ReadingPower

Please go to new blog for new posts

anneticipation — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:45:56 +0000

http://readingpower.wordpress.com/

Top 10 from 3/1/2010

anneticipation — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:22:28 +0000

Please go to new blog for “alive” links http://readingpower.wordpress.com/

1. Improve readability of web pages http://lab.arc90.com/experiments/readability/ Drag to bookmark bar. Click when you get to a page you want to read and useless stuff disappears, text becomes black on white in decent size, pick format (do that before dragging the tool to your bar).
2. 12 essentials for technology integration http://content.yudu.com/Library/A18dcc/TwelveEssentialsforT/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yudu.com%2Fitem%2Fembedded_reader%2F59772%2FTwelve-Essentials-for-Technology-Integration%3Frefid%3D19189
3. Facebook guidebook http://oedb.org/blogs/ilibrarian/2010/a-facebook-guidebook/
4. V like vintage search – historical search images http://bit.ly/8HZabK
5. Comparison of social learning networks http://c4lpt.co.uk/articles/bsle0.html
6. Ten TED talks http://blog.ted.com/2009/12/10_tedtalks_to.php
7. Google wave new official video Google Wave http://eknol.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-to-use-google-wave-official-video.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BloggingInWeb20Beta+(Blogging+In+Web+2.0+Beta)
8. Future? – “Constant partial stupidity” – at least not another weird new Web 2.0 word http://www.speakerscorner.co.uk/file/6104dc183a0d6bbdc8d4f48fca5d8916/richard-watsonfuturistspeakerpeoplefuturetrend-spottertrends20092010expectations.html
9. Google chrome- making an impact http://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-chrome-is-now-the-no-3-browser/15913/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SearchEngineJournal+(Search+Engine+Journal)
10. Social networking summary http://www.myplick.com/view/0-0WzXbNv6n/Power-Up-Your-Professional-Learning-Network

Relocating – moving blog from Edublogs to WordPress

anneticipation — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:31:30 +0000

Edublogs is great, but my free version is running out of room. Find instructions at http://lynross.wordpress.com/ and also has a fun write up on photfiltre. So far the transfer of text to http://readingpower.wordpress.com/ has been easy. I have not copied images yet. I am still working out reconstructing widgets and other multimodals as it is not the same process- not even sure it can be done. The themes are different too…

Ten more titbits

anneticipation — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:07:52 +0000

1. Youth Books-Cybils http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/2010/01/2009-finalists-the-best-of-the-best.html Best Books, Movies of the decade – Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/7zlWie Peachbook Award http://www.theunquietlibrary.libguides.com/peachbooks-readingbowl
2. Predictions 2010 http://deangroom.wordpress.com/2010/01/01/preditions-for-2010/
3. Digital writing ning http://digitalwritingworkshop.ning.com/
4. IWB ning http://iwbrevolution.ning.com/
5. Engaging learners http://alalearning.org/2009/12/30/lx/
6. ReadWriteWeb’s Top 5 Web Trends http://bit.ly/7FiWpz
7. Google Search Evolves http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/search_options_google_search_evolves.php
8. Future of Writing http://bit.ly/7bhR3z
9. Untweeping http://twittercism.com/untweeps/
10. Vokle for online events, hosting shows, teaching class http://vokle.com/

Giving up can be good

anneticipation — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:38:02 +0000

1. Give Up! http://www.chrisbrogan.com/never-give-up-no-give-up/
2. “Partial Agreement and Refocus” V smart comebacks http://community.tes.co.uk/forums/t/184713.aspx?s_cid=16
3. Twitter for Teachers in 15 minutes http://edbuzz.org/djohnson/2009/12/twitter-for-teachers-in-15-minutes/#edbuzz
4. Best teaching books of 2009 http://tinyurl.com/yky4ylq including free book download– “Teaching as a subversive activity”
5. Relevance? http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6699357.html?q=things+that+keep+us+up+at+night Is your Library a grocery store or a kitchen? http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1340000334/post/90032209.html
6. Humor- 2009 USA review http://www.miamiherald.com/283/story/1397654.html
7. Kill your online footprint http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/31/web-2-0-suicide/
8. Sweet search engine for students http://www.sweetsearch.com/
9. Library customer service http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/ Resolutions http://lonewolflibrarian.wordpress.com/
10. Library staff- front and centre http://quartz.syr.edu/rdlankes/blog/?p=917

