Monday, April 23, 2012

To Summarize

This has been a wonderful exploration of technology.  I really enjoyed trying all this software out, but it comes so fast towards the end.  I suppose this is necessary with a class schedule.  I just feel that I did not get enough time to explore how each of these work.  A little more time would be necessary to understand how to use them in a library setting.

I find it fun to explore technology, even the technology I cannot use.  The library I currently work in has a (one) student internet computer.  Since I am staff, I cannot use it.  I do not have the right login.  The students can use it, if they can remember their password, but any social media (Facebook, Blogs, Twitter) are strictly blocked.  This is somewhat sad because it limits what I can use in the library.  Even linking to some of these technology software programs can bring up the block screen. 

Also, there are no presentation areas in my library or classroom that can use computers.  This means that much of the technology I have learned about cannot be used.  I can only work with those items I have access to.  I just hope I can convince the school to let a library wiki site remain!

I am grateful for all this fun.  At UELMA, I discovered how heavily the library media specialist used technology.  It was amazing to realize how many of the technologies I had learned about were talked about.  I was glad that I had played with them.  I am sad now to be ending all this fun!

One last thing! Prezi!

At the beginning of a college class, I met Prezi.  I had never seen it before and I kept wondering how it worked.  So before I stop playing with all these technologies, I wanted to try it.  I liked it a lot better than I thought I would.  I was not certain how much I would enjoy a program that made me feel sick when it went from one position to another.  I really think it works well and I like how it can side ways thinking.  It is really a fun program.

So here is my Prezi on, what else, Big 6!



Thursday, April 19, 2012

Way Cool!

I like Google Docs! I knew people made surveys and somehow connected people to their websites but I had no idea how easy it was to do. Now, I know what I could do to make my library easier to run. (If of course they are not blocked!) It would be so much easier to use a Google Doc to create lists of books the teachers and students want in the library, if they can send them. I am just so excited to try it!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Word Art

Well, wordle makes good art. I just wish I could rearrange the good art. My head just uses the words differently and I think they look better that way.  Tagxedo does so much better, but is a little trickier to navigate. Why can't you rearrange the words in Wordle! Oh, well.

Wordle is good for fast art.  It is a lot of fun. It is easy to use and if you are not too picky about it, it is a good way to make posters. I can see having students use it for projects. I think they would really enjoy the art they create.  It is awkward to save though.

Tagxedo is better for those of us who have pictures in our head! (It is easier to save, too.)