The Library Rap

Hi All,

I just couldn't resist this.  I was watching an old episode of Sliders and was completely caught off guard!! I couldn't stop laughing.. hope you enjoy!

Mac OSX Lion: looks like iPad

Hello happy Apple users!


I just wanted to let you all know that soon our messy applications folder will be designed exactly like our iPad.  Hooray!!!  We will soon be able view, edit, and organize our apps the same on our home machine as we do on our iPad...  Find out more here.
Couldn't ask for more really.. but there is...
Multiple Desktops! 
And....
AUTOSAVE!!!!


Honestly Apple developers... how will you solve my every problem next!?

Watching WMVs on Ipad!!

Hi All,

Quick update.

I found an app that easily allows you to open .wmv (and many other formats) files from your email and watch them on your ipad.

The Ipad is not equipped with this capability on it's own due to it's lack of Quicktime but there is now an easy alternative.

Download "yxplayer2 lite"from the app store.  Then when you download the video in your email you can select it from the "open with" menu that comes up with you touch the video icon.  After selecting it once, it becomes your default!

Happy watching!

Ipad evolution...

Hi.  I'm a Mac :D

I think the most interesting and exciting thing about the Apple iPad are the constant changes and upgrades.  It's almost as if, as soon as I voice a problem or irritation, they find a way to fix it and make it ten times better.  iPad 2 aside... (since I do not have one)... the software updates on iPad are brilliant.
The first major upgrade was OS 4.2...  this turned iPad from a glorified ipod touch into a multitasking genius.  It truly did replace my laptop.  This most recent update to 4.3.3... Now has automatic sinc with my itunes WITHOUT docking it with the computer!

Apple also upgraded "Pages" to include a file system, which it was seriously lacking.
This along with many other apps are updating their features daily to work better together and make the use, creation and transferring of information more streamlined and functional.  More and more apps sinc with Dropbox making it possible to access your files from other computers without the worry of remote desktops (which leaves a wireless window into your computer so you'd better feel REAL comfortable with that 3rd party app creator).

The improvement of Apple's iPad is in part to their own improvements but a great deal of credit MUST go to the creators of the 3rd party apps.  I love not being limited to Apple products but being able to try a slew of notebook apps and deciding which one works best for me.

I know that a lot of these features are not exclusive to iPad.. and YES  we are severely lacking in the FLASH department.  I would love for Apple to get off it's high horse someday soon and give us that little piece of wonderfulness... but for me, iPad is still the way to go.   I think it's mainly a personal choice and there is no wrong choice.  I know some people who have difficulty figuring out iPads but have no problem with the Droid operating system.  This has lead me to an interesting thought.  The choice of tablet is much the same as your choice of PC.  Some people have a MAC brain while others have  PC brain.  The same goes for tablet technology.  The Droid operating system gives me a headache, but hand me anything made by apple and I can figure it out.  It feels intuitive.  I think it all comes down to how your brain is wired...

So... allow me to introduce myself...

Hi.  I'm a Mac :D

Using Wikis in the classroom

What is Wikipedia exactly?

      It's not like every other encyclopedia, where a host of professionals in each field documents information on their topic of expertise.  Sending it to editors and reviewers for fact checking before it is finally compiled and published under a reputable company name like, Groliers, Brittanica, or World Book.

Wikipedia is different. 

It's an encyclopedia of general knowledge. 

But how did the information get there? 

Who put the information there? 

We did.

WE are the professionals. We are the ones who know. Wikipedia is not just another collection of expert knowledge, it is a record of the current knowledge of the public authored by the public itself.
Anyone with access to the internet has the opportunity to contribute to the distribution of information to our peers.

That... is the collaborative nature of the world of Wikis!

Wikis allow you to create a website, that is shared with the public so they can not only read the information, but add, edit, change and comment on the information.
In the case of an encyclopedia this is both a treasure and a curse. ANYONE with any knowledge to share can add this information to the site.  So we get information on a wide variety of topics that may not be available in a mainstream encyclopedia.  However, this then raises a question of reliability. If anyone can add their two cents, then the accuracy of the information needs too be questioned. To battle this, Wikipedia hired moderators and on occasion lock pages about heated topics so they can no longer be edited (especially during election time).
But, while this may not be the most accurate way place to find information, it is an excellent source of the climate of the population. You can see what we know, what we think we know, what our opinions are etc... 

It is also, one collaborative work, authored by the people of the world.