Nappy Yew Hear – What next? Will Apple’s islate be the kindle killer and google’s plans for schooling

anneticipation — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:44:50 +0000

1. Apple’s islate- The kindle killer ? http://www.jsmcdougall.com/2009/12/apples-islate-the-kindle-killer/
2. Using Web 2.0 tools to teach “The Outsiders” http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=548 use of stupeflix to create Greaser culture – bit like Animoto- though it looks like its function of finding images for you is no longer working – copyright?. Used Penguin style action book maps using google maps and streetview (picked town) and then wrote descriptive stories from google streetview from character point of view. Penguin digital storytelling with google maps http://wetellstories.co.uk/stories/week1 http://springwise.com/media_publishing/storytelling_with_google_maps
3. Reclaim your brain – GTD Getting Things Done And Evernote or Action Method Online http://www.40tech.com/2009/08/25/getting-things-done-gtd-in-evernote-with-only-one-notebook/
4. Googlios -eportfolios http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=478 http://sites.google.com/site/googlioproject/home
5. Steal this preso- copyright http://creatinglifelonglearners.com/?tag=k12online09
6. Inteteresting Google/student search article http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/26/technology/internet/26kidsearch.html?_r=3&emc=eta1Enjoy
7. Useful Lesson about putting your name on writing to help prevent plagiarism http://www.taylormali.com/index.cfm?webid=51
8. Google taking over? http://bit.ly/75Qevv
9. Great resources from the National Library http://ow.ly/Rev4
10. Digital Radio has landed in Australia, but will not play on normal radios – see reviews http://www.cnet.com.au/best-dab-digital-radios-339296615.htm#vp

Top 15 for today

anneticipation — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:18:16 +0000

Many of these resources come via twitter, so thank you to the generosity of those who post new resources there.
1. Nifty PowerPoint technique http://www.allaboutpresentations.com/2009/12/best-from-blogosphere-design-fresh.html
2. Orientation in Second Life -first half pretty much says it all – http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=446 18 mins
3. Blogging improves writing http://edu.blogs.com/edublogs/2009/12/blogging-improves-young-peoples-confidence-writing-reading.html
4. Create your own online magazine http://alltop.com/ Here is another version of an online magazine- very easy http://www.lazyfeed.com/
5. “…School District is on the verge of eliminating all of its library media specialist positions over the next three years… to move its librarians into the classroom to become teachers, replacing them with support staff. See http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/21st-century-library/21st-century-library/index.cfm?i=55239&page=3&rc=1
6. Comparison of ebook readers http://hloy.edublogs.org/2009/12/29/joining-the-ebook-reader-debate-or-my-2-cents/
7. Research on teachers http://www.stateofohioeducation.com/2009/10/education-myths-challenged-by-value.html
8. Instructional Strategies that work with videoconferencing – ways to use in class- http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=441 15.5 mins Classroom instruction that works- there IS time for Web 2.0 http://web2thatworks.com/index.php?title=Main_Page Monster Exchange http://www.monsterexchange.org/
9. If you host it they will come- running an online project http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=465 Alice project http://aliceproject.wordpress.com/ the magic of google forms http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFhVWjJrRmtYZEFiTnVTMlV6OXduNVE6MA
10. Options for building your teacher website and why YOU should 20mins, easy – Weebly wix yola harder – Komposer http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=479
11. Manage passwords http://www.whoismadhur.com/2009/05/01/10-free-tools-to-manage-your-passwords/
12. Tools to create online tutorials http://hardgeek.org/2009/09/5-tools-to-create-tutorials/
13. Digiteens: Digital Citizenship by Digital Teenagers http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=431
14. Whither ePortfolios http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=526 students already publish online using Web 2.0 so should these creations should be acceptable for assessment? – includes Mahara. 33 mins
15. Moogpal in Action http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=471 Moodle + google + drupal (powers websites) 22 mins http://prezi.com/klwonopea3dn/
The IASL conference is in Brisbane in 2010, and our school library will be on the tour list, so here are some new and not so new photos of our Libraries.

