On New Year's Day

"Another Year With Thee" by dmcordell http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmcordell/11679510004/

 As I have done for the past few years, I've created a short slideshare with some highlights of the last 12 months. It serves as both a reminder of what I've done, and a pointer to what might lie ahead.

2013 My Year in Review from Diane Cordell

Another task for the new year is to update my blog Flickr badge generator. This is my 6th year of participation in the 365 Challenge. I find that this activity acts as a visual journal, while stretching my powers of creativity and observation. The other members of the Challenge groups post their own contributions, so there are constant examples of innovative photography from which I can learn.

The groups I belong to are Project 365, 2014/365, and 365 Project. To learn how to create a badge generator for any type of Flickr set, you can refer to the posting I originally wrote in 2010.

I hope that 2014 finds all of you full of optimism and enthusiasm for the future. Have fun, take lots of photos, and Happy New Year!

Computers in Libraries

This past week marked my first attendance at the Computers in Libraries (CIL) conference, held yearly in Washington, DC.

The atmosphere at CIL is low-key, friendly, and inclusive. Attendees are united by a common interest in technology as it affects libraries and their users. There are five tracks, with different themes, but the keynotes are universal and tracks are open to anyone curious about the topic at hand. Cross pollination continues during breaks, at meals, or around the fire pits on the hotel terrace. Keynote videos and many presentation resources are now publicly available on the CIL site.

As a presenter, I was energized by the response to my topic, The Connected Library. Fellow librarians came up to chat afterwards, and I observed some of the audience members accessing tools I had highlighted within minutes of the slideshow. Others have commented on Twitter about how they will use what I shared, the ultimate test of a presentation's relevance, particularly since my focus was on social networking.

An added bonus was the glorious weather in Washington. Many of us were able to take the time to explore a bit. My photographs of the Cherry Blossom Festival, War Memorials, and CIL itself are available in a Flickr set.

Would I go to CIL again? Absolutely! And next year, I plan to stay a bit longer so that I can attend more sessions and visit more local attractions.

The Connected Library wiki

The connected life and the library from Diane Cordell

"The Cherry Blossom Festival" by dmcordell

National Poetry Month: Walk With Nature

Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now held every April, when schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets throughout the United States band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events. -Poets.org

As I have done for the past few years, I've created a slideshow in honor of National Poetry Month.

My first effort, Poems In Words and Images, featured a combination of my own and Creative Commons photographs:

Poems in words and images from Diane Cordell

Last year, I challenged myself to only use my original images to construct Picturing Poetry:

Picturing poetry from Diane Cordell

This year, I've selected verses based on a nature theme, pairing them with photos from my Flickr photostream. I hope you enjoy Walk With Nature:

Walk with nature from Diane Cordell

"Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance." -Carl Sandburg

New Friends and Yearbook Tips

"Sympathetic souls" by dmcordell

For me, the best part of attending conferences is meeting people outside of my network. At EduCon this year, I serendipitously sat down at a table with this group of powerhouse women: Anne Collier, Peggy Sheehy, and Marianne Malmstrom. Some very interesting conversation ensued, including Marianne's comment that she would love a few photography tips to pass along to her school yearbook committee.

I hope to Skype with these students at some point, but until then, I've created a brief slideshow for them. If anyone has further tips, please be sure to share them in the comments on my blog or on the SlideShare site.

The way we were from Diane Cordell

A Way of Seeing

Want to get your students started on a photography project? Here's a quick introduction to spark discussion.

A way of seeing

View more presentations from Diane Cordell.



"What is art but a way of seeing?" -Thomas Berger

Cross posted on Resources and Links

An Instant Out of Time

“Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.” -Dorothea Lange

A friend, Ernie Cox, left me this comment on Twitter today:

erniec: I think photography might be the hobby for me. Where do I begin @dmcordell?

After sending a few responses, I realized that 140 words wasn't nearly enough. So here are my suggestions, for those who want to "take an instant out of time."

And, since I'm such a visual person, I've made it into a SlideShare presentation. I hope this helps, Ernie!

An instant out of time

View more presentations from Diane Cordell.

Related posts:
Picture That: Using Images in the Classroom

Visit my Flickr photostream here

Classroom Rules Part 2

In a previous posting, I previewed a SlideShare presentation that I had assembled for my Current Events class.

Today, students watched the show and wrote down the classroom rules that they thought I was trying to convey. Their often creative interpretations reminded me that what is "obvious" to an adult might suggest a totally different meaning to a teen.

Image #1My rule: Pay attention
Their take:

Pay attention
Listen to others when they are speaking
Don't speak out of turn

Image #2
My rule: Respect your teacher
Their take:

Listen to the teacher
No yelling - pay attention
Be nice
Be respectful
This is a good class
Listen, raise your hand, pay attention
Be quiet and pay attention
Follow the rules

Image #3
My rule: Respect your school/classroom
Their take:

Don't make messes
Keep class clean
Clean up
Don't litter

Image #4
My rule: Contribute to group work - collaborate
Their take:

Participate
Work together
Help each other
Share
Teamwork
Diversity

Image #5
My rule: Bullying will not be tolerated
Their take:

Don't ridicule others
Be caring
Don't pick on people
Don't laugh at others
People you are mean to are like you

Image #6
My rule: Be on time for class
Their take:

Use time wisely
Don't be late
Buy a watch
Don't waste time
Time is in your hands

Image #7
My rule: Come with the tools you need to work
Their take:

Come prepared
Have utensils
Be prepared - bring materials
Have pens or pencil

Image #8
My rule: Complete your work
Their take:

Finish all work
Work hard
Get your work done
Don't cheat
Don't copy work
No note passing

Image #9
My rule: Respect yourself (by doing your best)
Their take:

Be nice
Peacocks are beautiful (Beauty is feather deep)
Be beautiful
Stand out in a good way
Stand up, look beautiful
Express yourself

Image #10
My rule: Have fun
Their take:

Keep clean
Enjoy yourself
Have fun and be clean
Clean up
Be sure to bathe

Which of their responses caught your eye or made you think?



All image citations found on Slide 12

Classroom Rules

Item: Like many educators/business people I'm bored and turned off by "traditional" PowerPoint.

Item: My students love making PowerPoint presentations and feel comfortable with this tool.

Item: Staff members are expected to discuss classroom rules at the beginning of the new school year.

Solution: I'll try to show students a different way of conveying information by creating a virtually text-free (except for the first and last slide) SlideShare show.

Classroom Rules

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own.

*I'll give you a few days to mull this over, then share my interpretation and that of my students.