High Tech Learning: Course Materials: Email Archives

High tech learning refers to the constantly evolving hardware, software, and networking tools and resources available to those wishing to acquire knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values through formal instruction or free inquiry. Because of the virtual nature of these digital tools and resources, high tech learning can occur anywhere, anytime.

Start at the Course Home Page. Explore the Course Materials section to read the Syllabus, explore the Calendar, Requirements and Checklist, or access the Course Guide. When you're ready to begin, work your way through the three sections of the course: High Tech Learning, Tools, and Learning Spaces.

Questions? Contact Annette Lamb.

Class Email Archives

You should have received the following message through email. If you didn't get this email, please email me with your current email address so I can add you to the class list.

Update: Final Note

This is the grand finale! High Tech Learning is always a fun course to teach! I hope you enjoyed the journey!

I've sent each of you a personal email with your grade. Let me know if you didn't receive this.

FIESTA 8 DEBRIEFING
You all did a great job combining your interactive with meaningful activities, books, displays, and promotional activities. It was great to see so many of you using tools like websites, Google Sites, Wikispaces, etc to publish your works.

As you think of high-tech learning activities, consider how they fit into the larger picture of your school, public library, or other learning environment. In other words, today's displays may contain books, real objects, and bulletin boards, but they may also contain a laptop with an interactive to draw patrons into the promotion or learning center.

Many of you chose to explore apps. It was fun to see the variety of apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Google Chrome. In the next several years we'll see Apps becoming a standard software option for most formats.
FINAL DEBRIEFING
Your final projects were excellent. I was glad to see that most of you pushed your skills to a new level and learned a lot! The next time you're wondering how to increase the involvement of patrons in your library or promote learning in young people, think about technology tools and spaces. However also remember that it's NOT the technology that makes the difference, it's the people behind the technology including the developers, facilitators, and content that make a quality program!

ENDING THOUGHTS
During the semester I've seen a number of postings where librarians indicated that they want people to physically come into their public, academic, or special library, so they're reluctant to support virtual activities. From high gas prices to physical disabilities, there are many reasons why people don't visit the library. Think of virtual activities as a way to draw people into the library. For instance, some people are reluctant to join book clubs because they don't have a babysitter, are shy in groups, or are simply too lazy to drive to the library. The virtual experience may provide a connection to the library that might lead to voting on a library bond issue they would have ignored otherwise or using the library for career planning assistance when they lose their job. Think of virtual connections as a way to promote all of the programs of your library.

I recently received an email from a teacher librarians who was frustrated because administrators, parents, and teachers in her conservative community were "scared" of the Web 2.0 technologies and feared for the safety of their children. She was seeking to jumpstart projects and convince people that the technology was worthwhile.

Here are some ideas I provided to get her started.

1 - Develop a public library and local community project that models the effective use of Web 2.0 technology and mobile apps. For instance, you might create a book club that involves high school students and members of the chamber of commerce reading a Thomas Friedman book together. Or, collaborate with the local historical society on an oral history project. These have high visibility and can show the community the value of the technology.

2 - Most web 2.0 tools have levels of access. For instance, wikispaces can be set to private, protected, or public. Try a private one first and share your success... then try a protected, then public for increasing levels of openness.

3 - Get your administration on-board with a professional development activity. Most teachers are asked to read ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) books of the principal's choosing for professional development. Use a blog or wiki as a way to share understandings. The principal will begin to see the value and provide support for other Web 2.0 activities.

4 - Use good models in the classroom. Join established projects that use Web 2.0 tools in a safe environment. Join with other schools for projects related to topics such as Young Hoosier books.

5 - Focus on the 21st Century Standards for Learners from AASL and the new ISTE NETS... These are NATIONAL standards that state specifically that young people need to become responsible users of technology... this can only be accomplished by using these tool.

6 - The goal is for students to become responsible members of society. Just like learning to swim, you need kids in the pool even if water is dangerous.

COURSE MATERIALS
Remember, the High Tech Learning website as well as all of our other course materials will always be online for you to use. Keep in mind that I'm constantly updating the materials for this course. You can always come back later to find out what's happening..

If you ever have ideas or want to share your professional experiences, please email me. I'm always excited to hear about what's happening in your life.

Thanks to those who have emailed me with ideas for future revisions and additions. I'm always happy to hear from you.

Keep in touch!

THE END
I hope you've enjoyed the course! Remember... Larry and I teach 9 online courses, so we hope to e-see you again in another online course. Learn more about Spring and Summer 2012 semester and beyond web-based courses at http://eduscapes.com/iupui

COURSE EVALUATION: A REMINDER
You'll be getting a paper course evaluation. Please fill it out. These help determine the future of online courses, so they're very important.

E-see you later!

Update December 6

Just a quick note.

Your Final Project is due today, Wednesday December 7.

If you run into trouble, email me and you can have an extension until Friday. Friday December 9 is the last day to turn in assignments for credit without prior approval.

GRADING
I'll be grading Fiesta 8 later in the week. Please check the GRADEBOOK in Oncourse to be sure I didn't miss any of your other assignments.

FINAL PROJECT

Just a couple quick reminders about your final project.

First, this assignment is worth 20 points. That's twice as many points as a Fiesta assignment. Please review the checklist to be sure you have all the required components.

Also, double check any files you upload. In other words, if you incorporate audio and video but sure to check to be sure they work. If you upload anything to the Oncourse MyWorkspace or Google Docs, but sure they are set to PUBLIC view. It's best to do this check out a different computer than you used to build your project.

We're almost done. Let me know if you have questions. I'm always here to help.

Update: December 5

Just a week left in class.

If you're still looking for classes for spring, consider Information Inquiry (S574). You can preview the course at http://virtualinquiry.com

If you're looking for a great summer class, consider my new History of Libraries (S580) course. It's the first time I'm offering it online and it will be lots of fun!

DUE
If you haven't posted a reply for Fiesta 8, please post in by Monday, December 5.
The last day to turn in late fiesta activities is Monday, December 5. Late submissions are subject to point reductions.
Your Final Project is due Wednesday, December 7.
Final grades will be turned in early the week of December 12.

If you are having trouble meeting the deadlines, please make contact IMMEDIATELY so we can make arrangements.

Please check the GRADEBOOK and let me know if I've missed any of your points. Every point is important in this class.

FINAL PROJECT
As you're building your project, consider new technologies. Feel free to use resources that you've used in class or found on your own. If you haven't tried Google Sites, it would be a nice place to organize your content and involve participants in adding content or comments.

Need more ideas for tools? Try 25 Tools for Teaching and Learning at
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/bestlist/bestwebsitestop25.cfm

Be sure to check the Project Guidelines and Checklist before turning in your Final Project.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f9

Remember that there's a written (10 points) and final product (10 points) element to this project. Both are equally important.

Be sure that you provide a DETAILED, written product. This is worth 10 points. Be sure to write about your AUDIENCE, TECHNOLOGY EFFECTIVENESS, and TECHNOLOGY ISSUES. Share how you selected your technology and content. Talk about each technology component and how it contributes to the project. Also write about how you'll implement the project. How do you see it being used with students or patrons?

I expect professional quality work in this final project. Outstanding projects will be clear, creative, and make excellent use of the technology. Keep in mind that 2 points are awarded for each of the technology elements. It's not enough to tell me about what you'd do. You need to CREATE each of these FOUR elements.

BE SURE to double-check anything that you upload using a different computer to be certain that everything downloads correctly.

Have fun with your project. It's flexible enough to fit the professional needs of everyone in the class!

Update: November 28

I hope you're all having a great Thanksgiving Weekend. Today I'm staying as far away from those Black Friday shopping crowds as possible, so it's a good time to write to you.

If you haven't registered for Spring classes, consider my online course Information Inquiry for Teachers and Librarians (S574).

ASSIGNMENT
Your readings are done.

There's just one more Fiesta to complete. Notice that POINTS are given for "effective ideas"... this means multiple ideas and examples for the full points. You also MUST have a sample, example, or other display of learner work.

Fiesta 8: Interactives is due Monday November 28. The reply is due Monday December 5.

Your final project is due Wednesday December 7.

FIESTA 6 DEBRIEFING
A few of you lost points because you were missing a reply to another student's posting or a comment on another student's catalog. Let me know if I missed a reply or comment.

It was fun reading about your perspectives on social technology! I sometimes e-hear people saying virtual worlds and social technology is just for young people. I say, get real! Age is all in the mind. I've been around for more than half a century, yet I hike mountains and build websites. My parents are in their 70s and had no trouble installing and enjoying Second Life. My dad updates his Facebook page and blogs almost every day about family history and photographs. I have nine aunts and uncles and dozens of cousins who are Facebook friends from ages 15 to 85.

I got the feeling some people in the class have become bored or just not interested in social networks. I'm still involved in many online social systems, but sometimes feel the same way. However it's essential that we remember that each person is unique. Not all kids love video games and not everyone enjoys hiking in the woods. The key is to remember that as librarians and educators we need to be thinking about the needs and interests of all of our patrons. While it would be nice for everyone to physically come to your library and read traditional books, it's also our job to attract new patrons who might participate in virtual book clubs and listen to books on MP3.

When Second Life becomes more like the holodeck on the starship Enterprise, I'll be ready to jump in with both feet. Although I find Second Life fascinating for specific applications, it can also frustrating. Like many of you, I don't like synchronous applications including phones, chat, IM, and Second Life because they interfere with my Real Life. You're on someone else's schedule when you answer the phone or have to be at a meeting at a particular time. What I prefer about networks such as LibraryThing and Facebook is the opportunity to read, reflect, and respond on my own time.

Keep in mind that the technology behind Second Life is still very new. It's where "the web" was in 1995. Keep in mind that Second Life is NOT designed for kids or young adults. It's an adult environment. There's "Teen Grid" but it's in a separate area.. Instead, you might use a data projector to do a whole-group virtual field to a place like Paris 1900. Remember that Teen Second Life isn't available for adults without special arrangements, so it's tough to teach there. Over the next several years, we'll see more education-related MUVEs (Multi User Virtual Environments) with specific educational applications. If you want to see better quality images, check out the World of Warcraft community.

Personally, I LOVE LibraryThing. However that's probably because we share books within our family and we use it to see what everyone has and what we've been reading. I made a LibraryThing for my 5 year old nephew so people don't re-buy the books he already has in his collection.

A couple people were disappointed that they could only enter 200 books. The lifetime membership is only $25. I consider it a good investment.

Good Reads has become increasingly popular over the past year. I really prefer Good Reads for book discussions and book clubs. For some fun, join the IUPUI SLIS YA Book Group at http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/25963.IUPUI_SLIS_YA_Book_Group

You all did a great job discussed the pros and cons of various social networks. Keep in mind that although it may seem like tool such as Facebook have been around a long time, social technology is still evolving. However there are still fundamental questions that many of you identified. For instance, is it a good use of time.. who's the judge? In what situations is it effective for communication and interaction? What about privacy issues?

