Before starting this course I thought I had registered in a course that was directly related to working in a library. “Special Topics” could mean many things, and that was the only information that I had been given. After Jenny’s quick introduction to the course I learned that this was going to be a class about technology. Besides my phone, I did not have any other technology with me.  I thought I had come prepared by having my three ringed binder and pen ready to take notes.  Three weeks later I am proud to say that I have no paper trail. Not using paper is just one item in my long list of my many firsts that Jenny has generously allowed me to have.

I was open to learning new technology but negative questions kept popping in my head. It was a struggle to block out the negative thoughts. One re occurring thought was about balancing screen time. Students need to connect face to face and have social interactions. If technology was used more in the classroom then I was concerned about students going home to be in front of the screen more. I think most teachers know many children who go home and are in front of the t.v. or computer. I shook this thought around in my head and realized that we need to teach these students how to use technology purposefully. I asked myself, are kids learning or discussing why they are using technology, or are they just bombarded with cool websites and google! As Jenny reminded me, often kids who go home from school and live on the  computer are lonely or don’t have the parental support. Lets give them a reason to go home and use technology productively.

I was also overwhelmed by the amount of literature there is to read online. I wanted to learn it all…yesterday!  I thought I should give up reading my novel for pleasure. There simply is no time for that. Now I have chosen some really good blogs to follow  and know about some great authors who are barging ahead in this field. Some websites are pure treasures! I can strive to remain current at a manageable level and not feel guilty for reading for pleasure.

When it came to internet usage, I was a taker! I take lesson plans, ideas, or free online programs. I was always on the hunt for the next treasure. It felt like I was dumpster diving through online garbage. I can proudly say that I am and will be a contributor…to the treasures, not the garbage of course!

Inquiry, inquiry, inquiry. Yes I was well aware of inquiry, but I didn’t truly understand how enriching the process is until I was directly involved with my own inquiry project.  I was reminded again that we learn by doing! I loved the process of doing an inquiry project. I had so many questions and so many directions I wanted to take. I finally decided to focus on environmental education because of my passion for it. I wanted to look at ways technology could be taken outside to assist students with learning about the environment. My other interest area is supporting reading. As you know I work with kids who need support reading. Many of these kids are lacking support from home, and don’t have access to many books at home.  After researching everything I could find about ebooks, I discovered there are not many low level high interest ebooks available for free.

World libraries really captured my attention. After thinking about world libraries I thought students could create their own ebooks. The ebooks could be related to an environmental theme and capture what they are learning outside about the environment. Their ebooks are then made accessible on the website. To begin, the books would all be from the same school, then gradually other teachers from other schools would be connected.  My vision is that students from different provinces or countries would be contributing to the collection. All leveled books made for students, created by students. They would also have access to read ebooks about anything to do with the environment from a different region in the world.

I kept getting more ideas but had to stop to ask myself, how am I going do it?  I am starting a little smaller. Right now I am just focused on making a website that will have a collection of student made ebooks. These ebooks will be accessible for any student to read. I will also have a blog to connect with other teachers. This is a big project but it will be done in smaller stages because I am inspired to make it happen. It certainly will not be up and running by this weekend but it won’t be left as a half finished idea…adding to the enormous heap of online garbage.

There are resources in the school, I am not focusing on the technology that I don’t have. I can make use of what I do have available. We have computers. They are older but they function like computers! I am not thinking of technology as an additive. It is not just the drizzled chocolate on top anymore.

I have a vision for the future. Changes in education will never be easy. When challenged, I have to remember ask myself why? Why am I doing this? For my students of course.

I have remained open minded and positive which has gotten me through to today! Three weeks ago I wouldn’t have thought I would be starting my own website.

Visit http://eco-ebooks.weebly.com/

It is a work in progress, but the basics are set up. I plan to make connections with other teachers from my school district. In September it will be ready to start posting collections of ebooks! I will start local and than hope to move to other school districts, other provinces, and other countries. The possibilities are endless now!

Today’s class left me thinking. If there was a limit to storage space on the world wide web, what would the criteria be?

There is a lot of useless junk on the internet. We all have to learn techniques to sort through the trash. It could be considered critical dumpster diving! With this being said there are also lots of sparkling treasures waiting to be found and lots that we do find and share.

We, meaning everyone in LIBE 477, have valuable information to share with the world, so we are moving on in with our online presence! It is empowering to know that I can take up space on the web with ideas and projects that I am passionate about and find other teachers who are not in my school, or maybe not even living in my country to share them with. The idea of giving back to the vast online community excites me. We know its better to give than receive, but usually online I am a taker. I take information, take ideas, and take free web 2.0 resources!  By creating a website I am able to give back.

I really had to step back while working on my project and ask myself, who are my participants? I was trying to meet everyone’s needs at once. My website was going to be directed towards teachers, and students. Is it too much to expect to make it useful for both groups?  I have a vision and want to strive to meet the needs of teachers and students involved in environmental education. I wanted to have resources available for teachers who want to use technology to help students learn about the environment. I also want teachers to be able to connect with other teachers to share ideas about different projects. I also want it to provide a place where students can share their ebooks relating to an environmental theme, and a place where they can read other students ebooks to gain knowledge and awareness about different regions in Canada or other countries.

I  explored a website called buddypress because it would make collaboration a little easier. I  am not fond of the design, and would prefer to use weebly, which I have spent a fair bit of time over the last couple of days exploring. Somehow the site also needs to be private and well managed so only invited students are able to share their work, and their ebooks meet a basic criteria.  I also want the URL site to have blog where anyone can post a comment or share an idea, which is then approved before being visible.