Google Tools...I could learn to love you! (Thing 29, part 2)

So...Goog411 saved my life (or at least helped me find my way...) and now exploring so many more of the tools available from Google...I think I am learning to love them and all that they can do for me.

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E-mail is equally wonderful and overwhelming. Here are a few of my favorite "Lab" tools available in Gmail that would make my life so much easier from a productivity standpoint if other e-mail providers are listening.

Forgotten Attachment Detector
Seriously...how much time and frustration could be saved by a tool that checks to make certain that you actually remembered to attach an attachment. I've forgotten too many times.

Canned Responses
Unfortunately there are opportunities that this tool would be useful. Now...can I make them automated too!

Mail Goggles
I just love the idea of it! The safety net for sleep deprivation combined with e-mail.

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I may even be willing to revisit iGoogle now after exploring gmail a bit more. One of my biggest frustrations with iGoogle was the inability to connect to multiple e-mail accounts on my page! It looks like I can link a few Gmail accounts! So, iGoogle, you may just find your way into my heart too.

Saved by Goog-411 (Thing 29, Part 1)

Just when I started questioning whether round two of "23 Things" was going to yield some useful or enlightening new Web 2.0 tools, Goog-411 arrived and saves the day!



What a quick and easy tool. I used this one for the first time a few weeks ago. I was able to dial Goog-411 from my cell phone while driving in circles and competely lost. With only a few voice prompts I had the address of my destination and was able to connect to them via phone for more information.

Thank you Google!

I will explore more of Thing 29 soon!

Would any other name smell as sweet?

"I'm a Library Media Specialist"

- the conversation stopping answer to a question that is often asked at social gatherings.


"What is that?"

- the question that always follows with a puzzled, dumbfounded expression...

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Has anyone else had this experience?? This is why I loved the recent article, "The 21st-Century Librarian" in the New York Times focusing on Mrs. Stephanie Rosalia. She just gets the job done! At one point in the article, the reporter refers to her as a "Information Literacy Teacher" and I loved it! I think that the title would still get some strange looks at parties, but I like being a teacher and this article and the video clip really shared who I hope to be and where I hope to go for our 21st century students.

I am young in this profession (starting at 25 and still not 30...yet!!! I won't be able to say that much longer) and love it! When I was finishing my undergraduate English degree and teaching license, I stopped in to talk to the Director of the Career Center at my college about looking at the "Library" field. I don't think he had any clue how to help me and ended up discouraging me from pursuing it - "There isn't much for people in your background pursing this area." Somehow so true - but useless! It didn't take long for my stubbornness to emerge to soon I was exploring the niche of "Librarianship" in schools.

Why is this little experience so important to my little diatribe about the "names" of this profession you might wonder -

The Internet was a part of my high school experience and became an integral part of my life when in college. I never even imagined that a "Librarian" was someone who exclusively worked with books! I viewed "Librarians" as a source - that sometimes lead to books, but just as often made use of the emerging tools and information provided on the computer in the library as well.

I get so many apologetic expressions when referred to as the school's "Librarian," but I am not in the least offended. I am honored by the predecessors of my profession who more often than not amaze me with how they have embraced the changes of the profession and really find so many unique ways to reach students as today's technology leaders in our school buildings.

I certainly hope to ensnare my students with my passion for libraries, because, yes I do still love the library and fingering my way through the pages of a book. I am merely confused at the difficulty in grasping that a "School Librarian" has become something more.

If we must call it another name to make it sweeter in this world of technology, we must.

Let me be a "Library Media Specialist," "Teacher Librarian," or drop the "Library" completely, and let me be a "Technology Teacher / Trainer," "Information Technology Specialist," "Information Literacy Teacher," or any of the other titles that attempt to describe what we do, but let me encourage teachers, students, administrators, and our learning community at large to respect the breadth of knowledge and skill required in using printed media for learning and exploring the world while not being limited to it. If you will call me a "Librarian" this will not contain my enthusiasm for all the possibilities for technology to enhance the communication and learning within our school community.

This was almost "The One" (Thing 28)

A "Customized Home Page" is totally what I need (and want!).


I keep getting disappointed in these networking tools - finding more and more of them - and I'm sure that most of them are fabulous in their own right - but while adding a slightly different twist, none of them have made me drool with anticipation. This one has me drooling... but is just short of satisfying.


