High Tech Learning: Course Materials: Email Archives

High tech learning refers to the constantly evolving hardware, software, and networking tools and resources available to those wishing to acquire knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values through formal instruction or free inquiry. Because of the virtual nature of these digital tools and resources, high tech learning can occur anywhere, anytime.

Start at the Course Home Page. Explore the Course Materials section to read the Syllabus, explore the Calendar, Requirements and Checklist, or access the Course Guide. When you're ready to begin, work your way through the three sections of the course: High Tech Learning, Tools, and Learning Spaces.

Questions? Contact Annette Lamb.

Class Email Archives

You should have received the following message through email. If you didn't get this email, please email me with your current email address so I can add you to the class list.

Update: November 14

The end of the semester is in sight! Only a few more assignments.

ASSIGNMENT
When we think of learning spaces, we generally think of tables and chairs. However it's also important to consider the virtual spaces you're providing for your students and patrons. When you think of your library, consider ways to make your physical and virtual spaces seamless.

Read Spaces: Desktop Spaces http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/desktop/index.htm

It's time to begin work on your next assignment.
Read Fiesta 7: Desktop Spaces http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f7
For this assignment you have 2 options. You just need to pick one of these options.

DUE
I hope you're having fun with Second Life and LibraryThing! Remember, you post your assignment at LibraryThing rather than in Oncourse. Your reply should also be posted in LibraryThing.

Fiesta 6 is due Monday November 16. I'll give you another week (through November 23) to check out the work of your peers at the SLIS-INDY group (http://www.librarything.com/groups/slisindy) in LibraryThing before grading. Remember that 1 of your 10 points is for a HIGH QUALITY reply to a peer in our LibraryThing discussion area.

Also, if you're not able to explore Second Life because of technology issues, let me know and I'll help you find another multi-user virtual environment for this assignment.

Fiesta 7 is due Monday November 23.

FINAL PROJECT
I've had email conversations with a few people about their final project. If you need to bounce ideas around, I'm happy to help. This is a chance for you to try out what you've learned and extend yourself! Try to work on something that's practical and can actually be used by you and others.

Remember, employers are seeking people with technology skills. This should be your best professional work. Develop something that you would be proud to show a potential employer.

GOOGLE DOCS ARTICLE
Here's a new project that some of you may be interested in exploring.
Read Teach Collaborative Revision with Google Docs at http://www.google.com/educators/weeklyreader.html
Weekly Reader staff and connected teachers have come up with tips and checklists for incorporating buddy writing in the classroom. Using Google Docs, students to create their first drafts, brainstorm with and inspire their peers, all while keeping track of each and every change, word replacement and new stroke of genius along the way.

This is one of the many projects being sponsored by Google Education - http://www.google.com/educators/

SECOND LIFE
We had a large group for Tuesday evening's final, optional class meeting. We met at my digital deck, then spent about 90 minutes exploring Second Life. I know some of you had technical difficulties, but don't worry. It's typical for a few people to drop out or to come "in and out" depending on the connection... remember this technology is still pretty new.

If you didn't get a chance to attend one of the tours you might want to explore on your own at http://slurl.wikispaces.com/Newbie+Field+Trip

Remember, in a Real Life (RL) community you'll find adult book stores, strip bars, and crime. The same is true for Second Life. Look for the positive culture experiences including book clubs, author events, live ballet and theatre, science projects, and poetry readings in both worlds.

Some people have asked about how to find cool places and live events. Use the SEARCH button to locate places, people, and events. You'll notice that a majority of events posted involve sex, violence, gambling, entertainment, or shopping. You have to "dig deeper" for the literature discussions, live theatre, and other interesting events. Use worlds like museum, library, literature, and learning in your search. One way to find them is by joining GROUPS. For example, the sLiteracy group holds some wonderful live activities. They've also sponsored a recreation of The Globe Theatre.

For those of you working with young adults, consider Teen Life. Adults are not allowed in this environment. However it's possible to gain special access as an educator or librarian after undergoing a background check.
http://teen.secondlife.com/

PROFESSIONAL NOTE
People often ask me what professional resources I read. One of my favorites is the weekly American Libraries Direct e-newsletter that comes to me through email. You can now subscribe without being an ALA member:

American Libraries Direct
http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/aldirect/aldirect.cfm

MORE ONLINE FUN
If you're enjoying this course, consider taking another one next semester! Between Larry and I we're teaching four online courses this Spring. Learn more about web-based courses at http://eduscapes.com/iupui

SPRING 2010

S603 Electronic Materials for Children and Young Adults
Instructor: Annette Lamb
http://eduscapes.com/earth/
From educational software to informational websites, a wide range of electronic materials are currently available for children and young adults. These materials can help parents entertain and motivate their children. They can also assist teachers in meeting the individual learning needs of children. This three-credit hour course focuses on the evaluation, selection, management, and use of electronic materials for children and young adults including web and computer-based materials. Learners will explore categories of resources and develop materials such as pathfinders and WebQuests to facilitate access and promote learning. They will also develop a database guide to promote the effective use of electronic databases by children and young adults. Issues such as Internet filtering, copyright, and technology planning will also be explored. This course will expand your thinking about the integral role of electronic resources in a comprehensive PK-12 school and/or children's/YA public library setting. Choices allow graduate students with varied backgrounds and interests to select activities that meet their professional needs.

S621 Audio and Video Collections
http://eduscapes.com/seeds/
Instructor: Larry Johnson
Explore ideas and resources to help you grow as a multimedia user, developer, technology coordinator, educator, collection developer, or librarian. This three credit hour course focuses on decision making in the digital audio and video information environment. This includes collection development, management, and organization with emphasis on the evaluation, selection, and use of a wide range of low to high tech audio and visual media. Issues such as access, organization, promotion, multimedia copyright, and censorship will be discussed. Multimedia literacy as well as integration of multimedia resources into the K12 and higher education curriculum and public library environment will be explored. Tools and techniques for sharing and disseminating audio and visual elements will be examined. Finally, remote and emerging technologies will be highlighted.

S532 Information Architecture for the Web
http://eduscapes.com/arch/
Instructor: Larry Johnson
During the past decade, the Internet has become an integral part of schools, libraries, and most other organizations. As we design systems for accessing and applying the vast resources available, skills in information architecture have become critical for librarians, educators and anyone interested in meeting the information needs of people in today's digital world. This three-credit hour graduate focuses on planning, designing, developing, managing, and evaluating web resources. Learners evaluate the content and technical aspects of existing informational, instructional, and promotional websites designed for libraries, schools, museums, and other organizations. They also create web sites using raw HTML, as well as web development tools. Issues such as web accessibility, website management, and copyright will also be discussed. Finally, students design a plan for managing, sustaining, and/or expanding their website.

S574 Information Inquiry for Educators and Librarians
Instructor: Annette Lamb
http://virtualinquiry.com
Whether you're exploring ideas for your next vacation, pondering choices for political office, or examining history or science topics, information inquiry plays an important role in lifelong learning, personal growth, and many aspects of the K12 curriculum. This three-credit hour graduate course is an introduction to the inquiry process and the methods, techniques, and concepts useful in teaching students and other educators the skills associated with information literacy, media literacy, creative thinking, and critical thinking.

Contact either one of us for more information or to answer specific questions.

SUMMER 2010

S603 Flash Multimedia (1.5 credit hours)
Instructor: Larry Johnson
http://eduscapes.com/flash/
Looking for a great, fun way to kick-off a summer of learning? Take the Flash workshop!
Whether you'd like to build effective information tutorials or attention-getting animation sequences, the Macromedia Flash environment is for you. Gain experience with this cutting-edge multimedia technology tool. This course is ideal for beginners with little or no prior experience using Flash software, a web animation authoring tool. The class provides experience developing web-based multimedia materials that contain sound, graphic, animation, and interactive components. Students will be involved in examining and evaluating existing Flash projects, gaining hands-on experience through a series of practical skills-building tasks, and planning and creating a meaningful, authentic final project such as an informational or instructional tutorial, a dynamic simulation, or an engaging multimedia activity. Regardless of whether you're interested in animation applications in library and information science, teaching and learning, or other fields, you'll find lots of practical ideas and develop marketable skills. This course is appropriate for all audiences including all areas of librarianship, education, and information science.

Contact either one of us for more information or to answer specific questions.

Update: November 7

I hope you all had a great Halloween.

READING ASSIGNMENT
Read Spaces: Course Management Systems http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/course/index.htm

Since you've all used Oncourse you're familiar with this course management tool, however there are many other systems available online. Although Blackboard is a popular commercial software option, many school districts and libraries are using open source tools such as Moodle to manage online courses.

If you're ever in the situation of building a course or workshop and you don't have access to a course management system, you can also use some of the social networking tools to build your own course environment. For instance, some library activities are offered using tools such as http://nicenet.org/ and http://www.ning.com/

DUE
You'll be happy to hear that there's nothing due this week.

Work on Fiesta 6 (http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f6). It's due Monday November 16.

Many people are already having a great time in Second Life and at LibraryThing. Join in the fun! Remember that this assignment will be posted in LibraryThing. You might have noticed that there's a discrepancy between the directions and the checklist. You should have 20 LibraryThing entries rather than 10.

Keep in mind that the first question in the Fiesta assignment asks you to compare Second Life and LibraryThing to another Social Network you've tried. That means you need to try MySpace, Facebook, or another social network described on the course pages to make a direct comparison!

