Thing 7
When looking through the google educators page, I found the "google notebook" I added it to my iGoogle page. I think it could be a great way to keep track of things that i have learned online. I wish I would have had it when I was preparing for my last trip. I think that could be a great place to store what you have learned about different attractions, hotels, restaurants, etc............

Thing 5

I have always been a regular user of my public library. As a voracious reader, it is impossible to buy all the books I read. Without the public library, I would have developed into a very different person. The access I had to buildings full of books helped me to develop many academic skills as well as opinions on a wide variety of topics.

I grew up using Hennepin County libraries. This library system is considered one of the best in the nation. It has quiet study rooms, a teen section, tons of computers (including classes on how to use them), books, magazines, DVDs, books on CDs, downloadable books (audio and text), downloadable movies...comfy chairs and well lit reading areas. My library (the Brookdale library) has a large children's section as well as a teen section.

One of the librarians wanted to add a drive through section when they remodeled. You could order your book online and pick it up at the drive thru service. She thought it would be great for moms with young children. They wouldn't have to take the kids out of the car seats to get their books. Unfortunately, the architect in charge of their remodel could not figure out how to do that with the physical limitations of the building.

Since I signed up for online notification of overdues, I have almost never had an over due book. I love love love my neighborhood library.

Professionally, I have used the library to supplement our collection. I have a link to the Mpls library and the Hennepin libraries on the web page and on my bookmarks. I can help students find out where they can find the books they need, if we don't have them.

I have also used the ask a librarian chat. If I can't find information that I need or a student needs, I have had really good luck with the ask a librarian feature on the hennepin county web page.

MN LINK I was looking for a book on a health topic at my local library. I couldn't find anything. I tried MN Link and had 15 books to choose from. The book that looked the best is at the Duluth library. They are going to send it to my local library. How cool is that.

One of the questions posed by the blog is will timing be an issue for using MNLink. For most student projects it probably will, because frequently student is another word for procrastinator. However, in my search, I found some online electronic resources. So sometimes a student could get lucky and be able to download that electronic text immediately.

Thing 4

Online tools

I have started to use http://pagekeeper.teachingmatters.org for my home page.
It doesn't have all the fancy tools and features, but I can set it up as my homepage
and I don't need a password to get on. I also don't need to download any software
to use it (like delicious). I have found that using this website as my homepage has
helped me keep track of the frequently used websites.

I love using online calendars. I always set them up to send me reminder e-mails.
I don't always remember to check my calendar, but I do check my e-mail every day.

I signed up for the "remember the milk" to do list. I liked the suggestion of just
leaving it up on my computer all day. Though I am not sure that this is going to work.
I think I really need something I can actually carry with me.

The question about comparing online tools to traditional paper tools is interesting.
I think paper is better, because it is more mobile. However, today's student is growing
up accustomed to using "online" for everything. Many handheld devices are now able to sinc
with online programs. That I think is the best way for the student of the future. Keep an online calendar but carry it with you on a mobile device. I love the diversity of tools that are being created for people to work with.

Fun video and photo sharing

I found this fun little website.
I was able to put my Thanksgiving pictures into a online scrapbook.
and e-mail it to family and friends. It could also be embedded in a
web page. It is a fun way to share videos and photos.

http://www.smilebox.com

Thing 3

• What is easy for you about teaching research?

I don't teach daily classes. However, I love doing research. Looking for the answer to a question is a little bit like being a detective solving a mystery. I love the challenge.

• What are the challenges? What is frustrating for me is lack of time. Some information cannot be found in a five minute search. Good searches may take quite a bit of time, which doesn't always exist in a busy library.

• How might the RPC Teacher Guide help you plan and manage research projects?
  
• When I observe teachers working with their students on research projects, I see that most experienced teachers break their projects down into manageable sections. However, I have seen less experienced teachers give their students a research assignment and not break it down. Some students are able to break a project down into tasks and complete the project while others flounder. I think the RPC is a great tool to show students and new teachers for how to break their research into manageable components.
  

Thing 2

Thing 2:


Blogs in Education: I think blogs have the potential to allow the quiet student to have a place
to voice opinions, but at this point, I do not see a huge value for it. I am finding it overwhelming to try to read even some of the blogs of my classmates.



The only way I can think of for using blogs would be to have my students follow a specific blog that deals with the topic we are studying.



I have really enjoyed some of the professional blogs that I am getting through my RSS reader. They help me keep up to date in my career field and that is something that I find a lot of personal value in. However, I only have a couple. I find it challenging just to keep up with my e-mail...much less more stuff to read.

Thing 1

I read "Truth: Can you handle it?" by Monica Hesse weeks ago and the phrase "truth by consensus" still stands out.

Ms Hesse make it sound like "truth by consensus" is new. But hasn't it always existed? Whenever there has been genocide haven't we seen "truth by consensus" in action: one group determining that the other has no value and seeking to destroy. History has always been about rewriting "truth" in a way that is palatable for the people of the day. For example, the Christopher Columbus in today's textbooks is vastly different from the Christopher Columbus I was taught about in elementary school: explorer vs conquerer.

One of our jobs as educators has always been to help our students learn to think critically. We have always needed to teach them to recognize fact from opinion, hype, or propaganda. It is imperative that we teach them how to look past emotional responses to see the hard facts. The internet has pushed the need for critical thinking skills to a much higher level. But in many ways it is just a new spin on an old problem.

The question that I always struggle with is, what is the best way to teach these necessary skills.