To explore a few of these issues... How about a video clip? I wrote an article for Knowledge Quest on Social Technology and Intellectual Freedom. The editor of the issue wanted to interview me for her graduate course. Check it out...
http://library.mansfield.edu/video5545.asp

FIESTA 7 DEBRIEFING
I was impressed by the variety of interesting groups that you started in Diigo. The reason I wanted you to try this tool is that it's got a number of features found in other tools all in one place. For instance, you've got the highlighting, note taking, bookmarking aspect, but you also have the discussion forums that would be useful for groups and discussions. This would be particularly useful when working with students or as part of a club atmosphere. A few people had trouble sharing the bookmarks and annotations in the discussions areas. I just went directly to each person's profile so I was able to find everything. Like at tools, it takes a little while to get accustomed to the tools,

No one chose to do the PowerPoint Sidekick project. Consider looking at some of the great examples from previous semesters demonstrating unique ways to use PowerPoint in teaching and learning. As you think about these types of environments in the future, remember that they can be applied to all ages.

Also think about whether a desktop learning space is really necessary. It might make more sense to just use paper and pencil. Ask yourself: what does the technology add to the experience? For instance, audio directions are essential for very young learners who are beginning readers. Topics such as language classes, learning animal sounds, identifying music, sharing oral history, and poetry reading are great examples of times when audio would really benefit learners.

Finally, look for topics that can make use of the power of movement, copying, pasting, editing, writing, and other features of the electronic environment. For instance, when studying "from farm to market" children and reorder photographs.

FINAL PROJECT
We only have a couple weeks left in the semester, so it's time to really work on your final project. Hopefully you've been thinking about your topic and planning your ideas. Let me know if you have questions.

I've had a couple questions about the final project, so I want to clarify a few things.
Keep in mind that there are two aspects to this project: Written Plan and Final Products.

Your written plan should provide enough detail that I could implement your idea. The same goes for the final products.

EACH of the FOUR technology elements is worth TWO points so be sure you do your BEST work.

Keep in mind that there's one point that asks the question "was this an engaging, innovative, high tech learning experience?"... Outstanding projects will be effective, efficient, and appealing for their specific audience.

Update: November 21

Be sure to take a little time to relax during the Thanksgiving holiday before the "big push" toward the end of the semester.

Registration Reminder... If you enjoyed this course, try another online course! I'm offering Information Inquiry and also Electronic Materials for Children and Young Adults in the Spring. Tell your friends!

DUE
Remember to explore the Fiesta 6 postings of your peers on LibraryThing. You have until November 21 to post a reply.

Fiesta 7 is due Monday November 21.

Fiesta 8 is due Monday November 28.

Final Project Due WEDNESDAY December 7.

ASSIGNMENT
The term "interactive" was originally associated with computer-based museum exhibits, however over the past decade the word has been connected with a wide variety of virtual learning spaces such as multimedia simulations and games. These are often created using Adobe Flash software. From multimedia games to multiuser environments, online gaming has become very popular in learning. The most recent type of interactive is called a widget. These mini-applications include a wide range of tools and games.

Read Spaces: Interactive Technology http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/interactives/index.htm

Read Spaces: Interactives http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/interactives/interactives.htm

Read Spaces: Widgets http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/interactives/widgets.htm

Read Spaces: Mobile Apps http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/interactives/apps.htm

Read Spaces: Augmented Reality http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/interactives/augmented.htm

Read Spaces: Gaming http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/interactives/gaming.htm

If you're looking for some library specific widgets, try

http://www.scholastic.com/tbwwidget
http://www.librarything.com
http://www.shelfari.com
http://browseinside.harpercollinschildrens.com
http://kidderlit.com/widget.html

Also, check out Joyce Valenza's page of widget ideas at http://aaslsmackdown.wikispaces.com/Information+Fluency

Read the assignment at Fiesta 8: Interactives http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f8

Keep in mind that you can use ANY interactive. It doesn't need to be one from my list. Or if you are a Flash user, you could even create your own original interactive for this class... HOWEVER please create something original for this class. I know many of you have taken the Flash class.

FIESTA 7 IDEAS

This should be an enjoyable, easy, low-stress assignment, so have some fun!

Notice that you have two options. You only need to do ONE of these options.

If you choose OPTION 1, you'll need to join the Diigo group so be sure to email me ahead of time to get into the group. Give me the email you used to register and your username. Once the required steps have been followed, there are no additional postings.

If you choose OPTION 2, you'll be posting your project at the learningspaces wiki page. You can either create a page on my wiki or add a link to your wiki space.

FINAL PROJECT
It's time to begin work on your final project. Have fun!

Consider doing something entirely new and different to apply your new skills. However, keep in mind that you should use "new examples" for your final project. It's fine to use technology tools you've used before (such as the digital camera, a blog or wiki). You could even do the same "theme" such as oral histories or book reviews. However don't reuse the same recordings or use the same blog or wikispace.

Consider trying some of the tools you skipped the first round such as goanimate or voicethread.

You could also incorporate a technology that we didn't study in this course. For example, if you've taken the Flash course, you could create an ORIGINAL Flash Interactive, as long as you create something new for this course. :-)

Keep in mind that this is a great chance to do something that you could show during a job interview. Increasingly library and school settings expect new people to be able to demonstrate technology skills. If you were asked to show something that you've done that reflects your knowledge of how technology could be infused into a library program, what would you show? This is your chance to shine. :-)

Update: November 14

The end of the semester is in sight! Only a few more assignments.

It's time to register for Spring and think about Summer courses. My Information Inquiry course I teach will NOT be offered again until Spring 2013, so if you have friends who need it be sure they sign up for it this Spring.

Also, if you're interesting in working with children and young adults, I strongly recommend my Electronic Materials for Children and Young Adults. I'm told it's much easier than this course and a lot more fun.. okay even if you're not interested in kids, it's still a really fun class!

If you're looking for summer ideas, consider my new online course called History of Libraries. It's an important course for anyone interested in library work. I've designed the course specifically for summer so it shouldn't be too bad in terms of work.
DUE

I hope you're having fun with Second Life and LibraryThing! Remember, you post your assignment at LibraryThing rather than in Oncourse. Your reply should also be posted in LibraryThing.

Fiesta 6 is due Monday November 14. I'll give you another week (through November 21) to check out the work of your peers at the SLIS-INDY group (http://www.librarything.com/groups/slisindy) in LibraryThing before grading. Remember that 1 of your 10 points is for a HIGH QUALITY reply to a peer in our LibraryThing discussion area.

Also, if you're not able to explore Second Life because of technology issues, let me know and I'll help you find another multi-user virtual environment for this assignment.

Fiesta 7 is due Monday November 21.

GRADES
Grades have been posted for Fiesta assignments 1-5. Be sure to check the gradebook for your comments and scores. A few people lost points because I couldn't find their comments in Oncourse or peer blogs on Fiesta assignments 3 & 4. Let me know if I somehow missed your replies.

ASSIGNMENT
When we think of learning spaces, we generally think of tables and chairs. However it's also important to consider the virtual spaces you're providing for your students and patrons. When you think of your library, consider ways to make your physical and virtual spaces seamless.

Read Spaces: Digital Learning Spaces http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/desktop/index.htm

Read Spaces: Desktop Learning Spaces http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/desktop/sidekicks.htm

Read Spaces: Electronic Whiteboards http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/desktop/whiteboards.htm

It's time to begin work on your next assignment.
Read Fiesta 7: Desktop Spaces http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f7
For this assignment you have 2 options. You just need to pick one of these options.

FIESTA 5 DEBRIEFING

I enjoyed exploring your team wikis. They turned out GREAT! All the groups did a super job coming up with unique content. You can find your grades and comments in the Oncourse Gradebook.

It was fun to see the wide variety of projects! As with all collaborative efforts, there are leaders and followers, creators and editors, overachievers and underachievers. A few of you experienced trouble with the virtual conferencing aspect, but that's typical of synchronous activities. It's one reason that I prefer asynchronous formats like threaded discussions rather than chats for teaching and learning.

Many of you are finding Second Life frustrating because it's "real time." While some people would prefer a live book discussion on Second Life, others would prefer the time for personal reflection and posting a book review of LibraryThing. Some people have strengths related to INTERPERSONAL intelligence and love the live, socializing. Others lean toward their INTRAPERSONAL intelligence and prefer tools that involve sharing photos, posting journals, and connecting through delayed written communication.

Many of the wiki groups made good use of the DISCUSSION tab. I find this to be a valuable component of the wiki environment. I was particularly happy with the groups that worked with unique information and collected original, primary source materials.

By the way, a few people wondered how I would know what changes were made by whom. Keep in mind that each page contains a history. In addition, the RECENT CHANGES option on the left side of the wikispaces page contains a master list of all changes and the person making the change. Most wikis provide this kind of information. However one group shared a username which made it more difficult to find who made what edits. Also, a few people came in as a guest, so I had no way of knowing it was you making the changes unless you let me know in a discussion somewhere. If you lost points because I couldn't find your work, just let me know and I can give you back points.

If you were frustrated by the wikispace tools, consider other types of collaborative environments. For instance, Google Sites provide a way to create collaborative pages. They also provide a comments feature that's useful in collaborative projects.

FINAL PROJECT
I've had email conversations with a few people about their final project. If you need to bounce ideas around, I'm happy to help. This is a chance for you to try out what you've learned and extend yourself! Try to work on something that's practical and can actually be used by you and others.

Remember, employers are seeking people with technology skills. This should be your best professional work. Develop something that you would be proud to show a potential employer.

SECOND LIFE

We had a great groups for the three Second Life tours. We met at my digital deck, then spent about 60-90 minutes exploring Second Life. I know some of you had technical difficulties, but don't worry. It's typical for a few people to drop out or to come "in and out" depending on the connection... remember this technology is still pretty new.

If you didn't get a chance to attend one of the tours you might want to explore on your own athttp://slurl.wikispaces.com/Newbie+Field+Trip

Remember, in a Real Life (RL) community you'll find adult book stores, strip bars, and crime. The same is true for Second Life. Look for the positive culture experiences including book clubs, author events, live ballet and theatre, science projects, and poetry readings in both worlds.

Some people have asked about how to find cool places and live events. Use the SEARCH box to locate places, people, and events. You'll notice that a majority of events posted involve sex, violence, gambling, entertainment, or shopping. You have to "dig deeper" for the literature discussions, live theatre, and other interesting events. Use worlds like museum, library, literature, and learning in your search. One way to find them is by joining GROUPS. For example, the sLiteracy group holds some wonderful live activities. They've also sponsored a recreation of The Globe Theatre.

