Wow, I'm done! Whap, whap, whap! (that's me patting myself on the back!). I set as my goal to finish this program by Jan 31 so I could get in on the laptop drawing. I'm glad I finished it because of that, but now at the end I realize that I'm glad the program encouraged me to learn more about accessing information from the internet. I feel better prepared to do my job helping youth find information. I feel like I speak their language better. I've been able to connect with my college age sons by sending them links to different site I've discovered in this program. And after they've checked them out, we've had some very interesting email and cell phone conversations. I think they're surprised and pleased at what I've learned and that makes me glad I accepted the challenge of Learning 2.0 @ KDL. And you should see the cool desktop we have on our home computer now-it's my "Warholized" photo from Thing 6!
I never would have been able to do this program during my part time work hours. We are a medium sized branch with 7 staff members who crossover and do all kinds of jobs not strictly in the job title. There would have been too many disruptions. Also, only our manager's computer is equipped with a sound card for podcasts; the youth desk computer would not have allowed me to complete thing 22. Luckily, we have high speed internet and a soundcard in our home computer so I was able to complete all 23 things. But what about staff members who do not have internet access or only dial-up access? Completing this program would have been much more difficult for them.
Would I participate in another online program like Learning 2.0? I guess I would have to check it out before I committed to it. But now that I know this old dog can learn new tricks, it certainly wouldn't be so intimidating!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Podcasts-Thing 22
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17958464
Above is the RSS feed to the NPR website. This is a source my husband suggested that gave information about how long the podcasts were so you could gauge how much time you needed to listen to them. I didn't really care for the other podcast directories listed in the exercise.
I chose to listen to "The New Batch of Under-the-Radar Books" from Nancy Pearl. She book talked a children's book I will definitely check out for a spring pajama storytime called "Gimme Cracked Corn and I Will Share". She said the book makes a wonderful read-aloud, enjoyable for adults as well as kids. And, how about this, Pearl book talked Bob Tarte's new book "Fowl Weather"-Alto's hometown author!
I also listened to a podcast on must see films at the Sundance Film Festival-will check out one they suggested "Frozen River"-two women smuggling people into Canada.
Podcasts are a great information source for those who better process information that is audio in nature.
Above is the RSS feed to the NPR website. This is a source my husband suggested that gave information about how long the podcasts were so you could gauge how much time you needed to listen to them. I didn't really care for the other podcast directories listed in the exercise.
I chose to listen to "The New Batch of Under-the-Radar Books" from Nancy Pearl. She book talked a children's book I will definitely check out for a spring pajama storytime called "Gimme Cracked Corn and I Will Share". She said the book makes a wonderful read-aloud, enjoyable for adults as well as kids. And, how about this, Pearl book talked Bob Tarte's new book "Fowl Weather"-Alto's hometown author!
I also listened to a podcast on must see films at the Sundance Film Festival-will check out one they suggested "Frozen River"-two women smuggling people into Canada.
Podcasts are a great information source for those who better process information that is audio in nature.
Online Video-Thing 21
I am no stranger to YouTube-my husband and I have explored this site to find info about music, vacation spots, kayaking and weird and wacky stuff he's heard about on NPR Radio while traveling home from work in downtown Grand Rapids.
Probably one of the funniest we've watched was a demonstration of a person using a Neti Pot. This is something that is shaped like a genie lamp. You fill it with warm salt water and insert the spout into one of your nostrils to gently run water through your nasal passages. It's supposed to help with a cold or sinus problems. Seeing was believing, so he tried it the next time he had a sinus congestion, but instead, he tried it with one of my plant watering cans. Now, that one should have been on YouTube!
I looked up one that he had laughed at early showing a t-shirt folding machine. He had joked that he would make up one to give to each of our "messy" college sons. It actually was pretty clever! Here is the site on "How to Fold Like a Pro": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ7Lawiw84g
My son and husband also loaded their own video of themselves playing guitar that they sent the link to all the grandparents-their comment-"I guess we like music with lyrics better . . ."
Could this have far-reaching effects in the library? Of course . . . some people learn better by not just reading about a process; they learn by viewing a demonstration-like an instructional video you don't have to rent or have equipment to run it on. Perhaps someday we could conduct whole classes that are led by not a person in 3-D, but on a computer screen, demonstrating how to knit, make fudge, grout bathroom tile, etc.
Probably one of the funniest we've watched was a demonstration of a person using a Neti Pot. This is something that is shaped like a genie lamp. You fill it with warm salt water and insert the spout into one of your nostrils to gently run water through your nasal passages. It's supposed to help with a cold or sinus problems. Seeing was believing, so he tried it the next time he had a sinus congestion, but instead, he tried it with one of my plant watering cans. Now, that one should have been on YouTube!
