Off the Shelf » wikis http://offtheshelf.edublogs.org where technology meets libraries Wed, 02 May 2007 16:44:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 en hourly 1 Teacher Librarians unite! http://offtheshelf.edublogs.org/2007/04/27/teacher-librarians-unite/ http://offtheshelf.edublogs.org/2007/04/27/teacher-librarians-unite/#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:18:44 +0000 offtheshelf http://offtheshelf.edublogs.org/2007/04/27/teacher-librarians-unite/ The Internet is a wonderful thing. 

Teacher Librarians everywhere are having the same experiences, pondering the same questions, and collectively tackling Web 2.0.  The important thing here – the beauty of Web 2.0 – is that we aren’t alone.  Thanks to things like wikis and weblogs, we are able to learn and grow together.

One Teacher-Librarian I have a great deal of respect for is Joyce Valenza.  She is a role model for everyone, as she has taken her school library online, offering a ‘Virtual Library’.  She maintains a fabulous and informative blog ( NeverEndingSearch Blog )  and has recently started ‘Teacher Librarian Ning’ - an online community for Teacher Librarians and educators (for those who want to lead in new information landscapes).  I love it!  She describes it as a ”learning sandbox”, which seems a fitting analogy.  She is responsible for initiating many incredible projects, such as the Teacher Librarian Wiki (topics include: Web 2, School Library 2, Books, Info Lit & models). 

So much to learn!  I am grateful for her and the work that she does, as it helps me to figure things out and inspires me to continue learning and doing more!

]]> http://offtheshelf.edublogs.org/2007/04/27/teacher-librarians-unite/feed/ 0 Reflecting on Technology http://offtheshelf.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/reflecting-on-technology/ http://offtheshelf.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/reflecting-on-technology/#comments Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:52:48 +0000 offtheshelf http://offtheshelf.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/reflecting-on-technology/ How hard is it to incorporate some of the Web 2.0 tools into your classroom or your library program?  I was looking for examples – specific examples – and I found the following:

Using blogs and wikis in Grade 1! A Social Studies Wiki

A Grade 4 Class Blog

A Gr. 8 Web Classroom (includes blog, podcast, studycast, class webpage)

A Book Blog (like a novel study but via blog)

A Library Skills Blog

Technology takes time.  That is what I have learned through this process.  It always takes longer than you think it will.  That being said, what specifically takes time is finding other sites to link to, or videos to share via YouTube, or technical difficulties that were more associated with setting the blog up in the beginning.   Now that the blog is up-and-running, it doesn’t seem that hard to continue, which I think I will.   If anything, it keeps a history of all the technological things I have discovered and considered with regards to schools.   Months from now if I want to refer back to an article or website, the link will be conveniently located in this blog.  Plus, I am hoping to generate discussion (comments) as I go.  

I think a good realization I have made is that incorporating technology isn’t too hard, and is really quite important to do.  I hope that my explorations through this blog lead to my use of technology in my library, and that this use of technology makes a positive impact on the lives of my students.

]]> http://offtheshelf.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/reflecting-on-technology/feed/ 1 Using Wikis in Education http://offtheshelf.edublogs.org/2007/04/05/using-wikis-in-education/ http://offtheshelf.edublogs.org/2007/04/05/using-wikis-in-education/#comments Thu, 05 Apr 2007 21:45:06 +0000 offtheshelf http://offtheshelf.edublogs.org/2007/04/05/using-wikis-in-education/ One of the Web 2.0 tools that has great potential in classrooms and the library program is the Wiki. 

A wiki is a website that you and a group can create and edit; that tracks your progress and history; that essentially allows collaborative construction of knowledge on any given subject.   The benefits of using  wikis in school is discussed in  School Library Journal, and provides a link to these Gr. 3 Class Wikis.

How can you use wikis in education?

 

Some examples of how you could use a wiki in your school include creating:

**  a wiki with collections of student work

**  a class wiki discussing units that are being taught/studied

** a wiki of student-created study guides

** a wiki around a specific event (i.e. 2010 Olympics)

** a wiki for groups that are writing/editing a collaborative report

As with many Web 2.0 tools, teachers and teacher-librarians may be intimidated by the technology and not sure where to start.  There are online tutorials that can guide you, and people have posted wiki tutorial videos on YouTube that are very helpful, such as the one below that shows how to set-up a class wiki:

Some examples of how you could use a wiki in your school include creating a wiki with collections of student work, a wiki of student-created study guides, a wiki-style class blog, and for student groups to work on writing/editing a collaborative report.   In the library, visit Library Success for ideas and guidance.

The potential for using a wiki in your school is huge!   Don’t be scared to try it out – a good place to start is pbwiki.com.   Questions, thoughts, examples of your work?   Let me know!

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