I set up my bloglines on a recent date
That means I get to check off Number 8!

With my bloglines account all set up
The question is which news sites will make the cut!

Hobbits’ Trail
Originally uploaded by onecurlycat.

Today was a first step into autumn. It was a day with that first bit of summer letting go. It was a day that made everyone remark…we’re all remembering what autumn feels like…let’s fall…

About Flickr: around the edges of my day I learned few new things in regards to Flickr…first, and most drawn out was figuring out how to create a “friendly” URL for my flickr account. And, get this–you only get one try at it! If you don’t get it right the first time, apparently you’re stuck with a URL something like “…/photos/50049440343@NGzz4O” and who wants that?
I learned how to email images into my Flickr account, also.
And…I set myself up to be able to send images from Flickr directly into my blog…so hear goes this wonderful image of an autumn pathway I found on Flickr onto my blog…Thanks to “Onecurlycat” for making this a public image! It’s really mesmerizing.

Recently several hundred so-called “Bendy Animals” surrended themselves to Public Library locations across the nation. Many were heard to utter, “but we’re so cute, so very cute,” and “We’re bendable! We’re fun!” Have you seen one of these “bendy animals” in your community? If so, call your local Public Library immediately.

In this photo bendy animals are shown caught shortly after trying to flee down Rea Road. They were asked to slowly raise their hands above their heads which they did, because they are bendy animals.
Photo Credit: Officer Buckle

South County Regional Children’s Library gave out hundreds of “bendy” animals as summer reading incentives. After the announcement that they could contain high levels of lead, hundreds were returned to us. Here is an image of the bin of bendies we collected in a couple of weeks. You’ll see that many were brought back in sealed sandwich bags. This gives a new meaning to the phrase “beware of dog.”

OK, the assignment is to blog anything about technology….so, what’s on my mind right now in regards to technology? First, that I’ve tried at least 20 times to get my Yahoo avatar image to post to the blog–still not happening…but let me get beyond that.
Something that I remember from the Michael Stephens’ presentation at the Tech Summit that really stuck with me and I want to remember is the idea that technology is only a tool. So what I make of that is this: Tech = Tool…Technology in and of itself is not “the” program or “the ” service. It is a only a support–a tool–to enable us to make a program or service (outcome) happen. It’s really not about the gadgetry or the trendiness of it (at least not in the big picture) though I think it is easy to get caught up in that. How can this tool serve our needs, help support a strategy? Hmmm, somehow that (Einstein?) saying about “necessity is the mother of invention” is somehow mixing itself into my thinking on this subject. Let me mull that over some more…

Here’s my first image posted to “Yes to Know.” I took this picture in April in the Great Smoky Mountains Forest just over the mountain from where I grew up. When I was little these ferns (called “Fiddleheads” or “Christmas ferns?”) grew all along the mountain next to our house. I’d see these strange little swirls pop up each spring around the green and brown bracken. They aways seemed almost animal like as they unfurled into hearty ferns.

When I finished grad school I remember thinking something like, “Wow, I’ve been in school in some form or fashion every year of my life for the past 24 years! School’s out!” And then came the thought “What do I do with myself now…now that there’s not a paper I’m working on (or grading) not to mention the guidance (or structure) that a formal class offers.” I realized that I really enjoyed school more than I imagined. Of course, there are many parts of standard classroom learning that aren’t as enjoyable, but ultimately the idea of being in an environment that is set up for the central purpose of learning is a wonderful (and important) thing.
So, on to what works best and worst for me as far as the 7 and a half habits of learning…to review…

1. Begin with the end in mind
2. Accept responsibility for your learning
3. View problems as challenges
4. Have confidence in yourself as competent, effective learner
5. Create your own learning tool box
6. Use technology to your advantage
7. Teach/mentor others
7 1/2: Play!

Hmmm, let’s start with the “worst.” This is not so easy to pin-point…though it sounds trite, I like to learn new things…and all the above “habits” appeal to me. What occurs to me as I think about it, may be that–and I never would imagine I’d say this–is that the “play!” part might be the one that is my small hurdle when learning. I can often become pretty serious about new material and wanting to make sure I get things right the first time–and this is not very much like “play.” But it is a good thing to remind ourselves to play…I think Emerson said something like all of life is just an grand experiment, anyway–so play.
Which learning habit appeals to me the most? In this moment, I have to say that #7: Teaching and mentoring others is one that really stands out. I find that I enjoying interacting with others and sharing new information, discussing ideas and making plans. You learn so much from teaching someone else what you know (or think you know) well.

After many starts and stops, my first “Yes To Know” blog is going up. I experimented with creating blogs a couple of years ago, but let them slide after a while. So, here I go again… Here’s to the many insights to surely come…