...grow. Bloom where you are planted!

...grow. Bloom where you are planted!
Originally uploaded by vanhookc

Maybe your choice is not, where you are planted. Maybe location is non-negotiable. So look for inspiration to grow using the resources surrounding you, right at your fingertips. Take some time to seek new avenues of learning and to learn from others. Your pathway to reaching your greatest potential today may be right in your own community or it may be globally via Internet. Turn over a new leaf and cultivate your garden right away. Get ahead of next year's planting season, and prepare healthy goals today, for mind body and spirit. You will bloom where you are planted with a touch of "inspirational thinking" fertilizer!

Reflections on My CLMOOC experience

Being a part of the Connected Learning Massive Open Online Collaborative, CLMOOC, has been refreshing this hot, steamy summer. Most of the National Writing Collaborative has found me travelling into the Southern region of Ameica and in and out of family homes and summertime festivities.  Thus, my mooc writing and sharing time has been limited, but I have tried my best to connect and share! I am extremely grateful to the administrators of this project. You made my first mooc most enjoyable! Thanks for making every participant feel so welcome.

My learning curve went  way off the top in only my first two weeks of the project  as I explored and enjoyed vizify, vine, google maps, mapmyfitness, google plus, about.me, twitter, and began to learn what is a MOOC and how it works.

My CLMOOC pathway lead me to  mixing and remixing  fitness, literacy, and making connection with others voicing a similar interest. I learned from one of the Administrators of the project, Terry Elliot, about a good book, Spark, discussing the value of exercise on brain growth.  Reading the book has challenged  me to push harder in my own personal workouts.

Blogging about my #clfit goals of fitness allowed me to cross paths with a  fitness expert on my Tumblr microblog. What a delight as she keeps me inspired to keep working at getting fit.. 

As I move beyond the completion of this project,  my credo sums it up, I will continue to combine: learning, exercising , and sharing. (vizify) There is power in getting fit with the encouragement and help of others. Everyone benefits as we get fit together. 

Framed learning activities of making and remaking, inventing and building upon the work of others, and sharing equally in this process is a positive, forward approach to learning. These activities open wondeful opportunities for teaching organizational skills and sequencing.

What's your story? How can you tell your story? How can you connect with others and outreach? Share your adventures.  Brevity sells...6 word stories, 6 sequence pics, and 6 second videos. It is fun to share stories that leave people hanging and figuring the conclusions on their own.

 I will continue to pursue better approaches to fitness and learn to annotate better and faster  with google maps, my next step in learning -- perhaps another Mooc!

A Credo to Live By

 My Credo

Love to learn; learn to live; and live to love.

Questions:

How can we be lifelong learners?

How can we live healthier lives?

How can we care about others,

encourage other to be learners

and to live healthier?

Got my gear; gettin' ready; go!

Get proper equipment; get ready; go!
Originally uploaded by vanhookc

CLMOOC Week Cycle Three

Learning Principles 

Isn't that what any type of learning involves? Get the tools -- get prepared -- go learn! Today, we have the ability with the Internet to learn and do, share, connect and inspire others!

That's my hopes with this Creative Learning project. I have learned so much about biking! I have pushed my limits to build endurance and strength. I am finding others with a similar interest locally and I am having a great time sharing and connecting with others around the world about this project.

Along a bike path, running trail, walking area, just wonder what type of natural and historical landmarks, museums, ecosystems, educational opportunities, and points of interest exist? During this project, I hope to explore this question and keep doing so after the CLMOOC is completed. There are many ways to find answers and share with others. An answer to one question opens opportunities to further activity and learning! As I began mini-blogging my hopes for better fitness in Tumblr, a fitness expert favorited my blog. Now, I look forward to reading and learning daily from this resource, regarding diet, exercise, and life style. You see,  learning is always on a curve uphill!

For sure I will keep pushing the limits of fitness on the bike and hope to see some progress in strength and endurance. Maybe even, the pounds will drop. In my neighborhood and local area, as I bike, I look for aspects of the area to learn about. Talking with others, libraries, museums, etc. offer those opportunities to learn. Photography, blogging, marking Google Maps, and conversations with others allows the opportunity to connect and share fun learning. This is, likewise, a great thing to do on vacations!