I looked up one that he had laughed at early showing a t-shirt folding machine. He had joked that he would make up one to give to each of our "messy" college sons. It actually was pretty clever! Here is the site on "How to Fold Like a Pro": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ7Lawiw84g
My son and husband also loaded their own video of themselves playing guitar that they sent the link to all the grandparents-their comment-"I guess we like music with lyrics better . . ."
Could this have far-reaching effects in the library? Of course . . . some people learn better by not just reading about a process; they learn by viewing a demonstration-like an instructional video you don't have to rent or have equipment to run it on. Perhaps someday we could conduct whole classes that are led by not a person in 3-D, but on a computer screen, demonstrating how to knit, make fudge, grout bathroom tile, etc.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Special Treat-Thing 20
My initial reaction to the video was "Hey, that went by too fast . . . what did they say?" What that made me realize is that when I process written information, I usually read it through once very quickly, and then I go through it a second time to really understand the content. A video format, like the one we watched that has information seemingly imbedded within another document, along with flashing text, changing text, enlarging text, disappearing text . . . with a soundtrack over the top of it . . . well, it's a lot for my brain to take in! I think the more saavy digital information public would have no trouble understanding the basic message of the video-that the "machine is us". My initial thought in the "machine is us(ing us). In other words, we are manipulated by the information instead of us manipulating the information. The source of power is key here.
This is why I accepted this 23 Things Challenge . . . to become of the mindset that we, not the machine, have the power.
This is why I accepted this 23 Things Challenge . . . to become of the mindset that we, not the machine, have the power.
Digital Music-Thing 19
At our home we have Yahoo Music, which is a service we pay a monthly charge for that we use constantly. It's a great way to try out music without having to buy it. That's the way we first listened to the new album by Allison Krause and Robert Plant (love the way their voices harmonize, but there were a few off the wall tunes . . .) As a result, we'll probably only pay to download our favorites from the album, instead of going out and buying it.
I love the freedom music services give to the consumer. I understand there is some controversy over file-sharing and decreased record sales and musicians and record companies feeling they're getting ripped off. I think artists just need to rethink the way they get their new stuff out there. The internet basically replaces the radio DJ who would give their new stuff airplay. By giving consumers the option of free downloads, they build up excitement and desire among the public to see their favorite groups in concert. That's where the artists can make their money, in the concert venue rather that through record sales. The recording companies can then produce full length concert DVDs, splice in interviews with the performers, interviews with the audience, etc.
I love the freedom music services give to the consumer. I understand there is some controversy over file-sharing and decreased record sales and musicians and record companies feeling they're getting ripped off. I think artists just need to rethink the way they get their new stuff out there. The internet basically replaces the radio DJ who would give their new stuff airplay. By giving consumers the option of free downloads, they build up excitement and desire among the public to see their favorite groups in concert. That's where the artists can make their money, in the concert venue rather that through record sales. The recording companies can then produce full length concert DVDs, splice in interviews with the performers, interviews with the audience, etc.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Social Networking-Thing 18
Social networking is wonderful! I graduated from MSU with a degree in Advertising/Public Relations (OK, so it was a LONG time ago . . .) and we always were taught that word-of-mouth advertising was one of the most effective means of sales.
That's what the whole concept of social networking seems like to me, only it's word-of-computer instead. And its reach and impact is so wide and only limited by those who don't own or work with computers and the internet. The potential for effective marketing just boggles the mind.
Some of the drawbacks to this social networking is that it isn't always as truthful as reality. That picture of the hot girl on MySpace may mislead or misrepresent the actual person. Everyone can take a least one good picture . . . right? You can be whoever you want to be online-hence the chance for "negative" encounters.
When I was in high school, "slam books" were circulated at one time. Basically, a person's name was listed on the top of a page in the book and then the book was passed around for anonymous commentary. Some of the comments were so cruel-social networking now calls this cyber-bullying. Seems like this is a phenomena that transcends time and medium.
That's what the whole concept of social networking seems like to me, only it's word-of-computer instead. And its reach and impact is so wide and only limited by those who don't own or work with computers and the internet. The potential for effective marketing just boggles the mind.
Some of the drawbacks to this social networking is that it isn't always as truthful as reality. That picture of the hot girl on MySpace may mislead or misrepresent the actual person. Everyone can take a least one good picture . . . right? You can be whoever you want to be online-hence the chance for "negative" encounters.
