Digg

Okay I will have to admit that there is not enough time in the day to get to all of this stuff I am learning. I think Digg is cool and would use it for news stories or just to look up various subjects. Since I saw the Jonas Brothers this weekend with my family, I did a search on them. I found more information than I really needed to know. The obscure stories are understandably the most interesting - naked man stuck in dryer. I will show this cite to our students (if not blocked). I think it will be a great read for them - we try to get our students to read. I am going to add to my Delicious bookmarks.

Delicious

I have really been wanting to use Delicious. The site is blocked at our school so I have been placing my bookmarks on GoogleDocs. I will slowly put them on Delicious and see if I can get our tech people to unblock the site. This is so helpful because I come across many websites for teachers and can now bookmark them. It will help with library sites and help me to keep up with all of the sites I use.

Here is the link to my site on Delicious:
http://delicious.com/kanichols

Tagging

I think tagging is a good thing and can be used in the library. Library of Congress has subject headings that many people do not think about - example: cookery - our students think of cookbooks. Language has changed and we need to keep up with everyday language that will encourage young people to use the library and find information quickly. I believe that tagging can complement the Library of Congress subject headings and help in locating information. It also would make sense to the person who is searching.

Twitter

I have had a Twitter account since January 2009. One of the middle school in our district allowed the students to Twitter the presidential election so I signed up to follow them. I do not get on Twitter everyday but do like the social network.

I follow several authors, google, Anderson Cooper, some bands and some friends. I have posted several times. Today I went to the settings and changed my background and checked on some of the postings. Again with summer and my schedule I have not been on it. However, my brother and I have sent messages to one another when his horse was born. He also posted a picture.

Today I also posted on picture on Twitter.

My name on Twitter is: kmnichols

Instant Messaging

Because I have a Yahoo account, I already have access to their Instant Messenger. I will not post my user name because I do not want my email on my blog. I really will not use Instant Messenger at home. I do not stay on the computer enough to use it.

However, I do use Grand Prairie ISD's Instant Messenger at school. It is worthwhile in a school environment. I have teachers who IM me about sending students to the library, asking various questions, or just connecting with me during their break. I see a need for IM in the school setting. I have been able to answer a variety of questions and it can be used throughout our district. The only problem I have had is forgetting to write something down because their is not a history on it.

I am in charge of setting up Blackboard and had an administrator IM me some information to place on it. Oops, I got busy forgot to write down the information, clicked off and had to email her for the information again. The district is changing our IM next year, so hopefully there will a history tab.

Ning

I chose to look at Ning and not create an account. I may create one in the future. I did locate the ALA and truly enjoyed two videos: "I've Been Everywhere" on the American Libraries magazine and the ILS song. These videos show the personalities of librarians and we are fun. It was overwhelming with all the information, blogs, groups, etc.

I also enjoy gardening and found a wonderful site on Ning by searching gardening, gardenersindex.com. I plan to visit that site quite often and it may be the reason why I end up signing up. There were great video tips. Did you know you can sprinkle garlic around your garden and it will repel mosquitoes for about 20 to 30 days? Yes it works according to Howard Garrett and he is a reputable gardener.

In my opinion, there are so many social network sites with little time to go on them. I think I will have to decide which ones will benefit me the most. I worry about the privacy issue with Ning, so as long as I can go one without being a member, I will avoid joining.

Facebook and Connections

I am so glad I am participating in the North Texas 23 Things because I now have connections through Facebook with several of the Masonic Home students I taught and worked with in the past 13 years. It is exciting to connect with those you have not heard from and know how they are doing. The Masonic Home closed so contact was lost with those students. Facebook is great in connecting people.