This collaboration, Making Learning Connected (#clmooc),  is based on learning principles that believe learning activities should be interest-powered, peer-supported, and academically oriented. Join me in this fitness effort in your area or on your next vacation! Do you find getting fit interest-powered? I hope so! Seek encouragement from others! Getting outdoors for some refreshing exercise will open up a world of opportunity to learn even more. What's the history of this area?What can you learn about the ecosystems of this area? How can you share your learning with others? How might you be able to connect with others in your area or globally to improve community living. You will see learning is an uphill journey!

See you along the way!

A Welcome Sight

All Dogs Asleep
Originally uploaded by vanhookc

Greetings from the Welcome Center for Dogs. Notice the bike trail along the right hand side! What fun to have pooches greet me along the way with a few yelps as I bike beside the park! There are many beautiful four-legged friends that just love to come out with their proud owners to socialize. The residents of Altoona, Iowa, are fortunate to have this park. See the two sections; small dogs to the left and large dogs to the right. What joy for dog lovers to see their pets playing and having fun!

Play was, likewise, the focus of the Making Learning Connected - National Writing Project during this past week. For me, I enjoyed layering graphics on photos and creating a fractured nursery rhyme version of Hey Diddle Diddle to compliment the final picture. My goodness, how time flies when having fun. I was still working on my project until after midnight!  For others in this week's assignment, realtime and virtual toys were changed, contorted, animated, and repurposed. The goal for the week allowed  people across the globe to have too much fun and make connections with others doing likewise! Isn't that what learning is all about--being creative, producing, and sharing?

Additionally, during the week, I "played" at creating a map of a 13-mile bike run that I successfully biked --not once, but twice!!! This map was downloaded to my computer and then uploaded to Google Maps. What a surprisingly smooth transaction. I dropped a marker of the Altoona, Iowa, Enabling Gardens on this map. See if you can locate this on Google Maps. Likewise, I will want to include this Dog Park on the map!

During the week, I enjoyed increase use of my Tumblr and Blogger accounts. Creating Vizify cards was fun as well. So, you can see, as I lifelong learner, I am doing just that. I cannot wait to see what I learn this next week!

Dog, Cow, and Moon Make Three

Dog, Cow, and Moon Make Three
Originally uploaded by vanhookc

The dog, the cow, and the moon make three

A shimmering tale, long told 'bout the team they be!
Look up, towards the stars
Circling our world as they swirl!
Hand-in-hand and fully-charged,
Offering light, hope, and good dreams 
For every boy and girl!

My make for Week Two
The Connected Learning 

Quoting  from the summer learning and sharing blog: Make With Me!

"For this second Make Cycle, one option is to grab an old toy─maybe something that you played with as a kid, or something from the bottom of your kid’s toy box, or perhaps a something that you rescued from abandon in a thrift shop or a yard sale. Study it, consider what it is, think about what it can be. Gather the things necessary to hack it, remix it, or remediate it─your analogue and/or digital tools. Take it apart, put it back together in a different configuration. Add something. Take something away. Make it sparkle. Make it move. Make it light up. Create a digital story, a fan-fiction mash-up, or film a stop-motion animation."

My make involves a picture, a graphic, layering tools in a photo editing program, and a big imagination in fracturing this nursery rhyme! Enjoy! #clmooc

Google Map - a Route I Hope to Master (on the bike!) -Wk 1 of #clmooc Intro

View Larger Map This past week, I joined a MOOC to keep me learning this summer! I am combining fitness, online learning, and connection! #clmooc #clfit

And so, I managed to build an introductory page at Vizify. On my intro, I have added a Vizcard with my #clfit plan of action! I had planned to use Animoto for my Connected Learning "make" introduction; however, I learned that this free site adds less than it once did. I have an inactive subscription there, and so I decided to explore Vizify as many others in this collaborative were bragging about it!

I used Flickr to give an introductory set of pictures to the fitness trail that intrigues me most, at the moment. Enjoy the look!

I am using Google Blogspot and Tumblr to journal my summer story and MOOC learning! I learned the importance of tagging and naming the RSS feed. I am thankful for this project showing me the importance of tagging within blogs!

I am using Twitter (@vanhookc) and Google Plus to connect and share with others in this learning community!

I, also, learned how to set up a column in TweetDeck to keep up with #clmooc posting!

I have learned a lot this week! And so, now, I need to think about hitting the real-time trail!

Keep the lights on and the doors open in our libraries

Keep the lights on and the doors open in our libraries.

