1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
Learning how to create a blog, an avatar, trying new applications, upload videos and photos.
2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
It has encouraged me to take the time to learn and play with new software.
3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
It showed me that learning how to create a blog is not as hard as I originally thought. There are so many ready-made templates to choose from.
4. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
I wish that we didn't have to sign up for so many accounts to try all the new software.
5. If we offered another program like this in the future, would you choose to participate?
Possibly. It was a challenge completing the tasks timewise. I just started a new job with all new procedures and policies, on top of doing the 23 Things. There was a bit of info overload between these assignments and learning my new job skills. I was not able to complete most of the tasks during work hours (too busy and no work coverge) and had to do them at home. It would have worked better if we started this during our slow time at work in the summer.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Week #10 - thing #22 Social Networking
.
I admit I have a profile on LinkedIn and Facebook. I feel that social networking has its value as well as its detriment.
For example, it gives many people a connection after being laid off from a job. It offers socialization and networking. People tend to feel very isolated when they lose their jobs. That day-to-day interaction with people at their jobs may have been the only social life they had.
I have reconnected with friends from high school on Facebook; it's like a reunion online.
Social networking sites can definitely be a boon for libraries and newspapers to reinvent themselves. Catch your audience on their own playing field. Repackage yourself. Make yourself newer and hipper. It does seem that libraries need to promote their resources better and be more instructional, rather than entertainment-based. The online users won't fall for that, it seems.
I do see social networking sites having their downsides, too. There is definitely a fine line with the privacy issue. There are things you can put on a soc. networking site that can give away too much info. You could be creating a profile of yourself that could prevent you from getting a job or set you up for getting your house robbed and/or endangering your safety. So be safe, be smart!!
They can also turn you into a hermit - never seeing the light of day. Come on - fresh air people!! They can bring out your OCD tendencies and can also be a huge time-waster with games, online applications, etc.
.
I admit I have a profile on LinkedIn and Facebook. I feel that social networking has its value as well as its detriment.
For example, it gives many people a connection after being laid off from a job. It offers socialization and networking. People tend to feel very isolated when they lose their jobs. That day-to-day interaction with people at their jobs may have been the only social life they had.
I have reconnected with friends from high school on Facebook; it's like a reunion online.
Social networking sites can definitely be a boon for libraries and newspapers to reinvent themselves. Catch your audience on their own playing field. Repackage yourself. Make yourself newer and hipper. It does seem that libraries need to promote their resources better and be more instructional, rather than entertainment-based. The online users won't fall for that, it seems.
I do see social networking sites having their downsides, too. There is definitely a fine line with the privacy issue. There are things you can put on a soc. networking site that can give away too much info. You could be creating a profile of yourself that could prevent you from getting a job or set you up for getting your house robbed and/or endangering your safety. So be safe, be smart!!
They can also turn you into a hermit - never seeing the light of day. Come on - fresh air people!! They can bring out your OCD tendencies and can also be a huge time-waster with games, online applications, etc.
.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Week #10 - thing #21 - microblogging & mashups
.
Twittervision - Can you say Twitter stalking?
Twitterholic - Twitter popularity contest?
Twitterment - societal web searching patterns?
BrightKite - the cops should look into this little spy tool.
Friendfeed - I don't have a lot of tech savvy friends. They are too busy working and raising their families to spend time blah, blah, blah-ing.
I don't Twitter. I don't need to at this time. I drive to work. I don't take the subway or train. My time is not idle. My job is active interaction with people in real time face-to-face.
Anything surprise me? No, not really. Remember Big Brother is watching. George Orwell was right on target in 1948. That's what's scary!!
Twittervision - Can you say Twitter stalking?
Twitterholic - Twitter popularity contest?
Twitterment - societal web searching patterns?
BrightKite - the cops should look into this little spy tool.
Friendfeed - I don't have a lot of tech savvy friends. They are too busy working and raising their families to spend time blah, blah, blah-ing.
I don't Twitter. I don't need to at this time. I drive to work. I don't take the subway or train. My time is not idle. My job is active interaction with people in real time face-to-face.
Anything surprise me? No, not really. Remember Big Brother is watching. George Orwell was right on target in 1948. That's what's scary!!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Week #10 - thing #20 - Exploring Twitter
.
So my good friend Lee LeFever told me about Twitter. I did a search for mentions of Phillips Memorial Library, my library. We got a shout out (tweat) from a student on being his 'home away from home.'
