Thank goodness. I have finished this and did so before the deadline! WOOHOO!
I am glad I have been able to participate. I am happy to see that I am still able to set a goal and meet it!
I thank everyone at Shadle for putting up with me while I worked to complete this exercise!
Monday, December 17, 2007
#23 The end or the beginning?
Congratulations!! You’ve reached the 23rd thing. Be sure to give yourself a pat on the back for completing the program. Your reward for completing this journey before the December 31st deadline is a useful and handy USB flash drive. These will be available by the end of January.
But before you are done, there is one last discovery post. For your last and final exercise for this program please reflect on your learning journey and post a few thoughts. Here are some questions to prompt you if you're drawing a blank ...
What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
I enjoyed the graphic parts of this exercise. Flicker etc. However I did find that you are only allowed to up load a certain number of photos to the site per month and you can NOT change the photos. You can delete them but no change. You CAN of course PAY for more uploads.
I notice many people who have family and friends spread out over long distances use this service a lot to share their photos. I am VERY uncomfortable putting photos on the Internet. Photos of my children, my home or myself really. I am just NOT a very trusting individual.
It makes me uncomfortable putting things like this on the Internet for all to see.
How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
I am not really sure how to answer this. I do not think that it has assisted OR affected MY lifelong learning goals. I will continue to embrace technology. I saw a comment on my first blog, asking me why I was doing this if I did not like it so much - I think the comment was something to the effect, was it for the reward? The answer is NO. I already have 4 flash drives, a 360 gig portable drive, 2 USB SD card readers, 2 desk top computers and a lap top and a MP3 player. I really do not necessarily NEED yet another flash drive. I will share it with a family member. I did this exercise because it is a challenge to complete all the steps in the desired amount of time. I enjoy challenges. That is why I did this project and I did enjoy the challenge part but found most of the exercises to be useless in MY person job. I can see the relevance to some of the jobs in the library, like reference librarians who have specialized skills we might want to tap or those who have time to read and do book recommendations or lists.
Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
I was surprised by the increase in the amount of spam I receive at work after starting this project.
What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
Maybe a better explanation as to HOW this relates to most of our work. I am in the circulation side, the page 2s and LCA1s saw no need for these things in their daily work. Most saw no connection to their job and felt this took too much time away from their jobs.
And last but not least…
If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again chose to participate?
As I stated earlier, if it is presented to me, as a challenge, I personally would again participate.
But before you are done, there is one last discovery post. For your last and final exercise for this program please reflect on your learning journey and post a few thoughts. Here are some questions to prompt you if you're drawing a blank ...
What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
I enjoyed the graphic parts of this exercise. Flicker etc. However I did find that you are only allowed to up load a certain number of photos to the site per month and you can NOT change the photos. You can delete them but no change. You CAN of course PAY for more uploads.
I notice many people who have family and friends spread out over long distances use this service a lot to share their photos. I am VERY uncomfortable putting photos on the Internet. Photos of my children, my home or myself really. I am just NOT a very trusting individual.
It makes me uncomfortable putting things like this on the Internet for all to see.
How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
I am not really sure how to answer this. I do not think that it has assisted OR affected MY lifelong learning goals. I will continue to embrace technology. I saw a comment on my first blog, asking me why I was doing this if I did not like it so much - I think the comment was something to the effect, was it for the reward? The answer is NO. I already have 4 flash drives, a 360 gig portable drive, 2 USB SD card readers, 2 desk top computers and a lap top and a MP3 player. I really do not necessarily NEED yet another flash drive. I will share it with a family member. I did this exercise because it is a challenge to complete all the steps in the desired amount of time. I enjoy challenges. That is why I did this project and I did enjoy the challenge part but found most of the exercises to be useless in MY person job. I can see the relevance to some of the jobs in the library, like reference librarians who have specialized skills we might want to tap or those who have time to read and do book recommendations or lists.
Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
I was surprised by the increase in the amount of spam I receive at work after starting this project.
What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
Maybe a better explanation as to HOW this relates to most of our work. I am in the circulation side, the page 2s and LCA1s saw no need for these things in their daily work. Most saw no connection to their job and felt this took too much time away from their jobs.
And last but not least…
If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again chose to participate?
As I stated earlier, if it is presented to me, as a challenge, I personally would again participate.
#22 Audiobooks (or "The end is in sight ")
Discover Exercise
Explore LibriVox.
