For our final project in LIS629, my partner and I created a wiki for middle school students to teach them how to search the web using Google. You can visit our wiki here. Upon completing this assignment, here are my final thoughts/reflections on the project.

Technology Elements
The technology elements that we included in our project were: a wiki, a gizmo avitar, a quiz, a Google presentation, and a photostory. Each individual element was chosen because of its ability to help us accomplish our goal of teaching students to search the web with Google. By using a wiki format, we were able to make our ideas accessible to students while still allowing them to leave feedback and discuss. Our Google presentation and photostory provided us with effective ways of communicating our information and the quiz allows students to test their knowledge of what they've learned. In addition, the gizmo avatar contributed to the project by giving us a way to connect with middle school students and make an otherwise dry topic more interesting.

Concepts and Ideas of Library 2.0 and Participatory Library Service
Web 2.0 tools have transformed the way that people connect, communicate, and use the internet. They allow people to collaborate and connect in ways that were not possible before. School librarians can take advantage of this and use it to transform the way that they connect with and collaborate with students, parents, other library and education professionals, and other classes and teachers around the globe. They can also utilize these tools to allow their students to share information, ideas, and projects in new ways using tools like nings, blogs, wikis, youtube, photostory, and Voice Thread. By thinking outside of the box, librarians can come up with a myriad of creative ways to effectively use these communication and collaboration technology tools in the library media center.

Technology Issues
Whenever you're using technology, you run the risk of encountering problems. One of the technology tools that we chose to use--the photo story--had to be uploaded onto YouTube or else those viewing the site on a Mac would not be able to view the photostory. This could present a real problem if students are accessing the site from a school that blocks YouTube (which many of them do). In addition to that specific technology issue, anytime you are using technology you must take into consideration the fact that glitches with internet connection and computer functioning can always disrupt use of the site.

Collaboration Issues
Collaboration is a big part of a librarian's job, but it's not always easy to have a successful collaborative partnership. In creating and completing this project, I feel that my partner and I were able to create a successful collaborative partnership. In the beginning, we each had different ideas about where the project should go, but those differing ideas ended up being beneficial in the end in that they contributed to the formulation of our project idea, which we probably would not have come up with had we been working individually. Our collaboration also contributed to the success of our project because we each brought our own strengths to the project. I had more experience with using some of the different technology elements that we included in our project, while my partner had more knowledge about some of the content included in our wiki. Together, we were able to use these skills to create a wiki that would not have been as good without the contributions made by each of us.

My Photostory

I created this photostory for LIS629. The story itself doesn't have much of a point, but creating it was good practice and I can definitely see how this can be a useful tool in the media center.

Image Generators

This is a movie poster that I created in Bighugelabs for the movie "Bud, Not Buddy." I would use something like this in the media center by having students create a movie poster for their favorite book. I'd have them choose a picture that they feel represents the book and choose some famous actors that they feel would be match the characters in the book. I think that the students would really have fun with this activity, but it would also force them to think about the main theme of the book and about the characters in order to choose the photo and actor names to include on the poster.

Using Wordle in the Media Center

This is a Wordle that I created for the Hamlet Soliloquy "To Be or Not to Be." I think that this would be an interesting way for students to analyze this Shakespeare soliloquy and its themes because it gives them a different perspective on the text. In the case of a piece of literature by Shakespeare, using a Wordle to analyze it could also be helpful because Shakespearean literature uses poetic structures and very unfamiliar language and Wordles help students see past that in order to better recognize recurring words or themes. Wordle seems like a really interesting tool to use in the media center!

Social Networking

Social networking is a really important thing for library media specialists and Web 2.0 tools provide a great way to do that. Tools like twitter and Teacher-Librarian allow librarians across the country and across the globe to collaborate and share ideas and information in ways that were not possible before. They also allow students to connect with one another in a way that is interesting and exciting for them. Nings could be created and used as virtual book clubs where students can share favorite books and discuss books that they are reading. Other tools, like Shelfari and LibraryThing can also be used in the media center. Placing a Shelfari or LibraryThing widget on the school library blog could be a great way to advertise new books to students and teachers, or books that relate to a certain theme or topic. There is so much potential for each of these tools and there are limitless ways that they can be used in the media center. It's really exciting!

Blogs in the Library Media Center

Web 2.0 obviously has a lot to offer to those in the educational world and blogs are a particularly versatile Web 2.0 tool that can be used in many ways to enhance student learning. As I work towards my goal of becoming a school library media specialist, I am very interested in delving into the potential that blogs have for enhancing the library media center.

After viewing different videos on blog use in the classroom, my eyes have been opened to the many ways in which blogs can be used that can be translated from the traditional classroom setting into the media center. As a school media specialist, I would use blogs with my students to help them connect with and collaborate with other learners. One of the skills for the 21st century learner is the ability to work collaboratively and blogs can open up that door by creating an environment where students are able to freely share their ideas and comment on the ideas of others. This interaction allows students to learn from one another and receive valuable feedback from other learners, which contributes to the learning experience for both individuals involved. Additionally, blogs would provide an excellent way for me as a media specialist to share with others what is going on in the media center. Students, faculty, administrators, staff, parents, and any other interested individuals would be able to stay informed about the activities of the media center and offer valuable feedback and comments for me as the media specialist.