I have fallen behind with posting for Nebraska Learns.  However, this is a video I did for my current class with the Lesley cohort graduation program.  Hope you like it.

CPD 23 - Branding

I have mixed feeling about this topic and my online presence or presences may be more accurate.  This blog started as part of the learning experience of Nebraska Learns 2.0.  I was learning what mark I wanted to make on the internet.  And I wasn't ready to make a big mark.  So my original postings etc were rather anonymous.  I was never the one that walked up to strangers and introduced myself so doing it online was was even more difficult.  I still do a lot more reading than posting.

This blog is mostly the educational side of me (formal and informal).  I do not post much about my family - they all have Facebook and can do that on their own.  I post some about my work, but I also have a school library webpage that I am revamping this summer.  The branding for the webpage I want to keep focused on the school, not on me.  I have put my mark on the school library, but it was there before me and will be there after I leave, so it needs to have its own mark, related to the school.

I did the Google search and did not appear until page 5 in a listing for Library Camp Nebraska III.  There is an author with the same name and spelling.  Because of her I am hard to find by name.  Good and bad.  I have not read any of her book so I can't say whether I would like or dislike being mixed up for her.


Ramblings of a lone, but not lonely, school librarian on the Nebraska prairie.  My subtitle says it.  I am isolated by location and calling, but don't let it isolate me as a person.  The internet is doing this in more ways than the phone calls and letter writing did in the past.  (To be honest I still do both when the need arises.)  I guess for the time being I am content to be the little fish in the big pond knowing the big fish are there to listen when I have something to say or if help if I decide to make a bigger splash.

My opening blog - CPD23

This is my second 23 things.  I am not a consistent blogger.  I used it for Nebraska Learns 23 Things then didn't do much. I did some of the Nebraska Library Commission things between #23 and #43, and blogged about the reorganization project at my library over last summer.  Hadn't done much until I began a Masters Program through Lesley University.  This last class had us blogging about the various projects we worked on.

I need to use my blog to reflect on what I am doing.  Even if it is only once a week.  When you  are a sole librarian it is difficult to not feel isolated and blogging is one way to make connections.  I enjoy reading several blogs, but don't often comment back.  Questions like "Who would care to read about my unexciting life?" "Are others interested in my comments?"  have held me back.

Where is my career?  It is at beginnings and endings.  I began as a classroom teacher, stayed home and raised a family and did many of the volunteer activities that go along with that.  I pursued other lines of work, but decided that education was where I belonged.  After subbing I was offered a position as a school library, became certified, and love it.  I am working on a Masters in Education, Technology in Education and hope to put a lot of it into practice before I quit teaching for good.

(Do we ever stop learning and teaching?) CPD23 will be another avenue for learning.  Learning and sharing. Learning in different way.

Webpage Design

I "completed" the pages for classes and had about twice as many ideas for more pages.  Most of the pages are links for students. I concentrated on the Elementary level because the students are just looking for a game or activity to do and this resource will do their looking (and screening) for them.  Some of these sites the students have used in school.  This is a place for them to come when they are at home and can't remember how to get to the site.  I also like to have the links to the sites that Kindergarten and First use in school rather than have them type out the URL - it just save a lot of time.  The next step is teaching them to use bookmarks.
I gave the URL to the tech guy at school. He would like to revamp our school website.  I don't know how this new page will fit into that revision.

I went to SpiderScribe to start laying out my website because I knew it was going to get crazy.  I wanted to be careful not to go too deep or have a menu that was too long.
As the next year progresses I want to put use it as an example for other teachers.  One teacher already has all his assignments on his webpage.  I think this is a great resource for students and parents.  I want to be able to use my page to show other teachers how easy it for them to do the same thing.  This is a way to increase the connection and communication between parents, teachers, students, and school.
One thing that is very interesting is how personal and different each webpage can be when using a drag and drop programs with a limited number of options.  It causes you to spend more thinking on content and less on the mechanics.

Lesley 6008 - Texting

Our policy is no phones between first bell and last bell.  I know the students have them and usually keep them in a pocket or bag.  I also know students use their phones during school.  Phone use in class can be a distraction, but so are other activities.  I have heard of teachers who have a box on the desk and collect phones at the beginning of class and release them at the end.
Some parents and students view having a phone as a safety issue or a convenient way to reach each other.  Our school is very small and there is usually not a problem getting in contact with a student or parent by using the office phone.
I can see both sides of the issue.  I won't push for open use of phones by students, however I can see educational uses for phones in the classroom.  The pollevery site, looking up information on the internet (if students have a data plan), teachers texting assignments or reminders to students.  I don't know how many students have phones and what plans they have.  There may be a question of equitable access or maybe not.
I found that using texting for discussing a topic was very cumbersome.  Short messages are fine, but a discussion with various points of view and requiring lengthy conversations is better done face to face or at least with a phone call.