Create a blog post about your experience with this website.
I explored the site. It seems to be a little slow and does not seem to have very up to date books compared with say SCLD that has fairly recent more popular releases for download from their web site.
Explore LibriVox.
Create a blog post about your experience with this website.
I explored the site. It seems to be a little slow and does not seem to have very up to date books compared with say SCLD that has fairly recent more popular releases for download from their web site.
#21 Podcasts, Smodcasts!
Discovery Exercise:
Take a look at one or two of the podcast directories listed and see if you can find a podcast that interests you. See if you can find some interesting library related podcasts here like book review podcasts or library news.
I came, I explored. Saw many library related podcasts, author interviews etc. Seattle Public has a nice site for this stuff. I also have seen some sites from WLA.
Add the RSS feed for a podcast to your Bloglines account
I added a RSS feed to Nature.
Create a blog post about your discovery process. Did you find anything useful here?
I found podcasts to be EXTREMELY dull, boring, a TOTAL waste of my time. This is one of the more unpleasant exercises for me. I enjoy YOUTUBE but all the pod casts I went to seem to be nothing more then glorified RADIO type programs. I am not one who enjoys talk radio. Quiet frankly it bores me. I would not be interested in podcasts at all. I am sure this is great for some, but it is just not for me.
Take a look at one or two of the podcast directories listed and see if you can find a podcast that interests you. See if you can find some interesting library related podcasts here like book review podcasts or library news.
I came, I explored. Saw many library related podcasts, author interviews etc. Seattle Public has a nice site for this stuff. I also have seen some sites from WLA.
Add the RSS feed for a podcast to your Bloglines account
I added a RSS feed to Nature.
Create a blog post about your discovery process. Did you find anything useful here?
I found podcasts to be EXTREMELY dull, boring, a TOTAL waste of my time. This is one of the more unpleasant exercises for me. I enjoy YOUTUBE but all the pod casts I went to seem to be nothing more then glorified RADIO type programs. I am not one who enjoys talk radio. Quiet frankly it bores me. I would not be interested in podcasts at all. I am sure this is great for some, but it is just not for me.
#20 Downloadable music at Spokane Public Library
Listen to something appropriate to the season, from a country you've never tried to spell or an instrument you especially like. Offer an honest assessment of the music on your blog.
I listened to the classical music, which I really enjoy but I prefer to listen from my home stereo. While my PC has a nice sound system, my home stereo is a much higher quality, and has been wired for sound in many areas of the home. It is much more powerful and quiet honestly I have a rather extensive collection of many music genres. I also have digital music from comcast and it is set up to play through the home stereo.
Would YOU or your family ever choose to listen to music this way or use these resources for a school assignment?
I have no children in school that would need this resource and when my daughter was in high school and a member of the Spokane Youth Orchestra among many other groups, we would always BUY the CD she needed since it was usually music we really enjoyed. So the answer to the question is NO. I think however it is a good resource, just not one I personally would use.
I listened to the classical music, which I really enjoy but I prefer to listen from my home stereo. While my PC has a nice sound system, my home stereo is a much higher quality, and has been wired for sound in many areas of the home. It is much more powerful and quiet honestly I have a rather extensive collection of many music genres. I also have digital music from comcast and it is set up to play through the home stereo.
Would YOU or your family ever choose to listen to music this way or use these resources for a school assignment?
I have no children in school that would need this resource and when my daughter was in high school and a member of the Spokane Youth Orchestra among many other groups, we would always BUY the CD she needed since it was usually music we really enjoyed. So the answer to the question is NO. I think however it is a good resource, just not one I personally would use.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
THING NUMBER 19
Wow found something I like and can use!
http://www.cocktailbuilder.com/
YUMMY!!
Finally a task that is a little bit more fun. I enjoyed this one.
http://www.cocktailbuilder.com/
YUMMY!!
Finally a task that is a little bit more fun. I enjoyed this one.
Thing number 17
Okay, I played in the sandbox and created a wonderful link to the CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN!
second test doc : THING NUMBER 18
Blog about ZoHo.
Well, I am certainly not impressed. I tried a few things, they did not work. This is slow and clunky. Not something I would use. I would also not feel comfortable keeping my documents on a computer that I do not control.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
#16 So what’s in a wiki?
Well, here we are at week 7. Looking forward to the end of the exercise.
