Thing #21 Student 2.0 Tools

How might the RPC and the Teacher Guide help you help students plan and manage research projects?

I don't work with students (except my own children), but I think it would take a little training to get the most out of this tool. Once they used it a couple of times I think they would continue using it.

The more mature student is likely to see the benefits of this tool. The organized, responsible student would gravitate towards it more quickly than the habitual procrastinator. For many students the problem isn't that they forget about projects, it's that they don't want to do them and avoid them. For these students the thought of adding another step to a project would not be appreciated.

This kind of tool would be best suited towards a student who is discombobulated, a hard working student who just isn't organized. The teacher would probably need to set aside some class time to help the student enter the correct dates, etc. and should probably look over the settings and everything before the project starts. The well organized responsible student would probably be the student most likely to adopt the tool because they enjoy being organized.

Can you think of any uses for library projects—could you use it to help manage a timeline for a project of your own?

I have a project that I need to plan. I added it to the calculator and found I have 99 days until the final date. It's not a paper so all of the information about sources and citing doesn't apply. I'm not sure if this is the best tool for the job, but I do like the thought of setting up automatic reminder emails. I could do that through my Google Calendar though;)

Thing #20: Books

About 10 years ago I was told by a boss that I could start getting rid of all of the books since they would all be online soon anyway. I didn't. But I've been reading some of your blogs and a few of you seem surprised that some people are calling for the end to print media. It is true. Right now just about every newspaper in the country is working on a plan to go fully online in the not so distant future. The main reason is paper is expensive.

What are you observing in your library about books and reading?

I'm not in a library setting, but I know that my family and friends are still reading books. I have a pile of books that I will get to! On a recent trip to visit friends and family I brought 2 thick books with me. I was given 2 good size books as gifts while I was away. My luggage was pretty heavy and now that they charge extra I was nervous. I stuck 2 of them in my carry on. For the first time Kindle was looking really good to me. I think it would have been lighter and more manageable.

I am planning to go to the Alachua County Friends of the Library book sale and buy a large number of books. Even though my husband says we have no room for more bookcases.

Do you think these Book 2.0 tools hamper or enhance one's reading experience?
I think 2.0 book tools should only enhance reading. If one of them hampers you stop using that tool and find another.

For instance I would not read a book on my phone unless I was stranded on a desert island.

I do not read book reviews at all. I do not want anything added or subtracted from the content of the book as the author intended it to be read. If it is a translation or it is from a different period and there are words or actions that require a note that's fine, but otherwise please let the author speak to me. I will decide for myself what I like and what I don't. I find that critics are oftentimes biased.

I read a book and then I am finished with it. I don't belong to book groups or discussions. I find that while many readers enjoy ruminating over every last detail - I don't. I mainly read for ideas, inspiration or a chuckle. But I'm also the kind of person who watches a movie once - I know people who watch the same movies over and over again and quote from them - they usually go right over my head.


Which of the sites/tools did you visit?
I visited all of the sites.

What are the appealing features?
I think there were many. Finding books to recommend based on someone's taste is a requirement for a librarian. Once someone finds out I'm a librarian they immediately ask me for a recommendation. If the person is a relative stranger this would help me.

Many people book swap. I tend to pass mine along to friends and family and pass my kids' books to their younger cousins.

Any features seem unnecessary or just there "because"?
With all of these Things there are portions I will probably never use, but I've been surprised that others really like those same features. To each his own!

Do you know of other tools around books and reading we should know about?
No, I've included all I know and then some. But I'd be happy to learn more from the rest of you.

Thing #19 Other Social Networks

Are you a member of any online communities?

I was not a member, but joined Gather, Ning and WebJunction. There I found a post that the Illinois State Police issued an Amber Alert for two brothers from the central Illinois city of LeRoy in McLean County, but there were no pictures posted of them so I don't know what good it's going to do.

Nothing posted on Gather - Recent Posts, Highest Read, Most Discussed or Highest Rated had anything to do with me. I looked at a few of them (a boat ride at the Columbus Zoo, a discussion of a woman getting her husband a birthday present) and was sorry I wasted that time.

I created a Ning page. It is UGLY! But I decided to keep going because I was spending too much time on it and wasn't sure I'd ever use it. I've got to keep my eye on the clock with these tings I've realized.

I joined WebJunction (at this point why not, right?) and was disappointed to find that Web Based Tools only had 5 discussions. Hopefully this group will add to it.

Are any of these social networks appealing to you?

Not really. I will play around with WebJunction some more because I hear people talk about it (mostly Patty) and it sounds like something I should know more about.

What did you find that was interesting and that you might use later?

Brad and I watched the 23 Things Summit they had on March 3rd and that was interesting. I would really suggest checking out the Archive and related resources for the 23 Things Summit, presented on March 3, 2009 that is posted on WebJunction. It was worthwhile and over 300 people tuned in to check it out. The vast majority of them were thinking about starting a 23 Things program!