Need to give a document copy to a group of students but you are out of copier copies?

Need to save a document from a library computer but you don’t have a jump drive or CD?

Need to print a document but no access to that computer’s printer?

Try Google Documents!

Check out this site for Educators.  Here you will find helpful information, a video on how to use Google documents and some real-life examples of how teachers are  using Google Docs.

Animoto was launched last year and recently has been made FREE to Educators. Animoto provides a creative alternative way to view and listen to slideshows. Created by film and music producers, you upload your photos, choose some music you like from their huge range of styles and artists, or use your own music or voice, and you get an impressive slideshow.

Just to show what can be done with some photos and a dash of jazz, I created this one using photos from our back-to-school teacher workday.

Click on the word comments and share ideas you might have about using this Web 2.0 tool with your students. Click here to learn more about Animoto and how it is being used in the classroom.

I would like to make you aware of and promote one of our magazine subscriptions, Technology & Learning, whose mission is to provide K-12 educators with essential resources for managing, teaching, and training with technology.     There is also an online version of Technology & Learning.  The site contains considerably more than the print version does, including readers’ reports of Web tours and weekly news updates.  The site offers plenty of information, links, and resources.  One of my favorite features of the online version is the Daily Features section that includes the following: 

Site of the Day
New places to visit each day.

School Site of the Week
A new school site is selected each week.

How To: QuickFlicks
Video tech tutorials every Monday.

The IT Guy
Helpful new tech tips twice a week.

PDQ
Professional Development Quicktip twice a week.

Leaders’ Edge
Great ideas for administrators and tech leaders.

palmOne Pavilion
Handhelds and learning. 

On the sidebar I have provided links for several of these “Daily Features”  so that you can  access these web pages directly from the library blog each time you visit.

One of the main goals for our library program this year is to introduce Web 2.0 and provide instruction in the use of these information tools in classroom instruction and also in professional development.   Web 2.0 is a neat vehicle for collaborating learning, writing, evaluation, analysis, and presentation.  Being a librarian during this “digital age” is exciting and I look forward to learning with you and leading in our trek through this vast landscape of information and technology.   Each week we plan on featuring one of these tools and how it can be integrated into the curriculum.

Welcome To Our New Teachers