Summer Reading 2013

I try to catch up on my reading during the summer since I don't always get to all the books I want to read. Working with K-12 campuses challenges you to keep abreast on what is new for elementary, middle school, and high school students. I love Horn Book, School Library Journal and other periodicals for their insight, but I mostly get my list of must-reads from blogs (Nerdy Book Club, Watch. Connect. Read., and Professor Nana's Live Journal.) I am sure you make a list of what you want to get to, but in case you haven't, I am going to share what is on my summer reading list.

What do you have on your summer reading list?  Please share!

Summer learning is right around the corner....

Summer Learning

As most librarians wrap up the year, the prospect of summer relaxation is exciting.  Cindy and I work diligently during the year to keep up with new technology, new books, and inspiring ideas.  Summer is a great time to refresh ourselves and see how we can improve libraries and ourselves for the upcoming year.  Here are things I have on my list of summer learning:

1.  Go through all of the 10 most popular TED Ed lessons.  

This will not only help me, but after seeing what is out there, I can support teachers and possibly share highlights during any trainings that may come up.  I have seen some of the 10, but not all.  See my favorite one below....

http://blog.ted.com/2013/03/14/the-10-most-popular-ted-ed-lessons-so-far/

Insults by Shakespeare - April Gudenrath

2.  Evaluate all of my social networking. 

According to Mashable, employees who use 5 or more social networks make better employees.  I want to see if that is my case by looking at all of my social networks and possibly downsizing.  I thing Blythe Woolston hit the nail on the head with this tweet:

I don't need any virtual junk drawers - I have enough real life ones.  See the article from Mashable here:
http://mashable.com/2013/04/02/social-networks-workplace-study/

3.  Learn how to make an award winning vine. 

 I have already been experimenting with vine, but I see achievable improvement.  Hopefully this article will help me.

http://mashable.com/2013/04/03/how-to-make-a-vine/

4.  Review this gallery of 10 YouTube channels that will make you and me smarter. 

http://mashable.com/2013/04/04/youtube-education/#gallery/12-youtube-channels-that-will-make-you-smarter/515cb05997b2f85fc30017be

5.  10 Tech Resources for Kids with autism.

http://mashable.com/2013/04/02/autism-resources/

Well - this is enough to get me through June - I will let you know what my July list will be next month..  Later this week I will be blogging about all the books I would like to get read this summer.

Do you have any resources you want to try out?  Websites?  Apps? Please share them with us!

App of the Week: Diigo

I first got excited about online bookmarking when I completed a 23 Things course about four years ago.  And while I really liked the idea, it fizzled out for me.  

Then I took this job, and in February, I found a NEED for social bookmarking (to support our Extended Essay students) as well as a TOOL (via Katy Vance's blog) with which to do so.  

At Diigo, I have created "groups" for each of the six Extended Essay general topics.  While student use is slow to get off the ground, I can see that some teachers and students have already joined and are adding sites.  As I continue to meet with EE groups, I anticipate more will join.  But I expect it will really be next year's group that benefits from this tool.

Since joining, I have added Digolet to my Chrome toolbar and downloaded the app.  Both are easy to use, but in all honesty, I prefer to use this tool via my computer.  The app, however, keeps improving and is an easy way to access my favorite sites while on my iPad.

In addition to curating websites for our six EE groups, I have created a number of lists for myself - library related as well as personal interests.  Some are public, others I have chosen to keep private.  

I can't put my finger on why this bookmarking site is working for me when others have failed, but Diigo has become my new favorite tool.

What bookmarking tools do you use?