The Book Stops Here

Assignment 3:  Task 4

• What did I Learn From This Experience?

Web 2.0 technology:  wikis, blogs and more,

Are tools students can use to research and explore.

 

Zoho Notebook is one tool I recommend we teach,

First of all, it’s free to use and, thus, well within our reach.

 

But let’s not overlook its performance and practicality, of course,

Its versatility with other applications make it a wonderful resource!

One may create a special presentation on Zoho Show, let’s say,

And integrate it into a Notebook page to augment it in a special way.

  

Students can share the Notebook, a page, or a single object,

And let others edit and add – it will never go unchecked.

Students can learn so much about themselves and age-related peers,

They’ll master collaboration techniques, methods of problem-solving and build new ideas without added fears.

 

Some kids are quiet and introverted and they may be hesitant to share

But by using the Notebook, ideas flow freely without reluctance or despair.

 

• How Can Zoho Notebook Help Educators? 

How can teachers use this tool to help our students succeed?

Zoho Notebook can target learning standards to fulfill a specific need.

 

The AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner include substandards that state

That students must have skills that encourage them to inquire, collaborate and create.

Along these lines, let’s ask our students to perform at their very best.

Create excitement in the classroom and put their minds to the test.

 

Watch them work diligently and learn in an active mode.

They will acquire special skills that will benefit them down the road.

 

The NYS Standards for ELA, Social Studies, Science and Math

Can be learned through Web 2.0 – a new, exciting path.

 

Ask students to be courageous and take a risk or two,

By posting a research assignment and add audio and video, too.

 

Watch them take pride in their work and work together well

Because their masterpiece is their own – a tale for them to tell.

Teachers may collaborate on Zoho Notebook, too.

They can create interdisciplinary assignments that are fresh, bold and new.

 

If teachers work together and involve the librarian – what a message this would send!

The energy will be contagious and students will be the winners in the end.

Bibliography:

 

ALA | AASL Standards for the 21st-Century Learner. (2009).

   Retrieved March 2, 2009, from

   http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/

   guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/standards.cfm

 

Cooper, A. (2008, May 30). The Maricopa Experience: Moving from Blackboard to

   Web 2.0, Part 1. Retrieved March 2, 2009, from

   http://maricopatech.blogspot.com/2008/05/moving-from-blackboard-to-web-

   20-part-1.html

 

Cooper, A. (2008, June 24). Zoho Notebook as CMS, Part 2 : MaricopaTech.

   Retrieved March 1, 2009, from http://freshmancomp.com/maricopatech/?p=24

Marshall, M. (2007, May 21). Zoho Notebook looks good » VentureBeat. Retrieved

   March 2, 2009, from http://venturebeat.com/2007/05/21/zoho-notebook-looks-

   good/

 

Microsoft:  PressPass Information for Journalists. (2006, June 5).

   New research reveals collaboration is a key driver of 

   business performance around the world: Verizon business,

   Microsoft sponsor international study; create first-of-its-kind

   collaboration index to measure impact of communications

   culture, technologies.. Retrieved February 28, 2009, from

   http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/jun06/06-

   05VerizonBusinessCollaborationPR.mspx

 

Trexler, S.  (2007).  Increase your productivity and collaboration. Information Searcher, 17(4),   28-32.  Retrieved February 26, 2009 from WilsonWeb database.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here I am on a Wednesday evening, the night before Darwin’s 200th birthday celebration, trying to create a response to pertinent discussion questions posted on the discussion board for graduate class IST 611 at Syracuse U.

Q: All of the readings give specific examples of ways to use blogs with students and in schools, as well as the positives and negatives of incorporating blogs into your school. What other issues or positive consequences can you foresee happening as a result of utilizing blogs in schools?

First of all, the filter blocks all blogs at my school library.  From the readings, I can see this is a common problem that many librarians face.  It is important to demonstrate to an administrator all that a blog can do for the library, teaching staff, and student body.  I think a strong argument could tip the scale in the librarian’s favor.

Secondly, it is important that the librarian keep the blog active.  If the librarian does not give a reason for the staff and students to log on frequently, readers may lose interest and not check the site.  If, however, the librarian consistently shares new information on a regular basis, more people may follow the site and add comments to posts.  This will keep it alive!

Q:  Can you think of other ways to blog or use established blogs as a teaching tool?

So many uses of blogs were mentioned in the readings this week, but there are other ways to enhance the library with a blog.  I would like to share the daily activities that occur in the library with everyone, both the student body and the faculty.  For example, if I introduced SimplyBox to a middle school English class (as I did today for the collaboration assignment!), I would share it on the blog.  I think it would make others curious and want to know more about what another teacher was able to do with the technology.

I would also share lists of new books purchased.  I would have links to sites like ALA so that students could access them easily to find lists of great new books!  I would have a library club and post some activities the students are involved with and excite enough students to join.  I would also try to share the blog with other school librarians in districts close to mine to share ideas and new technologies so they spread through neighboring districts.  You can’t keep abreast of the new technology if you’re isolated, and I think this would prevent that from happening.

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