     Now, think about works that can be shared and developed with coleagues, assignments where students can work together, discuss, and create one final product! Not just with their friends in the classroom, but with students all over the world. Accessible from home, from school, from the library, from any device with internet access...The possibilities this technology provides us with are endless.
     I have been using Wikis for over a year now and I have found them to be very useful in many areas of education. I have used them to create assignments for my students, information packets for both students and teachers, lessons, and partaking in online discussions with colleagues where we share ideas about various ways to utilize technology in the classroom.
     One of the best features is you can't forget your stuff at home! For students who are constantly forgetting their materials or just don't want to carry them around find this to be exceptionally useful. All they need is the link and they can access it from anywhere. You can post the link on their Moodle account, on the network, on your library website or in a classroom blog.  Poof! No more excuses.  
     You can upload document files for them to download at home and work on, embed videos and pictures to help illustrate the content.  The interactive features allow you to invite members to help create, discuss, and monitor student understanding, ideas, and progress.

Sharing

You also have the option to keep your wiki private, or leave it open to be searched by other educators.  Likewise you can search for wikis that might suit your needs instead of reinventing the wheel.  By leaving your wiki public you are consciously contributing to the education of other people students as well.  

Talk about collaboration!

There are two main sites designed for education that allow you to create your own wiki.  I prefer wikispaces.  There are a lot of changes you can make in the free version and they also have an education license which is free and gives each one of your students a login to access the wiki.

http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/

http://wikisineducation.wetpaint.com/


Below are links to some examples of how I've used Wiki's in the classroom:


1. This is a wiki designed by me and five colleagues.  The purpose is to walk students through the research process.  We differentiated learning by incorporating videos, images,  games,  and text to access all learning styes.  We combined the methods of the Big6 and ISP:  http://lis629group3researchprocess.wikispaces.com/


2. This is a DBQ I created using Wikis.  The right hand navigating panel allows you to go from page to page.  "Home" is the instructions for the assignment and each page is a different primary source with corresponding questions.  http://dbqgreatdepression.wikispaces.com/


3. This is a wiki that I created for the 9th grade moral issues paper assignment.  They were required to write a three page paper in MLA format.  I created a graphic organizer to help them keep track of their research and an MLA citation template.  I used this in my lesson and each one was given a copy of the link for their own use. http://databasemlacitationlesson.wikispaces.com/


4. This was a fun one!  For Teen Tech week 2011 I created a site where my students could work together to write a story.  They were each given a chance to add 2-3 sentences and then the next person would take over.  We combined this with a Prezi story board presentation (which I'll talk about in another entry).  At the end of the week the story was printed and available in the library.  The Prezi presentation was also playing during the lunch periods on the big screen.  This kids really had fun with this one and it lead a lot of them to write their own complete stories which I displayed in the library.

http://buildastorypjg.wikispaces.com/

Google App Widget for Mac Dashboard!

I just discovered that there is a Mac Dashboard widget for Google Apps!!
It's a direct line to my docs, blogs, calendar, gmail, and other google apps.
This is ten times faster than logging into my gmail, and then clicking the docs button.
Once again... Google blows my mind.
:D


To get the widget:
1. Go to your dashboard
2. Click the the plus sign in the bottom left corner.
3. Manage Widgets
4. More Widgets
5. Choose Category: Business
6. Scroll down to "G"
7.  Google Apps
8. Follow directions to Download!

More on Google Docs

So  Google Docs...
It started out as a simple online document creator and storage and promptly took off into the coolest most universal collaborative online tool out there.
You can upload word, excel, powerpoint and pdf files from your computer for sharing, viewing, and editing.  You can also create these documents directly on the cloud!
For Mac users, you can upload pages and numbers as well but they can not be edited or viewed directly on the cloud.  They CAN be stored however, and downloaded wherever you will need them.
Google also just added video capabilities.  So you can now upload any of your video files (up to 1GB) to be stored, viewed and shared!

But the BEST part?  Collaboration!!!
You can simultaneously access the same document as your collaborator.  You can actually watch each other highlight and edit in REAL TIME!!  Gone are the days of a million copies of one document getting emailed back and forth, trying to keep the versions straight.  Google docs lets you work of ONE copy and it saves a version history so you can either reference the older version, or revert back to it entirely.  This has been a brilliant tool when working with students on their papers, and collaborating with classmates on group work.  Turn on google chat/vid chat (or skype, aim, whatever your fancy)  and you can have your group meeting without actually having to meet!

Now you tell me, why WOULDN'T you use that?!