When I was in high school, "slam books" were circulated at one time. Basically, a person's name was listed on the top of a page in the book and then the book was passed around for anonymous commentary. Some of the comments were so cruel-social networking now calls this cyber-bullying. Seems like this is a phenomena that transcends time and medium.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Wikis-Thing 17
Wiki-always wondered where that word originated . . . anyway, I like them! My favorite in the small list of wikis we were instructed to check out was "BookloversWiki". It's really an online version of what we in the book loving world do everytime someone asks "What have you read that was really good?" . . . only it's online. Saw two titles in the 5 Star Review section that I will definitely check on as definite reads.
"Kindred" by Octavia Butler
"The Tender Bar" by J.R. Moehringer
I also signed up for "Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki". Collaboration among like minds is such a time saver! I will check this site often in my job as a youth services parapro. I'm always looking for great program ideas.
"Kindred" by Octavia Butler
"The Tender Bar" by J.R. Moehringer
I also signed up for "Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki". Collaboration among like minds is such a time saver! I will check this site often in my job as a youth services parapro. I'm always looking for great program ideas.
Technorati & Blog Tagging-Thing 16
In my Technorati search for "Learning 2.0", I first had to clue in to the fact that I had to enter the subject as learning2.0 (no spaces) to get the correct topic to pop up! Here are my results:
579 blog posts
531 tags
155 blog directory
Seems as if the directory gives the fewest results; but while the posts yielded slightly more hits, I found the tags search to be more interesting.
I checked out the popular blog "'Boing Boing" and clicked on a tag "Video" and found an interesting item about peer collaborative wiki video. I sent the URL to my son, who is studying film and video production at WMU. I'll let you know what he thinks in a later blog.
579 blog posts
531 tags
155 blog directory
Seems as if the directory gives the fewest results; but while the posts yielded slightly more hits, I found the tags search to be more interesting.
I checked out the popular blog "'Boing Boing" and clicked on a tag "Video" and found an interesting item about peer collaborative wiki video. I sent the URL to my son, who is studying film and video production at WMU. I'll let you know what he thinks in a later blog.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Tagging-del.icio.us-thing 15
Hey, this was fun! I checked out a teacher bookmark that had all these interesting videos on it. What a great resource for a teacher, not to have to recreate the wheel!
I went to del.icio.us and made my own bookmark dealing with walking, exercise, and menopause. Just being able to access these quickly and from work and home is wonderful, a real timesaver.
The tagging concept reminds me of doing a keyword search, only on a MUCH bigger basis.
I went to del.icio.us and made my own bookmark dealing with walking, exercise, and menopause. Just being able to access these quickly and from work and home is wonderful, a real timesaver.
The tagging concept reminds me of doing a keyword search, only on a MUCH bigger basis.
Best of Web 2.0-thing 14
I scanned the best sites of Web 2.0 and lo and behold-there I saw Esty again! I clicked on it and jumped all around, finally landing on Etsy Success stories. I read an intriguing piece on an artist who gradually cut back on her day job hours until she was a full-time seller on Etsy.
I have been a seller on Etsy with my mom's and my side business, Marilynda Gallery. We create and sell hand mirrors crafted from deconstructed jewelry we pick up at estate sales, thrift shops, ebay and garage sales. We had limited success with Etsy because we depended on my husband to update and refresh the site and while he had time in the beginning, his efforts grew slimmer and slimmer until we kind of died out-a sad end.
I'd like to hire my college-aged son to take over the promotion of our business in Etsy. Need to talk to my partner.
The site is easy to maneuver in and there's tons on easy to understand information. We have several patrons who enjoy crafting. I think they would find this site very interesting.
I have been a seller on Etsy with my mom's and my side business, Marilynda Gallery. We create and sell hand mirrors crafted from deconstructed jewelry we pick up at estate sales, thrift shops, ebay and garage sales. We had limited success with Etsy because we depended on my husband to update and refresh the site and while he had time in the beginning, his efforts grew slimmer and slimmer until we kind of died out-a sad end.
I'd like to hire my college-aged son to take over the promotion of our business in Etsy. Need to talk to my partner.
The site is easy to maneuver in and there's tons on easy to understand information. We have several patrons who enjoy crafting. I think they would find this site very interesting.
Online Productivity-Thing 13
Wrote a trial document in Zoho Writer and tried to post it to my blog, but it just wouldn't work. Will talk with Jan or Anne at work to see how they accomplished this task. I did publish it in publicly, though.
If my group of girlfriends and I did respond to Toni's challenge to each write down life-altering events in our own lives, I could see Zoho writer being a handy vehicle from which to do so.
