THING #5 - Explore Flickr

I have posted some images from this year's Texas Library Association Conference if anyone wants to view them. I noticed others have done the same thing. You can search the tag "TLA 2008" to see them all, or here's the link just to my photo page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/47741258@N00/ . I will probably be using this a lot more now that I am more familiar with it. Very easy to use, and if you take time to put descriptive captions, it's almost like being there.

THING #4 - Official Registration

Okay, so far so good. I accomplished the first four tasks in one afternoon. I have contacted the person in charge to see if I am eligible to participate in their little online exercise and will wait patiently to hear back from them..... SOON I hope.....

THING #3 - Create a blog & an avatar

This was the easiest task so far. My blog has been in place for about 18 months now. The only new thing I had to add was an avatar. Do you know how hard it is to find a hairstyle that looks like "middle-age male pattern baldness"?!? Does Yahoo! really think that everyone who uses the Internet is young, skinny, and hip? Just to be honest, I put up an actual photo as well so you can see the real me beside the fake one. Come to think of it....we do kinda look alike, don't we?

THING #2 - Thoughts on life-long learning

I was already familiar with Stephen Covey's book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, but I had not actually read it. My former principal used ideas from it during her staff meetings, and encouraged our faculty to read and follow its lessons, but I only got as far as the cover before donating my copy to the stacks in the library's professional collection at school. I'm more of a fiction buff than a self-help reader. After reviewing the lesson blog to start this online activity ( http://library2play.blogspot.com/ ), and reading the comments of others, it's reassuring to me to know that I am not alone in my learning habits.

I suppose the most difficult task for me is goal setting. I know in the back of my mind what needs to be done, but I never seem to have--or make--the time to sit down and plan it out. Of course, it could be that I get interrupted every few minutes when I start something, but that's just an excuse. My easiest habit is using technology to my advantage. Learning new programs, using new software, and figuring out new equipment is exciting to me. Sure, there's always a learning curve, but anything in the long run that's going to make my job easier is worth the trouble.

Probably my favorite education quote--and don't ask me where I got it--is posted on my middle school library bulletin board. It's there as much to inspire others as it is to remind and encourage me to keep on changing with the times: "The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read or write, but rather those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." I think that pretty much sums up what this "23 Lessons" activity is going to be about.

THING #1 - Read comments & instructions

A couple of weeks ago I got an email at school through the listserv of the Texas Library Connection (TLC) about how one school district in the state (Spring Branch ISD) was offering an online technology tutorial for its faculty. The writer of the email was Barry Bishop, a past-President of the Texas Library Association. He generously offered these online tutorials as Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit for educators outside the Spring Branch district. Naturally I procrastinated until the last second about making the decision to join in the learning. Bear with me this summer as I try to stay abreast of the constantly changing world of technology and how it can be applied to education. Since I already have a blog, I am a step up on the process. Let's hope the coming weeks are as easy.....

Ghost Fever / Mal de Fantasma by Joe Hayes

This Texas Bluebonnet Award-winning book has been on my 'to do' list for a while, and for one reason or another, I never managed to make time to read it until now. I knew the format was bi-lingual (English/Spanish), and that it was written by a respected Southwestern storyteller (Joe Hayes), but that's about it. The author's storytelling background comes through clearly in this simple tale of teenage tragedy. I won't spoil it for you by giving away the plot, but let's just say it should be especially appealing to Hispanic teenage girls, say around the age of 15 or so. This story could easily have been included in a collection of spooky tales, ghost stories, and the like. It is a short, very quick read, which kids will like, particularly if they don't take time to figure out the Spanish translations on each double-page spread. On the other hand, students taking Spanish classes may enjoy seeing the translations and trying to figure out the differences. Most kids like a good ghost story, so this one should appeal to anyone from third grade on up. A copy of it is available in Stone Middle School Library.