Winter Web 2.0

Web 2.0 shows no signs of dying off - H1N1 or not! Here are some new Web 2.0 applications that kind of cool:

Storybird - is a collaborative story writing website. Students (or anyone really) can start a story topic and share it with classmates to see where the story goes. The site features quite a bit of art work that you can use to start a story.

People Maps - is similar to LinkedIn but provides a more visual map of how the 6 degrees of seperation are working for you. Ask me about Will and Grace sometime.

GazoPa- is an image search engine that will search for images that are similar to an image that you specify. For example, if you have an image of red car and you want to see more cars in that color red, or more images of that specific car in any color, GazoPa will find them for you.

European Culture

Here is a new (ok, newer) website that was created by the European Union to archive and catalog significant instances of Euorpean culture. So, if you are interested in the art, drama, or language of any european country, this might be a good site. Maybe you believe the only real art happens in Paris - good for you, check it out. Maybe you want to see WWIIvfrom another perspective, check it out! Europeana

Facebook and Quizes - Formative Assessments???

Watch This Video: a short little Facebook song!

Facebook quizes are the most popular application on Facebook, but are they taking more than you are giving? You hated quizes in school, what makes you think that they are good for you now? Take a look and change your ways! Facebook Quiz link

Info R/evolution

Here is another video from Michael Wesch. In his description, Wesch says: "This video explores the changes in the way we find, store, create, critique, and share information." As you will see, technology has removed much of the order that we once relied on to communicate and share information. While we frequently focus on the technology of change, this loss of rules has created a gap between those that need and rely on the system, and those that don't. Where are you and how has it affected you?

When you launch this video, click the HQ button in Youtube, you will see and enjoy it more.

Info R/evolution

Technology Upgrade

This week we updated our central data switch. The new switches increase our data bandwidth and provide increased efficiency for our entire network. Piggybacking on the switch project is a server virtualization project which will move many of our physical servers (dedicated computers) to a virtual environment. (geek speak for computers running on a computer - think about that for a moment) Here are some pics:

The Chains of Change

One of the questions that I hear most often is: "Why do we change so much?" That question is usually followed by: "We just started (insert new initiative here) and now we doing something else" I get the frustration. I also understand the confusion that happens. I think the most basic answer is that there is never an owner's manual or solution book attached to a problem. NEVER, I have looked. When a plan is created to overcome a challenge, there just aren't any guarantees that the plan will work. Will outcomes change? Has the problem changed? Will performance improve? If not, do we continue to ride a dead horse, or try another plan? Lets get off that horse and try something that might work better. It is our responsibility to persevere and try again. Have you read the book Who Moved My Cheese?

In my previous work-life, I saw first hand how public libraries are fighting tooth and nail to prove their relevance in the age of Google and the Internet. Some are winning, some are fading away; none of them are staying the same. I was recently surprised to hear the term "relevance"used in regard schools and education. The speaker was suggesting that schools are becoming less relevant to our students. How could that be? Children will always have to learn - won't they? Of course they will, but they may not always come to school to do it. Take a moment and check out the PA Cyber Charter School.

In 2006, Laura Cohen created the Librarian's 2.0 Manifesto and it created quite a stir. As you watch the video, try replacing the words library with school, users with students and librarians with teachers? Does it make sense? Can you visualize an Educator's 2.0 Manifesto? What would it say? How would it help us remain relevant to our students?

Students, Education and Modern Media

Michael Wesch is an Asst. Proffessor of Anthropology at KSU. In 2007 he focused his anthropology students on the question of how modern media has changed students. Thier work has produced some compelling video and reasons for change in the education field. Take a look: A Vision of Students Today