If my group of girlfriends and I did respond to Toni's challenge to each write down life-altering events in our own lives, I could see Zoho writer being a handy vehicle from which to do so.
Customized Search Engines-Thing 12
I set up a Rollyo account (love the graphic on this home page!) and customized a search engine for Health/Women's Health/Exercises for Women Over 50/Walking/Diet/Weight Training.
I specified iVillage.com and more.com as my sources for information.
I am trying to get used to searching by computer for information on health. My first response to information gathering has been to find books and then read the sections that interest me. I see that using search engines, especially customized search engines, is much more efficient and a better use of my time. But I can't be lured off task by all the other bells and whistles that accompany the information. The computer can be much more distracting than opening a book. I guess everything has a downside.
I specified iVillage.com and more.com as my sources for information.
I am trying to get used to searching by computer for information on health. My first response to information gathering has been to find books and then read the sections that interest me. I see that using search engines, especially customized search engines, is much more efficient and a better use of my time. But I can't be lured off task by all the other bells and whistles that accompany the information. The computer can be much more distracting than opening a book. I guess everything has a downside.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
LibraryThing-Thing 11
Hey, this is great! This site is just like what we all do as staff and among our patrons, only online!
I posted all the books our book group "The Bookworms" have read or will be reading in 2007-2008. As a group, we choose our yearly selections and each month a different member leads the discussion. The only book I haven't read yet is "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan". I have read all the others and really enjoyed most of them. I plan on posting my favorites from years past.
Read what I wrote and see if this motivates you to pick one up.
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/liblynda
I posted all the books our book group "The Bookworms" have read or will be reading in 2007-2008. As a group, we choose our yearly selections and each month a different member leads the discussion. The only book I haven't read yet is "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan". I have read all the others and really enjoyed most of them. I plan on posting my favorites from years past.
Read what I wrote and see if this motivates you to pick one up.
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/liblynda
Web 2.0 and Librarians-Thing 10
I found the material in this site very thought provoking. In fact, when I got home from work, my husband and I had quite a discussion about libraries, books and technology.
Some questions that I will think about more . . . will all books go entirely electronic? Will this eliminate publishers as we know them? Will they suffer the same fate as record companies with their declining records sales? Will controversial sites like Napster pop up for books? Could we ever link every card catalog within a geographic area - public libraries, school libraries, college libraries, business libraries, hospital libraries, law firm libraries - so that our public could peruse these collections from their home computers? Will some company develop a laptop computer sized and weighted like a book that I can take to bed with me?
Just the idea of some of these things coming to be is exciting for me. It proves to me that this industry is dynamic, ever-changing and definitely one I want to be involved in.
Some questions that I will think about more . . . will all books go entirely electronic? Will this eliminate publishers as we know them? Will they suffer the same fate as record companies with their declining records sales? Will controversial sites like Napster pop up for books? Could we ever link every card catalog within a geographic area - public libraries, school libraries, college libraries, business libraries, hospital libraries, law firm libraries - so that our public could peruse these collections from their home computers? Will some company develop a laptop computer sized and weighted like a book that I can take to bed with me?
Just the idea of some of these things coming to be is exciting for me. It proves to me that this industry is dynamic, ever-changing and definitely one I want to be involved in.
Library Blogs-Thing 9
We were tasked with checking out some of the library blogs and recording our feelings about each.
I could never get Feedster to load on either my home or work computer . . . thumbs down-boooo!
Topix.net was easy to use. I searched for information on Etsy, a site I'd heard about relative to buying and selling hand crafted items online. Will definitely check into this one to sell product from Marilynda Gallery.
Technorati was set us like a newpaper-very easy to use and navigate. I learned that both David Spade and Matthew McCounaughey are expecting and that Michigan voters are most concerned with the state's economy (no great surprise).
I could never get Feedster to load on either my home or work computer . . . thumbs down-boooo!
Topix.net was easy to use. I searched for information on Etsy, a site I'd heard about relative to buying and selling hand crafted items online. Will definitely check into this one to sell product from Marilynda Gallery.
Technorati was set us like a newpaper-very easy to use and navigate. I learned that both David Spade and Matthew McCounaughey are expecting and that Michigan voters are most concerned with the state's economy (no great surprise).
Monday, January 14, 2008
RSS Feeds-Thing 8
OK, I signed up for 12 RSS Feeds today. But previously (before I got to that task in KDL 2.0), I had watched the amusing and droll display about feeds, wikis, and such on
http://www.articulate.com/community/blogdemo/web2/engage.html
I got such a kick out of the thumbs down and the yea! motions! At that time, I signed up for blogs regarding Oscar-buzz movies, notable children's and teen books and any new releases of a Focus Feature film. So today I found out the 2008 Newbery Award winner is "Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village" by Laura Amy Schlitz.
