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Web 2.0

I'm currently using Moodle to create a professional development course about Web 2.0 technologies. I'm using a topic structure for my modules. Each module will last a week. I have five modules planned: blogs, wikis, RSS, social bookmarking and mashups, and podcasts and images. I'm creating the course for the El Paso Area Libraries consortium. It will be made available to librarians across El Paso. Has anyone done anything similar. I would love to get into contact with someone who has a similar course. We could compare organization, sources, content, or anything else.
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ELECTION PROJECT: MEET THE CANDIDATES--JOIN!!

I have created a webquest for upper elementary-middle school classes called "Meet the Candidates." This is an award-winning project, updated for the 2008 election, with web 2.0 tools incorporated. The project is available at: http://eev.liu.edu/KK/election/meetthecandidates/index.htmYour students will learn about candidates and elections as they participate in this timely project by working in teams to research platforms and policies, develop marketing plans, or plan for public awareness campaigns. All links are included. The project will culminate with a virtual election.Would you like your class to participate in this project??Deadline to join is: September 5th, 2008. Project must be completed by October 31st. To join: go to the project website, read through it, and then click on the 'teacher' page for directions on how to participate!Hoping classes across the country will participate! Check it out!
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Hurricane Song by Paul Volponi

Wow! Once again, Paul Volponi has written a stunningly awesome book and the horror of New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina is all too crushingly real from Miles' point of view. He has only been living with his jazz playing dad for a short time when he, his uncle and his dad take their possessions in a hefty bag and head for the Super Dome. I was afraid of the gangs preying upon the families, so sad for the meaningless deaths of so many and the squalor, and oppressive heat that they had to endure. Once you pick this bbook up you won;t be able to put it down. It is an engrossing read which offers the reader an inside look at the passage of time during one of the low points in our country's history. Reluctant readers, YA and adults are all urged to read this book!
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Looking for "real" reading incentives

I want to see our student reading because they are soooo excited about a new book. I believe that we can entice our students to read using all these wonderful Web 2.0 tools and look forward to watching them grow and share their reading experiences. We'll be using blogs, podcasts, book discussions both online and live group, Photostories, scrapbooking, plays, news broadcasts. I'm sure there are many other ideas that will "grab" students and have them drooling for a specific book.
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Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow, wow, wow! My friends Mary Alice and Doris highly recommended this book (thank you!)and I must confess it took me toooo long to get to finally read it---along the way---I lent it to a mom and she lent it to her daughter and they CRIED but oh did they love it AND SO DID I!!!! I just love the way Jordan Sonneblick gets it- the right on 13 year old musings of Steven, his fear and anger and his constantly annoying little brother. I couldn't put this book down, polished it off in 2 days and I miss it already. I just loved the way Sonneblick takes leukemia and helps us laugh with Steven's humorous take on girls, Jeffrey, drums and his mom and dad. There were so many times I wanted to read it out loud to whoever would listen---for a great book about family, friends and dealing with cancer- THIS IS A MUST READ! What did I learn---alot about cancer, hospitals, drums and drumming and that being 13 years old has alot of drama goin' on. Now I have to read his other book- The Art of Zen and Faking It.

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Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Deanna Lambert was thirteen when her life changed from good to bad. In a car with her brother's best friend, her dad discovers his little girl is no more. Deanna has a hell of a life since her dad doesn't speak to her anymore- now she is a junior, her brother got a girl pregnant and they live in the family basement with adorable, April and dead end jobs. Deanna has a horrible reputation she has never been able to escape---so what did I learn- Deanna takes a life of lemons and makes it lemonade- she is a girl who wants to escape her life at home for a better life and a nice apartment for her brother. She strives to tackle things deliberately, gets a job and begins to trust HERSELF and be strong, responsible, wanting to do the right things in life and not be like her dad! A great, great book, now I can't wait to read her next one---Sweethearts!

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Carl and I concluded our first run of (WSI) Website Investigation: An Introduction to Information Forensics. This is a fully facilitated Moodle based online class. We had a lot of fun and the participants were great. We also radically underestimated the amount of time the course would take. We figured 5 hours in one week. When we polled the class everyone reported taking far more time with each case study.It doesn't surprise me. As I worked through each case I became fascinated with chasing down the evidence. It's like peeling an onion, layer after layer reveals new information. In the end we decided to double the length of the class. So WSI is now a two week course.I'd like to invite you all to the next session of WSI. You can check things out here: WSIThe next class opens on August 11, 2008 and is open for registration right now. Drop in and give it a look?Dennis & CarlQuestions?E-Mail wiredinstructor@gmail.comInformation Fluency Partners!
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