Kind of sad results. We haven't made a mark on Twitter, that's for sure.
I guess Twitter is good for the keeping in touch with friends and the "wish you were here" posting. It feels like a giant chat room of your friends. Facebook has its "update your status" version.
You can be a totally different person on the web.
You also have a forum if you are a word junkie.
But do you really want to know that Sally just dried her hair and is reading the newspaper? And why does Sally want to tell me?
I can see it being beneficial to tweat about conferences, meetings, etc. I also can see it as a good place to refer people to other websites.
I haven't had the need for it professionally or personally. Who has time to twitter all day? Is this the new entertainment for the chronically bored and teenagers?
The trending and queries didn't really impress me - it seems more entertainment-based than informational. Maybe it was the day and time I did my search.
Kind of blah, blah, blah...in 140 characters or less.
The Digital Intimacy article was an eye-opener. The little things you say can really create a profile that you may not want people to see.
So my good friend Lee LeFever told me about Twitter. I did a search for mentions of Phillips Memorial Library, my library. We got a shout out (tweat) from a student on being his 'home away from home.'
Kind of sad results. We haven't made a mark on Twitter, that's for sure.
I guess Twitter is good for the keeping in touch with friends and the "wish you were here" posting. It feels like a giant chat room of your friends. Facebook has its "update your status" version.
You can be a totally different person on the web.
You also have a forum if you are a word junkie.
But do you really want to know that Sally just dried her hair and is reading the newspaper? And why does Sally want to tell me?
I can see it being beneficial to tweat about conferences, meetings, etc. I also can see it as a good place to refer people to other websites.
I haven't had the need for it professionally or personally. Who has time to twitter all day? Is this the new entertainment for the chronically bored and teenagers?
The trending and queries didn't really impress me - it seems more entertainment-based than informational. Maybe it was the day and time I did my search.
Kind of blah, blah, blah...in 140 characters or less.
The Digital Intimacy article was an eye-opener. The little things you say can really create a profile that you may not want people to see.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
facebook vs. twitter vs. myspace article
www.nbcwashington.com/around_town/the_scene/Twitter-Facebook-or-Myspace-How-You-Post-Says-a-Lot.html
This article is appropriate for the 23 Things lesson this week. I agree with some of John Rogers' points. I do see practical uses for these online networking sites.
My problem with online networking is that, while it can be efficient and a good jumping off point, it can be lacking in humanity. It is that ability to communicate with people face-to-face, the customer service aspect, the public speaking skills (informal or formal), the sensitivity, compassion, that makes us unique as a species. That sincerity can be lost online.
With online living, you don't get the smiles :), the handshakes, the hugs, the laughter LOL, touch, etc. The real connectivity.
"Sociologist Karen Sternheimer says that's the attraction of all social networking sites. No matter how flashy or simplistic, they provide a chance to interact with others in a way that requires the least possible personal commitment.
"It allows people to maintain the most superficial of relationships without any kind of investment," Sternheimer says."
Now isn't that sad.
.
This article is appropriate for the 23 Things lesson this week. I agree with some of John Rogers' points. I do see practical uses for these online networking sites.
My problem with online networking is that, while it can be efficient and a good jumping off point, it can be lacking in humanity. It is that ability to communicate with people face-to-face, the customer service aspect, the public speaking skills (informal or formal), the sensitivity, compassion, that makes us unique as a species. That sincerity can be lost online.
With online living, you don't get the smiles :), the handshakes, the hugs, the laughter LOL, touch, etc. The real connectivity.
"Sociologist Karen Sternheimer says that's the attraction of all social networking sites. No matter how flashy or simplistic, they provide a chance to interact with others in a way that requires the least possible personal commitment.
"It allows people to maintain the most superficial of relationships without any kind of investment," Sternheimer says."
Now isn't that sad.
.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Week #9 - things #17, 18, 19 - podcasts and video
.
#17 YouTube
I am familiar with YouTube. YouTube can be fun, educational, entertaining...just like libraries. Since we are such a visual society these days, YouTube is right on track.
It is also great for seeing and/or listening to old music clips, sharing videos, catching up on tv shows, learning a new cooking technique, catching a news clip, or trying your hand at acting and becoming a famous star. It's got a little bit of everything for everybody.
Checked out the "Book" video clip - very funny and so true. I am happy to see students and faculty at the college library where I work still checking out real books. Now if we could just get the text to expire when the book is overdue. Hmmm...
