Social Bookmarking

When I read that social bookmarking is for amateurs, I laughed because clearly I am no amateur...social bookmarking isn't for me! In reality, I think it must be perfect for me. After reading the article, I would be sure to be very specific with the tagging and try to make it as simple as possible. I have not yet socially bookmarked anything, but look forward to learning.

When I was reading Library 2.0 Theory: Web 2.0 and it's Implications for Libraries, I thought to myself, "if today is web 2.0, when did the first generation end? Was I in the first generation when online library instruction was provided via tex-based tutorials? Or, was my era in Undergrad not even the first generation, was I even before that?" I remember web based card catalogs just coming to the library and we all still used the card catalog because we were comfortable with it and still a little afraid of computers. Either way, technology has evolved since..."then". Library 2.0 is virtual and IM'ing has changed and is now multi-media. In the second reading, I loved the very last page that listed the various streaming media resources. It had many websites for teachers to utililize to find videography, audio, student-geared newscasts, and other lessons for classroom use.

Alright, so I'm not a techie...yet.

I LOVED the article "Digital Native, Digital Immigrants"! I even ended up reading most of it to my husband-both of which are Digital Immigrants...or at least we are working on it. We related to so many of the points made in this article, for example; we turn to the internet second if we need directions...yes, we still go to a map. This class for instance, I printed the first couple weeks of reading...mostly because I do a lot reading on the fly when I have the opportunity. I have made the "did you get my email call?" and after reading these articles I'm really laughing at myself.

BUT, times are about to change. I think some of the resistance that I've had with technology has to do with the fact that I'm probably one of the few people left on earth to still have dial-up. Technology, look out... we are actually going high-speed this weekend! Actually, it's DSL...is there a difference?? All that wasted time, waiting and waiting for the computer to "think" is over. In addition to our computer that we rarely use, I've had this laptop for months that I've only used for writing papers. Now, it will really get it's money's worth!

Today's student, the Gen N'ers or the Gen D'ers amaze me...they give multi-tasking a different meaning! When I was growing up, multi-tasking for me meant; doing school-work, working a job, after-school activities and worrying about my social life. While the Gen N'ers and D'ers still juggle those same things, they also play computer games, use computers, digital music players, video cams, cell phones and so much more, often all at the same time! This class in a matter of 1 week has opened my eyes to the fact that that is how my kids will grow up, and they will be able to learn while watching tv!

As a result of this class, this is my first time ever blogging. I wasn't ever afraid to do it, just didn't really have a need or curiosity to do it. I'm glad to learn it though, I will do it someday as a teacher with my students. As "Tools for the TEKS"has mentioned, it can be used for "posting classroom notes, homework assignments, web links for extension activities, etc..." As a teacher of Elementary students, I can take the students all over the world! They can see things they would never otherwise experience. They can do any kind of science experiement known to man, win spelling bees and so, so much more.

My goal, at the end of this class is to be like Ms. Mislevy (alright, so it may take a little more than weeks-but I'll get there) and really be a techie.

A blog is a way to communicate with others, it's fast, easy, organized, instant and for anyone...even the worst of "techie wizards".

I was really excited about this class, and am even more so now. I'm looking forward to blogging for this class and sharing ideas with classmates. It will be our way of journaling ideas and for the instructor to see if students are actually doing what they are supposed to be doing and also understanding what they do.