For those of you working with young adults, consider Teen Life. Adults are not allowed in this environment. However it's possible to gain special access as an educator or librarian after undergoing a background check.
http://teen.secondlife.com/

Keep in mind that Second Life is meaningless without the people. The idea is to establish an area where people can talk and interact without needing to travel in the real-world for the connection.

SECOND LIFE EVENTS

Here are two places you can go to find Second Life events. The times listed are Pacific Time.

Go to http://secondlife.com/community/events/
Go to http://secondlife.com/destinations/events

PROFESSIONAL NOTE
People often ask me what professional resources I read. One of my favorites is the weekly American Libraries Direct e-newsletter that comes to me through email. You can now subscribe without being an ALA member:

American Libraries Direct
http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/aldirect/aldirect.cfm

MORE ONLINE FUN
If you're enjoying this course, consider taking another one next semester! Between Larry and I we're teaching four online courses this Spring. Learn more about web-based courses at http://eduscapes.com/iupui

SPRING 2012

S603 Electronic Materials for Children and Young Adults
Instructor: Annette Lamb
http://eduscapes.com/earth/
From educational software to informational websites, a wide range of electronic materials are currently available for children and young adults. These materials can help parents entertain and motivate their children. They can also assist teachers in meeting the individual learning needs of children. This three-credit hour course focuses on the evaluation, selection, management, and use of electronic materials for children and young adults including web and computer-based materials. Learners will explore categories of resources and develop materials such as pathfinders and WebQuests to facilitate access and promote learning. They will also develop a database guide to promote the effective use of electronic databases by children and young adults. Issues such as Internet filtering, copyright, and technology planning will also be explored. This course will expand your thinking about the integral role of electronic resources in a comprehensive PK-12 school and/or children's/YA public library setting. Choices allow graduate students with varied backgrounds and interests to select activities that meet their professional needs.

S621 Audio and Video Collections
http://eduscapes.com/seeds/
Instructor: Larry Johnson
Explore ideas and resources to help you grow as a multimedia user, developer, technology coordinator, educator, collection developer, or librarian. This three credit hour course focuses on decision making in the digital audio and video information environment. This includes collection development, management, and organization with emphasis on the evaluation, selection, and use of a wide range of low to high tech audio and visual media. Issues such as access, organization, promotion, multimedia copyright, and censorship will be discussed. Multimedia literacy as well as integration of multimedia resources into the K12 and higher education curriculum and public library environment will be explored. Tools and techniques for sharing and disseminating audio and visual elements will be examined. Finally, remote and emerging technologies will be highlighted.

S532 Information Architecture for the Web
http://eduscapes.com/arch/
Instructor: Larry Johnson
During the past decade, the Internet has become an integral part of schools, libraries, and most other organizations. As we design systems for accessing and applying the vast resources available, skills in information architecture have become critical for librarians, educators and anyone interested in meeting the information needs of people in today's digital world. This three-credit hour graduate focuses on planning, designing, developing, managing, and evaluating web resources. Learners evaluate the content and technical aspects of existing informational, instructional, and promotional websites designed for libraries, schools, museums, and other organizations. They also create web sites using raw HTML, as well as web development tools. Issues such as web accessibility, website management, and copyright will also be discussed. Finally, students design a plan for managing, sustaining, and/or expanding their website.

S574 Information Inquiry for Educators and Librarians
Instructor: Annette Lamb
http://virtualinquiry.com
Whether you're exploring ideas for your next vacation, pondering choices for political office, or examining history or science topics, information inquiry plays an important role in lifelong learning, personal growth, and many aspects of the K12 curriculum. This three-credit hour graduate course is an introduction to the inquiry process and the methods, techniques, and concepts useful in teaching students and other educators the skills associated with information literacy, media literacy, creative thinking, and critical thinking.

The Information Inquiry course will NOT be offered again until Spring 2013, so if you want it be sure to sign up for Spring 2012.
Contact either one of us for more information or to answer specific questions.

SUMMER 2012

S603 Electronic Materials for Children and Young Adults
Instructor: Larry Johnson
http://eduscapes.com/earth/

S580 History of Libraries
Instructor: Annette Lamb
Development of libraries and information service from earliest times to the present, with emphasis on the library in relation to social, economic, cultural, and political trends.

Contact either one of us for more information or to answer specific questions.

Special Update: SL

I've had a couple requests for another Second Life tour. I'll offer a final tour on Wednesday November 9 at 8PM INDY time.

One of the requirements for Fiesta 6: Social Technologies and Virtual Worlds is to participate in a Second Life event. You still have a week until this requirement is due, but I want to make certain that no one misses this opportunity. You WILL lose points if you don't participate in a SL tour or planned SL event.

We'll meet at my virtual office at the CAVE: Center for Advanced Virtual Education. If you want to join us, simply email me in the "Real World" with your Second Life name and I'll invite you. I can then teleport (TP) you if you wish. Or, search for Annette Olmstead with the "Friend" button in Second Life and invite me as a friend. I can teleport everyone to the same location. Or, you can also use the SLurl below. This will open your web browser. Click on the TELEPORT button and it will launch Second Life and show you the location on the map. Click TELEPORT to go there.

RL - Annette Lamb
SL - Annette Olmstead
SL Home - CAVE: Center for Advanced Virtual Education
I hate to be stuck inside on a sunny SL day... My rooftop hangout -
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eduisland%202/120/6/33/

SL FAQs
Where do I start? Go to the Second Life website at http://secondlife.com and download the software. Create an account and give yourself an avatar name. Work your way through the Orientation. From there, you can go anywhere.

Where am I? The coordinates at the top of the Second Life window show your current location including the place name and coordinates that you can save as landmarks and that are used for the SLurls.

How do I find places to go? Use the SEARCH button and seek out topics of interest. Try a search for library, museum, nature, music, etc. Also, you can find lots of interesting SLurls (Second life links) at my wikispaces on the topic at ttp://slurl.wikispaces.com/Newbie+Field+Trip
What if I run into things? Don't worry about it. I've been in SL a long time and I still run into walls.

SLurl LINKS
If you want to go on our own tour, check out my Newbie tours at http://slurl.wikispaces.com/Newbie+Field+Trip
These are the tours I'll be hosting over the next couple weeks.

When you want to create your own Second Life links, go to http://slurl.com/build.php.
When you're in Second Life, notice that your location shows up as a place name and 3 coordinates. You used these to create a SLurl.

Update: November 7

I hope you all had a great Halloween!

READING ASSIGNMENT
Read Spaces: Course Management Systems http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/course/index.htm

Since you've all used Oncourse you're familiar with this course management tool, however there are many other systems available online. Although Blackboard is a popular commercial software option, many school districts and libraries are using open source tools such as Moodle to manage online courses.

If you're ever in the situation of building a course or workshop and you don't have access to a course management system, you can also use some of the social networking tools to build your own course environment. For instance, some library activities are offered using tools such as http://nicenet.org/ and http://www.ning.com/

DUE
Your additions to Fiesta 5 are due Monday November 7.

Work on Fiesta 6 (http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f6). It's due Monday November 14.

Many people are already having a great time in Second Life and at LibraryThing. Join in the fun! Remember that this assignment will be posted in LibraryThing. You'll notice that I've been doing this assignment this way for a couple years.

Keep in mind that the first question in the Fiesta assignment asks you to compare Second Life and LibraryThing to another Social Network you've tried. That means you need to try GoodReads, Facebook, or another social network described on the course pages to make a direct comparison!

A couple people have asked about the Reviews in LibraryThing. Add a book, then edit the record for this book. There's a place to add a review.

You're also required to explore the LibraryThing libraries and postings of your peers and make at least one high quality reply. This will be due on November 21.

I think everyone is going to really enjoy this assignment!

FINAL PROJECT

It's time to start thinking about your final project.

Read the guidelines at http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f9

This project is worth 20 points. It is VERY flexible to meet the diverse needs of this class. Try to do something that you are passionate about doing in real life or something you think would look good in your professional portfolio.... Remember, I'm only an email away if you want to bounce around ideas. Keep in mind that it's worth double a "fiesta-type" assignment so it should be substantial.

SECOND LIFE MEETINGS

As part of Fiesta 6, you need to explore Second Life. The next couple days you'll get two opportunities to participate in Second Life activities. You only need to attend ONE Second Life tour to complete this assignment. Or, you can attend any live meeting you find in Second Life.
I'll be offering a virtual tour on Sunday and Monday. We'll meet at my virtual office at the CAVE: Center for Advanced Virtual Education. If you want to join us, simply email me in the "Real World" with your Second Life name and I'll invite you. I can then teleport (TP) you if you wish. Or, search for Annette Olmstead with the "Friend" option in Second Life and invite me as a friend. I can teleport everyone to the same location. You can also use the SLurl below.

If you get lost before or during the trip, just email me or message me in SL and I will teleport you back to our group.
If this is your first time, you'll register and download the software. Then, you'll go through an Orientation where you follow a path and complete tasks to learn the basics. If you get confused, email me and I'll walk you through it. If you have a slow Internet connection, Second Life may not work for you. I'll take people to a few locations I sometimes visit to help orient you to this interesting virtual world.

We'll be doing Tour 1 Sunday and Tour 2 Monday from the Newbie Field Trip page. I'll take you from place to place and talk about the features. I'll use the typing chat option since some of you may not have the ability to use audio.

http://slurl.wikispaces.com/Newbie+Field+Trip

Once you've attended a tour, I recommend that you explore some of the sites again on your own. Also use the SEARCH tab to find other places and events of interest.

If you're experiencing trouble with SL crashing there can be a number of reasons:

1 - If you have your security set very high on your computer, this can interfere with operation.
2 - If you are using a service provider with a very secure firewall, this can also provide a problem. Try at a different location with a different service.
3 - SL has a problem with the graphics cards on some older computers.

Update: October 31 - Happy Halloween!

Do you believe that the semester is half over?

I hope you enjoy Halloween weekend!

You're now more than half done with the course materials.
Fiestas 1-4 have been graded. Be sure to examine the Oncourse Gradebook to check your grades and comments.

PERSONAL NOTE
Since you've been sharing your audio and video productions, I thought I'd share one I worked on with some 4-H youth last summer. We used a flip camera and Mac imovie. We just received notice that we won the 4-H National Video Contest in Science-Engineering-Technology (SET) for our SET Squad video. Watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGKQ84-glLY

DUE
You should be posting your Fiesta 5: Conferencing & Wiki project at Wikispaces. It must be posted by Monday October 31. Someone should post the URL in Oncourse.

Then, you can begin working on revisions. In addition to team wiki additions and revisions (made to your own group project), you can also revise your own pages. It's nice to use the discussion tab in the wiki to let people know what you did. If you've set your wiki as PROTECTED, you may have requests for membership on your wiki. Be sure to accept these, so your peers can participate in your wiki. You need to make a substantial contribution to the wiki of another group and share the additions you made to their group on Oncourse. Revisions are due by Monday, November 7. I will be grading starting November 8, so be certain that you've completed this assignment.