Ending and Beginning

Finished the school year, but I still have some clean up chores to do.  Then in June I will work a month with summer school.  I will supervise the online students.  Eight MS and HS students with a variety of classes.  Spend the past week teaching Bible School.  Had the youngest ones and we had a great time.
This weekend is party time.  The oldest grandson turned 14 - BBQ celebration with family and friends. Looks like it will be a good day for being outside.  Spring is so unpredictable.  We already had a baseball game rained out in the first inning and a softball game postponed.  I will also go to a bridal shower for my youngest who is getting married in August.  Sunday the second grandson is confirmed and we will again celebrate with BBQ and family and friends.
After all this celebration it will be time to start the summer projects.  I want to get a garden in this year.  Fresh vegetables and some cutting flowers.  Big enough for our needs but not so big I get overwhelmed with weed pulling (not a task I enjoy).
I am continuing my Masters program.  There are a number of posts about the resources I looked at and worked with over the past month. The big project is setting up a webpage.  I have a couple ideas for this project, will have to see which is most workable.

Lesley 6008 - Digital citizenshp

Digital Citizenship is working, communicating, and participating in the digital environment through the use of computers or other devices.
Internet Netiquette are the rules governing our conduct when using the internet.

Tips for today’s Digital Citizens

     We are citizens of our town, our state, our country.  Each of these entities has its own set of rules, written and unwritten.  Some are in the law books and enforced by public officials, others are learned through our association with family and friends.  We have another citizenship – a digital citizenship.  This citizenship carries rights and responsiblilities just as our physical citizenship.  There ar e rules, some are covered by written law and some are not.   Just what are these digital rules and how does one find them.  In many ways they follow the same rules as our physical life.  Matt Villano (2008) puts it this way, “Obey the law, have respect for others, act civilly and sensibly (para.1).” 

     The first responsibility is to know your hardware and software.  Know how to properly operate your computer, cell phone, camera, or other devices. Second, know how programs, apps, and websites operate.  Knowledge and understanding are the first steps to appropriate actions.  Gaining knowledge will prevent unintended actions because “I didn’t know it would do that.” 

     Having respect for others goes a long way in determining appropriate behavior.  Be honest in your actions and comments, for example, putting up a false identity on Facebook and pretending to be someone you are not.  Treat others in the same way you do in a face-to-face situation.  Be polite. Be honest. Keep private matters private.  Think about what you have written before you hit the “submit” button.  If you are angry, save it overnight and think about it again. 

     Cyberbullying shows lack of respect for others.  If it occurs to you, find someone to talk to.  You don’t have to deal with it by yourself. 

     Respect for others also includes respecting Intellectural Property.  There is a seemingly endless stream of information, images, music, etc on the internet.  Most of it belongs to someone.  Learn which are available for use by anyone.  Check out Creative Commons for material that is available for use to all.  Just as you ask to borrow a person cell phone or bicycle, asking to use someone’s music, photo, or information is the appropriate thing to do.  Remember, always give credit when you use someone else’s material.  It is the right thing to do.  Take advice from Warren Arbogast, founder and president of Boulder Management Group.  " Treat others as you want to be treated," he says. "If something isn't yours, don't take it. If you aren't sure, err on the side of caution." (Villano, 2008)

     Digital Citizenship is not a right that is handed to one, it comes with responsibilities that govern our words and actions.

Reference List

Ribble, Mike S., and Bailey, Gerald D. (2006). Digital citizenship at all grade levels. Learning & Leading with Technology (33.6), 26+. Retrieved from: http://find.galegroup.com.lesley.ezproxy.blackboard.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=AONE&docId=A143526669&source=gale&srcprod=AONE&userGroupName=les_main&version=1.0

Villano, Matt. (2008). Text unto others ... as you would have them text unto you: schools can teach basic principles of good citizenship to help shape students' behavior in the virtual world. T H E Journal [Technological Horizons In Education] (35.9) 46+. Retrieved from : http://find.galegroup.com.lesley.ezproxy.blackboard.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=AONE&docId=A187765365&source=gale&srcprod=AONE&userGroupName=les_main&version=1.0

Ribble, Mike S., and Bailey, Gerald D. (2005). Developing ethical direction. Learning & Leading with Technology (32.7),  36+. Retrieved from: http://find.galegroup.com.lesley.ezproxy.blackboard.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=AONE&docId=A131232118&source=gale&srcprod=AONE&userGroupName=les_main&version=1.0