For this discovery exercise, you are asked to take a look at some library wikis and blog about your finding. Create a blog post about your findings. What did you find interesting? What applications within libraries might work well with a wiki?
I have explored a few wiki sites. Some make sense - nicely done with links to other relative pages; however I am not very trusting of a wiki site. I do not know who has posted the information so do not know how much research went into it thus I just do not trust them and do not use them to give out information! I think a wiki might make a good resource for doing readers advisory like the book review ones I explored.
For this discovery exercise, you are asked to take a look at some library wikis and blog about your finding. Create a blog post about your findings. What did you find interesting? What applications within libraries might work well with a wiki?
I have explored a few wiki sites. Some make sense - nicely done with links to other relative pages; however I am not very trusting of a wiki site. I do not know who has posted the information so do not know how much research went into it thus I just do not trust them and do not use them to give out information! I think a wiki might make a good resource for doing readers advisory like the book review ones I explored.
Friday, November 9, 2007
#15 On Library 2.0 & Web 2.0 ...
Discovery Exercise:
Read two or three of the perspectives on Library 2.0 from the list above. I tried to read a couple of them but find reading long articles like these are extremely boring on line at least for me. I actually skimmed two of the articles but they really did not sink in. Sorry.
Create a blog post about your thoughts on any one of these? I really have no opinion on these, as I say they were just too boring to sink in.
Library 2.0 - It's many things to many people. What does it mean to you, and what does it mean for Spokane Public Library? It means very little to me. So far most of the things I have learned while participating in the exercises are not things I will use in the future! I do not know what it will mean for SPL. I understand everything I have done so far I do not understand WHY. I realize I am old now, but even my children think much of this is unnecessary and they do not even do the things that are being touted as cutting edge.
Read two or three of the perspectives on Library 2.0 from the list above. I tried to read a couple of them but find reading long articles like these are extremely boring on line at least for me. I actually skimmed two of the articles but they really did not sink in. Sorry.
Create a blog post about your thoughts on any one of these? I really have no opinion on these, as I say they were just too boring to sink in.
Library 2.0 - It's many things to many people. What does it mean to you, and what does it mean for Spokane Public Library? It means very little to me. So far most of the things I have learned while participating in the exercises are not things I will use in the future! I do not know what it will mean for SPL. I understand everything I have done so far I do not understand WHY. I realize I am old now, but even my children think much of this is unnecessary and they do not even do the things that are being touted as cutting edge.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
#14 Getting not-so-technical with Technorati
Discovery Exercise:Take a look at Technorati and try doing a keyword search for “Learning 2.0” in Blog posts, in tags and in the Blog Directory. Are the results different? I did a search there were a few differences.
OPTIONAL: If you're up for a challenge, learn how to tag your posts with Technorati tags so they can join tag searches. Create a post about something. It can be anything you want and add the HTML code to the bottom to tag it as “SPL2.” You may also want to consider claiming your blog and creating a watchlist. I have been doing all the optional things however my emails at work that are offering stock advice and size enhancement, if you know what I mean, have gone from 5 a day to about 20 per day . I have to assume it is from all the stuff I am signing up for. I call the extra stuff garbage, not because it is not cool or fun but simply because my life would be MUCH simpler if I was not getting all the garbage emails!
OPTIONAL: If you're up for a challenge, learn how to tag your posts with Technorati tags so they can join tag searches. Create a post about something. It can be anything you want and add the HTML code to the bottom to tag it as “SPL2.” You may also want to consider claiming your blog and creating a watchlist. I have been doing all the optional things however my emails at work that are offering stock advice and size enhancement, if you know what I mean, have gone from 5 a day to about 20 per day . I have to assume it is from all the stuff I am signing up for. I call the extra stuff garbage, not because it is not cool or fun but simply because my life would be MUCH simpler if I was not getting all the garbage emails!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
#13 Tagging, folksomonies & social bookmarking in Del.icio.us
Discovery Exercise:
View the 8 minute Del.icio.us tutorial to get a good overview of its features. This is too much trouble. With such poor resources for videos at work, I just do not have time for the video stuff. Lucky for me I had a great presenter at WALE who went over Del.icio.us with us so I feel I have a good idea what it is and how it works.
Take a look around Del.icio.us using the PLCMCL2 account that was created for this exercise. Note: In this account you will find lots of resources that have been highlighted or used throughout the course of the Learning 2.0 program. I looked around this a bit.