A couple people have asked about the Reviews in Library Thing. Add a book, then edit the record for this book. There's a place to add a review.

You're also required to explore the LibraryThing libraries and postings of your peers and make at least one high quality reply. This will be due on November 23.

I think everyone is going to really enjoy this assignment!

SECOND LIFE MEETINGS
I enjoyed e-meeting a few of you a couple of weeks ago for the SL get together and tour. I've scheduled another meeting for those who would like to explore a few other places. Once you've attended a tour, I recommend that you explore some of the sites again on your own. Also use the SEARCH tab to find other places and events of interest.

We'll be meeting at my online office in SL Tuesday (November 10) at 8PM (Indy Time/ Eastern) at my online office in SL. Email me your SL name and I'll send you a TP.

If you're experiencing trouble with SL crashing there can be a number of reasons:
1 - If you have your security set very high on your computer, this can interfere with operation.
2 - If you are using a service provider with a very secure firewall, this can also provide a problem. Try at a different location with a different service.
3 - SL has a problem with the graphics cards on some older computers.

FIESTA 5 DEBRIEFING
I enjoyed exploring your team wikis. They turned out GREAT! All the groups did a super job coming up with unique content. You can find your grades and comments in the Oncourse Gradebook.

It was fun to see the wide variety of projects! As with all collaborative efforts, there are leaders and followers, creators and editors, overachievers and underachievers. A few of you experienced trouble with the virtual conferencing aspect, but that's typical of synchronous activities. It's one reason that I prefer asynchronous formats like threaded discussions rather than chats for teaching and learning.

Many of you are finding Second Life frustrating because it's "real time." While some people would prefer a live book discussion on Second Life, others would prefer the time for personal reflection and posting a book review of LibraryThing. Some people have strengths related to INTERPERSONAL intelligence and love the live, socializing. Others lean toward their INTRAPERSONAL intelligence and prefer tools that involve sharing photos, posting journals, and connecting through delayed written communication.

Many of the wiki groups made good use of the DISCUSSION tab. I find this to be a valuable component of the wiki environment. I was particularly happy with the groups that worked with unique information and collected original, primary source materials.

By the way, a few people wondered how I would know what changes were made by whom. Keep in mind that each page contains a history. In addition, the RECENT CHANGES option on the left side of the wikispaces page contains a master list of all changes and the person making the change. Most wikis provide this kind of information.

If you were frustrated by the wikispace tools, consider other types of collaborative environments. For instance, Google Sites provide a way to create collaborative pages. They also provide a comments feature that's useful in collaborative projects.

FINAL PROJECT
It's time to start thinking about your final project.

Read the guidelines at http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f9

This project is worth 20 points. It is VERY flexible to meet the diverse needs of this class. Try to do something that you are passionate about doing in real life or something you think would look good in your professional portfolio.... Remember, I'm only an email away if you want to bounce around ideas.

Special Update: Second Life Nov 4 & 10

If you missed the earlier opportunities to participate in a Second Life event, you have two more chances.

FIRST - TONIGHT
The following activity isn't related directly to our class, but you can count it as your Second Life experience.

The SIGMS (Special Interest Group for Media Specialists) for the International Society for Technology in Education is sponsoring an Orientation for new users Wed, Nov 4 at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT. If you are new to Second Life, this is your opportunity to learn about the basics of SL in a safe, friendly environment with fellow librarians.

IM Elaine Tulip for a teleport or come to http://slurl.com/secondlife/ALA%20Island/127/103/29 (ALA Island).

SECOND - TUESDAY NOV 10
Since I've offered opportunities on a Sun, Mon, Wed, I thought we'd try a Tuesday.

I'll be offering a virtual tour on Tuesday November 10 8PM Eastern (Indy) time (FYI, that's 5PM SL/Pacific Time). We'll meet at my virtual office at the CAVE: Center for Advanced Virtual Education. If you want to join us, simply email me in the "Real World" with your Second Life name and I'll invite you. I can then teleport (TP) you if you wish. Or, search for Annette Lamb with the "Friend" button in Second Life and invite me as a friend. I can teleport everyone to the same location. You can also use the SLurl below.

RL - Annette Lamb
SL - Annette Olmstead
SL Home - CAVE: Center for Advanced Virtual Education
I hate to be stuck inside on a sunny SL day... My rooftop hangout -
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eduisland%20II/120/6/33/

If this is your first time, you'll register and download the software. Then, you'll go through an Orientation where you follow a path and complete tasks to learn the basics. If you get confused, email me and I'll walk you through it. If you have a slow Internet connection, Second Life may not work for you. I'll take people to a few locations I sometimes visit to help orient you to this interesting virtual world.

We'll be doing Tour 2 on the Newbie Field Trip page and I'll be available to answer questions:
http://slurl.wikispaces.com/Newbie+Field+Trip

Update: October 31 - Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Do you believe that the semester is half over?

You're now more than half done with the course materials.
Fiestas 1-4 have been graded. Be sure to examine the Oncourse Gradebook to check your grades and comments.

DUE
You should be completing revisions on Fiesta 5: Conferencing & Wiki. Revisions are due by Monday, November 2. I will be grading starting November 3, so be certain that you've completed this assignment. Remember that your work should be done on the wikis of your teammates as well as you peer wikis rather than as comments in Oncourse. If you've set your wiki as PROTECTED, you may have requests for membership on your wiki. Be sure to accept these, so your peers can participate in your wiki.

Get started on your Fiesta 6: Social Networks and Virtual Worlds assignment right away. There are a number of elements to complete. It's due Monday, November 16.

ASSIGNMENT
Our next topic involves social networks and virtual worlds. These multi-user virtual environments provide the next generation of learning space. While some of these social technologies are text-based, others are more like living within a video game. Keep in mind that some of these applications take a tremendous amount of bandwidth and may not be realistic for your school or library setting. Also consider that many of these application are not designed for children or even teens.

Read Spaces: Social Networks & Virtual Worlds http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/social/index.htm

Rosenfeld & Loertscher
*Read Chpts 29, 30

Read the assignment - Fiesta 6: Social Networks and Virtual Worlds http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f6

Check out a recent article on Doug Johnson's Blog on Virtual Worlds
http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2009/10/19/virtual-worlds-coming-of-age-guest-post-by-judy-hey-jude-oco.html

SECOND LIFE GUEST TOUR GUIDE
On Monday November 2 at 8PM Eastern Time (Indy Time) Marijke Visser will be our guest guide for a tour of Second Life. Ms. Visser works for the ALA (American Library Association) Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) based in Washington, D.C. You can read her article on virtual worlds titled "We're Virtually There: Collaboration in Second Life" at http://www.eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/social/SLdraft.pdf

If you're planning to attend this event, please email your SL name to Marijke at marijkea@gmail.com so she can be looking for you.

Meet Marijke (known as Aubergine Serpente in SL) at the ALA Story Hour Garden
http://slurl.com/secondlife/ALA%20Island/30/98/21/?title=story%20hour%20garden

If you miss this event, I'll hold one more tour the week of November 9.

If you're not doing anything on Halloween, it would be a fun time to be in Second Life. There are lots of fun parties and activities. Just do a search for Halloween when you're "in world"... that means, in Second Life.

If anyone has recommendations, let me know and I'll share them in a future update.

METAPLACE
Ever wanted to be "first on the block" of a new technology? Keep an eye on metaplace - http://metaplace.com

Although it's still in the early stage, I've been keeping track of this cool new web application I think has lots of potential. The creator is Raph Koster, a well-known game designer and author Theory of Fun in Game Design. One nice thing about Metaplace is that it's web-based so you don't need to download specialty software, so you need the standard Flash plugins.

Anyway, it may have some great teaching and learning applications.

SPECIAL NOTE
Check out the Video Book Reviews at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/kirkusbva/?cds2Pid=21818&linkid=1486607

GOOGLE WAVE
Google's newest tool is called Google Wave. It integrates many of the cool apps into a social and collaborative work environment. Check out the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBzuuWZPaXc

If you want to join, go to http://wave.google.com

HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Be sure to enjoy the Halloween Weekend! We're having a party and we'll post photos on Facebook if anyone's interested.

Special Update: SL Tour Nov 2

This semester we have a guest tour guide for Second Life. Marijke Visser took this course last year and has continued an interest in Second Life. She volunteered to provide a special tour for this class.

OUR GUEST GUIDE
Marijke Visser works for the ALA (American Library Association) Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) based in Washington, D.C. You can read her article on virtual worlds titled "We're Virtually There: Collaboration in Second Life" at http://www.eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/social/SLdraft.pdf

Marijke (known as Aubergine Serpent in Second Life) provided the following overview of her tour:

"Most of the time I have spent in SL has been in the more educational areas and within these areas, I have spent most time in library and higher ed related sims. One thing I was interested in early on was whether people feel more at ease with challenging topics in SL and if so why. I started exploring areas devoted to subjects that have had some controversy associated with them to see how people created the sim and displayed the content. I am curious about the relationship between real life and SL. I also have been very interested in how librarians and professor use SL as a platform for collaboration so I would like to meet up with one professor who holds classes in SL. Places I would like to take you include Non Profit Commons, The Gay History Museum, Stonewall Learning Center, Science Friday, ISTE classroom and for fun- The Ivory Tower of Prim."

