BookMooch!

Absolutely must tell everyone about this one...
I discovered BookMooch just this evening because of one of the feeds I chose for librarians at www.bloglines.com. Free service: list 10 books you are willing to trade and earn points. Earn more points by sending a book to someone. Mooch a book from someone else (costs you 1 point, earns them a point). The ratio is that you must give away at least one book for every 5 you receive. Keep what you want or put it back online when finished to trade it to the next person. Online trading rather than buying! I am definitely going to be signing up this week-end in between homework.

Instant Messaging

Hadn't been home all week to IM with anyone- when I was home no one else was on. Finally had a chance to chat with William on Sunday and just finished a social chat with Dr. Green. I've audio chatted once before but don't remember how so anyone interested let me know the next time we are on at the same time and we will figure it out together!

I don't really care for IM'ing as a student but as a teacher I know many of my students at the high school setting would have loved to have occasional live conversations about events in the news, assignments, and school in general.

An English teacher and I (social studies) were blogging before blogging gained its name, ease, and popularity. Back then (~8 years ago+) we used Yahoo Groups and I was amazed at how it extended conversations and classroom learning outside of the school day. I prefer blogging just like I prefer the discussion boards over IMing. I can respond after some thought and at any time convenient to me. But to reach high school students today, IMing could potentially make a greater impact on some studeents.