until I found how to recreate my links bar. I have a Yahoo toolbar at home that keeps coming up because of my Yahoo page/email relationship, but I don't really use it too much and can uncheck it.

But the Google Toolbar...now there are some possibilities for sure...I have a Blogger button, a Google Earth button (so will take the shortcut off my desktop, etc.), set up bookmarks with important "stuff"...because it is not computer specific... I first looked at it on the computer at work and came home, fired up my laptop and low & behold, surprise it was there! So I can have everything I need wherever I work! I think this one will be a keeper!

And I have set up a couple of Google Alerts to see how that works. I chose to see what I would get if I did one for "23 Things"...pretty impressive how many of these activity adventures are popping up all over!

The biggest surprise for me was/is the Google Notebook...it has been on the fringes of my reading for sometime, but I never took time to delve into it to see what it was exactly. I think I have discovered a solution to one of the biggest problems I have with the Internet, and particularly blog information. I birdwalk so much while reading, going deeper and farther away from my original target and then I can never remember where I saw this or that. I think the notebook may be the place for me to note these gems so I can find them again. I really haven't done much with it yet so I might share more later. So far, tho' it is a definite keeper!

Whew...this Google tour has just kept me hopping!

Later,

Froggy Wart

P.S. I wanted the Google Earth picture down by that part...nope, not today...could NOT get the picture to move (and I move them all the time)...haven't had that problem in awhile and do not know why! so enjoy it anyway!

A Little More Mashup Playing

I am not totally comfortable with Flickr yet, but I haven't had time to load very many pictures and that will come in time. I am still unsure about the parameters of how things can be used. I know many pictures are copyrighted and others (including mine) are marked with the Creative Common use. I am assuming that means they can be used for non-profit use...at least I think that is how mine are set up...I hope!

I wanted to try some more mashup stuff so I went in and created a name tag! Fun, fun, fun! I can see all kinds of uses...student assistants, school club members...family reunions, high school reunions...anything where you might want some kind of visual representation!

I also took advantage of the service that allows PD Lab creations to be uploaded to Flickr for storage so maybe I won't continue to chase myself around looking for my "samples!"

I like these fun mashups. I can get my head around them and understand them...if I go into it too deep, I get lost...so I'm just going to have fun and not think about the mashup process too much!

Ok...on to Google things!

See ya!
Froggy Wart

Flickr Revisited: Heaven on Earth

Cloudcroft 07
Originally uploaded by allthingsworthy

I received an email permission to use one of the pictures I had found on Flickr so here it is as promised. This little corner of the world is my special place...and I think you can see from this photo a little of why I think so...talk about having a vison!


If you seeing me day-dreaming...now you'll know where I probably am!

P.S. I used the blog feature in Flickr to do this entry! made it super easy!

Thing #6 Mashing Stuff

I am still struggling with all the aspects of Flickr...it is a much more complex site than I realized and you can do so much with it...I just wish I understood it all better, but I know, in time, it will come and I will have a light bulb moment or two.

I do like the texture & color feature of Flickr that allows you to select a color and various photos representing it will pop up. I picked a really deep green and you can see the results. I can see how this would help an art teacher demonstrate color and textures with regard to paint and color, but also it would be a fun way to teach color vocabulary to youngsters (or ESL students) as well.

I have been using a mash up called Animoto for some time now, but I do like the trading card program that was included for us to play with! I can see all kinds of uses in school for this little program and for lots of ages...I think I might have to make some fun "business" cards for myself. Here is a sample card I created to learn the program.

I have had fun...maybe too much today...I gotta leave this for awhile and get back to my New Year's resolution of getting my little casa clean and straight again...I can almost see my dining room table!

Until later, Froggy Wart