Get started on your Fiesta 6: Social Networks and Virtual Worlds assignment right away. There are a number of elements to complete. It's due Monday, November 14.

ASSIGNMENT
Our next topic involves social networks and virtual worlds. These multi-user virtual environments provide the next generation of learning space. While some of these social technologies are text-based, others are more like living within a video game. Keep in mind that some of these applications take a tremendous amount of bandwidth and may not be realistic for your school or library setting. Also consider that many of these application are not designed for children or even teens.

Read Spaces: Social Technology http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/social/index.htm

Read Spaces: Social Networks http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/social/networks.htm

Read Spaces: MUVEs - Multi-used Virtual Environments http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/social/muve.htm

Watch the YouTube Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2jY4UkPbAc

Read the assignment - Fiesta 6: Social Networks and Virtual Worlds http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f6

Check out an article from 2009 from Doug Johnson's Blog on Virtual Worlds
http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2009/10/19/virtual-worlds-coming-of-age-guest-post-by-judy-hey-jude-oco.html

Check out a great example of using Facebook in a high school library at http://www.facebook.com/spxlibrary

FIESTA 4 DEBRIEFING
You can find your Fiesta 4 grades in the Oncourse gradebook. I really enjoyed reading everyone's blogs and watching/listening to your media elements. Many of you were able to create materials to use in your own librarians. I hope many more of you get a chance to try this approach in your school or public library settings in the future. Like all technology, the initial learn time is high but once you get the kinks out of the system you can really start having fun.

Overall your blogs were wonderful. Keep in mind the difference between a traditional web page and a blog. Rather than a static page, blogs are designed to get outsiders actively participating in your content. Some of you did a wonderful job with this aspect of the assignment. You encouraged patrons to submit their music, book reviews, concerns, creative writing, photographs, or other content. Others asked deep questions or provided prompts for interesting discussions. I know some people are concerned about spam, however this is VERY infrequent. You can set up your blog so you can moderate the comments and/or be notified of comments. Or you can provide young people with a username and password to use when they participate.

A few people got caught up in the issue of "reverse chronological order" and having a "finished product." Keep in mind that the idea of a blog is that new postings would continue to be added to the top of the page for the duration of the project. There may never be a "finish" if people continue to add new postings and additional comments. For instance, you might keep a "hot books" blog that highlights popular books and challenges readers to solve a problem or post their perspective. This may go for years... with no particular end in sight. If you're concerned about new people understanding what they're supposed to "do".. consider a link near the top on the side or in the header that takes people to an overview of the project.

Some people were overwhelmed by the idea of constant updates. Remember, there are many kinds of blogs. Some are only updated when new materials come into the library, when focusing on book award events, or when working on a creative writing unit. Think of it like a mini-newsletter that's interactive!

Many of you included Web 2.0 applications such as GoAnimate, slideshows, embedded audio/video, and widgets. There are endless options available. I hope you continue to explore the possibilities on your own.

SL TOURS

The "heyday" of Second Life has passed, but by exploring this environment you can begin to think about how libraries might change in the future are more people have access to virtual environments.
During the next two weeks I'll be conducting Second Life tours. I'll post two options right now. If neither of these work for you, let me know a few good times and I'll work on setting up third time.

I'll send additional information out about the meetings in a few days.

Where do I start? Go to the Second Life website at http://secondlife.com and download the software. Create an account and give yourself an avatar name. Then, you'll go through an Orientation where you follow a path and complete tasks to learn the basics. If you have a slow Internet connection, Second Life may not work for you. It just barely works for me on my rural line.
Where am I? The coordinates at the top of the Second Life window show your current location including the place name and coordinates that you can save as landmarks and that are used for the SLurls.

How do I find places to go? Use the SEARCH button and seek out topics of interest. Try a search for library, museum, nature, music, etc. Also, you can find lots of interesting SLurls (Second life links) at my wikispaces on the topic at http://slurl.wikispaces.com
What if I run into things? Don't worry about it. I've been in SL a long time and I still run into walls.

TOUR INFORMATION
Please download SL before the meeting and complete the orientation. Email me your username and I'll send you a friendship request. Please accept my friendship. I'll then offer you a TP (teleport) that you need to accept. This will help you get to my location for the tour. If you can't find me, search for Annette Olmstead.. my SL name.

SUNDAY NOV 6 Afternoon at 4PM EASTERN (Indy) Time
Meet at my virtual office known as the Digital Deck at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eduisland%202/120/6/33/

MONDAY NOV 7 Evening at 8PM EASTERN (Indy) Time
Meet at my virtual office known as the Digital Deck at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eduisland%202/120/6/33/

SLurl LINKS
If you want to go on our own tour, check out my Newbie tours at http://slurl.wikispaces.com/Newbie+Field+Trip
These are the tours I'll be hosting over the next couple weeks.

If you can't attend any of the scheduled events, you can also meet in Second Life with a couple other classmates and take your own tour. You need to meet with someone to get the feel for online interaction. You can also attend other SL events that I've been posting through your updates. Just be sure to report on this experience in your assignment. If this doesn't work out, let me know and we'll see if we can arrange another group meeting.

Update: October 24

Hey everyone -

I've already eaten all my Halloween candy... time to get more before the trick or treaters arrive.

ASSIGNMENTS AND DUE DATES

There are no new readings. Concentrate on creating your own content for your wiki.

You'll need to work hard this week to complete the wiki project on time. I've made chat areas for each team, you can find these on the chat link in Oncourse. You need to change from the main chat to the team chat.

Fiesta 5: Conferencing & Wiki is due Monday October 31. Be sure a member of your group has placed the URL of your wiki in Oncourse.

After that you get another week for editing and revising your wiki, so all revisions and comments should be made by November 7. I will grade later that week.

You're required to make wiki additions. BE SURE that when you revise a peer's page that you add a comment to the wiki discussion tab detailing why you added or changed the information. Remember you also need to make a substantial content contribution to another group's wiki.

You need to make your wiki available to classmates, so you with need to make your wiki PUBLIC or be sure to ACCEPT when a classmate requires access to your wiki.

FIESTA 5 REMINDERS
It looks like all of the groups are now rolling. You're getting a "real world" experience with the fun and frustrations of collaborative learning. Like face-to-face collaboration, there are pros and cons. I find email useful for some types of projects and live conferencing good for other kinds of planning. Any time you try to get people together there are going to be glitches whether it's a flat tire on the way to a face-to-face meeting or an electrical outage during a virtual conference. The same is true of the collaboration. You've always got some students who do more work than others.... keep in mind that the value of collaboration comes from the synergy of shared ideas and ability to create something unique from your combined expertise.

A few people are not responding to the communications from their teams. If you get behind, be sure to make contact with your team members. To get the points for the live collaborative element, you MUST participate in at least one exchange.

WIKI CREATION
As you create your wiki remember that one of the cool parts of a wiki is the way it interconnects, so look for ways that your pages link back together as part of a whole. Of course you'll link to all of the pages on the first page or overview page... but don't just make a list... try creating a narrative with embedded links like wikipedia, showing them all on a map or another way to bring them together. Also, design it so other people could come in at a future date and add to the project. For example, could the people in a subsequent class come in next semester and add to the project? Wikis are intended to be living, growing documents, not just "one time" static pages.

Also remember that you can cross link the pages. For example let's say your group is focusing on Farmer's Markets of Indiana. You might have a sentence that says.... "The size of the farmer's market at Place X, Place Y, and Place Z are the same". Be sure to make links to Place X, Place Y, and Place Z pages you've made.

So... you need to look at the work of each other and seek inter-connections. For example you might look at Place X and see that farmer's market opened in the same year as Place Y. You might add a sentence that says "During the 1960s, many communities formalized their farmer's market including Place X and Place Y." Or, If you're responsible for the Place X section, you might add sentence to the Place Y history page that says "Like Place X, the Place Y market had always been held on a Saturday."

The CONNECTIONS make this a much more high level thinking activity. It's not just place, history, and present day... but also, a comparison.

WIKIs and COLLABORATION
A growing body of research on wikis is showing that even those people who think of themselves as "team players" have difficulty truly working collaboratively. People are used to making their individual contribution rather than critically evaluating the work of themselves and others and expanding on this work. A poor collaboration ends up as a patchwork of postings, while a well-coordinated collaboration can produce an exciting, original creation.

WIDGETS
I realized that I added widgets to the Fiesta 5 wiki assignment, but I forgot to adjust the readings and directions.

Actually we don't talk about widgets in-depth for a few weeks. However you'll want to check them out, so you can embed one in your wiki.

Widgets (sometimes known as gadgets) are self-contained, mini-applications. These mini apps can be downloaded and run on your desktop or embedded on your web page. If you maintain a blog or participate in a social network, you've probably seen widgets at work displaying the current weather, showing a world map of users, or offering a game of Suduko. Particularly popular in Facebook, widgets can easily be placed in any web page including wikis.

Go to http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/interactives/widgets.htm

Also, here are the directions for adding them to your wikispaces wiki.
http://blog.wikispaces.com/2008/01/wikispaces-widgets.html

SECOND LIFE

I don't want to distract anyone from their Wiki project, but I do want to provide another "heads-up" on the next assignment. One aspect of the social technology assignment (Fiesta 6) is a cool online Multi-User Virtual Environment called Second Life. I'd suggest that everyone join Second Life (http://secondlife.com/) for free.

I'll be holding several "virtual field trips" over the next few weeks for anyone who would like to meet virtually and do some exploring. This virtual world is a wonderful example of the next generation of social networking. If you're interested, go to the Second Life website and download the software. Work your way through the screens until you enter the world. When you arrive, you'll have the chance to choose a name and create an avatar (the virtual you). This island will also teach you some skills in moving around the virtual world.

I'm not going to schedule a Second Life tour until after Halloween, however Halloween is a fun time to explore Second Life because of the many live activities. I'd suggest that you get a Second Life account and work your way through Orientation Island between now and then. I'll announce a time for some optional class get-togethers next week.

Second Life will only work with a fast Internet connection and it's blocked in many schools. As such, some members of the class may not be able to participate. There is an alternative activity available.

Update: October 17 Happy Fall Break

Hey Everyone -

I'll keep this short. It's Fall Break Monday through Tuesday October 17-18, so nothing is due this week.

Social media literacies are an important topic to explore as we continue to example high tech learning spaces. Read Howard Reingold's article in EDUCAUSE related to Attention and other Social Media Literacies at http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Review/EDUCAUSEReviewMagazineVolume45/AttentionandOther21stCenturySo/213922

ASSIGNMENT
If I just had to choose one of the new technologies to rave about, it would be the collaborative aspect of the web. One of my favorite examples is the use of Google Docs (http://docs.google.com) to create a collaborative word processing document, spreadsheet, or presentation. During the last year I've used this tool for collaborative grant writing, report writing, resource sharing, and presentation creation. Wikis are particularly nice because they make collaborative website building a breeze! Keep in mind that Wikispaces is still giving away free wikis for people who are using the space for teaching and learning purposes... that includes you!

