Alliance Library System Summer Workshop

On June 20th, I had the privilege of presenting a program on Social Technology to about 35 school librarians from Illinois. My presentation focused on the use of wikis, blogs, discussion boards, social network sites, podcasting and other tools that can be used to enrich teaching and learning. As promised, I am making my PowerPoint available as a .PDF to those that would like a copy. Click here.

Thanks to all the librarians and teachers for making the afternoon so special!

Special thanks to Corrine Harkins and Carnegie Mellon for sharing their Facebook video, Jordan School District for "Pay Attention" and Rachel Boyd for the wonderful video of her 6 and 7 year old bloggers.

Rachel Boyd's - Why Let Our Students Blog?

This wonderful video showcases strategies for using Blogs to enhance teaching and learning.

Window to Enhanced Podcasting

On June 13th, I presented "Window to Enhanced Podcasting" as part of the Illinois Computing Educators Summer Workshop program. It was quite a challenge to build enhanced podcasts in 3 hours using PC computers and Windows compatible software. We used Audacity, Movie Maker, PowerPoint, Creative Commons approved images and music, and Jodix iPod converter. Each participant had an opportunity to record to an iPod, view educational podcasts on the Web, experiment with a variety of software applications, and gain a better understanding of the use of podcast technology to enhance teaching and learning.

The Jordan School District TeacherTube video, PAY ATTENTION is a testament to the enriching capability that podcating, vodcasting and handheld technology has to offer.

Student Podcasting Project - Global Voices Provinces of China

I was awarded a mini grant from NICE to help purchase equipment to assist students with a project to produce enhanced podcasts on a Windows PC using compatible software. Kessel Laoshi's third year Chinese Language class created podcasts showcasing the culture and attractions of several China's Provinces as a campaign to entice visitors planning to attend the 2008 Beijing Olympics to travel and experience the unique offerings of other provinces.

This project actually began in 2006 when Judy Gressel (a New Trier librarian), and I created a Chinese Provinces wiki project using pbwiki software. We worked with Kessel Leoshi and her second year students to develop a collaborative site for students to post information about many of the Provinces of China:

A. Overview of the Province--geography, natural resources, population, demographics, culture, tourism
B. Background --historical significance, Communist Conquest & Reforms made during post-Mao era
C. Current Situation--economic, political and social conditions
D. Special Focus --what makes this province unique? distinctive strengths/weaknesses?

E. Outlook --predictions for the future

• Click here to view the Global Voices assignment web site.
• Click here to access the China Provinces class wiki.
• Click here to view the Introduction to the China Provinces Podcast.
  

Now in their third year of Chinese language, we asked the students to revisit their wiki and use the content to produce a 3 minute podcast enhanced with Chinese language, photos and music to capture the culture and traditions that each province has to offer.

Quite the Friendster In My Virtual Life

I recently began exploring the virtual worlds of SecondLife and IMVU. If you're unfamiliar, SecondLife is an Internet-based 3-D world where avatars represent the alter ego of visitors to a mystical land complete with businesses, products, services, education, arts and activities. Flying and teleporting thru this fantasy land can be an eye opening experience. It's globally diverse and extremely friendly. I often feel like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, befriending strangers as I journey through communities, exploring interesting buildings, shops, art galleries, concert venues and amazing graphical representations of tropical islands and mountainous terrains. IMVU is a Windows-based 3-D instant messaging system where once again avatars represent the members. These new and emerging social scenes allows visitors to accessorize their characters with a variety of clothes, hair styles, incidentals, gestures, scenic choices and pets. One common thread among both worlds is the out-going nature of the people that join. One typically logs in and within seconds, a stranger appears with a friendly greeting and helpful hint for navigating the land. I've met people from Italy, Brazil, Israel and Belgium (so they claim). I think I even saw a Borat-like character moving about Orientation Island seeking voluptuous women. I'm typically shy around strangers but in a virtual world, I'm quite the chatter box, texting everyone and everything that crosses my path. I freely ask for directions and assistance while learning to navigate these sites. While nothing of importance has been discussed or revealed, I wonder about the integrity and intentions of those that I meet. I recommend visiting these sites for an entertaining experience, but limit your conversations and avoid disclosing any personal information with the strangers in these strange virtual lands.