VIRTUAL TOUR INFORMATION
Location: Meet at Story Hour Garden
http://slurl.com/secondlife/ALA%20Island/30/98/21/?title=story%20hour%20garden

Time: Monday November 2 at 8PM Eastern Time (Indy Time) for about 75-90 minutes.

If you need a teleport, search for "Aubergine Serpente" under friends in Second Life and invite her to be your friend. She can teleport you to her location if you get lost.

If you're planning on attending, please email Marijke your SL name so she can be looking for you. Ms. Visser's email address is marijkea@gmail.com

If you miss this opportunity, I'll be offering one more tour next week.

SL ESSENTIALS
Where do I start? Go to the Second Life website at http://secondlife.com and download the software. Create an account and give yourself an avatar name. Then, you'll go through an Orientation where you follow a path and complete tasks to learn the basics. If you have a slow Internet connection, Second Life may not work for you. It just barely works for me on my rural line.

Where am I? The coordinates at the top of the Second Life window show your current location including the place name and coordinates that you can save as landmarks and that are used for the SLurls.

How do I find places to go? Use the SEARCH button and seek out topics of interest. Try a search for library, museum, nature, music, etc. Also, you can find lots of interesting SLurls (Second life links) at my wikispaces on the topic at http://slurl.wikispaces.com
What if I run into things? Don't worry about it. I've been in SL a long time and I still run into walls.

SLurl LINKS
If you want to go on our own tour, check out my Newbie tours at http://slurl.wikispaces.com/Newbie+Field+Trip
These are the tours I'll be hosting over the next couple weeks.

When you want to create your own Second Life links, go to http://slurl.com/build.php.
When you're in Second Life, notice that your location shows up as a place name and 3 coordinates. You used these to create a SLurl.

If you can't join the Monday group, we'll have one more meeting next week. If you can't attend, you can also meet in Second Life with a couple other classmates and take your own tour. Or attend other SL events that I've been posting through your updates. Just be sure to report on this experience in your assignment. If this doesn't work out, let me know and we'll see if we can arrange another group meeting.

Update October 23

Hey everyone -

ASSIGNMENTS AND DUE DATES

There are no new readings. Concentrate on creating your own content for your wiki.

You'll need to work hard this week to complete the wiki project on time.

Fiesta 5: Conferencing & Wiki is due Monday October 26. Be sure a member of your group has placed the URL of your wiki in Oncourse.

You get another week for editing and revising your wiki, so all revisions and comments should be made by November 2. I will grade later that week.

You're required to make wiki additions. BE SURE that when you revise a peer's page that you add a comment to the wiki discussion tab detailing why you added or changed the information. Remember you also need to make a substantial content contribution to another group's wiki.

You need to make your wiki available to classmates, so you with need to make your wiki PUBLIC or be sure to ACCEPT when a classmate requires access to your wiki.

FIESTA 5 REMINDERS
It looks like all of the groups are now rolling. You're getting a "real world" experience with the fun and frustrations of collaborative learning. Like face-to-face collaboration, there are pros and cons. I find email useful for some types of projects and live conferencing good for other kinds of planning. Any time you try to get people together there are going to be glitches whether it's a flat tire on the way to a face-to-face meeting or an electrical outage during a virtual conference. The same is true of the collaboration. You've always got some students who do more work than others.... keep in mind that the value of collaboration comes from the synergy of shared ideas and ability to create something unique from your combined expertise.

A few people are not responding to the communications from their teams. If you get behind, be sure to make contact with your team members. To get the points for the live collaborative element, you MUST participate in at least one exchange.

WIKI CREATION
As you create your wiki remember that one of the cool parts of a wiki is the way it interconnects, so look for ways that your pages link back together as part of a whole. Of course you'll link to all of the pages on the first page or overview page... but don't just make a list... try creating a narrative with embedded links like wikipedia, showing them all on a map or another way to bring them together. Also, design it so other people could come in at a future date and add to the project. For example, could the people in a subsequent class come in next semester and add to the project? Wikis are intended to be living, growing documents, not just "one time" static pages.

Also remember that you can cross link the pages. For example let's say your group is focusing on Farmer's Markets of Indiana. You might have a sentence that says.... "The size of the farmer's market at Place X, Place Y, and Place Z are the same". Be sure to make links to Place X, Place Y, and Place Z pages you've made.

So... you need to look at the work of each other and seek inter-connections. For example you might look at Place X and see that farmer's market opened in the same year as Place Y. You might add a sentence that says "During the 1960s, many communities formalized their farmer's market including Place X and Place Y." Or, If you're responsible for the Place X section, you might add sentence to the Place Y history page that says "Like Place X, the Place Y market had always been held on a Saturday."

The CONNECTIONS make this a much more high level thinking activity. It's not just place, history, and present day... but also, a comparison.

WIKIs and COLLABORATION
A growing body of research on wikis is showing that even those people who think of themselves as "team players" have difficulty truly working collaboratively. People are used to making their individual contribution rather than critically evaluating the work of themselves and others and expanding on this work. A poor collaboration ends up as a patchwork of postings, while a well-coordinated collaboration can produce an exciting, original creation.

WIDGETS
I realized that I added widgets to the Fiesta 5 wiki assignment, but I forgot to adjust the readings and directions.

Actually we don't talk about widgets in-depth for a few weeks. However you'll want to check them out, so you can embed one in your wiki.

Widgets (sometimes known as gadgets) are self-contained, mini-applications. These mini apps can be downloaded and run on your desktop or embedded on your web page. If you maintain a blog or participate in a social network, you've probably seen widgets at work displaying the current weather, showing a world map of users, or offering a game of Suduko. Particularly popular in Facebook, widgets can easily be placed in any web page including wikis.

Go to http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/interactives/index.htm
Then scroll down the page.

Also, here are the directions for adding them to your wikispaces wiki.
http://blog.wikispaces.com/2008/01/wikispaces-widgets.html

FIESTA 4 DEBRIEFING
You can find your Fiesta 4 grades in the Oncourse gradebook. I really enjoyed reading everyone's blogs and watching/listening to your media elements. I hope some of you get a chance to try this approach in your school or public library settings. Like all technology, the initial learn time is high but once you get the kinks out of the system you can really start having fun.

Overall your blogs were wonderful. Keep in mind the difference between a traditional web page and a blog. Rather than a static page, blogs are designed to get outsiders actively participating in your content. Some of you did a wonderful job with this aspect of the assignment. You encouraged patrons to submit their music, book reviews, concerns, creative writing, photographs, or other content. Others asked deep questions or provided prompts for interesting discussions. I know some people are concerned about spam, however this is VERY infrequent. You can set up your blog so you can moderate the comments and/or be notified of comments. Or you can provide young people with a username and password to use when they participate.

A few people got caught up in the issue of "reverse chronological order" and having a "finished product." Keep in mind that the idea of a blog is that new postings would continue to be added to the top of the page for the duration of the project. There may never be a "finish" if people continue to add new postings and additional comments. For instance, you might keep a "hot books" blog that highlights popular books and challenges readers to solve a problem or post their perspective. This may go for years... with no particular end in sight. If you're concerned about new people understanding what they're supposed to "do".. consider a link near the top on the side or in the header that takes people to an overview of the project.

Some people were overwhelmed by the idea of constant updates. Remember, there are many kinds of blogs. Some are only updated when new materials come into the library, when focusing on book award events, or when working on a creative writing unit. Think of it like a mini-newsletter that's interactive!

Many of you included Web 2.0 applications such as GoAnimate, slideshows, embedded audio/video, and widgets. There are endless options available. I hope you continue to explore the possibilities on your own.

SECOND LIFE
I don't want to distract anyone from their Wiki project, but I do want to provide another "heads-up" on the next assignment. One aspect of the social technology assignment (Fiesta 6) is a cool online Multi-User Virtual Environment called Second Life. I'd suggest that everyone join Second Life (http://secondlife.com/) for free.

I've already held one "virtual field trip" for a few members of the class last Sunday evening. I'll be holding a couple more "virtual field trips" over the next few weeks for anyone who would like to meet virtually and do some exploring. This virtual world is a wonderful example of the next generation of social networking. If you're interested, go to the Second Life website and download the software. Work your way through the screens until you enter the world. When you arrive, you'll have the chance to choose a name and create an avatar (the virtual you). This island will also teach you some skills in moving around the virtual world.

I'm not going to schedule another Second Life tour until after Halloween. I'd suggest that you get a Second Life account and work your way through Orientation Island between now and then. I'll announce a time for some optional class get-togethers next week.

Second Life will only work with a fast Internet connection and it's blocked in many schools. As such, some members of the class may not be able to participate.

Special Update

Be sure to read both of these opportunities.

FINAL PROJECT IDEA
Looking for a project that would be fun AND make you some money? Check out the ISTE contest that's running the next couple weeks. You could easily incorporate these as elements for your final project.

Six Sounds in Search of an Author Contest
http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ProfessionalDevelopment/Six_Sounds_Contest_1.htm

Foley Art Contest
http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ProfessionalDevelopment/Foley_Art_Contest.htm

SL MEETING REMINDER
Remember that SUNDAY evening is one of just THREE opportunities to participate in the REQUIRED class Second Life events.
The first Second Life virtual field trip will be held on SUNDAY OCTOBER 18 at 8PM Eastern Time (Indiana Time). FYI, that's 5PM SL/Pacific Time.

