QR Codes in the Library

The use of  quick response codes is quickly becoming a new and innovative way to keep students connected to school.  If or when cell phone use is allowed within libraries in my school district, I would love to implement the use of QR codes.  How neat would it be if my students could scan a tag (QR code) off the library newsletter and get a podcast of me providing important information regarding the library to not only to them but to their teachers and parents, too?  I would also like to use the QR codes to give important tutorials on multimedia use or provide students with archived lessons.  Also, I could provide tags that students could scan that would automatically take them to an author's webpage.  Or how about tags that would direct them to previews and reviews of new books that are been added  to our library?  And of course, I would love to have a couple of visible tags through out the library that would instantly provided the student with our library online catalog.  I think that the use of QR codes is becoming more  and more mainstream and will eventually be used everywhere.  Until then, maybe I could request a class set of ipods or ipads that will eliminate some of the distractions that come with cell phone usage, and still have the advantages of this wonderful technology.

Individual Technology Assessment

As an educator for the last 7 years, I feel that I have acquired many skills in technology and learned a few things about my strengths and weaknesses.  I have always felt confident when it comes to my technology capabilities because my colleagues, family, and friends usually come to me when they have a question about computers, cameras, phones, etc...
One of my strengths is that I like to incorporate many forms of technology in my daily instruction.  For example, I am very capable of developing my classroom newsletters, assessments, rosters, etc... using a variety of Microsoft Office programs. The first year that our school provided us with smart boards and before they gave us the proper training on how to implement them in the classroom, I was developing interactive PowerPoint presentations for my students within the first few days.  I'm very proficient when it comes to using computers, smart boards, ipods, digital cameras, and with time I can figure out most of the multimedia software that the schools provide for teachers.  I think my biggest strength when it comes to technology is that I am not afraid to try to figure it out and use it. On the other hand, because I like technology and implementing in my day to day life, it can very time consuming at times.  I would have to say that my biggest weakness is that I spend too much time trying to figure something out that I end up wasting valuable time.  There have been many times that I was disappointed on my lesson outcome because the technology that I implemented was too time consuming or it just didn't contribute to the learning.
I plan to continue to use my strengths to help me become a better educator, but I need to work on my weaknesses.  I need to manage my time better and make a good decision on whether all the time spent on implementing technology was valuable to my lesson.