Top 20 for today :)

anneticipation — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:08:07 +0000

Great quote It’s not information overload. It’s filter failure.” – Clay Shirky

1. Using E-Books to Motivate Pupils Writing -students make ebooks and publish at myebook.com and easyspeak microphones http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=442 15 mins. http://www.yudu.com/ allows uploading a pdf file for conversion into an online magazine. Link to samples http://www.myebook.com/mr_hill_3-4H/ Colin Hill recommends http://penzu.com/ free online private diary. Here is Colin’s blog http://colport-teaching.blogspot.com/ very nice page design.
2. Netbooks – One device or many? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8421491.stm
3. Releasing movies “free” online http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1950005,00.html?xid=rss-topstories
4. Tricky – If an assignment can be plagiarized, it’s probably not very exciting or engaging, much less valid. http://blog.cathyjonelson.com/?p=713
5. Another free gadget – Snapshots http://www.snap.com
6. Web 3.0 (still catching up on Web 2.0) http://vodpod.com/watch/2754251-internet-semantic-web-web-3-0?pod=heyjude
7. 10 greatest free apps –what would your choices be? http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/10-greatest-open-source-software-of-2009.html
8. Big for 2010 -big blue button? http://code.google.com/p/bigbluebutton/
9. Virtual environments – one of my exploration goals – http://www.adamfrisby.com/blog/2008/12/the-state-of-open-viewers-december-08/
10. Way of the future -open online learning- http://ltc.umanitoba.ca/wiki/Connectivism
11. Wikipedia for schools http://schools-wikipedia.org/
12. Web 2.0 tools A-Z http://ow.ly/QB9s
13. Fast video to MP3 conversion http://www.fetchmp3.com/
14. How to find anything online http://oedb.org/blogs/ilibrarian/2009/the-10-best-new-firefox-add-ons-of-2009/ Have just changed from IE to firefox-all good so far
16. Inexpensive games improve student reasoning http://spotlight.macfound.org/blog/entry/study_inexpensive_games_improve_childrens_reasoning_ability/#When:15:19:41Z
17. Vote for best books of 2009 http://www.teenreads.com/features/ccba_nominees_2010.asp
18. Twitter is great for PL – twitter lists http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7KzH7aw5sU
19. News images, google books http://tinyurl.com/y8h35eq
20. “Teaching students to handle Web 2.0 privacy” by Mike Hominck

2009 The year that was…in our Libraries

anneticipation — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:50:41 +0000

Inspired by Cathy Nelson’s review of her professional year http://blog.cathyjonelson.com/?p=1002 , here are highlights of our Library year. Already, planning is underway for 3 major new projects for 2010… It was hard to draw the line to keep the list concise, so the many competitions and usual Library activities have not been specifically mentionned.

February The Library entrance was constrained due to the Aquinas building project, but the lift was completed – great for students on crutches who want to use the Potter Library and also book deliveries. The inaugural textbook collection from Potter Library over the Christmas break was a success. All Year 10s received netbooks. A Library card is no longer needed to borrow (so long as there are no overdues).

March We moved to Word 2007 and Word 2007 References using APA. The Library website moved from Dreamweaver to Moodle, allowing many interactive activities. Teachers and students can now check current loans, loan history, and make reservations and one renewal, online, via the library catalogue. The annual Parent Support Your Daughter evenings were held for Year 8 parents – with hands on instruction provided for parents in use of Library and other online resources.

April Author Andie Griffiths visited the Middle School. The Library implemented a “Big Ideas, Action Planning” model.