Update October 17

Hey Everyone -

ASSIGNMENT
If I just had to choose one of the new technologies to rave about, it would be the collaborative aspect of the web. One of my favorite examples is the use of Google Docs (http://docs.google.com) to create a collaborative word processing document, spreadsheet, or presentation. During the last year I've used this tool for collaborative grant writing, report writing, resource sharing, and presentation creation. Wikis are particularly nice because they make collaborative website building a breeze! Keep in mind that Wikispaces is giving away 250,000 free wikis for people who are using the space for teaching and learning purposes... that includes you!

Read Spaces: Collaborative Web with Wikis http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/collaborative/index.htm

Rosenfeld & Loertscher
*Read Chpts 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

BE SURE TO READ all the first page and all the subpages at http://eduscapes.com/sessions/wiki/

DUE
Post your peer reply for Fiesta 4 by Monday October 19.
Work on Fiesta 5. It's due October 26.
After you post the wiki, you have one week to post the required additions before I begin grading.

WIKIS
As you're finalizing your topic, BE SURE to consider a topic that provides a unique contribution to the web. Also, keep in mind that the key feature of a wiki is the ability to TRULY collaborate. Two features makes collaboration easy: the DISCUSSION and HISTORY tab. Each wiki tool is different, but they all have these two aspects.

The DISCUSSION aspect allows collaborators to share their ideas, justify changes that have been made, and hold discussions related to the wiki page. This discussion feature works like any other forum too and can be used for all kinds of interaction about the page. Wiki creators could even invite readers to post comments using the Discussion features similar to how a blog works.

The HISTORY aspect allows collaborators to make comparisons between earlier and later versions of their week. It's also possible to see "who" did "what" when grading making it a nice tool in teaching and learning. When using it in process writing, teachers can help young people see how a page changes through the revision and editing process.

As you build wiki pages, be sure to also update the NAVIGATION bar on the left side. There's a separate EDIT link to open and edit this area. If you're looking for this page, it's simply called "space" on the list of pages.

Be sure to think about navigation. You'll want to edit the sidebar as well as provide directions and navigation options of some kind on each page to guide users through your wiki so they can find your pages.

If you want to encourage others to participate, be sure to provide guidelines or directions.

FIESTA 5
A few people don't seem to be responding to the collaborative activity for Fiesta 5. This is a REQUIRED activity, so please make contact with your group immediately. If you aren't an active participant in the activity, it will impact your grade!

If you need the email addresses of anyone in your group so you can contact them directly, let me know. You can also send individual messages in the MESSAGE AREA of Oncourse.

The group assignments were posted in the last email. If you need to review the list, go to http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/archives.htm

FUN VIDEO OF THE DAY
Check out this great copyright video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJn_jC4FNDo

JUST FOR FUN
Keep looking for new collaborative online tools. For example, check out Mywebinspiration (http://www.mywebspiration.com/) and Gliffy (http://gliffy.com). They allow people to use a shared workspace to collaborate on ideas and create concept maps... very cool!

Special Second Life Update: Meeting Sunday 8PM

The first Second Life virtual field trip will be held on SUNDAY OCTOBER 18 at 8PM Eastern Time (Indiana Time). FYI, that's 5PM SL/Pacific Time.

REQUIREMENT
One of the requirements for Fiesta 6: Social Technologies and Virtual Worlds is to participate in a Second Life event. You still have a few weeks until this requirement is due, but I want to make certain that no one misses this requirement.

I'll provide three "newbie field trips" to orient you to Second Life. On these 60-90 minute virtual tours, I'll show you some useful locations in Second Life. You will need to get a free Second Life account and work your way through the Orientation before the class event. You'll also want to do a little exploring on your own. This activity will REQUIRE a fast connection. It won't work with dial-up.

We'll meet at my virtual office at the CAVE: Center for Advanced Virtual Education. If you want to join us, simply email me in the "Real World" with your Second Life name and I'll invite you. I can then teleport (TP) you if you wish. Or, search for Annette Lamb with the "Friend" button in Second Life and invite me as a friend. I can teleport everyone to the same location. You can also use the SLurl below.

If this is your first time, you'll register and download the software. Then, you'll go through an Orientation where you follow a path and complete tasks to learn the basics. If you get confused, email me and I'll walk you through it. If you have a slow Internet connection, Second Life may not work for you. It just barely works for me when I'm using my satellite.

If you can't join us Sunday evening, we'll have a couple more meetings over the next several weeks. If you can't attend any of those times, you can also meet in Second Life with a couple other classmates and take your own tour. Or attend other SL events that I've been posting through your updates. Just be sure to report on this experience in your assignment. If this doesn't work out, let me know and we'll see if we can arrange another group meeting.

SL FAQs
Where do I start? Go to the Second Life website at http://secondlife.com and download the software. Create an account and give yourself an avatar name. Work your way through the Orientation island moving along the path to each sign. If you can't make it to the end, try flying to the white building. You can click the sign and get to the Help island. From there, you can go anywhere.

Where am I? The coordinates at the top of the Second Life window show your current location including the place name and coordinates that you can save as landmarks and that are used for the SLurls.

SLurl LINKS
If you want to go on our own tour, check out my Newbie tours at http://slurl.wikispaces.com/Newbie+Field+Trip
These are the tours I'll be hosting over the next couple weeks.

Update October 10

This email is chuck-full of important information, please don't skim it. Read it carefully.

TECHNOLOGY INFUSION
As you continue to work your way through the Fiesta assignments, remember that the class isn't just about learning new technology skills. As you explore the readings and examples be sure to be thinking about their applications in the learning of your patrons and students. In other words, consider ways that technology can be used in accessing, recording, and communicating ideas. As you're providing reference assistance for a patron on gardening questions, you might suggest that the person keep a digital photojournal of their garden using a digital camera. As you're talking to students and teachers about class projects, why not create podcasts or develop a team wiki rather than writing a traditional report? As you discuss family history with a grandmother, why not introduce online tools for sharing family photos and slide shows? With the many online tools available, library services can go beyond simply providing information. Librarians can guide patrons through the creation of their own personal and professional information resources that can be shared online.

READINGS
There are many tools for live text, video, and audio conferencing. These tools are constantly changing.

Read Spaces: Virtual Conferencing http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/virtual/index.htm

If you haven't used Skype, be sure to do it. We're currently in Austin Texas babysitting for my sister and her husband. They're in Europe for their 10th anniversary. I'm not sure the 2 and 5 year old could be away from their parents for 2 weeks without Skype. We're able to communicate through video (image and audio), every day... for FREE! Skype allows 2 way video over the Internet from anywhere in the world.

ASSIGNMENT
Read Fiesta 5 - http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f5
This activity involves collaborating with a small group, so it's a good idea to get started early! I know some people LOVE and other people HATE collaboration. However technology can overcome some of the barriers sometimes found with collaboration by overcoming the issue of time and space.

One group has formed itself. I'm assigning the rest of the people to the last four groups. If you aren't already organized, one member of your group should go ahead and start a thread in the Fiesta 5 area of Oncourse to get your group e-talking. You might also want to contact each other through email. Remember, part this assignment is to experience a variety of online tools for planning, collaborating, and creating. If a member of your group isn't responding, let me know. If they continue to be absent from your conversations, just move on without them. I know some people need to get started immediately, so please jump in. Don't wait until the last minute.

Team 1 - Anne Hatke, Allison Boswinkle, Jennifer Hilgeman, Jessica Scheidt
Team 2 - Lajmar Anderson, Karen Bower, Mike Bullard, Holly Curtsinger, Linda Elefheri
Team 3 - Clayton Higbee, Patti Kovach, Shelly Main, Rebecca McDole
Team 4 - Lori Miller, Jacob Moore, Tonya Murphy, Sherri Parker
Team 5 - Sue Reber, Colette Ryan, Anna Sayers, Katie Schultz, Jillian Stange Starek

There are two forums in Oncourse related to this assignment.

FIRST - Fiesta 5: Team Wiki Address - Use this area when you're ready to share your group project with the class.

SECOND - Wiki Team Planning - Use this area to start a discussion with your team mates and do some planning.

DUE
Read Fiesta 4 - Blogs, Podcasts & Videocasts is due Monday October 12.
Please be sure to check your links and be sure they work.
Be sure to post your URL in Oncourse.
Be sure to post a quality reply to a peer's blog OR in Oncourse. You have ONE WEEK to make this reply.

FIESTA 4 SUGGESTIONS
Be sure to check out the work of your peers from Fiesta 3. It may give you some ideas.
If you're still looking for ideas, consider using podbean. It's a great tool for simply podcasts. Check out at http://www.podbean.com/

FIESTA 3 DEBRIEFING
Your grades for Fiesta 3 have been posted. Great job!

I'm had a great time grading Fiesta 3... it sounds like most of you had fun creating your audio, video, and animations! Most of the problems seemed to center on uploading files rather than creating the projects themselves. I've made a list of ideas that might be helpful in future projects:

LINKING TO WEB PAGES - Remember that you can upload files to your MY WORKSPACE area in Oncourse. Then you can create a link to the audio, video, or other files from your blog or wiki project.

EMBEDDING - Many of the tools provide directions to EMBED the video or slideshow in a blog or other type of web page such as Google Sites. Consider using these directions. For instance, YouTube provides this code on the right side of each page. Just follow the directions.