Read Spaces: Collaborative Web with Wikis http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/collaborative/index.htm

BE SURE TO READ all the first page and all the subpages at http://eduscapes.com/sessions/wiki/

DUE
Post your peer reply for Fiesta 4 by Monday October 24.
Work on Fiesta 5. It's due October 31. Keep in mind that you are COLLABORATING on this project, so you need to get rolling ASAP.
After you post the wiki, you have one week to post the required additions before I begin grading. Those are due Monday November 7.

WIKIS
As you're finalizing your topic, BE SURE to consider a topic that provides a unique contribution to the web. Also, keep in mind that the key feature of a wiki is the ability to TRULY collaborate. Two features makes collaboration easy: the DISCUSSION and HISTORY tab. Each wiki tool is different, but they all have these two aspects.

The DISCUSSION aspect allows collaborators to share their ideas, justify changes that have been made, and hold discussions related to the wiki page. This discussion feature works like any other forum too and can be used for all kinds of interaction about the page. Wiki creators could even invite readers to post comments using the Discussion features similar to how a blog works.

The HISTORY aspect allows collaborators to make comparisons between earlier and later versions of their week. It's also possible to see "who" did "what" when grading making it a nice tool in teaching and learning. When using it in process writing, teachers can help young people see how a page changes through the revision and editing process.

As you build wiki pages, be sure to also update the NAVIGATION bar on the left side. There's a separate EDIT link to open and edit this area. If you're looking for this page, it's simply called "space" on the list of pages.

Be sure to think about navigation. You'll want to edit the sidebar as well as provide directions and navigation options of some kind on each page to guide users through your wiki so they can find your pages.

If you want to encourage others to participate, be sure to provide guidelines or directions.

FIESTA 5
A few people aren't responding to the collaborative activity for Fiesta 5. This is a REQUIRED activity, so please make contact with your group immediately. If you aren't an active participant in the activity, it will impact your grade!

If you need the email addresses of anyone in your group so you can contact them directly, let me know. You can also send individual messages in the MESSAGE AREA of Oncourse.

The group assignments were posted in the last email. If you need to review the list, go to http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/archives.htm

FUN VIDEO OF THE DAY
Check out this great copyright video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJn_jC4FNDo

Update: October 10

It's been a couple hectic weeks for me... I can tell the semester is in full-swing!

This email is chuck-full of important information, please don't skim it. Read it carefully.

TECHNOLOGY INFUSION
As you continue to work your way through the Fiesta assignments, remember that the class isn't just about learning new technology skills. As you explore the readings and examples be sure to be thinking about their applications in the learning of your patrons and students. In other words, consider ways that technology can be used in accessing, recording, and communicating ideas. As you're providing reference assistance for a patron on gardening questions, you might suggest that the person keep a digital photojournal of their garden using a digital camera. As you're talking to students and teachers about class projects, why not create podcasts or develop a team wiki rather than writing a traditional report? As you discuss family history with a grandmother, why not introduce online tools for sharing family photos and slide shows? With the many online tools available, library services can go beyond simply providing information. Librarians can guide patrons through the creation of their own personal and professional information resources that can be shared online.

READINGS
There are many tools for live text, video, and audio conferencing. These tools are constantly changing.

Read Spaces: Virtual Conferencing http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/virtual/index.htm

If you haven't used Skype or Google Talk, be sure to try them. These tools allow 2 way video over the Internet from anywhere in the world.

ASSIGNMENT
Read Fiesta 5 - http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f5
This activity involves collaborating with a small group, so it's a good idea to get started early! I know some people LOVE and other people HATE collaboration. However technology can overcome some of the barriers sometimes found with collaboration by overcoming the issue of time and space.

Since no one contacted me about "pre-forming" a group, I've made group assignments. One member of your group should go ahead and start a thread in the Fiesta 5 area of Oncourse to get your group e-talking. You might also want to contact each other through email. Remember, part this assignment is to experience a variety of online tools for planning, collaborating, and creating. If a member of your group isn't responding, let me know. If they continue to be absent from your conversations, just move on without them. I know some people need to get started immediately, so please jump in. Don't wait until the last minute.

Team 1 - Cassaundra Bash, Laura Brack-Anderson, Molly Coffman, Timothy Collins, Elissa Ellis

Team 2 - Johnathan Gaskill, Meghan Hogan, Shawn Humphrey, Jordan Hunt, Holly Koster

Team 3 - Jesus Moya, Chris Murray, Christine Plantenga, Rona Plummer, Sean Robinson

Team 4 - Sabrina Stradtner, Austin Stroud, Christy VanderGriend, Timothy Vollmer

There are two forums in Oncourse related to this assignment.

FIRST - Fiesta 5: Team Wiki Address - Use this area when you're ready to share your group project with the class.

SECOND - Wiki Team Planning - Use this area to start a discussion with your team mates and do some planning.

DUE
Read Fiesta 4 - Blogs, Podcasts & Videocasts is due Monday October 10.
Please be sure to check your links and be sure they work.
Be sure to post your URL in Oncourse.
Be sure to post a quality reply to a peer's blog OR in Oncourse. Because of Fall Break, you have TWO weeks to reply. The reply must be posted by Monday October 24.

FIESTA 4 SUGGESTIONS
Be sure to check out the work of your peers from Fiesta 3. It may give you some ideas.

FIESTA 3 DEBRIEFING
Your grades for Fiesta 3 have been posted. Great job!

I had a great time grading Fiesta 3... it sounds like most of you had fun creating your audio, video, and animations! Most of the problems seemed to center on uploading files rather than creating the projects themselves. I've made a list of ideas that might be helpful in future projects:

LINKING TO WEB PAGES - Remember that you can upload files to your MY WORKSPACE area in Oncourse. Then you can create a link to the audio, video, or other files from your blog or wiki project. However, be sure you make your project PUBLIC or others won't be able to see your files.

EMBEDDING - Many of the tools provide directions to EMBED the video or slideshow in a blog or other type of web page such as Google Sites. Consider using these directions. For instance, YouTube provides this code on the right side of each page. Just follow the directions.

AUDIO PROBLEMS - In Windows there are two system settings: one for recording and one for playback. Be sure check the volume control, this can help the quality in audio recordings made in Windows. You can find this area by going to the sound option on the bottom task bar, then choose Properties and check the menu options.

FILE FORMATS - Remember that tools like Movie Maker and PhotoStory are Windows products, not open source. When you complete your project it's important to save or export files to WMV rather than using the Movie Maker or Photostory files. Then, people without MovieMaker and Photostory can still enjoy your projects. This exporting procedure also compresses the file so it doesn't take as much space.

COPYRIGHT ISSUES - A number of you used background music from published works. Be sure to consider the copyright implications. If you're using it within a class project and only sharing with the class, it's okay to simply cite the work. However if you're sharing on YouTube or other public areas, you need to get permission to use these works. Tools such as PhotoStory come with an option to produce background music. This is a good option for projects you might use in your library or publish on the web.

FLASH - No one chose to use Flash for this assignment. This is a difficult software package, but very popular for web-based applications. We offer a 1.5 credit course to learn this software. It will be offered again next Fall.

Update: October 3

Hey Everyone -

Next week I'll be assigning teams for the Fiesta 5 assignment. If you'd prefer to create your own team, I need your team names in the next few days. Otherwise I'll assign teams.

Did you hear the big Amazon news? There's now a Kindle tablet called the Kindle fire. Learn more at http://www.amazon.com/kindlefire. Apps are the big thing right now. How will that impact the "Web"?

Ready for a reality check? Is the web dead as Wired magazine stated? Read The Web is Dead. Long Live the Internet by Chad Anderson and Michael Wolff (Aug 17, 2010) of Wired Magazine. http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/08/ff_webrip/all/1

For a library perspective on this topic, read the article "As the Web Fades Away" in the September 23, 2010 issue of American Libraries at http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/columns/internet-librarian/web-fades-away

ASSIGNMENTS
Blogs, Podcasts, and Videocasts are some of the hottest technologies of Web 2.0. As you explore the technology, consider all the ways they can be used in teaching and learning. From personal journals to global sharing, the possibilities are endless. Be sure you do your readings before you jump into making your blog. Explore the wide variety of tools and options.

Read Spaces: Blogs, Podcasts, & Videocasts http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/blogs/index.htm
Read Blogs: Blogging http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/blogs/blog.htm
Read Blogs: Audio Sharing http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/blogs/podcast.htm
Read Blogs: Video Sharing http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/blogs/videocast.htm
Read Blogs: RSS http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/blogs/rss.htm

Read Fiesta 4 - Blogs, Podcasts & Videocasts http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f4

Fiesta 4 is due Monday, October 10. Then, replies are due Monday October 24.

You have until Monday October 3 to post replies to Fiesta 3. I'll be grading your Fiesta 3 projects the middle of next week after the replies are all posted.

MULTIMEDIA IN BLOGS
With many blog tools, you can use the same feature that's used to upload photos to upload other kinds of files such as audio, video, and animation. Then you can link to them like you'd link to a website or picture. Remember, you can also use your Oncourse space to upload documents, then link to them. BE SURE to make them public so others can see them. Also, explore some of the online resources I've provided for audio and video blogs.

Please let me know if you run into any trouble. I'm happy to help.

BOOK BLOGS
Check out the best book blog awards at http://bookbloggerappreciationweek.com/index.php/awards

Check out the blog of one of our former students who now works that the Allen Co. Libraries at http://bellabookclub.blogspot.com/

Update: September 26

Hey everyone -

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY FIESTA DEBRIEF

You all did a great job on Fiesta 2. It was fun seeing the wide variety of subjects and teaching/learning ideas. Check the Gradebook for your grade and comments.

I didn't provide a lot of directions on using the Google Sites because each web page development tool is different and I wanted you to do a little experimenting. Most of you did a great job getting your projects posted. Many of the "high tech" environments require using trial and error to make it work. The same is true of digital cameras... practice is the key.

A couple people noted that their cameras were slow to react. Many digital cameras automatically display the photo in the LCD immediately after it's taken. This takes battery power and also slows the reaction time if you want to take another photo immediately. Check your documentation. You can turn off this feature for faster reaction time for multiple shots.

Finally, a few of you discovered the free software tools that come with your camera. Be sure to make use of the open source options such as GIMP. Also, there are many free online tools besides the ones I suggested. Many of these accompany website photo sharing tools such as Flickr.

ASSIGNMENT
Now that we've explored the tools (text, illustration, sound, video, 3D/animation), it's time to consider how these can be integrated into the learning environment. What do high tech learning spaces look like?

