My Growth in Technology

My strengths and weaknesses in technology have changed throughout the semester.  I have been exposed to several new technologies.  I have learned how to set up and post on a blog and I set up a Delicious Bookmarking account for our elementary school library.  I have also set up a Wiki account through our class and have added a wiki.  Exploring the use of a Prezi was fun as I taught a lesson on an instructional strategy. 

I will try to find the time to look into new innovations in technology so that I can continue my education in this area.  I have used a Prezi to teach a lesson on landforms in Social Studies to my third graders and hope to use this tool again as the need arises.  In the near future I plan or exploring Google Books to organize my class library.  I will continue to work on the Delicious account that I built for our school library.  This will involve teaching our librarian how to use and edit the bookmarks.  I hope to continue to learn new technologies as they become available. 

The Job of Organizing

Organizing books and materials used to be in the domain of professionally trained catalogers and indexers. Now, through Web 2.0, it is in the hands of everyday "folk." What are the implications of this trend for librarians? Also, for additional food for thought, go to your Delicious site and examine your list of tags. In your opinion, are these tags more or less helpful than traditional subject headings?

The implication of the trend brought about by Web 2.0 for the librarian is huge.  With the use of folksonomies and social bookmarking, the control that librarians once had will be greatly challenged.  Patrons will come to the library with the expectation of searching for an item in the same way they have been searching and tagging on the internet.  This will pose some frustration for the patron if there hasn’t been some change in the setup of library catalogs.  Since library catalogs are traditionally set up using controlled vocabulary, patrons will likely not find what they are looking for, if they use their own vocabulary.  Librarians are going to need to make these adjustments to keep these patrons happy.  They will need to offer assistance to their patrons until there can be adjustments to embrace this new trend.

On the Delicious bookmarking site you use tags to mark your bookmarks in the way that is rememberable to you.  I can see this to be advantageous to recalling a favorite web page, but I think to keep it organized, you will need to keep the tags somewhat limited so that it is user friendly to you personally.  The use of Tag Bundles will help to keep it all organized.  I am new to Delicious so I may see advantages later on as I use it, that are not apparent to me at this time.

The Machine is Us/ing Us

In the video "Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/Using Us" I think that Professor Wesch gave the video this title because our life revolves around the computer.  We have to check our Facebook at least once a day to feel like we are connected to the rest of the world.  We communicate through IM messaging, update friends, business associates, news, weather, etc. on our phone or email constantly.  We can publish, write, and build web sites through our computers and over the internet.  In the past many of these activities had to be performed by a professional.  Wikis are built by everyday people and are constantly being added to.  Blogs are as much a part of life as breathing is for many.  If these technologies go down, we are lost and feel like our life has been taken away from us.  They control us, but wouldn’t exist without us.  They are “using us” and they are “us.”

Handheld Devices

Your technology director has given you a budget of $10,000 for the purchase of handheld devices in your library. What would you purchase and why?

With the $10,000 budget I have been allotted I will purchase an Apple iPod Learning Lab for approximately $7000.  The lab will include 20 iPod touch devices on a cart that will keep the iPods charged & synced.   The lab will have a protection plan for each iPod. We will purchase 6 Kindles at approx. $150 each.  The rest of the money will be used to purchase apps that teachers can use with the iPods and ebooks requested by students for the Kindles. 

There are many educational uses for the iPods.  They will be used for students who need assistance in reading with prerecorded stories and books, practice of vocabulary words for ELL learners, oral exams, study guides, and podcasts needed by teachers to assist in their lessons.  There are many free materials available from iTunes U that we will use.  We hope to start recording podcasts of classes that can be viewed by students who are absent.  These could also be used by students in ABC School or athletes who miss class due to athletic participation.

The Kindles will be used as a reward for the avid readers according to their accumulated AR points.  They will be checked out to top students on a six weeks basis loaded with a book of their choice.

Educator's Strengths & Weaknesses in Technology

As an educator I have some strengths and weakness in the use of technology. A weakness I have is not having a lot of formal training in technology. I graduated from college before the technology revolution started. I have taken some workshops over the years, but the development of new technology is very difficult to keep up with. Another weakness I have is the time constraints that are involved in learning new technology. While teaching full time and taking graduate courses, along with taking care of my family, my time is very stretched. Finding the time to learn, practice, and implement new technology is a challenge. In spite of my weaknesses I do have some strengths in the technology field. One of those would be my willingness to learn new technology. Many adults my age aren't flexible enough to learn new technology applications. Another strength is I love to work with technology and welcome using it in my classroom. If I can find the time to learn the new technology and I can see the benefit for my students, I am more than willing to use it.


I will continue to look at new technology as it becomes available and seek out training to better prepare me to use this new technology in the educational setting. I will try to be organized so I can make better use of my time. Hopefully, this will provide the time necessary to learn and practice the new skills I will be acquiring in the technology field.