Now I realize the convenience of RSS feeds . . . that pertinant information came to me instead of me having to dig it up . . . I like that!
http://www.articulate.com/community/blogdemo/web2/engage.html
I got such a kick out of the thumbs down and the yea! motions! At that time, I signed up for blogs regarding Oscar-buzz movies, notable children's and teen books and any new releases of a Focus Feature film. So today I found out the 2008 Newbery Award winner is "Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village" by Laura Amy Schlitz.
Now I realize the convenience of RSS feeds . . . that pertinant information came to me instead of me having to dig it up . . . I like that!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Generater-Thing 7
Hey, check out this "Generatr" effect I played with called the "Warholizer". This is a photo of me dressed up as a character from one of my favorite movies "The Thomas Crowne Afffair". This is me dressed up as one of the many look-alikes that roamed the museum at the end of the movie who all totally confounded the police.
I love this treatment. Will definitely use this in a future poster for the teen area. Here is the URL http://www.shadowfire.de/warholizer
Mashups-thing 6
http://labs.systemone.at/retrievr/#sketchName=2008-01-14-01-27-06-472033.11 Here is an intriguing photo from Retrievr. I love the colors in it and may explore this site further to look for interesting images to blow up to poster size and use as accents in our Teen Area "Isosceles Green". We have a lipstick red sofa, acid green walls and grey accents with lots of white and a bit of black. Wouldn't this be a great poster (plus I love Ike and Mike candy!)
Flickr photo sharing-thing 5 cont
This is a photo of part of the group I had for "Bob the Builder" program at the Englehardt Library of Lowell on Wednesday, January 9, 2008. We had serveral "Bobs" in the group and a couple of "Wendys" and they were all just thrilled when they found out they could keep the bright yellow construction hats! A great time was had by all.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Learning about Flickr-Thing 5
Today's assignment was to explore the world of Flickr, an online photo sharing/organizing site which my husband prefers to PhotoBucket. We used PhotoBucket to make our family calendar this year. Photos came from San Luis Obispo, California; Ft Myers, Florida; Mansfield, Massachusetts; Lowell, Michigan; and Lakeview, Michigan. My brother in West Virginia compiled all the photos into our 2008 Family Calendar.
When I think of how complicated this task was before we could electronically share photos, it just makes me tired! We started out mailing photos for reproduction, then we graduated to sending floppy discs, then CDs, then we just emailed jpegs, and finally we've come to the shared PhotoBucket. Who knows what future service will make creating our yearly family calendar even easier!!!??? I can't even guess.
I will post photos of my Bob the Builder program scheduled for Wednesday, January 9. It should be a fun program and I'm hoping I'll have a willing parent photo-bug, 'cause I'll be too busy showing my gang how Bob (and I) build!
When I think of how complicated this task was before we could electronically share photos, it just makes me tired! We started out mailing photos for reproduction, then we graduated to sending floppy discs, then CDs, then we just emailed jpegs, and finally we've come to the shared PhotoBucket. Who knows what future service will make creating our yearly family calendar even easier!!!??? I can't even guess.
I will post photos of my Bob the Builder program scheduled for Wednesday, January 9. It should be a fun program and I'm hoping I'll have a willing parent photo-bug, 'cause I'll be too busy showing my gang how Bob (and I) build!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
7 1/2 Habits-putting it to use in my life . . .Thing 1,2,3.4
I woke up feeling that dull headache that has located itself just over my left eyebrow for the last two days. Is it the beginning of yet another cold, or did the news Stuart and Lynn dropped on Arnold and me manifest itself internally?
OK, I'm putting the 7 1/2 habits into drive now . . . my hardest habit will be to view problems as challenges to my creativity. Will have to do some thinking on that (oh my poor aching head!) and post later.
The easiest habit for me is to teach/mentor others. I do hope Lynn views my commentary on her present situation as helpful and not probing or harmful. I have done this; therefore I can at least offer her my experience with it.
OK, I'm putting the 7 1/2 habits into drive now . . . my hardest habit will be to view problems as challenges to my creativity. Will have to do some thinking on that (oh my poor aching head!) and post later.
The easiest habit for me is to teach/mentor others. I do hope Lynn views my commentary on her present situation as helpful and not probing or harmful. I have done this; therefore I can at least offer her my experience with it.
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