AUDIO PROBLEMS - In Windows there are two system settings: one for recording and one for playback. Be sure check the volume control, this can help the quality in audio recordings made in Windows. You can find this area by going to the sound option on the bottom task bar, then choose Properties and check the menu options.

FILE FORMATS - Remember that tools like Movie Maker and PhotoStory are Windows products, not open source. When you complete your project it's important to save or export files to WMV rather than using the Movie Maker or Photostory files. Then, people without MovieMaker and Photostory can still enjoy your projects. This exporting procedure also compresses the file so it doesn't take as much space.

COPYRIGHT ISSUES - A number of you used background music from published works. Be sure to consider the copyright implications. If you're using it within a class project and only sharing with the class, it's okay to simply cite the work. However if you're sharing on YouTube or other public areas, you need to get permission to use these works. Tools such as PhotoStory come with an option to produce background music. This is a good option for projects you might use in your library or publish on the web.

FLASH - No one chose to use Flash for this assignment. This is a difficult software package, but very popular for web-based applications. We offer a 1.5 credit course to learn this software. It will be offered again next summer.

Update October 3

Hey Everyone -

A couple months ago I did workshops for academic librarians on the use of technology in libraries and learning.
Check out the resources at
Thinking Outside the Book: Doing More with Less in the Academic Library
http://www.eduscapes.com/sessions/opal/

ASSIGNMENTS
Blogs, Podcasts, and Videocasts are some of the hottest technologies of Web 2.0. As you explore the technology, consider all the ways they can be used in teaching and learning. From personal journals to global sharing, the possibilities are endless. Be sure you do your readings before you jump into making your blog. Explore the wide variety of tools and options.

Read Spaces: Blogs, Podcasts, & Videocasts http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/blogs/index.htm
Read Blogs: Blogging http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/blogs/blog.htm
Read Blogs: Audio Sharing http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/blogs/podcast.htm
Read Blogs: Video Sharing http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/blogs/videocast.htm
Read Blogs: RSS http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/blogs/rss.htm

Rosenfeld & Loertscher
*Read Chpts 25, 26, 27, 28, 32

Read Fiesta 4 - Blogs, Podcasts & Videocasts http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f4
Fiesta 4 is due Monday, October 12.

You have until Monday to post replies to Fiesta 3. I'll be grading your Fiesta 3 projects the middle of next week after the replies are all posted.

MULTIMEDIA IN BLOGS
With many blog tools, you can use the same feature that's used to upload photos to upload other kinds of files such as audio, video, and animation. Then you can link to them like you'd link to a website or picture. Remember, you can also use your Oncourse space to upload documents, then link to them. Also, explore some of the online resources I've provided for audio and video blogs.

Please let me know if you run into any trouble. I'm happy to help.

BOOK BLOGS
Check out the best book blog awards at http://bookbloggerappreciationweek.com/index.php/awards

Check out the blog of one of our former students who now works that the Allen Co. Libraries at http://bellabookclub.blogspot.com/
She's also started a Bella's Book List Googlesite at http://sites.google.com/site/bellarecommends/

Update Sept 26

Hey everyone -

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY FIESTA DEBRIEF
You all did a great job on Fiesta 2. It was fun seeing the wide variety of subjects and teaching/learning ideas. Check the Gradebook for your grade and comments.

I didn't provide a lot of directions on using the Google Sites because each web page development tool is different and I wanted you to do a little experimenting. Most of you did a great job getting your projects posted. Many of the "high tech" environments require using trial and error to make it work. The same is true of digital cameras... practice is the key.

A couple people noted that their cameras were slow to react. Many digital cameras automatically display the photo in the LCD immediately after it's taken. This takes battery power and also slows the reaction time if you want to take another photo immediately. Check your documentation. You can turn off this feature for faster reaction time for multiple shots.

Finally, a few of you discovered the free software tools that come with your camera. Also, there are many free online tools besides the ones I suggested. Many of these accompany website photo sharing tools such as Flickr.

ASSIGNMENT
Now that we've explored the tools (text, illustration, sound, video, 3D/animation), it's time to consider how these can be integrated into the learning environment. What do high tech learning spaces look like?

Read High Tech Learning Spaces http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/index.htm
Read Learning Spaces: Email http://eduscapes.com/eduscapes/hightech/spaces/email/index.htm
Read Learning Spaces: Forums http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/forums/index.htm

Rosenfeld & Loertscher
*Skim Parts 4-5

For those of you interested in working with young people, you might also be interested in the following article:
14 Ways K-12 Librarians Can Teach Social Media by Joyce Valenza (Sept 21, 2009)
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1340000334/post/1230049123.html

DUE
Fiesta 3 is due Monday September 28.

Keep in mind that you need a short paragraph description in addition to the project itself.
This project requires that you explore the work of your peers AND provide a reply. You have ONE WEEK after the due date to make your reply, so reply by October 5.

AUDIO & VIDEO
For many members of the class, this is their first audio or video. Others have experience with video editing and web publishing. Remember, it doesn't have to be sophisticated. Most still digital cameras have a video recording option. This file can be placed directly on the web.

Also, if you're having trouble uploading try it in the evening and just let it upload... it may take a LONG time to upload to Oncourse. If you use the Oncourse space, be sure to make your video accessible to the public so we can see it. Also keep in mind that you can use one of the many Web 2.0 services discussed in the online readings.

SCHOOLTUBE and TEACHER TUBE
Consider using SchoolTube or TeacherTube if your video has instructional value... so if you create a tutorial in how to check out a book, you could put it on one of these website. They even provide instructions for embedding your video in a blog. I've updated the directions on our Audio and Video page to include these instructions.

VIDEO CONTESTS
A video contest is a great way to involve patrons in developing their own videos. Check out the video winners from the New Jersey State Library
http://www.facebook.com/video/?id=42285629204

POWERPOINT
A couple people experienced trouble exporting their PowerPoint projects with movies and sounds.

If you're exporting a PowerPoint with sound, try these:
One option is to save as a PowerPoint Package and this will embed the sounds. Choose SAVE AS and look at the file type options.
Or, see if you have the PACK AND GO option under the File menu.
Or, older versions of PowerPoint have a setting in Options or Preferences for whether sounds should be exported. This option is sometimes within the area where you record a sound.

If you're exporting with a movie, you need to upload the movie along with the PowerPoint. It actually links the movie rather than embedding it. Again, it depends on your version of PowerPoint.

Be sure to try your project on someone else's computer to be sure it downloads

COOL NEW TOOL
Google Docs has added a presentation tool. Along with word processing and spreadsheets, you can now create presentations similar to PowerPoint! One advantage of Google Docs is the ability to collaborate on a project online! http://docs.google.com

We went to the orchards and I took some photos. I created an example called Orchards of Capitol Reef NP. You can view it at http://docs.google.com/Present?docid=ddzhd9fc_2dhwnp9&fs=true

Unfortunately, it doesn't have an option for audio and video next, but I bet it will eventually.

PRACTICAL FIESTA #6 FUN FOR BANNED BOOKS WEEK
We'll be talking about virtual worlds a little later in the semester. However if you'd like to have some fun and get a little ahead in the class, consider attending the Banned Book Week activities for ALA in Second Life. This can be applied to your Fiesta #6 assignment due in November.

Here's the information:
Join us for a Special AASL-SIGMS Learning Community Mtg – “Banned Book Week and the Children’s Librarian”
... Tues, Sept 29 at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT.
... Join fellow school librarians for a lively discussion on issues related to intellectual freedom, censorship, school selection policies, and tips for celebrating Banned Book Week in your school. Come and share your favorite stories!
... IM Elaine Tulip for a teleport or come to http://slurl.com/secondlife/ALA%20Island/127/103/29 (ALA Island).
If you are new to Second Life, set up an account to join us:

1. Go to the Second Life website at http://secondlifegrid.net/programs/education several days in advance to set up your free basic account.
2. Verify that your computer and connectivity meets the systems requirements at http://secondlife.com/support/sysreqs.php.
3. Click on the orange “Get Started!” button. Go through the subsequent screens to create your avatar account.
4. Download and install the Second Life viewer software at http://secondlife.com/support/downloads.php.
5. Open the software and log into Second Life using your avatar first name, last name, and password. Watch your avatar “be born”. Complete the orientation activities to learn about how to communicate, move, search, and edit your appearance.
6. When finished, search “Places” for locations such as Chicago Public Schools, ISTE, or the American Library Association. Teleport to a favorite location, explore, and become acquainted with Second Life. (When searching, make sure the “search mature places” square is checked.)
7. Fifteen minutes prior to scheduled meetings, log on and use provided SLURL to teleport to the ALA main stage.

Update Sept 19

I hope you're enjoying the fall weather. Our aspens are turning beautiful shades of yellow.

ASSIGNMENT
Over the past several years, there's been lots of advanced in 3D and Animation tools. In addition, there's a new wave of online tools that allow the creation of 3D Graphics, Animation, Slide Shows, and other multimedia activities.

Some of the high-end tools such as Flash require a high level of skill. If you're interested, consider taking Larry Johnson's online course in Flash.

For those of you who are beginners, look for a tool that's easy to use but has features that meet your needs. For instance, Animation-ish (free trial version available) is a simple software package for all ages.

