Thing #5

I have been using Facebook for a while now. It has been a valuable platform for discussion. I love to stay connected with friends and family. I keep up with my little sister on there. We don't see each other much and we can still communicate through this forum. My daughter, who is living in Michigan, has fun with the different game tools on there with me. I have found many professional friends on there. Many since changing schools, and now districts, are such awesome connections to keep.
Twitter is a little different story. I joined Twitter a few months back but just didn't keep up with it. Some of the conversations seemed just trivial in some aspects. But after reading this tutorial, I can see many uses this might be helpful with. I am thinking of the teachers and their busy schedules. This might be a forum where a school conversation can go on. Also, I can see the uses in informing parents and the school community of library happenings. So I have done an about face with my perceptions of this tool and would like to use it in the future.
As far as backchanneling, my mind went immediately to college. I can think of my physics and algebra classes. It would have been so nice to have someone helping to clarify the professors attempts to get some of these more complex subjects to me as I was listening, confused and trying to clarify while taking notes. So I can see how this might help some in the higher education echalons. I also can see ESL students benefitting from this. Many of our classes with needed content could be taught in English, with a person helping to clarify immediately in their own language.

Thing #3

Amazing! Skype seems to be the ultimate professional connection tool. With blogs, wikis, and other online tools the discussion can take place and allow for much growth. But with this tool, you get the voice which would include inflection, feelings, dialect and more. I had pen pals with two classes in France a couple of years ago. I wish we had Skype. One of the classes in France was an ESL class. They were learning English. Having skype would have been an excellent way for the students to help them with our language. As librarians, and also teachers, visiting with others around the world creates a universe of wisdom in whatever field we are in. The only detriment is the naysayers who are afraid or unwilling to use technology. I know of some that will just say, I can't or don't have time. We have to come out of the dark ages as educators and realize our students are ions ahead of us with their use and friendliness with it.

Thing #1 for Things 11 More Things

I love the simplicity and direct visuals the students offer. I also love the irony of this student in using technology to show cut paper visuals. I think there may be a hidden more subtle message to all of that our archaic methods of teaching can easily and most simply be used with technology. As a new librarian learning this world of web 2.0 as a teaching venue, I am getting that message loud and clear. I am becoming more and more brave to step out of my comfort zone and connect where kids really are, the web. What a grand adventure!