Thing 23: Finish Line!

1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey? I enjoyed using Feedly and searching through various blogs.
2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals? I have more to learn and I am more confident about my technical abilities now.
3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? I was stuck in 2008, at least. I need to avoid being overly comfortable with my abilities and continue to try new programs. 
4. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept? I think we students are fairly comfortable asking for advice and help from each other. However, some of the programs seemed outdated.
5. If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate? Most likely.
6. 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? 23 Things is only the beginning!
7. Now go and comment on some of the other Players' blogs!

Thing 22: My Turn

I have learned a LOT in a short time! I was pushed out of my technology comfort zone and forced to explore websites and applications that I had not only never used, but in some cases, never even heard of. I feel a little more confident about my technological abilities. I would like to see QR codes explained. I also would like to see LinkedIn added to social media. It has been an instrumental way for me to keep track of professional contacts and lose all the little business cards I was given at TLA. You can find my LinkedIn account here: Lupe Palacios

Thing 21: Online Image Generator

Using the free online image generator, Comic Strip Generator is FUN! You can make signs, comic strips, and storyboards! The process is quick and easy! I bet almost any elementary student can do it, with just a few directions.

Thing 20: Recess

Playtime! I poked around the LiveBinder and found this lovely little poem in ELA/Language Arts folder! I need more than recess - I need a vacation to play more with the sites M. Rippy has posted here! Whoo-hoo!!!

Thing 19: Mashups

Mashups are hybrid applications that take two or more programs to create one final product.

I used Bookr, a compilation of Flickr and my original text, to create my travel book:




There are so many ways to use mashups: create a fun book report with Bookr, create character trading cards with FD Toys' Trading Card Maker, create a map of a book's settings with Mappr, and many more. I need more time to play!

Thing 18: Shelfari

I have used Goodreads for several years and I have several friends on that site. I will completely ignore this application after this course because I do not want to spend the time transferring my books and inviting my friends to transfer to this application.

Lupe's Books on Goodreads

However, I do like several aspects of Shelfari. You can see the covers of the book on your virtual shelf, tag books for future searches (I tagged "historical fiction" and "family relationships".), get book recommendations, and more.

If I did not already use Goodreads, I would probably use this website to keep track of past, present, and future books.

Thing 17: Ning

Ning is a custom social network - think Facebook merged with LinkedIn. You can collaborate and share with people in your own professional circle. This is a great venue to meet librarians and share ideas. This Ning is specifically for Texan Librarians.



Visit TLNing

Thing 16: Video Sharing

Who does not love YouTube and SchoolTube? It has opened a world of relevant lessons and videos!

I can find the answers to various student questions: What is that? How does it work? What does it look like? We have explored various animals, the subway system in New York City, tap dancing, fax machines, rotary telephones, and more.

This YouTube video is from a North Carolina school librarian. I like the simple and friendly virtual tour of the library.




This TeacherTube video is a helpful way to learn and memorize the US Presidents.

Thing 15: Podcasts and Vidcasts

I had difficulties with Photostory. I could not load onto my computer. I will work on this one at a later date.

Thing 14: More Online Applications and Tools

Thanks to Gloria Miller for introducing Prezi to me! It's very similar to PowerPoint but, in many ways, it is cleaner, less cluttered, and more dynamic. I think it's very appealing to students and faculty, alike.

We have discussed, in class, that it might be nice to teach PPT to primary grades and then, teach older students how to expand the presentation in Prezi.

Here is an example of a Mo Willems presentation: Mo Willems Prezi

Thing 13: Online Applications and Tools

Google Docs was first introduced to me by way of Teachers Pay Teachers. Several of the free items on TpT are accessed through Google Docs. At first, I did not understand the reason but now I know that publishers, teachers, and school districts are not always using the same platforms or versions of the same progra so Google Docs erases those challenges.

I have also used Dropbox to edit documents that were sent to me from my supervisor at my part-time job at The Children's Museum of Houston. She did not want to worry about emailing them since I do not always clean out my email box and sometimes messages with attached files get bounced back.

I think it would nice to use files that were created on my home computer on another device, without worrying about saving to a flash drive or emailing them to myself. I can also see the benefit of teaching students to use online applications so groups can collaborate from home computers/devices and then, present at the school library or in the classroom.

Thing 12 - Microblogging

I have avoided using Twitter because I've already been sucked into Facebook and Pinterest! Eeek!

My user name is @LoopiePalacios. I think I will wait until I have my own library to use Twitter - as a marketing mechanism.

I signed up for Dobie HS's Twitter but noticed that the Tweets dropped off in April. Pasadena ISD has done a better job of using Twitter.

My sister works for MD Anderson and she uses her Twitter account weekly to publicize events and notable articles. I need to ask her advice when I am ready to use Twitter more frequently.

I plan to use it to publicize new books, interesting articles, and more - without community members invading my personal life or private Facebook page.

Thing 11: Play in the Sandbox

"A sandbox is a term that wikis often use to describe the area of the website that should be used for pure play so for this discovery and exploration exercise that is precisely what we will do."

I had only one past experience with Epsilen and I had already forgotten how to use it!

I found the site easy to navigate - I just need more time to explore. I am eager to read more from Pasadena ISD librarians. 

Palacios' Epsilen Corner

Thing 10: School Wikis

Last month, the only thing I knew about Wikis was Wikipedia=BAD. I have since learned that wikis can be useful for students and teachers to communicate and collaborate on projects. Anyone can add or edit content so contributors do not have to HTML to edit or add material.

Unfortunately, several wikis listed on the "23 Things" project directives are no longer timely. I wonder if those teachers found issues with the wiki and if so, what could be the problem? I wish I knew. In addition, most wikis are better suited for middle school students and older.