I tried Page Flakes and I tried iGoogle - and both of them (and probably others) gave me a taste of what I am really looking for in a "Customized Home Page." I want a place to tie all my networks together. These pages in theory are designed to do it!

Unfortunately some of the Web 2.0 and networking tools that I use don't mesh together on one of these pages like I really wanted to do. I started trying this out with just a few tools that I use frequently. I couldn't find a gadget for Shelfari and I have multiple e-mail accounts to stay connected personally and professionally. The pages just can't handle having multiple e-mail accounts displaying at the same time, unless they all happen to be with different hosts (ie. hotmail, gmail, yahoo, live, etc.). If anyone tell me what I am missing, I would be eternally grateful to your cleverness.

It has been convenient to keep my many e-mail addresses under one roof (ie. the same e-mail host) - that is too my detriment in trying to create a customized page that will give me a screenshot with access to all my networking accounts and tools. Argh!

Twitter...Not a good start! (Thing 27)

I set up a Twitter account tonight. To get started I tried locating a few Twitterers that I know. The site was down... I am concerned that like the "Ning," this tool might just be adding more to my networking world, without necessarily making it easier...especially if the site is down often. I'll have to revisit this "Thing" and see if there is more to it, but so far it was not a good start!

I'm so not into Ning... (Thing 26)

I really wan't too excited to return to the Ning for this second round of "Things." There are so many useful web 2.0 tools and I believe one of the most wonderful characteristics of the library professions is the networking. For some, Ning might be the one, but this is not different enough from all the other networking tools that I am playing with or using regularly to revolutionize my life (or make it any easier).

I equate it to my adoption of blogging (blog following, I mean). There were several blogs that I followed in the beginning, but until I became a user of RSS feed readers, I could only follow a few without going crazy and getting burned out. I don't need to belong to all the Library or Web 2.0 communities out there, but I do need to feel connected to those that I do invest in.

So, I can definitely see some use for social networking tools in both my personal and professional life, but for now, I am sooo not into Ning!

Widgimania.... (Thing 25)

So, there were several things that I got excited about when exploring "Thing 25." I added a Clustermap to my blog and while I just have a very (very, very) small dot on the map in a single location at the moment, I am inspired to see it grow!

Shortly, after trying a few more, I lost some of my excitement about them. I really liked the idea of ClickComments, and having a tool that helps make connections or suggestions for related content within my blog, but the excitement quickly disappeared once I added the widget. I found the widget to be bulky and while I appreciate the intent of the "Plant a Tree" link with this widget, it does not fit with my purpose or objectives with this blog. So, it had to go...

As for some of the other widgets, gadgets, and other tools explored in "Thing 25," I am a huge fan of Flickr, and love the ability to filter out the pictures that do not grant permission for use through Creative Commons using Flickr CC. I am always looking for images to use for myself and students in the classroom for multimedia presentations.

I really wanted to try the "Readabilty Test," but the link was not working. I love the idea of this tool.

The sheer number of tools available for my blog is astounding and overwhelming. So - I plan on returning to "Thing 25" and trying out more.

Hit Refresh!!! (Thing 24)

So, I played with my blog, and then played some more. What is the result? I really liked the colors of my blog! So, while the playing was fun. I don't feel compelled to hit save for these "inferior" blogs!

I also really tried to explore a few more Avatar generators. I'm not really attracted to the ones that are "too cartoonish," so I just stick to having lots of fun changing outfits, setting, and accessories as a Yahoo Avatar! I do want to take a look at Meez, but I couldn't get the site working tonight - Bummer....

On the other hand, I am curious about trying out some of the free templates that other web creaters have made available outside of the basic templates within Blogger. I haven't found the right one yet, but with thousands out there, there might be something worthwhile!

On the other hand - There are so many new gadgets that are useful and just plain fun! I started with a few basic, practical gadgets that actually let me consolidate and simplify the user experience of my blog. Blogrolls are one of my favorites. So simple, but so important to building and contributing to the Web 2.0 community. In the past I used a lot individual RSS feeds to my blog to create a blogroll, but it is so much better now with just one gadget!

I don't have any "followers" yet, but I like the idea of this gadget. I am exploring Web 2.0 in this blog for my own benefit, but it like all Web 2.0 tools, it only gets stronger as the community grows. So, I am going to be interested in seeing if I get any "followers." Anyone want to join my blog community???