Read Tools: 3D & Animation http://eduscapes.com/hightech/tools/animation/index.htm

DUE
You'll be happy to hear that nothing is due this week. However it's time to get working on Fiesta 3. It's due September 28. Then, you'll have a week to post a reply to the work of your peers.

Plan ahead. Don't wait until the last day to try to get your project uploaded and shared in Oncourse.

GRADES
Your grades and comments have been posted for both Fiesta 1 and Fiesta 2. Let me know if you have questions.

FIESTA 1 DEBRIEFING
I really enjoyed reading about how many of you view yourself as learners. Particularly with technology it's easy to use the tools you already know rather than investigating new possibilities. It's important to stretch and learn new things. You all did a great job exploring new software opportunities.

Keep in mind that Internet companies come and go. It's a good idea to keep a back-up of the work you do online. Consider using well-known companies such as Google that have been around for a while.

A few of you had trouble with file formats. Keep in mind that when you save images in proprietary software the person using the image must also own that software. If you just choose SAVE in Photostop, it creates a .psd file. Only people with Photoshop can open these files.

When you save, examine the file extension. Images saved as .JPG, .GIF, and the open source option .PNG can be uploaded and shared on most web pages. Most software applications have the option to SAVE AS or EXPORT under the File menu. This allows you to save as different file formats.

FIESTA 2 DEBRIEFING
I enjoyed exploring your digital photography projects. I know that using Google Sites was frustrating for some of you, but learning to use a template-driven web development tool is a very practical skill. In a library setting, it's something that you can easily teach a staff member or volunteer. A quick web-site is very useful for promoting library programs and sharing program experiences. For instance, you might develop a site to promote your summer reading program.

From commercial products like PhotoShop and Fireworks to freebies like Paint.net and GIMP, you all did a great job exploring the options available in the photo editors. Keep these in mind the next time you do a library promotional brochure, step-by-step directions for the photocopier, or other visual applications.

Many of you created wonderful tutorials and step-by-step instructional materials. What was missing from many of the projects was a connection between your specific example and the larger approach to teaching and learning. Many of you used great techniques such as "over the shoulder" shots, labeled photos, and close-ups, but few of you provided an explanation of WHY you thought your approach would be effective in teaching and learning. As you design instructional materials, think about how each photo contributes to the experience. How do the use of techniques such as close-ups impact learning? How do the captions interact with the photos to make the experience more effective?

FIESTA 3 IDEAS
As you think about audio and video, consider a project that really makes use of the characteristics of the media. In other words, audio allows people to hear the passion and excitement in your voice. Video allow you to show motion sequences or a series of related still images. How will you use the power of the medium?

As you examine the requirements for Fiesta 3, keep in mind that you aren't required to use the hardware and software I suggest. For example, if you want to use the audio recording features of PowerPoint, that's fine. Or if you're interested in learning a higher-end video editing package, that's great too. Pick something at your interest and ability level.

Keep in mind that you'll need to share your project so it can be viewed by others. You may also want to share your "raw file" For example, PhotoStory 3 generates an application file with the .wp3 file extension. The program also allows developers to create a .wmv file that can be viewed with Windows MediaPlayer. You should upload BOTH versions.

Finally, BE SURE to test your project. In other words, try it on another computer to be sure that your audio comes through. This is particularly important with PowerPoint because not all PowerPoint versions automatically embed the audio.

If you want something fun AND easy, try downloading Audacity. You can create audio clips that can be saved as MP3 files and uploaded to blogs and wikis. They can also be placed in Word documents or other programs. In most cases, you add an audio file very much like you'd insert an image.

Also remember that you can add audio to online slide shows such as VoiceThread.

ALERT: RESIZING PHOTOS FOR SLIDE SHOWS AND VIDEOS
When working with photos for the web, it's a good idea to resize to smaller dimensions such as 300 or 400 pixels. HOWEVER when using photos in Photostory or PowerPoint, you want to be sure that they are large enough to view on the full screen. Dimensions such as 600x800 pixels or 768x1024 pixels work best.

SCREEN READING TIP
I know some of you have difficulty reading off the screen, here are a few tips:
1 - Enlarge the size of the font. All web browsers provide an option to increase the VIEW size.
2 - Reduce the width of the screen so it's not so wide to read across the lines.
3 - Use your mouse to drag down the text line by line as you read. The text will be highlighted making it easier to read. It may seem like something young readers would do with a bookmark, reading line by line. However I find that it's easier to keep track of your place on the page.

Have a great week!

Update Sept 12

Just a quick note to remind you of the importance of these class updates. Be sure to read them carefully. They contain essential information about assignments, projects, and "how tos" to make completing assignments easier.

EARLY PLANNING FOR FIESTA 5
I know it's seems very early to be talking about Fiesta 5, but let's do some early planning. We are going to be working in teams for the Fiesta 5. If you'd like to create your own team, you need to EMAIL ME by OCTOBER 9 with the team members. You need 4-5 members in your team. In the OCTOBER 10 class update, I will send a master list of teams. I will randomly assign people who have not already created a team. Last year we only had 1 "pre-created" team, the rest were randomly assigned.

ASSIGNMENTS
Audio and Video are technology elements that are growing in popularity. In the past, multimedia files were difficult to create, upload, and use. Today, anyone with a microphone or digital camera can produce high-quality productions.

The key to effective audio and video is brevity. Stick to direct, quick expressions of your idea. Rather than a 5 minute movie, see if you can edit your script to 90 seconds. Or, maybe 3 one-minute, mini-movies.

Read Tools: Sound http://eduscapes.com/hightech/tools/sounds/index.htm
Read Tools: Video http://eduscapes.com/hightech/tools/video/index.htm

Rosenfeld & Loertscher
*Read Chpts 33

Read Fiesta 3: Sound, Video & 3D Animation http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f3

If you're new to the use of these tools, consider a project using Audacity or Photostory. These are easy-to-use tools that can have high impact. Also, think about a simple video project using the video option in your still camera.

If you work in schools, you may want to explore Animoto or VoiceThread.
Animoto Education http://animoto.com/education/
Voice Thread http://voicethread.com/

If you don't have a built-in microphone on your computer, you can use an external microphone. You can purchase these for less than $10 at Radio Shack, Walmart, or many office supply stores.

DUE
You have until September 14 to add a reply to the Fiesta 1 discussion.

Since I'm incorporating your "reply" grade into your Fiesta 1 points, I won't be posting grades for Fiesta 1 until after next Monday when the replies are due.

Your Fiesta 2: Digital Photography assignment is due Monday September 14.

If you run into major problem, let me know. I'm happy to give you an extension at no penalty if you email me.

HELP WITH FIESTA 2
First, review the directions for this assignment in last week's email and at the website at
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f2

If you mess something up, don't worry, You can go back and fix it later. This is the advantage of Google Sites tools.

I'll be around if you have questions.

THE ASSIGNMENT
Go to our class page at http://sites.google.com/site/fiesta2project/home
You'll find links to examples of the three areas of the project on this page.
Next, you need to create a Google account and a Google Site where you'll share your project.
To create a Google Site, go to http://sites.google.com/
For help with Google Site, go to http://sites.google.com/support/?hl=en

ADD YOURSELF TO THE CLASS LIST
Be sure to go to our class page at http://sites.google.com/site/fiesta2project/home
Scroll to the bottom of the class page and choose SIGN IN.
Create or sign into your Google account.
I shared the class site with everyone in class using the email address you're using for the course. However if you're using a different email address of your Google Account, let me know and I'll add it to the class list so you can edit the page.
To add your name and make a link, choose EDIT PAGE.
Add your name to the list and select it.
Click LINK on the tool bar.
Choose WEB ADDRESS from the left column.
Enter the URL of your project page.
Click OK.

MAKING IT PUBLIC
After you've created your GoogleSite for your project, you'll need to make it public so others can see it.
Go to your project GoogleSite and sign in.
Choose MORE ACTIONS
Choose MANAGE SITE
Choose SHARING
In the Advanced Permissions section, put a check mark next to "Anyone in the world may view this site (make it public)

PHOTO CROPPING
A couple people have asked about photo sizes. I provided a general size of 300-400 pixels in terms of images that work well for screen loading and viewing... it's okay if they are odd sizes such as 350x412. It's just sometimes useful to have either the width or height of photos a consistent size. This makes it easier to create slide shows or to line up photos on a web page. In most software packages, you can change one dimension and it will automatically change to other so your visual is resized proportionally.

I DON'T KNOW HOW...
Many new technology users become frustrated when they don't know how to do things. Don't worry, be happy! Learning to use technology is just like any other skill. It's most rewarding when you learn on your own. While some people prefer to read directions, others learn best through discovery and systematically exploring the features of new software. If you get stuck, ask a friend and see if you can work through the problem together.

I started using technology in the mid 1970s. When you choose to be "ahead" of the crowd, it may take a little more time but it's exciting to know that you have valuable knowledge that you can share with others. Have fun becoming a high tech learning leader!

FUN TOOLS
Since we've been exploring text and illustrations the past couple weeks, I thought you'd enjoy a few fun tools that combine text and illustrations. Have fun!
Glogster - http://www.glogster.com/
Scrapblog - http://www.scrapblog.com/
Skrbl - http://skrbl.com/
Find more on the class page http://eduscapes.com/hightech/tools/illustrations/index.htm

Update: Sept 5 - Happy Labor Day Weekend

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

READING ASSIGNMENTS
I hope you're having fun with the Fiesta 1 assignment. Be sure to let me know if you run into any questions.

