How do you keep up with the constant change that marks the online world? What choices do you make about tools you will use personally? What impact will that have on what you use professionally and share with students and staff? In this article, I will suggest some sites to build your tech credentials. You can use them for your own edification, amaze others with your knowledge, share links and posts with your colleagues and administrators, and use information on your library website or other publications.

I was tempted to include the individual websites, blogs, and creations of people we all look to for inspiration and new trends in school librarianship. Many have been previously cited in other articles in this column. In this particular article, however, I want to provide collective sites that include the thinking of many, as well as identify some non-educational sites worth monitoring. I hope you will nod in recognition of these resources. We all know the excitement of using new tools. We also know the sinking sensation of travelling without a map. These resources can help map your journey and guide your way.

EXPLORING WEB 2.0 TOOLS

How do we proceed if we don’t know what’s out there? The following sites provide information on a wide range of tools.

• Edorigami: http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Where do I begin? This site is packed with information and tools for educators. Andrew Churches, a New Zealand educator, deserves a huge thank you. His sections on 21st-century learning and digital students are worth your time to peruse. He uses the digital Bloom’s Taxonomy to align technology concepts with the taxonomy we know and love.
• Lifehacker: http://lifehacker.comTotally outside librarianship and educational technology, Lifehacker is an all-purpose site with directions, suggestions, and recommendations for almost anything you can imagine. For our purposes, there is a plethora of information about using technology in our daily lives that can also apply to our work. Example 1: Find entries on free apps for mobile devices using search or featured links (http://lifehacker.com/5698593/50-free-apps-were-most-thankful-for). Example 2: The “Search Research” weekly feature will warm a librarian’s heart. A challenge is posed and users are invited to solve the challenge through Web research (http://lifehacker.com/search-research/). Can you see this as a jumping off point for your own Web research challenges?
• WebTools4U2Use: http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/As we sometimes see in emails, “please excuse the cross-posting.” Designed by librarians for librarians, this is a site referenced in previous articles for this column. It is well worth repeating in the context of establishing your credentials in the Web 2.0 world. There is a daunting amount of information here. Start with a topic that’s hot in your school and build your understanding. Branch out to other topics as you have the time and inclination. There’s even a section on new tools being explored by the creators. How comforting to know even the experts are continually learning more!

SHARING WITH TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND ADMINISTRATORS

Share and link the following tried and true resources, add them to your instruction, and provide them to teachers.

• AASL Best Websites for Teaching and Learning: http://www.ala.org/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/bestlist/bestwebsitestop25Just as we use the ALA best books and media lists, we can use this list in our work with technology in our schools. These can be used as links you provide online, fodder for staff development, and sites to use with students as they work on projects and their daily work.
• Wonderopolis: http://wonderopolis.orgThis inquiry site invites visitors to suggest a “wonder” and then challenges everyone to provide answers. Developed by the National Center for Family Literacy, this model can be a great way to spark interest and provide a new view to teaching inquiry to our students. It would also be a great source to suggest to families as an enrichment activity at home.
• Common Craft Videos: http://www.commoncraft.com/Common Craft creates short video clips about technology topics. They are succinct and clear in their presentation, using line-drawing cartoon styling. You can get a preview of their videos. This is now a subscription service with reasonable education pricing. It is worth a visit to see how the creators simplify the presentation for the uninitiated.
• New York Times Learning Network: http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/This site has been active for many years, and continues to add features and grow with the advent of social media. It remains a model of how to integrate news sources into learning and teaching. Free accounts for educators give access to a wealth of resources.
• Thinkfinity Stem Resources: http://www.thinkfinity.org/stemImmerse yourself in science and engineering resources for your teachers. Thinkfinity has always been a great resource for teaching materials in all disciplines, including interactives and videos.
• YouTube for Education: http://www.youtube.com/educationStill working on having access to YouTube for your school? This education version may be the first step. There are also ways for teachers to set up their own channel (http://www.youtube.com/teachers).

PREDICTING THE FUTURE

There is so much action online that it can be difficult to determine which tools will endure and which may disappear overnight. Knowing the general trends in the use of educational technology—and having some inspiration—can help you evaluate and plan for what will work best for you.

• New Media Consortium: http://www.nmc.org/horizon-projectThe New Media Consortium (NMC) produces reports that predict the adoption of new technologies over a five-year period. Check the Horizon Report for K-12, which can be downloaded as a PDF.
• PEW Internet & American Life Project: http://www.pewinternet.org/Your community will appreciate your efforts to keep them in the know about trends in the use of the Internet, social media, and issues like cyber bullying. PEW research reports provide insight and support for school initiatives in technology and instruction around digital citizenship.
• Project Tomorrow: http://www.tomorrow.org/index.htmlSponsor of the Speak Up Project, this site reports data collected in annual surveys of students, parents, and educators on technology use and attitudes.
• TED: Ideas Worth Spreading: http://www.ted.com/This is your inspiration entry! View videos of noted experts in a wide array of fields sharing their findings and insights with us. Set up an account and you can save favorites and join in discussions. Talks are searchable, as well as organized by subject and impact (persuasive, inspiring, jaw-dropping, etc.).

KEEPING UP

Perhaps better titled “hanging on,” this section features sites that provide insights into pedagogy and how best to integrate technology in our schools.

• Edutopia: http://www.edutopia.org/Established by the George Lucas Foundation, this thought-provoking e-magazine covers all things education with blogs by influential thinkers, videos, and articles.
• Technology Integration in Education (TIE): http://www.technologyintegrationineducation.com/Founder Greg Limperis established this website and also has a TIE group on LinkedIn. Check out their podcasts and webinars on the latest trends in educational technology.
• Classroom 2.0: http://www.classroom20.comSteve Hargadon established this international community as a “social network for those interested in Web 2.0 and social media in education.” Access a calendar of events for the latest webinars and discussions. When you set up an account, you can post questions and get updates about activities. This learning community hosts free online conferences for you to attend. Don’t miss the Library 2.0-related site that uses the same format and has an annual conference.