Keep these facilities staffed with trained personnel, qualified to properly manage libraries. Upon entering a library, watch community members of all ages enjoy the variety of spaces available.

Children and little tots love the library. Where would we be without summer reading programs and challenges to keep reading skills and practice in order? Children’s services offer story times, craft times, storytelling competitions, and great books for children and parents to select for home reading + connection time. These are hands-on activities that are still critical for families today. These events are not the same on a digital device.

Teens need safe spaces to come together and make connections. They need community areas to be social. Upon entering a teen or pre-teen space--sit awhile and watch students enjoy their learning space--talk to them and listen to them--pick up reading materials and share what you are reading, seeing, and thinking. They will appreciate this interaction. They really do enjoy mingling with the older folk! For these teens and pre-teens, they often say, “The library is like home away from home.” They might even use this time to teach their elders, useful digital skills!

Adults need libraries to continue life-long learning. Libraries and librarians offer needed face-to-face interaction on good reads, informational services and resources, and help with digital needs.

The library can’t be beat for offering something to everyone.

Libraries are places for people of all ages, interests, and talents to unite and share, learn and grow, build new relationships, respect, and develop an insight into the lives of others.

Creative Commons Image by C. VanHook

Hello!

Hello!
Originally uploaded by vanhookc

Keep a green tree in your heart
and perhaps a singing bird will come.
-Chinese Proverb

A Southern Midwest Teacher Librarian Reflects

Oh my, do I ever have a Southern accent!
Time to reflect on libraries.......



Thank you for the interview, Altoona Herald-Index!

Happiness

Happiness
Originally uploaded by vanhookc

These are the things that make me happy: love for others, sparkle, colors in our world, and chocolate! How about you?

Of course my list goes on and on....grandchildren, sunshine, photography, books, laughter of children, puppies at play...

The Happy Days of Teaching

When I decided to retire, in early 2013, I began to write about my past teaching experiences at Southeast Polk in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, over the past 18. Journaling brought to light many treasured memories  in teaching at every single grade level. If you so desire to celebrate these joys with me, here goes... It's 12 pages of happy times!

Hello Iowa!

It’s 1995; the sign says Iowa, you make me smile! We are crossing the Mississippi River to a new home, new jobs, and new schools. Bob’s been transferred to the Newton location of the Maytag Company and Carol’s been hired in the Southeast Polk Community School District. Mr. Thomlin, principal of Four Mile, welcomes Carol to her home-based office – a huge room filled with old videos and cassettes, needing to be weeded—making way for a technology explosion like no one could begin to imagine! During the year, Carol will venture out to meet six other outstanding principals, a great team of library clerks, elementary staffs, and students. She will serve them all as media specialist. Simple task, yes! She just arrived from serving five schools in Indianapolis as Media Specialist. Here’s the story for my next 18 years at SE Polk.

My memory treasure box overflows with heartwarming experiences and thoughts of making new friends along the way.....and if you want to read more

Sad Changes in Education over Forty Years

Today I am a retired teacher. Since 1972, I have taught all grades and many different subjects. My teaching career spans from Tennessee to Indiana to Iowa! For the past nineteen years, I have been a teacher librarian. For the past decade, I have been a teacher librarian in a gigantic high school! I am now retired  and will sadly miss the kids and my teaching colleagues! I do pledge, however, to continue supporting the educational needs of our youth and to show the value of school libraries!

An apple to improve education!

Here are the sad changes, I have seen, over forty years....

10. Schools rush to buy new technology.   When one software version or device becomes dated, schools rush to replace. Allow students to bring their own digital devices and connect. Provide for those who need. Teach flexibility in regards to Web 2.0. It should not be about a single company’s apps, software, or devices; instead, schools must embrace online technology, teach the "ins and outs of cloud storage,"  and use a variety of web bookmarking, note taking, citation making, and graphic editing tools with students-- so to offer students what best promotes learning and preparation for their future. 

9. Lack of interest in the well-planned national celebrations of learning is sad…such as National Poetry Month and Teen Read Month. It goes like this…. “I wish I had…,” “I should have…,” “I didn’t hear about it…,” “I didn’t know about it.” People don’t read announcements. People don’t keep calendars up-to-date, and then it’s too late--the opportunity passes quickly. Staff and administrators should encourage participation in these national, state, and local events and activities. Students will remember participating in these activities far longer than sitting in a classroom seat or staring at a computer screen!