However, Vicki Davis's Westwood Schools online space, found at http://westwood.wikispaces.com/, is a shining example of a quality and versatile wiki. Vicki Davis also writes for Cool Cat Teacher. Westwood's wiki contains student portfolios, archives for computer and technology classes. It has also won various awards since 2005.

I think wikis are an advanced method of publishing writing, art, and even science projects. Students can collaborate and modify content from their individual home computers. They also provide a method of sharing projects with classmates and various educators. I imagine students researching historical figures, states, and animals and then, publishing on wikis.

Thing 9: Useful Library Blogs

Feedly  is my new BFF! Wow. More virual hoarding! Adding tons to my content list!

New categories:

• School Library
• Public Library
• Library and Book Humor
• Technology
• Teacher Ideas
• Kindergarten
• First Grade
• English and Language Arts

I'm resisting the recipe route though! Enough recipe pins on Pinterest. Feedly needs to be WORK-related! I'm diving in to find useful library blogs, especially from Texan and school librarians. Any suggestions?

Thing 8: RSS Feeds

As I noted before, Google Reader will be defunct after July 1. My cousin, who is also an educator and a blogger, recommended that I try Feedly. I am glad I took his advice! I found this site easy to navigate. I only had two RSS feeds saved in Google Reader, but they tranferred to Feedly almost immediately.

From that point, I did various searches - elementary libraries, public library and kindergarten (my current teaching assignment). Each time I found a blog I liked, Feedly suggested more. Most of those suggestions were helpful and relevant. I saved my blogs in various categories. Later, I can go back and read the posts when I have more time.

I will use Feedly now but continue to avoid Syndic8 and Technorati. Feedly will make more efficient use of my time and help me better organize my blogs. When I begin teaching library lessons, we can use Feedly to search research topics. 

Summer is the perfect time to go through my work emails and transfer information to Feedly for one-stop reading and less email traffic.

Thing 7: Blog Searching

I looked at Technorati today. I was not impressed. This website tracks blogs' usage. You can search by tags or keywords. Neither proved successful for me.

I tried "elementary library" and got three posts about the same subject and several out-dated blogs. Next, I tried "elementary" but that was too vague - elementary art, elementary history, public school blogs, and more. "Elementary" posts were timely but not useful.

Next, I looked at popular tags. Library/libraries were not popular tags. Education led me to adult education topics such as Microsoft Word software. Books would not load - several attempts were made.

When I typed in "23 Things" in blog search, I had varied blogs ranging from "Uppity Negroes" to other MLS projects.

Overall, I found this website unhelpful. I would not recommend to others for research.

Thing 6: Tagging

Before Facebook and Pinterest, I used Delicious on a daily basis. I had already met several teachers on Yahoo groups and Ebay (believe it or not). We wanted a way to share good internet sites without sending a list of our bookmarks, via email. I have friends out-of-state and overseas and this website proved valuable when looking for new ideas. Once I began to use Pinterest, I decreased my Delicious usage, but does have some advantages still. The tags and comments are easier to find. I prefer using Delicious when I am doing research because I depend on my virtual friends' reviews and comments: no advertisements, no marketing, just honest reviews.

Thing 5: Social Networking

I have been using Facebook for almost 6 years. I use it daily to share news with friends and fellow educators. I have also met, in the virtual sense, several teachers and librarians from various schools and cities. We also have a UHCL closed group for people in the LLLS program so we can share links and ideas.

I have "Liked" J. Frank Dobie High School Library's Facebook page because DHS is right next to my school and I would like to know how the librarians are promoting reading to my former students.

I would enjoy having a Facebook page for my school library but I understand that most parents would not be comfortable with young children logging on. Maybe I could invite parents instead. I have found that my coworkers are not comfortable with Facebook because they do not want parents to message them. I have not had a big problem with that and I enjoy using Facebook.

I use Pinterest on a daily basis to do research and collect sites for future projects. I also use Goodreads to see what other teachers are reading and what books they recommend. I think all three websites have helped me become a better, more interesting, and more effective educator.

Thing 4: RSS and Newsreaders

You know how you don't miss something until it's gone? What happens if you found it two weeks before the expiration date? Bummer...

Now that I've explored the Google Reader, I must not get attached because it will be retired on July 1.

The benefits of RSS (Really Simple Syndication) are many. You can subscribe to several blogs/websites and filter through the extraneous information and advertisements. Wish I had known this before! I subscribe to about two dozen educational blogs and sometimes, I don't want to see all those emails. Especially if the information does not pertain to me. For students (and teachers) who get overwhelmed with too much information, RSS is a nice delivery system.

I explored Topix, Syndic8, and Technorati. I disliked the format of Syndic8 - it seemed to be stuck in the 90's, but I will need to explore Topix and Technorati when I have more time.

Now I will need to research Google Reader alternatives and decide which program works best for me and my needs.

Alternatives suggested:

•  The Old Reader
•  NewsBlur
•  Feedly 
•  NetVibes
•  Pulse

Thing 3: Photo Sharing

Summer 2013

What are your favorite pics from this summer?
Add to my album by clicking on the link.
(I need to embed the slide show but that's a work in progress!)

Thing 2: Flickr

My Coffee Table, a photo by kristin82175 on Flickr.

This photo makes me laugh! My coffee table is loaded with books for summer classes, too!

Thing 1: Blogging

1. I teach Kindergarten for Pasadena ISD. This year marked my 13th year teaching and my 11th year with Pasadena ISD. I have taught Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade - not in that order.
2. I currently work at Moore Elementary and am in the classroom, not in the library - yet.
3. I am taking part in 23 Things as part of my LLLS 6336 class, taught by M. Rippy.