Explore the site options and try clicking on a bookmark that has also been bookmarked by a lot of other users. Can you see the comments they added about this bookmark or the tags that they used to categorize this reference? I read comments made on a bookmark by people
Create a blog post about your experience and thoughts about this tool. Can you see the potential of this tool for research assistance? Or just as an easy way to create bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere? I can see that this is a cool tool for those who like this type of activity. I have found that I am able to usually find what I want quickly and easily with out this type of a tool, however as I have mentioned before, I do not live on the computer or Internet. My bookmarks are specific to : things I do at home and things I do at work and I do not usually need to access my home bookmarks at work and do not need my work bookmarks at home. I am not worried about loosing the bookmarks so do not feel a compelling need to use a public bookmarking site.
View the 8 minute Del.icio.us tutorial to get a good overview of its features. This is too much trouble. With such poor resources for videos at work, I just do not have time for the video stuff. Lucky for me I had a great presenter at WALE who went over Del.icio.us with us so I feel I have a good idea what it is and how it works.
Take a look around Del.icio.us using the PLCMCL2 account that was created for this exercise. Note: In this account you will find lots of resources that have been highlighted or used throughout the course of the Learning 2.0 program. I looked around this a bit.
Explore the site options and try clicking on a bookmark that has also been bookmarked by a lot of other users. Can you see the comments they added about this bookmark or the tags that they used to categorize this reference? I read comments made on a bookmark by people
Create a blog post about your experience and thoughts about this tool. Can you see the potential of this tool for research assistance? Or just as an easy way to create bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere? I can see that this is a cool tool for those who like this type of activity. I have found that I am able to usually find what I want quickly and easily with out this type of a tool, however as I have mentioned before, I do not live on the computer or Internet. My bookmarks are specific to : things I do at home and things I do at work and I do not usually need to access my home bookmarks at work and do not need my work bookmarks at home. I am not worried about loosing the bookmarks so do not feel a compelling need to use a public bookmarking site.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Thing #12 - Roll your own search engine
I have added my searchroll to my blog.
I really am not liking all the THINGS I am being told I need to sign up for. It is FAR TOO MUCH information put out there.
I really am not liking all the THINGS I am being told I need to sign up for. It is FAR TOO MUCH information put out there.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Thing #9 Finding Feeds
Excercise:
Explore some of the search tools noted above that can help you locate some news feeds.
Create a blog post about your experience.
Don't know what to blog about?
Here some questions to think about ...Which method of finding feeds did you find easiest to use? I found the one I liked the best was to go to sites I already visit and just subscribing to them as opposed to actually visiting the search sites. They are too broad and over whelming.
Which Search tool was the easiest for you? They were all very easy, just not what I call fun.
Which was more confusing? None of them were confusing.
What kind of useful feeds did you find in your travels?Or what kind of unusual ones did you find?What other tools or ways did you find to locate newsfeeds? Really was not having much fun so did not do a ton of searching.
Explore some of the search tools noted above that can help you locate some news feeds.
Create a blog post about your experience.
Don't know what to blog about?
Here some questions to think about ...Which method of finding feeds did you find easiest to use? I found the one I liked the best was to go to sites I already visit and just subscribing to them as opposed to actually visiting the search sites. They are too broad and over whelming.
Which Search tool was the easiest for you? They were all very easy, just not what I call fun.
Which was more confusing? None of them were confusing.
What kind of useful feeds did you find in your travels?Or what kind of unusual ones did you find?What other tools or ways did you find to locate newsfeeds? Really was not having much fun so did not do a ton of searching.
Thing #8 Make life "real simple" with RSS and a newsreader
Exercise:
Follow the discovery resources above to learn more about RSS and newsreaders.Create a free online Bloglines account for yourself and subscribe to at least 10 newsfeeds to your reader. DONE!
Newsfeeds:
Create link to the Spokane Public Library 2.0 blog by typing the blog URL (spokpl20.blogspot.com)into the subscribe field in Bloglines. DONE!
Then try adding a few other types of news feeds from news sources! Done!
Create a post in your blog about this exercise. Very easy to do.
Optional: If you're up to the challenge, you can provide the URL address to your public bloglines account. DONE you can see the link on my blog.
Don’t know what to blog about? Think about these questions:
What do you like about RSS and newsreaders? Still not really sure what I think about them.
