week 13: the future ... Web 3.0 key questions

Libraries are becoming "active learning laboratories" because many Web 2.0 tools are information/communication based and these types of teaching tools and resources can be used by a teacher-librarian (Wikipedia, blogs, creating wikis).

Wikipedia's definition of Web 2.0 includes "... web applications that facilitate interactive information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design,[1] and collaboration on the World Wide Web ... web-based communities, hosted services, web applications, social-networking sites, video-sharing sites, wikis, blogs, mashups, and folksonomies. A Web 2.0 site allows its users to interact with other users..." .

1. How do Web 2.0 (and beyond) tools transform the traditional role of the library as a place into one characterized as an active learning laboratory?

Since the library is the information epicenter of a school and many Web 2.o tools are information/resource based, it makes sense that Web 2.0 is becoming a big part of the school library. Wikipedia's definition (above) points to a toolbox filled with tools that involve interaction, sharing, collaboration and networking, all of which involve the state of being "active". A traditional (more passive) library does not involve much interaction ... it is more of a "one-way street"; however, a library using Web 2.0 tools becomes an active learning laboratory where students can explore, interact and communicate. Students that are creating wikis for a novel study, for example, are "active" and engaged in learning while they add bits and pieces to their wiki and are collaborating and sharing when asking classmates to contribute to the same wiki site. How about a student adding relevant information to his/her hometown Wikipedia site? If a student is engaged, he is definitely learning something and often, is recognizing the importance of the lesson.

2.How did you construct new knowledge and further development of your teaching philosophies using Web 2.0 tools?

I believe that, as teachers, we must choose how to "speak" to our students so they understand what we are saying. We must also choose teaching tools that "engage" our students in the learning process. Why not use digital tools to teach "digital natives"... and could these tools involve some sort of interaction? This is where Web 2.0 comes into the picture. It makes sense ... Wikipedia, blogs and YouTube (all interactive) are "comfortable" for students as they are often a part of their everyday lives. Throughout this course, I have slowly become more "comfortable" with many of these tools and see the value of using them within my library. The idea of interaction (engagement) is my favourite as it supports my own philosophy and I am happy to have many more tools in my toolbox. I am looking forward to interacting, sharing and collaborating with my students.

Week 13:the future ... web 3.0 reflection on readings

Will the school library become obsolete? What will happen to teacher-librarians? My thoughts on this are simple. As long as we evolve,learn and develop new skills, TLs will be here to stay... who else will be able to guide all of the traffic within the library (the information epicentre)? Within the world of web 3.0, the teaching profession will be there to help guide (and teach)students the ins and outs of new technologies ... to teach students HOW these tools can be used. Our libraries will be information laboratories, with active learners coming and going. Doiron and Asselin refer to "engaging students in new learning environments"...yes, this is it exactly! Just because Google will be even more amazing, that doesn't mean students will know how to use it effectively...this is where teachers step in and teach the "how" and the "where". As the basics of teacher education change, how and what we teach will also change. Our roles will be altered and, as educators, we will keep current and "go with the flow", "flourish and grow", embracing new technology and utilizing what it has to offer. Ken Robinson's very engaging talk on creativity was interesting. I like a few of his comments ... we must "rethink the fundamental principles regarding how we educate our children" and "intelligence is dynamic". His remarks are in reference to encouraging and appreciating creativity but the same words can be applied to using new (web)tools and integrating them into our educational systems. By the way, does Mr. Robinson realize that interaction on the web involves creativity?

"The future's bright, the future is..." full of opportunities! I found this article's approach very positive. Instead of worrying about new technology, why not take advantage of what it has to offer our profession. We will have to adjust some of our ideas in regards to how and what to teach but this is not a bad thing. Rethinking many fundamentals which have been around for a long time will make teaching more effective and current. Yes, it is hard to imagine what new technology will actually be like but in an ever - changing world, let's embrace "the new" and see what "teachers" can do with it. A new definition of (school) education might become necessary because "... emerging technologies will revolutionize teaching and learning...".

week 12: changing collections ... reflections on readings

The readings this week were very interesting and significant, dealing with something most of us do on a daily basis ... access free information online. I am a fan of open access information and agree that free access is "...promoting use and integration of knowledge into the lives of all citizens."(Kopak). Yes, this is a form of "public education". Willinsky echoes this and states, "increased presence is arguably good for the state of knowledge". My feeling is that in a world where information is available, why not use it ... selectively, of course. Let's educate as many as possible. Unfortunately, there are some issues to be dealt with, as everyone seems to be a writer these days, but I say we keep going as long as we can ... knowledge is a good thing.

At the moment, I am not too concerned about Esposito's "cost" issues. Maybe I should be but, right now, I am loving the idea of free information.

My "vision of the future"

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Vision of the future assignment

I will be posting my "vision of the future" assignment on my blog very soon. I put my thoughts together on a power point presentation and then uploaded my file onto slideshare. There was a bit of a learning curve going on throughout this experience! My power point slides did not exactly come through onto slideshare as I had saved them on powerpoint ... the size and style of font seemed to change, things did not look quite right. After a few adjustments, I think that it is much better. Slideshare was a new tool for me ... it looks like it can do many things so I will look to use it in the future (but I will still need some more practice with it!)

Animoto idea for assignment

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

week 11: exploring moodle

I took a further look at a moodle demo this morning and was very impressed. I found it very "user friendly" and intriguing. The features demo was well organized and looked very simple. I like the modules that were listed ... quizzes, resources, lessons, glossaries, surveys and even wikis, to name a few. There are even options available below each feature, providing some direction for those of us new to this type of thing. I like the idea of on-line learning and can understand why Moodle is so popular. For my first attempt at using Moodle I might try the lesson module and create some sort of book response type of activities.