Checked out the Web 2.0 clip - very smart. I spent a lot of time behind-the-scenes on the source page of my former employer's website doing metadata tweaking. It is amazing how one can manipulate her internet page these days.
I already embedded my YouTube video clip earlier in my blog in response to the wiki assignment. The sound was good; the video image was poor quality - very pixelated. And the video was a bad tribute to Star Trek fashion but I love it. I used the "add video" feature and pasted the url from YouTube. I also shared the link from David Allen's GTD.
I was introduced to clips from my now-favorite comedy duo musical group Flight of the Conchords (from HBO) thru a YouTube link off a friend's Facebook page. Gotta love online social networking.
The viewing quality of the clips is not always the best; the sound is pretty good though. It seems like good metatagging is most helpful for people viewing your posted clips. The great thing is - it takes up no space on your site.
There are the copyright issues and borderline porn that YouTube tries to keep under control.
#18 podcasts
I do have iTunes for uploading music to my iPod nano but I'm going to try to go back to my bloglines account and upload glt's poetry radio.
Podcasts seem to be the internet's answer to the dvr or vcr.
I seem to be doing something wrong. I went to my bloglines account and added an RSS feed to glt's poetry radio and now I don't see it in my list of feeds. It said I subscribed. Hmmm... http://www.wglt.org/podcasts/GLT_Poetry_Radio.xml is in my microsoft feeds - should it be there?
Next. . .
#19 Ebooks and audiobooks
Ebooks and audiobooks are not something I have delved into too much.
Let's start with audiobooks. Due to the fact that I live in such a small state, my commute doesn't offer enough time to appreciate an eBook or an audiobook, not to mention I am the driver. I can see myself not paying attention to the road like I should. Reminds me of distracted cellphone user-drivers. I think these work very well if you're a passenger on a long trip.
My hesitance in listening to an audiobook is that I will zone out and not really listen or be distracted by everything around me because I am not holding the book in my hand and turning the pages myself. I like the escape of reading and tuning out the world. Don't think I could do that being read to. And there is always the possibility of someone being a bad reader (suggested by a co-worker who has experienced this).
Reading is a learned skill that is falling by the wayside with children due to the interference of video games, etc.
Ebooks, such as the one's viewed on the Kindle, seem pretty lightweight and convenient. And the text is larger. Probably will be popular when its price is more reasonable and its package is more aesthetic.
The Ebook World Fair site is pretty impressive with its stats. All this information at your fingertips. Amazing dissemination of information. Great resource tool for research available instantly.
LibriVox - chapter a day - seems pretty cool and manageable. It's like getting your newspaper emailed to you every day. You've got mail!! Something to look forward to.
So are eBooks as valuable as traditional print books? Why or why not?
Yes and no.
Yes, because they open up a world of reading to people that may not be exposed to it, due to handicaps and time constraints. There is that instant gratification. And it is available 24/7 and some even for free. As long as the gatekeepers of accuracy and copyright are there.
No, because nothing can replace opening and holding a book in your hands, smelling the pages, viewing the prints or pictures, dogearing (ok maybe not a word)a favorite passage, highlighting or underlining a passage, writing notes in the margin, the ownership of those bound pages (if only temporary)and just imagining the book's history.
However, I'm not saying to write in the library book.
Reading a book is a very tactile experience no matter what the subject.
#17 YouTube
I am familiar with YouTube. YouTube can be fun, educational, entertaining...just like libraries. Since we are such a visual society these days, YouTube is right on track.
It is also great for seeing and/or listening to old music clips, sharing videos, catching up on tv shows, learning a new cooking technique, catching a news clip, or trying your hand at acting and becoming a famous star. It's got a little bit of everything for everybody.
Checked out the "Book" video clip - very funny and so true. I am happy to see students and faculty at the college library where I work still checking out real books. Now if we could just get the text to expire when the book is overdue. Hmmm...
Checked out the Web 2.0 clip - very smart. I spent a lot of time behind-the-scenes on the source page of my former employer's website doing metadata tweaking. It is amazing how one can manipulate her internet page these days.
I already embedded my YouTube video clip earlier in my blog in response to the wiki assignment. The sound was good; the video image was poor quality - very pixelated. And the video was a bad tribute to Star Trek fashion but I love it. I used the "add video" feature and pasted the url from YouTube. I also shared the link from David Allen's GTD.