How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your work or personal life? I unfortunately do not see a big use for them at work, as the computer boxes we have are fairly slow, and the monitors not up to the video or audio feeds. I also do not have the time to sit around at work and use these features. At home I am not very likely to use it as I am usually doing personal email, letters, photo projects and that is about it. I will on occasion play a quick web game. I have been on the computer most of the day and prefer to not spend a lot of time on it at home.
How can libraries use RSS or take advantage of this new technology? Possibly to alert customers to any policy changes - like number of items they can check out or alert them to programs and story times.
Follow the discovery resources above to learn more about RSS and newsreaders.Create a free online Bloglines account for yourself and subscribe to at least 10 newsfeeds to your reader. DONE!
Newsfeeds:
Create link to the Spokane Public Library 2.0 blog by typing the blog URL (spokpl20.blogspot.com)into the subscribe field in Bloglines. DONE!
Then try adding a few other types of news feeds from news sources! Done!
Create a post in your blog about this exercise. Very easy to do.
Optional: If you're up to the challenge, you can provide the URL address to your public bloglines account. DONE you can see the link on my blog.
Don’t know what to blog about? Think about these questions:
What do you like about RSS and newsreaders? Still not really sure what I think about them.
How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your work or personal life? I unfortunately do not see a big use for them at work, as the computer boxes we have are fairly slow, and the monitors not up to the video or audio feeds. I also do not have the time to sit around at work and use these features. At home I am not very likely to use it as I am usually doing personal email, letters, photo projects and that is about it. I will on occasion play a quick web game. I have been on the computer most of the day and prefer to not spend a lot of time on it at home.
How can libraries use RSS or take advantage of this new technology? Possibly to alert customers to any policy changes - like number of items they can check out or alert them to programs and story times.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Awsome presentation from WALE
Cool Toyz: Online Productivity Tools
From: loenglish, 2 days ago
These are the slides from my presentation at the 2007 Washington Association of Library Employees (WALE) conference in Spokane Valley, WA.
SlideShare Link
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Blog about anything technology related and comment on another participant's blog.
Technology related: I love taking my digital photos and make slideshows. I do them for special occasions such as weddings, graduations and other milestones. These are published to DVD and have photos, music and transitions.
Many of the participants blogs are pretty neat. I really like luney's cool background!
Many of the participants blogs are pretty neat. I really like luney's cool background!
Play with a Flickr Mashup and create a blog post about one that interests you.
There are some cool tools out there. Keep watching for some updated graphics coming soon made with some of these cool tools!
Monday, October 8, 2007
bus TV - flickr post
Book TV visited our library. Being the staff shutterbug, I took a couple of photos! The bus is very cool, it has a complete TV studio on the bus.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Test Post Number 2
To follow the directions given I am to tell how I learn. I am a doer. I found the tutorial to be to slow and a bit dull and kept skipping ahead in in. I guess that means the hardest way for me to learn are in a classroom setting with structure. The easiest would be independent study at my own pace.
first test blog
Here is my first test blog - per the instructions I am following.
I really have tried to read blog spots and just have little patience with them. I have SO many other things I prefer to be doing, other then sitting in front of a computer blogging or chatting. When I am in front of my computer at work, I feel I really need to be doing WORK, if I am at home, I will be working on my digital photography hobby. This is a hobby I share with ONLY family and a few close friends. I do not feel a need to put this stuff out on the web. I am more of a private person. I also would be far happier at home either cooking or out camping and ATV riding and snapping my photos! My life does not revolve around technology even though I do enjoy it.
I will be blogging just enough to satisfy the requirements for the library 2.0 project that I am happy to participate in, but really am not interested in parts of, such as blogging, flicker etc. I am giving it a try lets see if I change my mind - but I doubt it! EP
I really have tried to read blog spots and just have little patience with them. I have SO many other things I prefer to be doing, other then sitting in front of a computer blogging or chatting. When I am in front of my computer at work, I feel I really need to be doing WORK, if I am at home, I will be working on my digital photography hobby. This is a hobby I share with ONLY family and a few close friends. I do not feel a need to put this stuff out on the web. I am more of a private person. I also would be far happier at home either cooking or out camping and ATV riding and snapping my photos! My life does not revolve around technology even though I do enjoy it.
I will be blogging just enough to satisfy the requirements for the library 2.0 project that I am happy to participate in, but really am not interested in parts of, such as blogging, flicker etc. I am giving it a try lets see if I change my mind - but I doubt it! EP
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