8. Expect our national standards' curriculum to emphasize the basic “core values of humanity.” Global communication, listening to the thoughts of others, respecting what others think, and being considerate rather than defensive, should top everyone’s TO DO list.

7. Digital learning does not take the place of face-to-face communication and personalized education. Technology should not allow the pencil--or pen--and paper to go by the wayside. Why not regularly write a few quick notes of appreciation to others or take the time to visit them, in person, to show gratitude—just because? If we practice and model this, maybe our following generations will think it of value! These are opportunities that build upon a core understanding of humanity!

6. Leadership is not about “showing power” but about “helping every human being on the face of this earth achieve their greatest potential.” Let the power be a shared endeavor--one that focuses in leading and lifting each other. It’s in helping one another that we provide the lifelong educational memories worth treasuring.

5. When new leadership enters an organization, they must LISTEN to the wisdom of each individual, regarding his/her best contributions to the organization. Everyone needs to feel their VOICE counts. What are the positives that are already in place before the new leaders arrived? The new leadership should build foundations on these current successes and weave these strengths into their desired plan of action.

4. Are we honoring the creative teaching skills and expertise of every educator? When teachers are advised to use the same methods, materials, and testing models, learning becomes stale and creativity in the classroom becomes suppressed. There are those that would argue to move towards an online education with minimal teachers and space required.  I would argue that students learn from the "face-to-face" interaction with all kinds of teaching styles within the school building. This is learning to cope and succeed in life, in training. It allows for spontaneous interaction and communication. This is critical learning at its best. 

3. Pretesting, post-testing, testing, and more testing places a huge emphasis on test scores rather than nurturing the students’ abilities. Testing takes time away from valuable, authentic instructional time in the classroom. Testing is minimal in meeting the critical needs of developing individual worth. Some believe a formal pre-test sets the student up for failure. We must develop teaching strategies that utilize healthy vibes, smiles, and language to provide positive direction and feedback, so that our children feel success rather than failure from the start. Formative assessment, throughout a unit of study, does just that – molds success. It encourages the learner to develop a positive attitude and an eagerness to want to learn, achieve, and improve.

2.  Keep the lights on and the doors open in our school libraries and keep these facilities staffed with trained educators. It takes qualified personnel to properly manage libraries. Upon entering a school library--sit awhile and watch students enjoy their learning space--talk to students and listen to them--pick up reading materials and share what you are reading, seeing, and thinking. The library is the inner heart and soul of the school and offers great value to the learning process – as the students have said, “My school library is like home away from home.” 

1. Libraries are places for people of all interests and talents to unite and share, learn and grow, build new relationships, respect, and develop an insight into the lives of others.

Pictures at Flickr Set on Retirement

First Day of High School!

First day.... 2012-13....High School...
One girl said to another and to me in the hallway--today, on the first day back to school, "Summer just felt like a very long weekend."  Isn't it crazy how time flies when you look back? She seemed to be content with her summer but happy to be back in school.

The students  realize the importance of their education. They are listening to what's being said about the value of education. I work in the library. Lots of students consider this "home away from home." It is a comfort zone, a learning zone, a social zone, and a retreat for others.

Early in the morning, a new freshman shivered as she sat in my office! She shared, "This is a big scary place." I just bet she left the building laughing with joy by the end of the day!

And of course, some of the Seniors had to welcome everyone one back this morning, visually. They had a look of fatigue throughout the day as they tossed toilet paper on the campus grounds the night before!!! Is this the "ghost of senior traditions of the past?"  I hope these seniors put as much energy into their studies this year to prepare them for the next step!

Have a fine year, students across the world! Make positive memories! Be good! And learn along the way! It is a wise investment!

Very good parenting

Very good parenting
Originally uploaded by Carol VanHook

We had a great family time with my mom on her birthday--a day early as family was in town! It is always fun to celebrate birthdays with family. The memories warm the heart. On her real birthday, she had a big surprise! Right at dinner time, Mom got a knock at the door. The family across the street marched in singing Happy Birthday to their "pretend" Grandma...and gave her homemade cards, hugs, and a warm gift of homemade oatmeal bread. With their mom and oldest daughter out of state, the father and five children prepared and delivered this present. It is so nice that there are people in this world that are kind, caring, and respectful of one another. Great to see neighborly love being shared!

