Monday, April 27, 2009

Week 3, Thing 7: Flickr

I just took a look around Flickr, using the Flickr Magical Feature Tour to get acclimated. I don't even own a camera, so my chances of using Flickr to upload, organize, and share photos are slim to none. It would be fun to have a camera someday, though, and I do have a birthday coming up ... Anyway, I really like the idea of using the Commons and the Creative Commons to teach students about public photography collections, attribution, and whether permission is required to make a derivative version of someone else's photo. It's the kind of thing that causes school librarians many a sleepless night!

So I browsed Flickr looking for photos of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, one of my favorite places. I found this beautiful photo of Phelps Lake and Death Canyon by Jose P. Isern Comas. This photo is "Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs" which means that Flickr users can share this work as long as it is attributed to the artist, is not used for commercial purposes, and is not altered in any way. Not that I would ever opt to alter such a perfectly gorgeous shot!

Friday, April 24, 2009

Week 2, Thing 2: Lifelong Learning

I just watched the 7-1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners tutorial. The next time I try a new recipe, pick up a new book, or watch a documentary on an unfamiliar topic, I will remind myself that I am a lifelong learner! My favorite of the 7-1/2 habits is Habit 5: Create your own learning toolbox. It reminds me of a quote that I've always loved:

"I can do anything if I've got the right tools! -- Bobbie Gentry

Habit 3: View
problems as challenges is more, well, challenging. Thinking of crises and obstacles as learning opportunities will definitely require a shift in my outlook.