Wiki or Blog?

I had pretty much decided a while back to turn our library web page into a wiki. Have actually been working on it off and on for a couple of weeks and had planned on linking it to our school web page in the fall and start off fresh. I recently read an article in the January issue of SLJ, "Putting your best foot forward" by Carolyn Foote on how some schools are using blogs as their library page. The idea being that it is in a format the students are used to and you can keep it constantly updated and fresh. One of the examples shown was Milpitas High School Library. I must admit, I liked the format and some of the widgets the librarian is using. I noticed that when you linked on the Pathfinders the links take you to a wiki. So even if we switched over to a blog format should we still keep our Wiki? Then why even switch? Maybe we should just keep our Wiki and continue to link our blog to that. Now the dilemma, should I switch? Our wiki is coming together, still needs tweaking though. I tend to use this blog for professional blogging and Porter Reads I have linked to school. Porter Reads would be the obvious choice if we decided to use a blog instead of the wiki. Decisions, decisions.

ESC Thing # 17, Week 7

There really just isn't enough time to look through all of the wonderful ideas on what to do with Wikis. I've added the California Curriculum Connections wiki to my del.icio.us account for further study.

Am very intrigued by their idea of "2.0 THING of the WEEK " "Would teachers like hearing about a new 2.0 tool or set of tools each week or so? Why not feed classroom teachers (or interested teachers only) some or all of the 23 Things over the course of a school year. Something along the lines of a chapter-a-day book club, but it would be a "2.0 Thing-of-the-Week." What a wonderful idea. I already write newsletters for my faculty, this would be something that I know many of our teachers would love to try. If it is presented slowly and very non-threatening there are many on our campus who would love to give this a try.

ESC Thing #16, Week 7

Wiki, Wiki and more Wiki. Quick, Quick and more Quick! I really took my time examining the links that ESC 23 Things provided for us because I am pondering changing our library web page into a Wiki. Still trying to figure out what is the best format for our students. I'm feeling rather inferior right about now though. Just proves that we never stop learning in our profession. If we want to keep our libraries as the center of where learning and technology are happening we need to lead our schools into the direction of Web 2.0 and then get ready for 3.0.

Thing # 17

I couldn't help myself, I had to post this picture of the cast of the Cullens. It seems the Twilight movie is well underway. Can't help but wonder who will be Jacob. My students are so excited they can hardly stand it. I even received a phone call from a former student who is at MIT to tell me about the cast.

I played in the sandbox and was very nervous doing so. I kept thinking about the video on Wikis and how easy it looked and thought okay here I go. As our Senior AP English class hosts a "Beat Nite" in the library every year I feel a Wiki would be a perfect tool for the class to collaborate and organize the event. So much is involved in this project. From setting up the stage to decorating the library to refreshments, getting ready for this poetry reading night is a huge job. I will suggest a Wiki to the teacher and see if together we can make this work.

Thing # 16

Wiki, Wiki and more Wiki. It always takes me a while to gather my thoughts after reading the latest "thing" and then deciding what I will be posting. This much I know right away, as I progress deeper into the 23 Things I realize how much there is to learn.

As I look through some of the teacher and school produced wiki's I keep thinking of the teachers and students on our campus and what they could put together. Our city of Brownsville is getting ready to celebrate our annual fiesta, Charro Days. Our art teachers have been using the library with their classes having students search for Mexican symbols for art projects and ideas for our school float that will participate in one of the parades. An art Wiki where all of the classes could collaborate would work so well with this project.