This is going to be a fun week for readings and activities. You'll need to find a digital camera to complete the Fiesta 2 activity, so start making some friends if you don't have one you can use. It's okay to meet up with other class members and use the same camera, but you'll each need to complete your own assignment.

If you'd like to make contact with a classmate and get together in a face-to-face situation, feel free to use the General Forum or the Oncourse email system to make contacts.

Read Tools: Photographs http://eduscapes.com/hightech/tools/photographs/index.htm
Read Fiesta 2 Assignment - http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f2

DIGITAL PHOTO GOOGLESITES ASSIGNMENT
For the Fiesta 2 assignment you'll be using GoogleSites technology to share projects. This Google Application is a quick way to share ideas and resources in a collaborative web space. Although we'll be talking more about collaboration and wikis later in the semester, I thought it would be fun to use the format now. The purpose of this format is to share and collaborate.

Go to GoogleSites (http://sites.google.com) and get an account. It's free. You'll need to create your own Google username and password. Then, create your own GoogleSite. You'll be placing your assignment in your own space.

Then, you'll need to link to the class GoogleSite at http://sites.google.com/site/fiesta2project/
When you try to edit our class space, you'll need "join" the class space. I've sent you an email inviting you to join this space. If you don't get this email or are using a different account, just let me know and I can send you another invitation.

For help in using GoogleSites, go to http://sites.google.com/support/?hl=en

PHOTOGRAPHY FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS
As you explore the use of photos in library settings, think about events you might host for children and their parents. For instance, I developed a Photography for Kids Comic (http://www.eduscapes.com/sessions/safari/comic.html) for use with a library program I did for kids and their parents. Also think about ways teachers can integrate photography into the curriculum at http://www.eduscapes.com/sessions/safari/

DUE
Fiesta 1 - Due Tuesday September 8
When you open the Oncourse discussions, you'll notice two areas for Fiesta 1. Since there are so many people in the class, I've divided the postings into K-12/Higher Ed Interest and Public Library/Other Library Interest. You can decide where you'd like to post and reply. You can post and reply in different threads if you wish.

Be sure to notice that you're required to make a reply in addition to posting your Fiesta 1 project. You can take up to a week to reply to the postings of classmates, so you have until September 14.

Fiesta 2 - Due Monday September 14
You don't need to post anything in Oncourse for Fiesta 2 assignment. Instead, you'll be creating pages on a GoogleSite. I'll be looking for a link to your pages on the class GoogleSite.

GRADEBOOK
As you post your Fiesta 1 assignments, I'll be reading along. If I notice any problems or issues, I'll send you a personal email. I try not to interfere with your discussions.

AFTER the posting and reply period (Sept 14), I'll be posting grades in the Oncourse Gradebook. I like to go back and reread the threads in context while I grade so I can see the flow of the discussion. If I take off any points, you'll see a comment with an explanation.

Let me know if you have questions. I'm happy to help.

ONCOURSE SLOOOOOW
Oncourse is VERY SLOOOW right now. This is typical at the beginning of the semester. With many more courses using Oncourse, it is particularly slow this year. Here are some suggestions.

First -
I find that some students have more success using Mozilla Firefox rather than Internet Explorer.
You can download it at http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

Second -
Consider off-peak times such as early morning, mid-day or late night.

Third -
You can do ALL your readings without entering Oncourse. Go directly to the course website. You don't need to go to Oncourse until you're ready to post. Remember, you have an extra week to post a reply.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/

Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend!

Update: August 29

We've made it through the first few days of e-class. I can tell already that the semester is going to fly by! From now on, I'll normally send out a message on Friday or Saturday of each week. I know many of you like to work on course materials over the weekend.

Some of you are feeling a little overwhelmed by the readings. I tried to stuff a lot of ideas into the first week of the semester! On the other hand, I think this information is critical for the "big picture" of what's happening with high tech learning. You'll be happy to hear that the rest of the semester, the readings will be lighter.

THE PURPOSE OF READINGS
Put simply... the readings are intended to help you complete the activities and the projects for class. People come to this class with very diverse skills. Some people have no background and need much more support than others. Since there are no tests, it's only really essential that you skim the materials until you feel like you have the concept. In some cases, just reading my web pages without reading any of the articles may be enough background for you.

So... here's the strategy I'd use. Read my class page. Then go back and select articles you think look the most interesting and relevant. Skim those first. Then, if you feel like you need more help, go back and skim some of the other articles.

Pay particular attention to the red icons that will help you determine what you should read and do. If the reading doesn't have a red icon, it's just for reference if you need more information. Unlike traditional textbooks with specific page lengths and uniform formats, the readings for this class include everything from blogs to podcasts. I know this can cause confusion, but it's also a chance to explore different approaches to gathering information in a "high tech" world.

Everyone is overwhelmed at first. There's lots of reading the first couple weeks to provide background information. Don't worry if you don't understand everything. You just need enough background to ask some questions and choose an area you can explore for the first assignment. Remember, the course wouldn't be about learning if you already knew everything. ;-)

ASSIGNMENTS
You probably noticed that the Oncourse discussions are now in an area called FORUMS. It was fun reading everyone's introductions. We have a very diverse class! It's going to be an exciting semester.

This week we're going to dive into the high tech tools. Keep in mind that these resources and tools provide the building blocks of high tech learning environments. Although you may have used text and graphics for many years, consider the new tools that are available. Later in the semester we'll apply these tools to learning spaces from blogs to interactive environments.

Read High Tech Tools http://eduscapes.com/hightech/tools/index.htm
Read Tools: Texts http://eduscapes.com/hightech/tools/texts/index.htm
Read Tools: Illustrations http://eduscapes.com/hightech/tools/illustrations/index.htm

FIESTA 1
It's time to work on the first assignment, Fiesta 1: High Tech Learning, Text, and Illustration.
Read the requirements at http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f1
Notice that the steps will take you through the requirements and criteria for evaluation.

Before you select your topic, be sure to read all the readings in the High Tech learning section (http://eduscapes.com/hightech/overview/index.htm)

If you need ideas for the Web 2.0 requirement, go to the Web 2.0 page (I updated it last week, RELOAD/REFRESH for the latest version) - http://eduscapes.com/hightech/overview/web/index.htm

You should use a different application for the Web 2.0 step and the Text/Illustration requirement.

Be sure to notice that you're required to make a reply in addition to posting your project. You can take up to a week to reply to the postings of classmates.

Before you head out for the Labor Day weekend next week, be sure to finish up the Fiesta 1 assignment. It's due Tuesday September 8.

Have a great week!

Update: Let's Go!

It's time for the first day of school. Classes start Wednesday August 26.

Many of you have made a posting in the Introduce Yourself area. Way to go! The class is rolling!

YOUR JOB IN THIS COURSE
You have three tasks:

1 - Follow the course calendar and complete your assignments on time. As a matter of fact, getting things in early is a good idea.

Read my class email updates for a review of what's happening. If you think you may have missed one, just check the class archives which is also the entry page for our Oncourse materials at http://www.eduscapes.com/hightech/course/archives.htm

2 - Let me know if you run into trouble. Don't fret and worry about your problem. Instead, email me and let's discuss it. If you're not sure about a topic for an assignment or have trouble with a due date, just let me know. I'm flexible and happy to help.

3 - Have fun. Learning is about opening a new world of information, skills, and understandings. Many assignments encourage you to explore resources and brainstorm ideas. Don't think of the class discussions as painful homework. Think of them as a chance to interact with your colleagues about issues and ideas important to our profession.

MY JOB
My job is to help you successfully complete this course and expand your skills in high tech learning. I "live" on the Internet, so I'm happy to hold personal email discussions whenever you feel the need to talk. Feel free to email any time. I'll get back to you ASAP.

PERSONAL NOTE
I'm flying to campus for a faculty meeting on Thursday, so I'll be "in the air" on Wednesday and Friday. I'll be online at some point each day, but it will probably take me a few hours to respond if you email me.

Enjoy the course... You'll hear from me again this weekend.

Update: Get Set!

Classes begin Wednesday August 26, so it's time to get started. From now on, my emails will generally provide an overview of the required readings and assignments as well as suggestions and tips. Although I know these emails can get long, please read them. They will really help direct your activities for the week.

COURSE GUIDE
The Course Guide will help you work through the course materials. It links to the course readings and provides the guidelines for all the requirements. Be sure to read this page carefully. Notice that it provides a key for the tiny red icons you'll find throughout the website.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm

At first, people are overwhelmed by all of the links. You don't need to read everything... it's not possible. Instead use the icons and directions for guidance. Notice that it will tell you to explore, skim, or read the pages.

Keep in mind that the course reading assignments can be found in two places: the course calendar and the Course Guide pages. Here are your first set of readings that will be useful in addressing your first assignment:

Rosenfeld & Loertscher
* Skim Parts 1 and 2 Chpts 1-15
* Read Chpt 16-18, 34, 69

ASSIGNMENTS
You can find an overview of the assignments in the Course Requirement page at http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/require.htm

Your first assignment is to enter Oncourse. Update your Oncourse Profile. Consider adding a photograph of yourself.
Also, go to the Discussion option and find the General Discussion: Introduce Yourself forum. You should do this by Wednesday August 26.

