K12 Learning 2.0

I LOVE to read – it doesn’t matter what the material is – I’ll read it.  I still truly enjoy reading the newspaper every night after work……how un-Web 2.0 is that!!!  Setting up Google Reader and choosing feeds to come to me has just expanded my reading choices a hundred-fold.  I’ve learned I’m not really a “skimmer”……I’ll work on that but I’m sure what I’m reading is going to tie in to something I’m doing or teaching or someone else I know could use the information……….

As i mentioned in an earlier post, these feeds are providing timely information on a variety of topics/tasks I’m working on right now.  Next week, I’m attending KSU’s Literature Conference and one of the featured presenters is author Laurie Halse Anderson;  in fact, she’s visiting one of our high schools next Wednesday afternoon. There’s a great article about her latest book title that was just released and the use of Facebook and My Space pages to discuss this new title.

As we’re wrapping up an Information Literacy class that I’m teaching, Joyce Valenza (media specialist extraordinaire) has a wonderful post about Creative Commons and how to use it for happier image searching.  She also includes links to a variety of resources for copyright appropriate images.  This information will be a wonderful addition to the section of the class on copyright, plagiarism and copyright-free sounds and images.

I really love Infinite Thinking’s Friday Five post. Every week – each topic is so interesting and timely.  This past post on the leading women of technology – how appropriate for Women’s History Month.  This feed provides historical as well as current information..and also inspires you to share what you’ve read.

I’m trying to maintain balance with all my reading choices….I’m so glad I have 2 new eyes to make all this reading possible!!!!

It’s funny how each new assignment seems to tie-in to something I’m doing.  I teach an Information Literacy Class to teachers and media specialists in our district.  The class is divided into 4 nights and the first night deals with Information Literacy, Copyright and Plagiarism.  One of the first “resources” I got in my Google Reader account was from one of the required feeds:  Infinite Thinking Machine.  The article dealt with 21st Century Skills and provided 5+ resources that helped to explain these competencies as well as resources for the classroom teacher and a world view of this challenge.  I was able to incorporate these resources onto the training page we offer for this class as well as use some of the information in my presentation. 21st Century Skills provides “food for thought” on the necessity of teaching our students a new set of skills.  As part of our discussion that first night of class, we try to brainstorm ideas about using the technology students love  – to draw them in to our teaching –  what student doesn’t love his/her cell phone?  Again, Infinite Thinking Machine had a resource entitled Cellphones in Education that definitely provided other resources and suggestions for the role cell phones can play in education. 

Amazing………..it’s wonderful to have the information come to me in one convenient place.  I love to read and constantly have a stack of print resources beside the bed that pile up – until I find time to go through them.  Having the RSS feeds in my Google Reader allows me to check daily and skim the collection then zero in on specific resources of interest. I like being able to star certain topics and quickly jump to them when needed.