#22 and #23 Downloadable Media

I've just downloaded ebooks of 'The tale of Peter Rabbit' and 'Mrs Tiggywinkle' for free!
They will be used tomorrow as I explore the wonderful history of children's picture books with our Year 2 students who are currently learning about 'Old days and Old ways' in their HSIE lessons. I bought 'Peter Rabbit' and 'Mrs Tiggywinkle'  toys at the Children's Bookshop last week so it will be a fun lesson.
Last year we enjoyed 'The terrible plop' ebook.
I've also been looking (but not buying) at Bolinda. I can see this will be a useful source for the audio books we need to buy for students with reading difficulties.
Thank you Dione for your help and encouragement. I've learned a lot that will be useful in my teaching.
We have almost finished moving into our new Library and it is starting to look great.

#21 Youtube and Teachertube

Now I've just wasted the evening watching Youtube videos. There must be a video on every possible subject there. There are some wonderful book trailers that I just can't wait to use at school.
Then I got looking at underwater videos, especially those of places I've been diving. Some are amazing!
I would really like to post some of my own videos on Youtube. - After I finish this course and catch up on some school work.
Teacher tube has some good educational material and I will spend more time looking at that. - but I really want to post those videos.

#20 Podcasts

Recently, our church has started publishing Podcasts of services. These are great for those who are shut in due to age and ill health. The disadvantage of Podcasts is that there is no visual element but the can be great if you want to hear radio broadcasts. I looked at some scuba diving podcasts but Youtube has the big advantage in that you see the wonderful sights. on the videos.

#19 Rollyo

Rollyo is a really great idea for people who use the same websites a lot. I'm especially interested in Scuba diving so it may be useful to create a roll for just that subject.
However I wonder if I could then miss out on some fabulous new sites that are added to the web.
Here is a shot of our new Junior section of the Library

#17 Delicious and #18 Wikis

I had opened a Delicious account but had not used it much. Hopefully, I'll use it more now there is a link to it on my iGoogle page. At least there will be a reminder for me whenever I go there.

It also has a link to my Snorkeling wiki. This was made when our Year Five camped at Jervis Bay. Before the camp, each student had to research one marine animal and post their report on the wiki. After camp they were able to add comments based on their observations. Hopefully we will do something again this year. I found the Wiki great to use when each student had something to add to a collection.

#15 RSS and #16 Subscribing

It's too long since I've added to my blog. First the Easter holidays, then moving into the new Library.
Here's a view of the Teaching Resources section.
At last our resources are out of the dreaded compactus and into the new room.
There's still a lot of work to do as I'm culling lots of books and videos that are no longer being used. It was just too hard to get at them when they were 'compacted'.
I really like my iGoogle page but I don't seem to be able to get RSS feeds of some of the sites I use a lot so the Google reader page doesn't do all I want it to do.

#13 Myspace and #14 Facebook

I've been on Facebook for some time but have only now checked Myspace. I'm wary about what I put on Facebook. Some of my younger friends use it as their preferred method of communicating with friends They don't seem to realise how public it is! I find it useful to contact friends on non personal matters but usually prefer to use emails. The home page of Myspace says it all. In appearance it seems to be geared to a younger generation and to the world of music. I don't really want to register there whereas I really like Flickr and Picasa web. I'll try to add a slide show.

#12 Flickring!

Flickr is fun and was easy to use. I've posted just a few of my underwater photos. (They took quite a long time to upload). I really like the little movie of the numbray. You can imagine him working on finding a comfy spot to rest.

Divebuddy2's photostream

Divebuddy2's photostream on Flickr.

#11 Librarything again

Thanks for the helpful comment Margie. I really wanted to add Librarything as a widget/gadget.
I read all the instructions on how to embed it but made one silly mistake. You don't see all the code to embed in the little box and I only copied the first part that I could see.
Now I'm reading Little fish, Big river - a wonderful book!

#11 Librarything

I've had fun looking at Librarything and have started putting together a list of my favourite books. I tried to add a link to my blog but it's only showing the code. What have I done wrong?
Latest Library news: It has been claimed that our Slatwall has a bow. I can't see anything. It is quite flexible. I really don't want another delay.

#9 Second life

I've had a look at Second Life. I'm not sure that it has great personal appeal but for those who have time, it could be a lot of fun.
My avatar is certainly younger, slimmer and much more gorgeous than me so that's a plus!
More bad news on the furniture today. Several items are on back order - not too far back I hope.

#8iGoogle

It's  fun personalising your iGoogle page. There
are so many possibilities. I've added a lovely
marine theme picture, Google map search, Sydney weather radar, some cute turtles and (sheer indulgence) a slide show of exotic marine life. Now the page is a bit crowded but I'll see what is useful and edit later.
In our new Library, plastering and painting were happening while Teaching Resources were being moved. We had to empty the compactus before it could be moved!

#10 ONLINE IMAGE GENERATORS

It now seems that our new Library won't be finished on time and most of the moving will have to be organised and done by Library staff.

I've just created a badge which should be appropriate for the occasion.

No number

Tonight I tried adding a gadget to my template. It's a link to my Diigo list of links and it actually works!

A couple of weeks ago I walked into the Library at lunchtime, opened the doors to the crowd of waiting students, then noticed a lot of 'building' type noise. Then I realised that the back wall of the Library was being removed. The builders had a rapt audience!

#7 Google books

I've discovered that photos are imported much more easily if you first reduce their size. I tried to import the presentation I made in Google docs. It was not accepted. Here's another photo. Two exstudents had the job of moving all the books and the builders were constantly asking them to 'Get a move on!'
I fear what we will find when we are at last able to access the compactus in the new building.
I've just been looking at Google Books. It was exciting to locate a picture book that I've long been searching for. The only trouble is that it's well out of my price range - Copies range from $150 - $250!

#5 Google Docs

After looking at Google docs, I decided to make a short presentation. It was okay but I found that many of the good features of Powerpoint were missing. I mailed the document to myself and duly received it.
Here is a shot of the sight that met us at the beginning of the school year. The text book compactus has gone but not the books!

#5 Google Docs, #6 Google Maps and #7 Google Books

In the second half of last year, work finally began.
 The compactus holding Textbooks and Teaching Resources was squeezed into the main Library. suddenly we began to feel very cramped for space.
Today I looked at Google maps, Google Docs and Google books. I use Google maps a lot.  I find students just love finding their own house on Satellite view and enjoy getting directions to a friend's house. We were able to accurately date the satellite view of our school as it shows the new hall under construction.

#2 Create a blog

Our school Library used to be a wonderful place for work and play. Yes we were a bit crowded but everyone from K - 12 shared the available space and enjoyed using the Library.
Then came some amazing news. We had received a government grant so we could build a brand new extension to our Library.
This was the beginning of an adventure that has now been going on for nearly two years.
As we prepare to move into our new premises, I want to make the most of the physical changes to lead to changes in the way our Library is used.
Learning more about Web2 will enable me to encourage teachers and students to do just that.
Today I made my first attempt at a blog.