Friday, October 14, 2011

To students and teachers


To our students and teachers….

How technology will help you….
Computers and mobile devices are making their way into every nook and cranny of the world. When you grow up and pursue jobs, employers will look at your tech skills and talents.

Just as a good books have a way of hooking readers on page one, a good tech tool has a way of hooking one’s interest, too! If an educational activity involves the use of technology, the learner is excited and will feel success; the learner will probably go forth and build on these experiences, applying the same skills in their personal lives. It’s like playing “21st C ball.” A newly learned tech skill will bounce around and be used again and again. Pass the ball to one another! Pass the skill on! Build on it!

Technology encourages team spirit, connects people with important others in their lives, builds confidence and self-drive. Technology enhances learning in face-to-face (f2f) human interactions as well as in social media circles like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Flickr, Tumblr. People can work together and learn from one another. Doing so allows for greater gains in community growth and global improvement.
(Image made at Wordle.net)

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Iowa State Fair 2011

Ready for the EntertainmentConcourse ViewingFair lights and action at nightReba's doneGotta love the farmersFair still rocking by night
The Amazing Blaine LarsenTen days of working...still smiling!In the middle of it allEnergy to Jump the Cage FencesAhhh.....babysittingHappy Family
Great student staffArgh, wathcing pirate treasuresFair treasuresWake up!Bob and girlsSounds of the sweet Sling family
Blowing milk bubblesArtistic cow at Cultual CenterA sand sculptureSand crafted mama and babyGuessing GameMy space

Iowa State Fair 2011, a set on Flickr.

The year of the butter cow, sculpture designing, bag tossing, wine stomping, corn eating, music rocking, flower growing, fireworks shooting, animal raising, people watching, weather enjoying, gourmet fair food eating, attendance building, money spending, and having fun!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Power of Words


Oxidation
Originally uploaded by Carol VanHook
Ah yes, so true....

"You English words?
I know you:
You are light as dreams,
Tough as oak,
Precious as gold,
As poppies and corn,
Or an old cloak:
Sweet as our birds
To the ear,
As the burnet rose
In the heat
Of Midsummer"
— Edward Thomas

Goodreads Quote

Friday, July 15, 2011

A Four-Mile Power Walk

A Four-Mile Power Walk Keeping up with the latest and greatest changes in Animoto. Also, I will enjoy watching this in the Winter months and maybe get inspired to take a photo walk on the sidewalks of my hometown in Iowa!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Iowan's Role in Civil War

Just another example of using multiple resources on the Internet to make learning exciting, dynamic and meaningful. Lifelong learners won't be able to stop reading.

Tools used: Google News, Google Search, Joliprint, Tagxedo, Blogger / Blogspot, more Google Searching, and a Website Validation Wizard produced by Illinois Educational Grant Project.

Take a look:
Here is the original article at the Des Moines Register.

And here, you can click on an interactive picture, powered by Tagxedo, that allows you to futher search important keywords. See what else you can learn about the Civil War. Use a Website Validation Wizard to check validity of the website you select to read.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Where are Libraries Headed in the Future?



Article about Libraries in the Future

Click on any word in this cloud and find read more on the Internet.

What's Your Favorite Seuss Book



This is a compilation of 85 adults and young adults when asked their favorite Seuss book. And yours?

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Web2.0 Check

http://www.tagxedo.com/art/f9462f2a8df9457c>Check Up on Web2.0

Loving Some Green Eggs and Ham

In five days, I will be presenting Web2.0 tools to a group of educators. I have had a good time putting this project together. It is amazing when a person prepares to present, what a person can learn!

Combination use of many web2.0 tools...(1) Answer Garden posed the question "What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book?" (2) The resulting cloud was transformed in Tagxedo Creator into a shape (3) Finally, this was downloaded and credited with Tagxedo Creator in a graphic editor (4) And then, shared in Flickr! -- Oh, we are not done! Flickr lets you transport out to your blog. So now, this picture will be used to illustrate my blog entry!

Monday, February 28, 2011

What is Web2.0?



This is a very nice definition of Web2.0. There are other videos at this Channel for teachers and students.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Book Club News

It has been a busy school year and a good one for Book Club members! But there is more to come. First of all, thank you to all the Book Club workers that came out to run the concession stand in January. We had a great crowd and earned the final amount to provide a scholarship to a graduating senior. Congratulations, the Book Club will have awarded $2500 in scholarships over a four-year period, as of this May. That is outstanding! I will be meeting with the seniors to explain how they can earn this scholarship.

I hope many of you get to attend the International Celebration on Culture this week in the Library and that more of you will participate in the Book Fair in February.

During February, drop by the Library and place a vote for the Iowa High School Book Award program (9th - 12th graders)  and the Iowa Teen Award Program (Freshmen only).

Now about March. Plan your event....Have a voice in where our next meeting is located! Time to hear from you, Book Club members!

April is National Library Week. Stay tuned for big ideas for this month!

Stay warm and healthy!
Mrs. VanHook
Teacher Librarian / Book Club Advisor