May Students competed in the Year 8 and 9 Readers’ Cup Competition, organised by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. This year we had 2 teams, plus our reserves also competed in a mixed schools’ team. Students met author Jack Heath there. The Middle School participated in the MS Readathon and the Gold Star Reading Club hosted by Brisbane City Council Libraries. A representative from the local library branch at Brisbane Square addressed the girls at Middle School Assembly.

June In the last week of term, all Year 8 and 9 students were addressed about referencing in Word 2007 and new features of the Library catalogue in Claver Theatre, plus some Web 2.0 tools. The Middle School Readers’ Cup was held. Workshops were offered for staff on using turnitin and Word 2007 referencing, plus internal Professional Learning (PL) for Library staff.

July Moodle/turnitin integration now makes plagiarism checking for staff and students MUCH easier. A new database was completed where students can share book reviews on Moodle. The Library Procedures manual was “refreshed” and launched to stakeholders. Students were given the option of Library service to pay for lost books instead of paying fines.

August The inaugural Terrace/All Hallows’ Book Odyssey was held for Year 8 and 9 students. Author Pat Flynn and Fiona Steiger from Avid Reader Bookstore made presentations. Library staff offered book trailer workshops for students at lunchtime. The Middle School celebrated Bookweek, Book Safari with wonderful displays, competitions, activities and the Terrace/All Hallows’ Safari Trivia Quiz participated in by 156 students. We competed in the Secondary Readers’ Cup final, our first one – author, Jackie French, was quizmaster; so a very interesting event.

September Over 80 students taken to the Brisbane Writers’ Festival and listened to a host of authors, including Pamela Rushby, author of “When the Hipchicks Went to War” which features the school. Also, all students were invited to listen to author, Michael Bauer, after school in Claver Theatre.

October Harry Potter Day was a big success with many great costumes seen throughout the day. The external Library blog was started at http://readingpower.edublogs.org/ Author Pat Flynn came to the Middle School.

November A life size poster of Robert Pattinson was a big attraction in the Potter Library.

December New Co-curricular Copyright license for showing movies announced – yay! A break up was held for the Year 8 and 9 Book Club, after a very successful year, and another one for the library parent and student volunteers – thanks so much for your help. Video removal was completed. The Potter and McAuley libraries were culled, and the stocktake was largely completed. Blogging workshops were offered to teaching staff, and more internal PL was provided to Library staff. Our new “Big Ideas, Action Planning” model worked well in furthering Library team operations, and the year ended with 2009 reflection and 2010 planning. Holidays – hurray!!

Managing time more effectively

anneticipation — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:02:19 +0000

“Organisation Learning and Technology Collide” (short- 14 or so mins) Ben Grey makes some wise points about effective time use, though who needs other distractions when there is the internet? See http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=450 Argyris’s theories of action are not unlike UBD – plan and operate with the end in mind.

Saving time and managing information – Diigo, Twitter, Blogs and Netvibes To keep up with new online resources try diigo. Diigo makes it easy to use twitter to share professional resources. Many professionals check twitter irregularly like once per day, not all day– not unlike email – it has great professional collaboration uses– but there must be moderation and effective use – it is not possible to follow everyone.
Diigo demo video – saving time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlqfJsmjcOs&feature=related
Diigo webslides http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8ytul9YKH0&feature=related
Also http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGVipa0q-cQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcecBgRd3ig
With diigo, decide if personal or public use – do you want the world to see your bookmarks? Blogs help manage personal professional learning and information – easily searchable; and netvibes helps manage reading other blogs through RSS.

Web 2.0 on excursion Very accessible and practical examples of how to use Web 2.0 tools from Chris Betcher – http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=463 See related resources at http://betchablog.wikispaces.com/waysofworking

Various New Web 2.0 tools http://www.slideshare.net/cp414/web-20-teaching-and-learning-in-the-cloud Great infographics http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2009/12/12/the-best-interactive-infographics-2009/ Future work planning http://adult-learning.ning.com/forum/topics/what-your-21st-century-cv