Wikis

~Wikis are fascinating. They can be used by a variety of different people for many different purposes. Wikis are a great way for many people to work together to create something or organize a group activity.  It was fun exploring the links on week 4 of the learning2.0 blog.

~I explored several different wikis. In the process, I learned that wikis are easy to create and navigate. Depending on how the settings are arranged, different people can be allowed to edit or not edit a page as well. Attaching links on a wiki page can be helpful. I also learned that wikis are great ways for people to work together, especially in long distance situations.

~As I explored several different wikis, I discovered that there was one wiki in particular that I liked, the Kearns High Library Wiki. I loved how this wiki had great links for both teachers and students, which included the following:

      --Great links with help for teachers:

            -Grade books

            -Canvas

            -Microsoft office/outlook

            -Googledocs

            -And more…

      --Great links for students:

            -Citation machine

            -Information sources, such as Pioneer website

            -Club information

            -Literature information

            -Big6 research skills information

I especially liked that the librarian also gave a way to contact her electronically if students or teachers needed additional help. I learned that the librarian did not create all the sites she linked to, but rather took advantage of the myriad of helps that exist on the Internet and provided links to those.

~I learned more about how different people use wikis as I explored several wikis from the Wikispaces Best Educational Wikis for 2010 blog link. I explored Metasaga, which is a wiki where people who have traveled to similar places share their experiences; Celebr8U&MeDigitally, which is a wiki where two teachers from different countries communicate and allow their students to communicate; and Wissahickson School District’s eToolBox, which is a school’s virtual toolbox.

~Wikipedia is one of the most famous wikis, and I find myself using it often, even though it has a reputation of being unreliable. It can be used as a secondary source and to get an idea, although another source would be more reliable for getting more information about a topic.  I understand that it is becoming more reliable, and I love that people post citations for information sources so that people can check the reliability and accuracy of the information.

~After exploring several different wikis, I discovered that it is important to have information stated clearly. I also like the idea of having great links, such as the ones at the Kearns High wiki, to help both teachers and students. I realize it is a good idea, as the school librarian, to have my contact information on the wiki in case teachers or students need an explanation or clarification beyond what they find at the links provided.

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Photo

This is my favorite author Marcia Lynn McClure and me at a book signing I went to last spring.

Photo

The North Logan Library

Southeast Middle School Media Center

Southeast Middle School Media Center, a photo by SchenkelShultz on Flickr.

I like this image because it makes me feel like I want to climb into it. This library is spacious, with a high ceiling and plenty of lighting from both large windows and fluorescent lights. I love the large windows along the wall of this library, making the library not seem dark and dreary, but rather cheerful and radiant. If I had to go somewhere to study, this library would be a very inviting place for me. The tables in this library are also situated in excellent places, being far enough apart to not feel squished together. Because this is a new library, open space is visible on the shelves, leaving plenty of room to add to the collection. If I were the librarian of this school, I would be eager to find new wonderful books to add to the collection, budget permitting, for my students to read and enjoy.

My 7 ½ Habits for Life-Long Learning

Habit 1: Begin with the end in mind

·         I am usually pretty good at this. I like setting goals and reaching them. For me it is better to have something I am aiming for than nothing. I would rather aim high and miss than not aim at all. I try to budget my time and resources to reach the end result that I want. Sometimes everything doesn’t work out exactly as I expect it will, so I have to slightly modify or significantly change my goal.

Habit 2: Accept responsibility for your own learning

·         I feel like I am pretty good at this one. I love learning new skills and gaining more knowledge. I especially love learning new things about libraries and music. Although I do have to work harder with other topics that I am not so passionate about, I can usually find the self control to put in the necessary time. In order to learn anything, I know that I have to budget my time and put in the effort. No one else can do it for me.

Habit 3: View problems as challenges

·         Life isn’t always easy. Problems arise. Sometimes these problems are really hard. I see each problem as just one more hurdle to cross. I go at it and overcome the problems to achieve.

Habit 4: Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner

·         Learning is life-long. Because school is hard for me, I have had to learn that with the appropriate help, more time, and extra effort I can learn. I have more confidence than I used to have, but I could use more confidence in my ability to learn. I need to work on this one, because I know I will need to continue learning for the rest of my life to be successful.

Habit 5: Create your own learning toolbox

·         Here are a few items that I would include in my learning toolbox: study materials organized in a way to help me to better be able to study, computers, piano/keyboard, books, and music books. I would say that adding tools is an ongoing process. I think I will always look for and hope to find new tools for my learning toolbox, and if it starts to get too cluttered, I can clean it out as well.

Habit 6: Use technology to your advantage

·         As part of my learning, I rely on technology. Without technology, such as computers, I would not have the tools I need so I can learn. Word processors and printers have become especially helpful. As time goes on, more and more technologies are becoming available for library use and learning. These technologies include e-readers, blogs, Google Docs, etc. I need to become better acquainted with some of these technologies.

Habit 7: Teach/mentor others

·         I’ve taught voice lessons a little (about a year and a half), but that is all. As a librarian, I need to obtain the skills so that I can be a good teacher and mentor. I know that I need work in this area.

 Habit 7 ½: Play

·         I am a busy person, but I like to squeeze in time to play, so I would say I am pretty good at this one. I enjoy many different types of activities, including reading, singing, watching movies—particularly musicals, going to musical performances, attending basketball games, getting together with friends, ballroom dancing, and ice skating.