We've Moved--------->KET Blogs

My blog Hollows to Highways has moved to a new home: http://blogs.ket.org/h2h

Same name, new address. I am still settling in my (virtual) new digs, decorating the place, learning all the quirks of the new format, so...patience, please! I hope I haven't 'lost' anything in the move--for example, my widgets and web2.o gadgets. (I loved my toys!) We will have an "Open House" soon, but come on in an take a peek!

(pic: Flickr Creative Commons)

My Blog is on the Move: To KET's Homepage

I am making a big move soon. After over two years of flying below the radar, I have been asked to pen my blog under the KET banner. Rumblings of this change had been heard on the horizon for a few months, and sometime this month, I will be an "official" KET blog, joining a few others who have been blogging a while on their own, too. Gee. Official? Me? Up there with Bill Goodman? I would be fibbing not to admit considerable trepidation tempers my excitement.

Good news: I won't be blocked in any of your schools. Bad news: I won't be blocked in any of your schools! Whew. Now I will truly have to edit closely and, on occasion, mince my words. Where's the duct tape? I will keep you "posted"! :)

New School Year!

Well, I hope your eyes captured this fleeting look at the gleaming hallway outside your library door. Or is it too late?! We are certainly seeing increased 'traffic' on the listserv, an annual harbinger of a new school year.

Already I have seen many of you during the preschool PD days that all districts seem to schedule these days. My favorite day happened just this week when I shared some web2.0 tools with the Kenton County media specialists. It is always nice to 'preach to the choir' and see a room of friendly, familiar faces. Happily I learned that some have embraced web2.0 in their libraries, but this day we added a bunch more who can speak wiki, ning, widget, and avatar!

Regretfully, I have also seen the ramifications of school budget cuts in some of my districts with librarians and their aides being moved, cut, or unreplaced after retirements. And this is happening just when we think we are seeing the positive results in the transformation of the 'libraries' of old into the lively 'media centers' of today in ways far beyond a simple name change. Sadly, I surmise that too many who control purse strings still view the "media center" as depicted on the right. In my chats with administrators, I will sing your praises even louder.

Be on the lookout for your new KET Resource Book which is arriving later than usual due to revisions in its look and content. Remember to capture any KET instructional programming you may want to keep this year! And set your DVRs on Channel 3!

Hall: http://www.flickr.com/photos/raylopez/2573790670/
Center: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandiv999/2895087591/

Summertime...but the livin' "ain't" easy!

Remember when June, July, and August were slow and easy? What happened? Sure, I had a nice vacation--even though we moved at a hectic pace those days, too--but with schools taking care of so much PD in the summer, it has been crazy! You, too, huh?

We just wrapped up our KET Summer Multimedia Event, and, again, we had a packed house both days. It was nice to see so many of you at those sessions, using your free summer time to learn new things. I hope you found the day worth your while. Much credit to the success of the days goes to Jeff Gray and his 'right arm' Darlene Carl. They make the days run soooo seamlessly. Great sessions, wonderful attendees, and then that lunch from Stanley J's? Yummy.

Next week I will have a session at the Summer Refresher which will highlight all of the changes in the Teacher tools and student access, along with modeling some of the web2.0 tools that can be embedded in those resources. I am looking forward to that day, but even more the day prior when I get to hang out with my BFFs on the KSMA board. All of you would be amazed at the behind the scenes work that is done for the Refresher and Fall Conference, too. Sure they run like 'well-oiled machines' due in total because of fellow media specialists who give up free time to make these events successful for you. I feel so lucky to be part of both KET and KSMA.

We have a couple of new resources coming out in late summer that your teachers will love: Electronic Field trip to the Belle of Louisville and Scale City. As I mentioned earlier, several changes have arrived on KET EncycloMedia, so many that new trainings might be in order at your schools. Biggest changes are found in the new student center where kids will have more access and control of individual accounts. Be sure and contact me, in particular for your new KEM users!

Also, check out PBS Teacherline:

• a more targeted search engine
• the ability for users to create topical groups
• customizable avatars
• a new interface allowing easier access to online tools
  

(Pic from Sophia Brightsea. Flickr. Creative Commons.)