Class this week allowed me to learn a great deal about the resources that google has to offer. My favorite google tool was the to-do list. I tend to have multiple lists floating around during the day, now I’m able to have the list up on my computer and modify as needed. Blogger is another tool that I find useful and would love to incorporate that in to the classroom. I do like the fact that with igoogle I can have the resources that are most important to me available in the same location.
Currently I am not using any Google Docs in my professional or personal life. I will be trying and using Google Docs for the courses in the cohort, however I can also see the use of using Google Docs for collaboration. I do collaborate in my professional life, must often with other teachers and librarians in my district, therefore we use shared drives on our network most often. I do see Google Docs being helpful when collaborating outside of the district. It would make it much easier than e-mailing documents back and forth. II do ask students to collaborate, often times they are using the school shared drive in order to do this, much like our teachers. I would definitely like to talk to other teachers who have used Google Docs with their students to see how it has worked out.
What I have learned about PLN’s is that they will give me a place to go with questions. I also am able to find resources and find out different ways of doing things. I plan on joining AASL, YALSA, and WEMTA. I feel like all three of these PLN’s will give me an advantage in the library. I thought AASL had a great deal of information on their website that will be valuable to me as I continue in this profession. When I looked at YALSA I spent a ton of time looking at activities for youth in the library. Lastly, WEMTA is an organization that will help me continue to develop my technology skills for use in the library.
Yes, I do think it is important to have a Library Media Center Web Page. I think in the world today more often than not people check things out first on the Internet. Having a good web page will allow prospective families to see what my library has to offer. Also, I think it is helpful to have links so students can access the databases that are provided at school at home. More parents will enter my school web page then my library, so I think it is important to give useful information for the parents, as well as the students.
Louis Question:
Class this week has effected my professional life because I now am able to use many of the Google Docs to help me achieve success in this class and I have been able to look at how I can incorporate Google Docs into the classroom. Also, I have learned a great deal about PLN’s and have thought about which ones I may want to join. When I was searching PLN’s it was a bit daunting, because there were so many. After discussing some of the PLN’s in class I was able to decide which ones would be right for me to join.
I think once you start using Google Docs in all its forms you will absolutely love it! The fact that you can access your documents from anywhere (because of the "cloud") and the whole possibility of collaboration makes it so valuable. A PLN is so important for support in your position and as a learning tool. WEMTA is an exceptionally helpful and important organization for both print and technology information. I also love Twitter. Regarding a library web page, I love using it as an archive for all the great links I find for my patrons and others that are suggested to me by staff and students!
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