I was introduced to clips from my now-favorite comedy duo musical group Flight of the Conchords (from HBO) thru a YouTube link off a friend's Facebook page. Gotta love online social networking.
The viewing quality of the clips is not always the best; the sound is pretty good though. It seems like good metatagging is most helpful for people viewing your posted clips. The great thing is - it takes up no space on your site.
There are the copyright issues and borderline porn that YouTube tries to keep under control.
#18 podcasts
I do have iTunes for uploading music to my iPod nano but I'm going to try to go back to my bloglines account and upload glt's poetry radio.
Podcasts seem to be the internet's answer to the dvr or vcr.
I seem to be doing something wrong. I went to my bloglines account and added an RSS feed to glt's poetry radio and now I don't see it in my list of feeds. It said I subscribed. Hmmm... http://www.wglt.org/podcasts/GLT_Poetry_Radio.xml is in my microsoft feeds - should it be there?
Next. . .
#19 Ebooks and audiobooks
Ebooks and audiobooks are not something I have delved into too much.
Let's start with audiobooks. Due to the fact that I live in such a small state, my commute doesn't offer enough time to appreciate an eBook or an audiobook, not to mention I am the driver. I can see myself not paying attention to the road like I should. Reminds me of distracted cellphone user-drivers. I think these work very well if you're a passenger on a long trip.
My hesitance in listening to an audiobook is that I will zone out and not really listen or be distracted by everything around me because I am not holding the book in my hand and turning the pages myself. I like the escape of reading and tuning out the world. Don't think I could do that being read to. And there is always the possibility of someone being a bad reader (suggested by a co-worker who has experienced this).
Reading is a learned skill that is falling by the wayside with children due to the interference of video games, etc.
Ebooks, such as the one's viewed on the Kindle, seem pretty lightweight and convenient. And the text is larger. Probably will be popular when its price is more reasonable and its package is more aesthetic.
The Ebook World Fair site is pretty impressive with its stats. All this information at your fingertips. Amazing dissemination of information. Great resource tool for research available instantly.
LibriVox - chapter a day - seems pretty cool and manageable. It's like getting your newspaper emailed to you every day. You've got mail!! Something to look forward to.
So are eBooks as valuable as traditional print books? Why or why not?
Yes and no.
Yes, because they open up a world of reading to people that may not be exposed to it, due to handicaps and time constraints. There is that instant gratification. And it is available 24/7 and some even for free. As long as the gatekeepers of accuracy and copyright are there.
No, because nothing can replace opening and holding a book in your hands, smelling the pages, viewing the prints or pictures, dogearing (ok maybe not a word)a favorite passage, highlighting or underlining a passage, writing notes in the margin, the ownership of those bound pages (if only temporary)and just imagining the book's history.
However, I'm not saying to write in the library book.
Reading a book is a very tactile experience no matter what the subject.
Week #8 - thing #16 Explore Web 2.0 award site
.
So I checked out www.etsy.com. I have actually been to this site before, as recommended by my artsy & conscientious friends.
First of all, I love their mission and vision. It brings me back to my art major roots. Back to the days when I thought I could make a living from my art and not sell out to commercialism.
Second, the site is visually appealing. Great use of color but I would expect nothing less... it is created by artists, about artists, for artists, etc.
It is simple and clean, in a good way. Good use of positive and negative space. You can maneuver easily around the site. Makes for easy shopping, which is every website's goal, whether literally or figuratively.
And who doesn't like pictures?
They deserved to win an award. Go etsy!!
To transfer this format to a library website would be quite beneficial. Simple and easy to get around. User-friendly. Find the info you're looking for quickly.
Easy, stress-free shopping for whatever information you need is key to a good website.
.
.
So I checked out www.etsy.com. I have actually been to this site before, as recommended by my artsy & conscientious friends.
First of all, I love their mission and vision. It brings me back to my art major roots. Back to the days when I thought I could make a living from my art and not sell out to commercialism.
Second, the site is visually appealing. Great use of color but I would expect nothing less... it is created by artists, about artists, for artists, etc.
It is simple and clean, in a good way. Good use of positive and negative space. You can maneuver easily around the site. Makes for easy shopping, which is every website's goal, whether literally or figuratively.
And who doesn't like pictures?
They deserved to win an award. Go etsy!!
To transfer this format to a library website would be quite beneficial. Simple and easy to get around. User-friendly. Find the info you're looking for quickly.
Easy, stress-free shopping for whatever information you need is key to a good website.
.
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)