As you move through the process section of the Course Guide, you'll notice the Fiesta activities. It's a good idea to get ahead in case you get busy in other courses or at work! Don't worry if you don't have experience as a teacher or librarian. Do your best making use of the readings and your life experiences to address the requirements.

Your POSTING for the Fiesta 1 assignment is due on Tuesday Sept 8. If you wish, you can take up to an additional week to make your REPLY.
Fiesta #1 - http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f1

EMAIL UPDATES
The periodic emails will keep you up-to-date on things you should be doing for class and due dates. I'll also throw in some personal stuff to keep it interesting. I lead a pretty unique, strange, and interesting life. Feel free to share your life with me too. It makes some students feel more "connected".

I've already sent out a few preliminary class emails. Let me know if you missed it. Or, check out the class email archives at http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/archives.htm

I prefer to use my personal email for class interactions rather than Oncourse. My personal email is on almost "24/7" so I'll usually get back to you immediately. I often only check Oncourse once per day. However you're free to use the Oncourse mail with classmates if you prefer.

If you need me right away, "friend" me on Facebook. I'm happy to live chat with you if I'm already online.

I'm also happy to chat using the Oncourse Chat feature.

NO SYNCHRONOUS MEETINGS
There are no required face-to-face or scheduled chat sessions for this course. Many students enjoy taking an online course because they don't have to be in a particular place at a particular time. HOWEVER, this means that you're responsible for making your own personal schedule in order to meet the course requirements on time. Some people find that this the most difficult part of the course. You need self-discipline to be successful in distance learning.

Have a great week!

Update: Get Ready!

It's a week until class starts, so it's time for another preliminary email.

For people who've never taken an online course before, this will be a new, exciting, and occasionally confusing or frustrating experience. For those who've taken a course before, I hope your experiences with online courses have been positive.

Each of you comes to the course with a unique set of experiences. As you move through the course materials, be sure to email me if you find yourself lost or confused. It's my pleasure (as well as my job) to help. :-)

COURSE MATERIALS
Here's a list of some of the most important course resources and links. It's also available in Oncourse. Oncourse can be SLOW much of the time. My suggestion is to open the course readings directly from your web browser. Only go to Oncourse when you want to interact with the forums.

Use the following links to complete the course requirements.

The Course. This page contains many online materials for the course. The course has both onsite and offsite reading assignments.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/

Course Materials
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/index.htm

Syllabus. This page provides the course syllabus including the course materials, goals, requirements, grading policy, and calendar.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/syllabus.htm

Calendar. This page provides the course calendar including the assignments and due pages. Notice that the calendar has three columns. The first column provides dates. The second column discusses the things you should be doing such as things to work on and read. The third column states the projects that are due.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/calendar.htm

Email Archives. This page contains the archives of the course announcements and email updates.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/archives.htm

The Requirements. This page highlights the course assignments and activities.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/require.htm

Course Checklist. Contains a checklist of requirements.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/checklist.htm

Course Quest. This page guides you through the course readings and assignments.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm

LET'S START
soo... what now? If I were you, I'd read the syllabus and requirement pages.

The requirement page contains information about a few introductory activities you need to complete. These activities will be posted in Oncourse. Then, print out the course checklist. Next, I'd go to the Course Quest to get a feel for how the course materials are organized.

Finally, take a deep breath and relax. Once you get a handle on the materials, you can start rolling!

Check the syllabus calendar and you'll notice that the first assignment is to go to Oncourse and Introduce Yourself.

We're using the new version of Oncourse. Here are some directions to get you started:
Go to Oncourse at http://oncourse.iu.edu and login.
Click the S603 Course tab to find out course.
On the left side, you'll see Forums as an option on the list.
Under General Discussion, choose Introduce Yourself.
You'll see a list of postings.
Create a new posting to introduce Yourself. Also, reply to a classmate.

INSTRUCTOR INTRODUCTION
In the past, I've been a school library media specialist, curriculum library director, and college professor in Iowa, Ohio, and Indiana. I know that we have a wide variety of students in this course. Some have teaching experience and/or library experience, while others are new to the library and/or education field. I look forward to learning more about you!

I love teaching online courses and exploring the world around us. I'm a new kind of professor. I teach full-time at IUPUI, but I don't live in Indiana. We live all over North America, traveling in our motorhome. We just finished building a "home base" in southern Utah, so we'll probably hang out here for the semester. Don't worry about trying to find me, I'm online, all-day, everyday, most days.

PHOTOS AND UPDATES
In the past, I included photos in my email updates, but some people had trouble downloading them. As a result, I'll just include a link to my website with fun personal and professional updates. I try to keep it up to date. If you want to keep up with our adventures or learn more about me, check out http://www.eduscapes.com/lamb/

I look forward to having you in class. Be sure to email me if you have questions. I'm online all the time, so I can normally get right back to you with an answer.

Update: Welcome to Class

Some of you are relaxing in exotic vacation destinations, while others are still finishing up summer school. As you catch your breath between semesters, I thought I'd send a quick overview of the High Tech Learning course for people who would like a little head start.

I think I have everyone's email address. However if you'd prefer getting the updates at another address, just let me know.

I'll be sending a few emails before classes get started with preliminary course materials. Here's some course information that will get you started.

GET STARTED
There are NO required face-to-face or virtual meetings. However we'll all get started working together online as a class around August 26.

ONCOURSE DISCUSSIONS
You'll need an IU or IUPUI account to access the Oncourse materials for class discussions at http://oncourse.iu.edu/

We'll be using the Oncourse system for some of the class discussions, but we'll also be using other online tools for blogging and wikis.

The Oncourse materials are ready to go.

THE COURSE TEXTBOOK
Since this course is called "high tech," I'm trying to incorporate the latest technology you're likely to encounter in educational and library settings. As such, I had difficulty locating a good print textbook.

I wasn't happy with the options available for public and academic library programs. However the following resource will meet most of our needs. Additional resources will be provided online to address specific needs in the public and academic library area.

REQUIRED -
Rosenfeld, E. & Loertscher, D.V. (Eds.). Toward a 21st Century School Library Media Program. Scarecrow Press. 2007. ISBN 0-8108-6031-7.
Order Direct from Scarecrow Press online
Order from IUPUI Bookstore

RECOMMENDED
In the course syllabus, you'll find a list of recommended blogs. I'd suggest your might use these to identify resources and trends in your area of interest.
http://www.eduscapes.com/hightech/course/syllabus.htm

COURSE MATERIALS
The online class materials are now available. This course had a massive makeover last year and I'm continuing to refine the materials this year with additional visuals, audio, personal notes, and other enhancement, so you'll see additions throughout the semester.

You can check things out at http://eduscapes.com/hightech
This link is also available through Oncourse.

As you work your way through the materials, you may find typos, dead links, and other problems. Please send me a quick email with the specific page and error. I'm particularly interested in problems that the spelling or grammar checker is likely to miss such as writing "discing" rather than "discussing." I'll be gathering these errors during the semester so I can clean it up. Also if you find great online readings or resources, let me know so I can add them to my "Learn More" sections.

COURSE INSTRUCTOR
I've been a school library media specialist, technology coordinator, and college professor. As many of you know, my husband (Larry Johnson) and I have been traveling full-time in our motorhome for the past decade. We teach our online classes from all over North America. We're currently hanging out in southern Utah where we've finished building a "home base."

I love teaching online courses and exploring the world around us. If you'd like to learn more about me,
check out http://eduscapes.com/lamb

GETTING STARTED
If you're feeling excited, frustrated, confused, anxious, enthusiastic, happy, or any other emotion about this course, you're normal. Online courses are a great alternative to traditional, face-to-face courses, but it takes a little time to get comfortable.

I'll provide much more guidance in terms of organization of the course and requirements in an email next week. However you're free to jump in and work as far ahead as you wish, here are some fun things to get you started:

1) Jump into the online readings. Use the Course Quest as a guide at http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm

2) Log into Oncourse, go to the Forums and Introduce Yourself. Be sure to read the directions, because I've asked you to share some specific things about yourself.

3) Go to LibraryThing. It's a cool online tool we're going to be using later in the semester. It's so much fun I thought some of you might want to get started now.

LibraryThing - http://www.librarything.com/
Annette Lamb's Profile - http://www.librarything.com/profile/eduscapes
Annette Lamb's Catalog - http://www.librarything.com/catalog/eduscapes

4) From hosting virtual book clubs to guiding a family history project, you're going to be making an edublog for a learning application of your choosing. If you want to go ahead and jump into the fun, go to http://www.edublogs.org/
Be sure to get the FREE account. You don't need a premium account. If you prefer another blogging service such as Wordpress (wordpress.com) or Blogger (blogger.com), that's fine too. We suggest edublogs because its open on most school filters. Notice that this will be a guided learning application rather than a personal blog.

5) We're going to do some things with digital cameras, if you don't have one it's time to make some friends who do. Consider jumping ahead and looking at the digital photography section if you have some vacation time before fall starts.

If you have questions, be sure to e-ask (as in email me). About half of the students in the class have taken one of our other online courses... they survived to take another one... that's a great sign. ;-)

I'll be sending a couple more updates before e-classes start, so I'll e-see you again soon!

Course Announcements & Email Archives

Class Email Archives