Read High Tech Learning Spaces http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/index.htm
Read Learning Spaces: Email http://eduscapes.com/eduscapes/hightech/spaces/email/index.htm
Read Learning Spaces: Forums http://eduscapes.com/hightech/spaces/forums/index.htm

DUE

Fiesta 3 is due Monday September 26.

Keep in mind that you need a DETAILED description in addition to the project itself.
This project requires that you explore the work of your peers AND provide a reply. You have ONE WEEK after the due date to make your reply, so reply by October 3.

AUDIO & VIDEO
For many members of the class, this is their first audio or video. Others have experience with video editing and web publishing. Remember, it doesn't have to be sophisticated. Most still digital cameras have a video recording option. This file can be placed directly on the web.

Also, if you're having trouble uploading try it in the evening and just let it upload... it may take a LONG time to upload to Oncourse. If you use the Oncourse space, be sure to make your video accessible to the public so we can see it. Also keep in mind that you can use one of the many Web 2.0 services discussed in the online readings. You might have better luck using one of the online services such as Vimeo.

SCHOOLTUBE and TEACHER TUBE
Also consider using SchoolTube if your video has instructional value... so if you create a tutorial in how to check out a book, you could put it on one of these website. They even provide instructions for embedding your video in a blog. I've updated the directions on our Audio and Video page to include these instructions.

VIDEO CONTESTS
A video contest is a great way to involve patrons in developing their own videos. Check out the video winners from the New Jersey State Library
http://www.facebook.com/video/?id=42285629204

POWERPOINT
I recommend NOT using PowerPoint... instead explore some of the many online tools that have great potential for sharing. Most people have used PowerPoint before, live a little and have some fun with a new tool. A couple people have experienced trouble exporting their PowerPoint projects with movies and sounds.

If you're exporting a PowerPoint with sound, try these:
One option is to save as a PowerPoint Package and this will embed the sounds. Choose SAVE AS and look at the file type options.
Or, see if you have the PACK AND GO option under the File menu.
Or, older versions of PowerPoint have a setting in Options or Preferences for whether sounds should be exported. This option is sometimes within the area where you record a sound.

If you're exporting with a movie, you need to upload the movie along with the PowerPoint in the same folder. It actually links the movie rather than embedding it. Again, it depends on your version of PowerPoint.

Be sure to try your project on someone else's computer to be sure it downloads

COOL TOOL
Google Docs added a presentation tool a couple years ago. Along with word processing and spreadsheets, you can create presentations similar to PowerPoint! One advantage of Google Docs is the ability to collaborate on a project online! http://docs.google.com

We went to the orchards and I took some photos. I created an example called Orchards of Capitol Reef NP. You can view it at http://docs.google.com/Present?docid=ddzhd9fc_2dhwnp9&fs=true

PRACTICAL FIESTA #6 FUN FOR BANNED BOOKS WEEK

We'll be talking about virtual worlds a little later in the semester. However if you'd like to have some fun and get a little ahead in the class, consider attending the Banned Book Week activities for ALA in Second Life.

This is a FUN WAY TO COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENT... participation can be applied to your Fiesta #6 assignment due in November.

Here's the information:

There are Banned Book Week activities going on the entire week of September 25. Go to the ALA Banned Books Week in Second Life page for lots of activities at http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/events/bbwsecondlife/bbwsecondlife.cfm

Update: September 19

I hope you're enjoying the fall weather. Our aspens are turning beautiful shades of yellow.

ASSIGNMENT
Over the past several years, there's been lots of advances in 3D and Animation tools. In addition, there's a new wave of online tools that allow the easy creation of 3D Graphics, Animation, Slide Shows, and other multimedia activities.

Some of the high-end tools such as Flash require a high level of skill. If you're interested, consider taking Larry Johnson's online course in Flash. It's offered again next Fall as a 1.5 credit course.

For those of you who are beginners, look for a tool that's easy to use but has features that meet your needs. For instance, Animation-ish (free trial version available) is a simple software package for all ages.

Read Tools: 3D & Animation http://eduscapes.com/hightech/tools/animation/index.htm

DUE
You'll be happy to hear that nothing is due this week. However it's time to get working on Fiesta 3. It's due September 26. Then, you'll have a week to post a reply to the work of your peers.

Plan ahead. Don't wait until the last day to try to get your project uploaded and shared in Oncourse.

EARLY PLANNING FOR FIESTA 5
I know it's seems very early to be talking about Fiesta 5, but let's do some early planning. We are going to be working in teams for the Fiesta 5. If you'd like to create your own team, you need to EMAIL ME by OCTOBER 6 with the team members. You need 4 members in your team. In the OCTOBER 10 class update, I will send a master list of teams. I will randomly assign people who have not already created a team. Last year we had 2 "pre-created" teams, the rest were randomly assigned.

GRADES
Your grades and comments have been posted for both Fiesta 1 and Fiesta 2. Let me know if you have questions.

FIESTA 1 DEBRIEFING
I really enjoyed reading about how many of you view yourself as learners. Particularly with technology it's easy to use the tools you already know rather than investigating new possibilities. It's important to stretch and learn new things. You all did a great job exploring new software opportunities.

Keep in mind that Internet companies come and go. It's a good idea to keep a back-up of the work you do online. Consider using well-known companies such as Google that have been around for a while.

A couple of you had trouble with file formats. Keep in mind that when you save images in proprietary software the person using the image must also own that software. If you just choose SAVE in Photostop, it creates a .psd file. Only people with Photoshop can open these files.

When you save, examine the file extension. Images saved as .JPG, .GIF, and the open source option .PNG can be uploaded and shared on most web pages. Most software applications have the option to SAVE AS or EXPORT under the File menu. This allows you to save as different file formats.

In many cases, the default for Web 2.0 type applications is "private." If you want to share with others, you'll need to check the SHARE option to share with individuals or make your document available to the public. If you upload images to the MY WORKSPACE section of OnCourse, be sure to check the ACTIONS box and make your images public so everyone can see them.

FIESTA 2 DEBRIEFING
I enjoyed exploring your digital photography projects. I know that using Google Sites was frustrating for some of you, but learning to use a template-driven web development tool is a very practical skill. In a library setting, it's something that you can easily teach a staff member or volunteer. A quick web-site is very useful for promoting library programs and sharing program experiences. For instance, you might develop a site to promote your summer reading program or a new book club.

From commercial products like PhotoShop and Fireworks to freebies like Paint.net and GIMP, you all did a great job exploring the options available in the photo editors. Keep these in mind the next time you do a library promotional brochure, step-by-step directions for the photocopier, or other visual applications.

Many of you created wonderful tutorials and step-by-step instructional materials for the learning activity. What was missing from many of the projects was a connection between your specific example and the larger approach to teaching and learning. Many of you used great techniques such as "over the shoulder" shots, labeled photos, and close-ups, but few of you provided an explanation of WHY you thought your approach would be effective in teaching and learning.

As you design instructional materials, think about how each photo contributes to the experience. How do the use of techniques such as close-ups impact learning? How do the captions interact with the photos to make the experience more effective?

FIESTA 3 IDEAS
As you think about audio and video, consider a project that really makes use of the characteristics of the media. In other words, audio allows people to hear the passion and excitement in your voice. Video allows you to show motion sequences or a series of related still images. How will you use the power of the medium?

As you examine the requirements for Fiesta 3, keep in mind that you aren't required to use the hardware and software I suggest. For example, if you want to use the audio recording features of PowerPoint, that's fine. However make sure that it's a dynamic application and that it works well such as full project narration not just "crashing glass." Or if you're interested in learning a higher-end video editing package, that's great too. Pick something at your interest and ability level.

Keep in mind that you'll need to share your project so it can be viewed by others. You may also want to share your "raw file" For example, PhotoStory 3 generates an application file with the .wp3 file extension. The program also allows developers to create a .wmv file that can be viewed with Windows MediaPlayer. You should upload BOTH versions.

Finally, BE SURE to test your project. In other words, try it on another computer to be sure that your audio comes through. This is particularly important with PowerPoint because not all PowerPoint versions automatically embed the audio.

If you want something fun AND easy, try downloading Audacity. You can create audio clips that can be saved as MP3 files and uploaded to blogs and wikis. They can also be placed in Word documents or other programs. In most cases, you add an audio file very much like you'd insert an image.

Also remember that you can add audio to online slide shows such as VoiceThread or a fun animated voice such as Voki.

ALERT: RESIZING PHOTOS FOR SLIDE SHOWS AND VIDEOS
When working with photos for the web, it's a good idea to resize to smaller dimensions such as 300 or 400 pixels. HOWEVER when using photos in Photostory or PowerPoint, you want to be sure that they are large enough to view on the full screen. Dimensions such as 600x800 pixels or 768x1024 pixels work best.

SCREEN READING TIP
I know some of you have difficulty reading off the screen, here are a few tips:
1 - Enlarge the size of the font. All web browsers provide an option to increase the VIEW size.
2 - Reduce the width of the screen so it's not so wide to read across the lines.
3 - Use your mouse to drag down the text line by line as you read. The text will be highlighted making it easier to read. It may seem like something young readers would do with a bookmark, reading line by line. However I find that it's easier to keep track of your place on the page.

Have a great week!

Update: September 12

Just a quick note to remind you of the importance of these class updates. Be sure to read them carefully. They contain essential information about assignments, projects, and "how tos" to make completing assignments easier.

ASSIGNMENTS
Audio and video are technology elements that are growing in popularity. In the past, multimedia files were difficult to create, upload, and use. Today, anyone with a microphone or digital camera can produce high-quality productions.

The key to effective audio and video is brevity. Stick to direct, quick expressions of your idea. Rather than a 5 minute movie, see if you can edit your script to 90 seconds. Or, maybe 3 one-minute, mini-movies.

Read Tools: Sound http://eduscapes.com/hightech/tools/sounds/index.htm
Read Tools: Video http://eduscapes.com/hightech/tools/video/index.htm

Read Fiesta 3: Sound, Video & 3D Animation http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f3

If you're new to the use of these tools, consider a project using Audacity or Photostory. These are easy-to-use tools that can have high impact. Also, think about a simple video project using the video option in your still camera.

You may want to explore Voki (for audio) at http://voki.com, Animoto Education at http://animoto.com/education/, Voice Thread at http://voicethread.com/

If you don't have a built-in microphone on your computer, you can use an external microphone. You can purchase these for less than $10 at Radio Shack, Walmart, or many office supply stores.

DUE
You have until September 12 to add a reply to the Fiesta 1 discussion.

Since I'm incorporating your "reply" grade into your Fiesta 1 points, I won't be posting grades for Fiesta 1 until after next Monday when the replies are due.

Your Fiesta 2: Digital Photography assignment is due Monday September 12.

