# 19 Rollyo ... create personal search engine

Rollyo is easy to navigate and offers some useful options.
I like the way I can create a specific list of web resources that I can send to teachers and students as well as creating a link on the Library blog.
It would be a great alternative to having students using Google searches only to locate information.
It also offers a widget to place on web pages. This will be easy to explain to students so they can refer to it as a research source at the start of a unit.
As the search lists develop it would be a great way to share resources within school community and other teacher librarians.

#18 Wikis ... Hawiian for "QUICK"

Meredith Farkas's article promotes the use of wikis as a means  of opening up web design to the less "tech-savvy" people within the library community. As wikis requires only basis computer skills and no need for html language knowledge, most staff and patrons would be comfortable using this tool. Her recommendations for use include:

• Subject guides where patrons could add new sites as well as delete dead sites.
• Annotating Catalogue by patrons adding reviews about books.
• Community wiki where users shared advise about everyday issues.
• Intranet tool where school community could post important information that would be ongoing, rather than relying on emails. Tagging would aid the organisation of these posts.

My students use Wikipedia as their first option when researching information. They enjoy its quickness and the simple language used. However, it is essential to that the Information Literacy program emphasises the disadvantages as well. I recommend that students use Wikipedia as a starting place, but then refer to online  data bases where the information has been verified by experts.

Wikis: A Beginner's Look would be an excellent resource for teacher and staff training.
Library Success wiki provides a forum where librarians can share their expertise and advise.
Wikis in education is a wiki where educators can share tips about using wikis ... includes Ad-free education wikis.
Educational wikis provides information about how to use wikis in schools.

The school sample wiki shows also how membership can be restricted to school community only.
These wikis were great to get ideas from and it would be good to see Australian schools develop more. My school is currently looking at this Web2.0 option.

# 17 Delicious... social bookmarking

I had registered with Delicious about 12 months ago while at a course with other teacher librarians. It was a good way to share websites. However I had lost momentum using it. It would be a great place to add some of the web resources I have discovered doing this course. The best application I can think of for the classroom would to be as a recommended resources list for students taking a specific research task. This would be most suitable to secondary students and would also encourage them to use their school email accounts that they tend to forget. Adding other people to my network is a simple process and would broaden the web resources offered. Adding the add-ons to the toolbar will make it easier to add websites as I find them. I am motivated to utilize this tool.

# 16. Stay informed ... Blogs.

How to Make Your RSS Feeds POP! addressed the challenge of making RSS feeds interesting enough to catch the attention of our student readers. By :

• Using images or video : graphic or multimedia to catch their attention
• Scannable content : presentation of material using headings and lists.
• Titles with Bling : using strategies such as the obvious, shock, humour, how to and intrigue.
• Opening Lines : that will hook the reader.
• Avoid clutter

Essential point made is

"Create a user experience IN your RSS feed and you’ll find that the benefits will flow on."

I have subscribed the following RSS feeds very easily by using the RRS feed option on the Google toolbar.

• Read Alert ; State Library of Victoria blog
• Recent Australian Publications : National Library of Australia service
• Education au Blog
• Unshelved Comic strip for libraries
• Sydney Morning Herald Headlines

#15 RSS Feeds ... Really Simple Syndication

RSS feeds in plain English explains how to connect to updates from favourite websites, saving time browsing the Internet. First need a Reader ... Second need to subscribe to sites via RSS icon or posting website address to reader.
Google Reader.
I have registered for the Google Reader account.
I believe it will assist in organising the flowing in of new information.
In the past I have subscribed to listservs but I have been frustrated when wanting to go back and find that "great" idea that was shared. The tutorial provided will assist in this organisation:

Sorting my reading list

Full story not showing in expanded view

Explore section and "magic" ranking

Using this web tool will be a far better alternative to using email services that tend to fill very quickly.

It would also be important  not to over subscribe or more time will be spent organising the material rather than acting on it.

#14 Facebook

The article by Polonetsky and Wolf regarding privacy issues when using Facebook or any other social networking site makes worthy warnings. The fact that such services may alter privacy settings in a update that may be ignored by the patron is a worry. Another detail that needs to be attended to if using these networking sites. Also how much of our private usage is being "sold" as consumer information is another cause for concern.
The Wikipedia article adds to the concerns of privacy and data mining and provides historical development of usage policy.
7 Things you should know about ... Facebook states the need for students creatively use this new technology to develop their profiles rather than aimlessly searching through network connections without any real goals.
Is your boss friend or foe? highlights how Facebook can be abused, and workplace policies can overstep personal boundaries.
Facebook registration was reasonably straightforward. I was rather hesitant in light of the information read to provide open access. Also as a teacher, I am not allowed to have students as "friends". But as it linked to my email lists, I was able to network with family and friends. That is as far as I need to go with Facebook. It will be fun to share photos and keep in contact with friends in USA.

#13 My Space

I have not had the desire to open a My Space account although my family and friends have said how much they enjoy using it. After looking at the Yarra Plenty Regional Library Youth Space, I can see how such a site would be appealing to high school students. Would students actually use the space to leave comments or contribute or is it used more as a place to promote library information?
My school library already has a Library Blog page and I don't believe that My Space would be a better option at this time.
Dupal offers some great options to create a more customised web presence. It has been used as Library web page and staff intranet. The many features look worthy of further investigation.

#12 Flickr

I had previously set up a Flickr account which I use to share photos with family and friends around the world. Its great when on vacation as I can send photos before we get home.
It was interesting setting up the blog connection.
I found it difficult to locate photos that actually had the "bog this" icon at the top of the picture.
I found some beautiful photos of Sydney but I could only tag them as favourites.
Is there an easier way to find photos that are available to add to a blog?

The Picture Australia website is a very useful site for school. I searched for Eddie Mabo and found a varied collection of archival photos. I'd like to add this web site to our catalogue. The media release provides added information.

Voice Thread is useful to get a group of students to add comments on a specific image.
I had students add their comments about a specific book they have read/heard based on an image of the book's cover.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

#11 Online Library Collection

1. Library Thing.
This an easy to use website. It was easy to create an account and to add books to my collection.
It was good to have different style options. Style E included subject headings.
2.Shelfari.
I preferred the layout of Shelfari as I could do most of the same things as Library Thing. The bookshelf graphic is more appealing which is to be considered when trying to motivate some young adult readers to participate. The suggestions in "How Libraries are using Library Thing" could also be applied to Shelfari. I have signed up  to both and intend to experiment with them further.
3. Did You Know 4.0 You Tube clip was enlightening as to the rapid changes and the direction our lives are being taken globally.