Perspective on Culture over Time

Culture

See how my perspective on culture  has changed throughout my life, or has it really changed?

1950's world culture...when technology meant having a clear channel radio station...When listening to a podcast meant sitting on your bed, on a Saturday evening, looking out the window and listening to "Peter Pan" on the radio...coming to you from many, many miles away over Clear Channel Radio. What an invention to marvel--the radio!

1960s world culture...It was probably a Scouting Badge. Brownie Scouts was the greatest. We made pen pal friendships from across the ocean. How fun to gather up  pictures of self, compose a letter, and send this introductory piece to your new friend across the sea, who of course, knew English. This sounds like today's resume or portfolio work! Once prepared, the thin packet of writing and goodies had to be handled with care by the post office and stamped "airmail" for speedy delivery! Waiting was horrendous, as it took days and weeks to hear back from your pen pal. At Christmas, another round of letters were exchanged! Usually, a special treat was included that represented your country or family talents! This exchange of culture lead to a fascination with stamp collecting. What a great way to learn about culture by gathering stamps from other countries. The queens and kings were boring; the nature stamps were the best! And of course, this lead to a discussion on the coins and currency from these countries.

Culture of the 70s...Food! Food! Food! Maybe a friend or family would travel across the world or to a China Town in a major city and bring back a mother-of-pearl  or plastic set of chopsticks. Everyone should learn the proper way of eating with chopsticks!  My interests in this culture lead  me to reading stories of world travel with my own children. We took a magic carpet around the world through the pages of a book. This was often done at bedtime, so as dreams could continue our stories. How many nursery rhymes, jumprope songs, and children's songs of a global nature have been handed down in your family?

Culture 80s style...Cooking as a hobby calls for a study on traditional recipes! In my circle of friendship, we experimented German style sauerbraten, French crepes, Chinese eggrolls, and Japanese tempura...and the list goes on. In those days , the calories didn't seem to count! It seems like the best way to celebrate culture though was to take a cruise! Let's go! The ship sails in less than an hour--for ports unknown. Maybe Alaska, Porta Rico, Venezuela, Europe, and more!

In the 90s...Ah, the birth of WWW. Now we can begin to access global encyclopedias and learn more about culture. Maps are starting to appear that equal the quality in books and on the globe! Bookmark that one! Books of URL's and lessons will take give you great ideas on traveling right on the computer. A brand new search engine, Google, might be handy to keyword search  a country! Just think? Those early URL's from the late 90's are probably non-existent today!

And before we know it...a new millennium has arrived. Oh, and all our clocks are continuing to tick. And the computers still work! By now, those computers dated 2000 are probably antiquated! It is fun to learn about countries from our books, research more on the WWW, connect what we are learning with literature, and then write or illustrate cultural thoughts! EPals are popping up everywhere and virtual global quests are at our fingertips!

The best way to learn though is a face to face visit by a cultural friend. With the turn of the century, there are more exchange students coming to America to share their stories. Many governments ask their teens to share good cheer, spirit, and knowledge about their countries in the American schools. We welcome them with open arms, handshakes, and our American culture!

As this new decade marches on...the world is giant but yet it is small. Travel is more accessible and affordable. Take a look at global culture and learning brought to our American schools by an International Focus on Teen Culture in this Iowa high school... Culture

Thanks American Councils for International Education
in helping to make this event a reality!

Here's lookin' at ya!

Here's lookin' at ya!
Originally uploaded by Carol VanHook

International Focus on Teen Culture

International Focus on Teen Culture, a set on Flickr.

A wonderful day of sharing with an international audience in a high school library!

May 3, 2012

Paper Tweets - charged and powerful

Paper Tweets - charged and powerful
Originally uploaded by Carol VanHook

Here's my presentation on ethical participation in research and project development given today at the Iowa Association of School Librarians' Conference today in Des Moines, Gourmet Guide to Ethics.

During the presentation, I asked for the audience to reflect on ethics, either by tweeting or by using these paper tweets. Here are a few paper tweets:

Copyright can empower our students! Teach them how it benefits them instead of hinders them!

Creative Commons: Good point to allow students to modify your pictures! Love the idea to have students paint your pictures!

Civic assignment: Allow students to pull pictures to describe the Bill of Rights!

It is our responsibility to keep reminding students to cite where they get their pictures and sounds.

Noodle Tools - great scaffolding of ethical use, learning.

(April 16, 2012)

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)