If you run into major problem, let me know. I'm happy to give you an extension at no penalty if you email me.

HELP WITH FIESTA 2
First, review the directions for this assignment in last week's email and at the website at
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f2

If you mess something up, don't worry, you can go back and fix it later. This is the advantage of Google Sites tools.

I've already given your class email permission to share at the site. However rather than using your IU or IUPUI account, I recommend that you get a google gmail account. Let me know if you need to have an account added to the class Googlesite. It just takes a couple minutes.
I'll be around if you have questions.

THE ASSIGNMENT
Go to our class page at http://sites.google.com/site/fiesta2project/home
You'll find links to examples of the three areas of the project on this page.
Next, you need to create a Google account and a Google Site where you'll share your project.
To create a Google Site, go to http://sites.google.com/
For help with Google Site, go to http://sites.google.com/support/?hl=en

ADD YOURSELF TO THE CLASS LIST
Be sure to go to our class page at http://sites.google.com/site/fiesta2project/home
Scroll to the bottom of the class page and choose SIGN IN.
Create or sign into your Google account.
I shared the class site with everyone in class using the email address you're using for the course. However if you're using a different email address of your Google Account, let me know and I'll add it to the class list so you can edit the page.
To add your name and make a link, choose EDIT PAGE.
Add your name to the list and select it.
Click LINK on the tool bar.
Choose WEB ADDRESS from the left column.
Enter the URL of your project page.
Click OK.

MAKING IT PUBLIC
After you've created your GoogleSite for your project, you'll need to make it public so others can see it.
Go to your project GoogleSite and sign in.
Choose MORE ACTIONS
Choose MANAGE SITE
Choose SHARING
In the Advanced Permissions section, put a check mark next to "Anyone in the world may view this site (make it public)

PHOTO CROPPING
A couple people have asked about photo sizes. I provided a general size of 300-400 pixels in terms of images that work well for screen loading and viewing... it's okay if they are odd sizes such as 350x412. It's just sometimes useful to have either the width or height of photos a consistent size. This makes it easier to create slide shows or to line up photos on a web page. In most software packages such as the open source GIMP software, you can change one dimension and it will automatically change to other so your visual is resized proportionally.

Or, use one of the free online image resizers such as http://resizeimage.org/

I DON'T KNOW HOW...
Many new technology users become frustrated when they don't know how to do things. Don't worry, be happy! Learning to use technology is just like any other skill. It's most rewarding when you learn on your own. While some people prefer to read directions, others learn best through discovery and systematically exploring the features of new software. If you get stuck, ask a friend and see if you can work through the problem together.

I started using technology in the mid 1970s. When you choose to be "ahead" of the crowd, it may take a little more time but it's exciting to know that you have valuable knowledge that you can share with others. Have fun becoming a high tech learning leader!

FUN TOOLS
Since we've been exploring text and illustrations the past couple weeks, I thought you'd enjoy a few fun tools that combine text and illustrations. Have fun!
Glogster - http://www.glogster.com/
Scrapblog - http://www.scrapblog.com/
Skrbl - http://skrbl.com/
Find more on the class page http://eduscapes.com/hightech/tools/illustrations/index.htm

Update: September 6

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

If you're seeing the latest and greatest online tools for high tech learning, check out the TOP 100 as well as the emerging list for 2011 at http://c4lpt.co.uk/recommended/top100-2010.html

READING ASSIGNMENTS
I hope you're having fun with the Fiesta 1 assignment. Be sure to let me know if you run into any questions.

This is going to be a fun week for readings and activities. You'll need to find a digital camera to complete the Fiesta 2 activity, so start making some friends if you don't have one you can use. It's okay to meet up with other class members and use the same camera, but you'll each need to complete your own assignment.

If you'd like to make contact with a classmate and get together in a face-to-face situation, feel free to use the General Forum or the Oncourse email system to make contacts.

Read Tools: Photographs http://eduscapes.com/hightech/tools/photographs/index.htm
Read Fiesta 2 Assignment - http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f2

DIGITAL PHOTO GOOGLESITES ASSIGNMENT
For the Fiesta 2 assignment you'll be using GoogleSites technology to share projects. This Google Application is a quick way to share ideas and resources in a collaborative web space. Although we'll be talking more about collaboration and wikis later in the semester, I thought it would be fun to use the format now. The purpose of this format is to share and collaborate.

Go to GoogleSites (http://sites.google.com) and get an account. It's free. You'll need to create your own Google username and password. Then, create your own GoogleSite. You'll be placing your assignment in your own space.

Then, you'll need to link to the class GoogleSite at http://sites.google.com/site/fiesta2project/
When you try to edit our class space, you'll need "join" the class space. I've sent you an email inviting you to join this space. If you don't get this email or are using a different account, just let me know and I can send you another invitation.

For help in using GoogleSites, go to http://sites.google.com/support/?hl=en

PHOTOGRAPHY FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS
As you explore the use of photos in library settings, think about events you might host for children and their parents. For instance, I developed a Photography for Kids Comic (http://www.eduscapes.com/sessions/safari/comic.html) for use with a library program I did for kids and their parents. Also think about ways teachers can integrate photography into the curriculum at http://www.eduscapes.com/sessions/safari/

DUE
Fiesta 1 - Due Tuesday September 6
When you open the Oncourse discussions, you'll notice two areas for Fiesta 1. Since there are so many people in the class, I've divided the postings into K-12/Higher Ed Interest and Public Library/Other Library Interest. You can decide where you'd like to post and reply. You can post and reply in different threads if you wish.

Be sure to notice that you're required to make a reply in addition to posting your Fiesta 1 project. You can take up to a week to reply to the postings of classmates, so you have until September 12.

Fiesta 2 - Due Monday September 12
You don't need to post anything in Oncourse for Fiesta 2 assignment. Instead, you'll be creating pages on a GoogleSite. I'll be looking for a link to your pages on the class GoogleSite.

GRADEBOOK
As you post your Fiesta 1 assignments, I'll be reading along. If I notice any problems or issues, I'll send you a personal email. I try not to interfere with your discussions.

AFTER the posting and reply period (Sept 12), I'll be posting grades in the Oncourse Gradebook. I like to go back and reread the threads in context while I grade so I can see the flow of the discussion. If I take off any points, you'll see a comment with an explanation.

Let me know if you have questions. I'm happy to help.

ONCOURSE SLOOOOOW
Oncourse is VERY SLOOOW right now. This is typical at the beginning of the semester. With many more courses using Oncourse, it is particularly slow this year. Here are some suggestions.

First -
I find that some students have more success using Mozilla Firefox rather than Internet Explorer.
You can download it at http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

Another option is to give Google's Chrome at try at http://www.google.com/chrome/

Second -
Consider off-peak times such as early morning, mid-day or late night.

Third -
You can do ALL your readings without entering Oncourse. Go directly to the course website. You don't need to go to Oncourse until you're ready to post. Remember, you have an extra week to post a reply.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/

A NEW WAY TO FIND BOOKS

BookLamp at http://booklamp.org/ is launching a new kind of book recommendation engine that scans the texts of its partner publishers to establish what it calls "Book DNA."

Much like Pandora assigns specific qualities to music, BookLamp measures the story components of a book (characteristics like history, domestic environments, physical injury) and how it's written (density, pacing, dialog, description, motion).

It uses these descriptions to suggest books you might like based on a book you've liked in the past, turning up books that match the actual style and content of the text rather than books people like you have purchased in the past. The objective is an improved online browsing experience.

Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend!

Update: August 29

We've made it through the first few days of e-class. I can tell already that the semester is going to fly by! From now on, I'll normally send out a message during each weekend. I know many of you like to work on course materials over the weekend.

Some of you are feeling a little overwhelmed by the readings. I tried to stuff a lot of ideas into the first week of the semester! On the other hand, I think this information is critical for the "big picture" of what's happening with high tech learning. You'll be happy to hear that the rest of the semester, the readings will be lighter.

THE PURPOSE OF READINGS
Put simply... the readings are intended to help you complete the activities and the projects for class. People come to this class with very diverse skills. Some people have no background and need much more support than others. Since there are no tests, it's only really essential that you skim the materials until you feel like you have the concept. In some cases, just reading my web pages without reading any of the articles may be enough background for you.

So... here's the strategy I'd use. Read my class page. Then go back and select articles you think look the most interesting and relevant. Skim those first. Then, if you feel like you need more help, go back and skim some of the other articles.

Pay particular attention to the red icons that will help you determine what you should read and do. If the reading doesn't have a red icon, it's just for reference if you need more information. Unlike traditional textbooks with specific page lengths and uniform formats, the readings for this class include everything from blogs to podcasts. I know this can cause confusion, but it's also a chance to explore different approaches to gathering information in a "high tech" world.

Everyone is overwhelmed at first. There's lots of reading the first couple weeks to provide background information. Don't worry if you don't understand everything. You just need enough background to ask some questions and choose an area you can explore for the first assignment. Remember, the course wouldn't be about learning if you already knew everything. ;-)

ASSIGNMENTS
You probably noticed that the Oncourse discussions are now in an area called FORUMS. It was fun reading everyone's introductions. We have a very diverse class! It's going to be an exciting semester.

This week we're going to dive into the high tech tools. Keep in mind that these resources and tools provide the building blocks of high tech learning environments. Although you may have used text and graphics for many years, consider the new tools that are available. Later in the semester we'll apply these tools to learning spaces from blogs to interactive environments.

Read High Tech Tools http://eduscapes.com/hightech/tools/index.htm
Read Tools: Texts http://eduscapes.com/hightech/tools/texts/index.htm
Read Tools: Illustrations http://eduscapes.com/hightech/tools/illustrations/index.htm

FIESTA 1
It's time to work on the first assignment, Fiesta 1: High Tech Learning, Text, and Illustration.
Read the requirements at http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f1
Notice that the steps will take you through the requirements and criteria for evaluation.

Before you select your topic, be sure to read all the readings in the High Tech learning section (http://eduscapes.com/hightech/overview/index.htm)

If you need ideas for the Web 2.0 requirement, go to the Web 2.0 page - http://eduscapes.com/hightech/overview/web/index.htm

You should use a different application for the Web 2.0 step and the Text/Illustration requirement.

Be sure to notice that you're required to make a reply in addition to posting your project. You can take up to a week to reply to the postings of classmates.

Before you head out for the Labor Day weekend next week, be sure to finish up the Fiesta 1 assignment. It's due Tuesday September 6.

Have a great week!

Update: Let's Go!

It's time for the first day of classes tomorrow. Classes start Monday August 22.

Many of you have made a posting in the Introduce Yourself area. Way to go! The class is rolling!

YOUR JOB IN THIS COURSE
You have three tasks:

1 - Follow the course calendar and complete your assignments on time. As a matter of fact, getting things in early is a good idea.

Read my class email updates for a review of what's happening. If you think you may have missed one, just check the class archives which is also the entry page for our Oncourse materials at http://www.eduscapes.com/hightech/course/archives.htm

2 - Let me know if you run into trouble. Don't fret and worry about your problem. Instead, email me and let's discuss it. If you're not sure about a topic for an assignment or have trouble with a due date, just let me know. I'm flexible and happy to help.

3 - Have fun. Learning is about opening a new world of information, skills, and understandings. Many assignments encourage you to explore resources and brainstorm ideas. Don't think of the class discussions as painful homework. Think of them as a chance to interact with your colleagues about issues and ideas important to our profession.

MY JOB
My job is to help you successfully complete this course and expand your skills in high tech learning. I "live" on the Internet, so I'm happy to hold personal email discussions whenever you feel the need to talk. Feel free to email any time. I'll get back to you ASAP.

Enjoy the course... You'll hear from me again this weekend.

Update: Get Set!

Classes begin Monday August 22, so it's time to get started. From now on, my emails will generally provide an overview of the required readings and assignments as well as suggestions and tips. Although I know these emails can get long, please read them. They will really help direct your activities for the week.

COURSE GUIDE
The Course Guide will help you work through the course materials. It links to the course readings and provides the guidelines for all the requirements. Be sure to read this page carefully. Notice that it provides a key for the tiny red icons you'll find throughout the website.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm

At first, people are overwhelmed by all of the links. You don't need to read everything... it's not possible. Instead use the icons and directions for guidance. Notice that it will tell you to explore, skim, or read the pages.

Keep in mind that the course reading assignments can be found in two places: the course calendar and the Course Guide pages. Here are your first set of readings that will be useful in addressing your first assignment:

ASSIGNMENTS
You can find an overview of the assignments in the Course Requirement page at http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/require.htm

Your first assignment is to enter Oncourse. Update your Oncourse Profile. Consider adding a photograph of yourself.
Also, go to the Discussion option and find the General Discussion: Introduce Yourself forum. You should do this by Monday August 22.

As you move through the process section of the Course Guide, you'll notice the Fiesta activities. It's a good idea to get ahead in case you get busy in other courses or at work! Don't worry if you don't have experience as a teacher or librarian. Do your best making use of the readings and your life experiences to address the requirements.

Your POSTING for the Fiesta 1 assignment is due on Tuesday Sept 6. If you wish, you can take up to an additional week to make your REPLY. It's due by Monday September 12.
Fiesta #1 - http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm#f1

EMAIL UPDATES
The periodic emails will keep you up-to-date on things you should be doing for class and due dates. I'll also throw in some personal stuff to keep it interesting. I lead a pretty unique, strange, and interesting life. Feel free to share your life with me too. It makes some students feel more "connected".

I've already sent out a few preliminary class emails. Let me know if you missed it. Or, check out the class email archives at http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/archives.htm

I prefer to use my personal email for class interactions rather than Oncourse. My personal email is on almost "24/7" so I'll usually get back to you immediately. I often only check Oncourse once per day. However you're free to use the Oncourse mail with classmates if you prefer.

If you need me right away, "friend" me on Facebook. I'm happy to live chat with you if I'm already online.

I'm also happy to chat using the Oncourse Chat feature.

NO SYNCHRONOUS MEETINGS
There are no required face-to-face or scheduled chat sessions for this course. Many students enjoy taking an online course because they don't have to be in a particular place at a particular time. HOWEVER, this means that you're responsible for making your own personal schedule in order to meet the course requirements on time. Some people find that this the most difficult part of the course. You need self-discipline to be successful in distance learning.

Have a great week!

Update: Get Ready!

It's a week until class starts, so it's time for another preliminary email.

For people who've never taken an online course before, this will be a new, exciting, and occasionally confusing or frustrating experience. For those who've taken a course before, I hope your experiences with online courses have been positive.

Each of you comes to the course with a unique set of experiences. As you move through the course materials, be sure to email me if you find yourself lost or confused. It's my pleasure (as well as my job) to help. :-)

COURSE MATERIALS
Here's a list of some of the most important course resources and links. It's also available in Oncourse. Oncourse can be SLOW much of the time. My suggestion is to open the course readings directly from your web browser. Only go to Oncourse when you want to interact with the forums.

Use the following links to complete the course requirements.

The Course. This page contains many online materials for the course. The course has both onsite and offsite reading assignments.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/

Course Materials
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/index.htm

Syllabus. This page provides the course syllabus including the course materials, goals, requirements, grading policy, and calendar.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/syllabus.htm

Calendar. This page provides the course calendar including the assignments and due pages. Notice that the calendar has three columns. The first column provides dates. The second column discusses the things you should be doing such as things to work on and read. The third column states the projects that are due.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/calendar.htm

Email Archives. This page contains the archives of the course announcements and email updates.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/archives.htm

The Requirements. This page highlights the course assignments and activities.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/require.htm

Course Checklist. Contains a checklist of requirements.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/checklist.htm

Course Quest. This page guides you through the course readings and assignments.
http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm

LET'S START
soo... what now? If I were you, I'd read the syllabus and requirement pages.

The requirement page contains information about a few introductory activities you need to complete. These activities will be posted in Oncourse. Then, print out the course checklist. Next, I'd go to the Course Quest to get a feel for how the course materials are organized.

Finally, take a deep breath and relax. Once you get a handle on the materials, you can start rolling!

Check the syllabus calendar and you'll notice that the first assignment is to go to Oncourse and Introduce Yourself.

We're using the new version of Oncourse. Here are some directions to get you started:
Go to Oncourse at http://oncourse.iu.edu and login.
Click the S603 Course tab to find out course.
On the left side, you'll see Forums as an option on the list.
Under General Discussion, choose Introduce Yourself.
You'll see a list of postings.
Create a new posting to introduce Yourself. Also, reply to a classmate.

INSTRUCTOR INTRODUCTION
In the past, I've been a school library media specialist, curriculum library director, and college professor in Iowa, Ohio, and Indiana. I know that we have a wide variety of students in this course. Some have teaching experience and/or library experience, while others are new to the library and/or education field. I look forward to learning more about you!

I love teaching online courses and exploring the world around us. I'm a new kind of professor. I teach full-time at IUPUI, but I don't live in Indiana. We live all over North America, traveling in our motorhome. We just finished building a "home base" in southern Utah, so we'll probably hang out here for the semester. Don't worry about trying to find me, I'm online, all-day, everyday, most days.

PHOTOS AND UPDATES
In the past, I included photos in my email updates, but some people had trouble downloading them. As a result, I'll just include a link to my website with fun personal and professional updates. I try to keep it up to date. If you want to keep up with our adventures or learn more about me, check out http://www.eduscapes.com/lamb or the lastest photos at Facebook.

I look forward to having you in class. Be sure to email me if you have questions. I'm online all the time, so I can normally get right back to you with an answer.

Preliminary Message

Some of you are relaxing in exotic vacation destinations, while others are still finishing up summer school. As you catch your breath between semesters, I thought I'd send a quick overview of the High Tech Learning course for people who would like a little head start.

I think I have everyone's email address. However if you'd prefer getting the updates at another address, just let me know.

I'll be sending a few emails before classes get started with preliminary course materials. Here's some course information that will get you started.

GET STARTED
There are NO required face-to-face or virtual meetings. However we'll all get started working together online as a class around August 22.

ONCOURSE DISCUSSIONS
You'll need an IU or IUPUI account to access the Oncourse materials for class discussions at http://oncourse.iu.edu/

We'll be using the Oncourse system for some of the class discussions, but we'll also be using other online tools for blogging and wikis.

The Oncourse materials are ready to go.

THE COURSE TEXTBOOK
Since this course is called "high tech," I'm trying to incorporate the latest technology you're likely to encounter in educational and library settings. As such, I had difficulty locating a good print textbook. We'll be using all on-line readings.

RECOMMENDED
In the course syllabus, you'll find a list of recommended blogs. I'd suggest your might use these to identify resources and trends in your area of interest.
http://www.eduscapes.com/hightech/course/syllabus.htm

COURSE MATERIALS
The online class materials are now available. This course had a massive makeover last year and I'm continuing to refine the materials this year with additional visuals, audio, personal notes, and other enhancement, so you'll see additions throughout the semester.

You can check things out at http://eduscapes.com/hightech
This link is also available through Oncourse.

As you work your way through the materials, you may find typos, dead links, and other problems. Please send me a quick email with the specific page and error. I'm particularly interested in problems that the spelling or grammar checker is likely to miss such as writing "discing" rather than "discussing." I'll be gathering these errors during the semester so I can clean it up. Also if you find great online readings or resources, let me know so I can add them to my "Learn More" sections.

COURSE INSTRUCTOR
I've been a school library media specialist, technology coordinator, and college professor. As many of you know, my husband (Larry Johnson) and I have been traveling full-time in our motorhome for the past decade. We teach our online classes from all over North America. We're currently hanging out in southern Utah where we've finished building a "home base."

I love teaching online courses and exploring the world around us. If you'd like to learn more about me,
check out http://eduscapes.com/lamb or our latest activities at Facebook.

GETTING STARTED
If you're feeling excited, frustrated, confused, anxious, enthusiastic, happy, or any other emotion about this course, you're normal. Online courses are a great alternative to traditional, face-to-face courses, but it takes a little time to get comfortable.

I'll provide much more guidance in terms of organization of the course and requirements in an email next week. However you're free to jump in and work as far ahead as you wish, here are some fun things to get you started:

1) Jump into the online readings. Use the Course Quest as a guide at http://eduscapes.com/hightech/course/courseguide.htm

2) Log into Oncourse, go to the Forums and Introduce Yourself. Be sure to read the directions, because I've asked you to share some specific things about yourself.

3) Go to LibraryThing. It's a cool online tool we're going to be using later in the semester. It's so much fun I thought some of you might want to get started now.

LibraryThing - http://www.librarything.com/
Annette Lamb's Profile - http://www.librarything.com/profile/eduscapes
Annette Lamb's Catalog - http://www.librarything.com/catalog/eduscapes

4) From hosting virtual book clubs to guiding a family history project, you're going to be making a blog for a learning application of your choosing. If you want to go ahead and jump into the fun, go to http://www.blogger.com
Be sure to get the FREE account. You don't need a premium account. If you prefer another blogging service such as Wordpress (wordpress.com) that's fine too .Notice that this will be a guided learning application rather than a personal blog.

5) We're going to do some things with digital cameras, if you don't have one it's time to make some friends who do. Consider jumping ahead and looking at the digital photography section if you have some vacation time before fall starts.

If you have questions, be sure to e-ask (as in email me). About half of the students in the class have taken one of our other online courses... they survived to take another one... that's a great sign. ;-)

I'll be sending a couple more updates before e-classes start, so I'll e-see you again soon!

Course Announcements & Email Archives

Class Email Archives