Week 9: Thing 23 (Summarize Your Thoughts About This Program)

I am finished, well, except for putting together my tracking log! UPDATE: Just realized that some of the names on my blog permalinks do not match the actual "things." When they said permalink, they meant permalink, so if I made a mistake on the "thing number"and corrected it later, it was too bad for me! Permalinks are very unforgiving! But I did them all regardless.
My thoughts are as follows:
What I enjoyed included the blogging (it was fun to design the color scheme, too), RSS feeds, online imaging generators and participating in our group wiki. I also enjoyed LibraryThing a lot (and need to get back to it to catalog my own personal library.) I found the Rollyo difficult at first and then the light bulb went on and I was able to figure it out. I am not sure how I will use it, but it reminds me of those pathfinders that we did in MSLS grad school so long ago (and pathfinders are still being talked about on LM_Net so maybe they are not so "dated" after all but just have reinvented themselves into a tech version...).
I am glad to know more about Flickr, but I am not really into photography so it was not my favorite exercise. But I may find that site more useful in the future.
Although I am not sure how much I will be "into" tagging, I am glad that I know what tagging is all about. When I see tags on YouTube (which I already knew about but enjoyed exploring further), I have a better understanding of how tags are used. But Sears and LC subject headings still work for me...why reinvent the wheel!
I really liked knowing that the online productivity tools are out there and absolutely loved looking at the award winning web 2.0 sites. I have found one of those sites very useful already in my personal life.
I am glad that I now know more about podcasts and want to get back to listening to those travel podcasts one of these days. (But somehow I think that spare time is going to be at a premium after August 26th!) The same goes for downloadable audiobooks, although I probably can check them out and burn a copy for listening while I commute to school.
Yes, I am glad that I participated in the "23 things" exercise, although I don't need the MSDE credit (although I will take it anyway...). I am also glad that the completion date was extended or I would have not finished! But I guess that the bottom line is that the many exercises expanded my knowledge base and made me think! And I had a lot of fun along the way!

Week 9: Thing 22 (Learn about Downloadable Audiobooks)

I love audiobooks, so can't wait to explore this. Now how I will get these into my car, I don't know! Maybe they can be burned to a CD? More later.
Well, I'm back after taking the tour and trying out the Mac version of Overdrive. I will have to explore the possible titles available at the public library as I go along. What would work best for me would be to burn a CD and listen while driving. I can't concentrate on audiobooks while cooking or even while walking around my neighborhood. Actually, I tend to speed read and audiobooks make me appreciate the details, but I need to be trapped in my car to tune into them. I often listen to a book on audio that I have previously read. Then it is easier to get out of the car when I reach my destination! I will have to say that I have always listened to David Baldacci books on audio and now have problems concentrating on his different "voices" when I pick up one of his books. P.D. James's books are also better (IMHO) on audio because they tend to be so descriptive. But whether I borrow an audiobook from the public library or download one from this site, an audiobook is certainly a way to read at times when I just need an escape from day to day life. And it is nice to know about some more choices of platform and devices to use when optioning to "read" via audiobook.

Week 9: Thing 21 (Useful Search Tools for Locating Podcasts)

Next up...podcasts! I found it easy to access podcasts (since I have iTunes). I then found that adding a Rick Steves' travel podcast to my Bloglines was pretty simple by clicking on ipodder.org which took me to podcastalley.com where I picked up the url for the feed to insert these podcasts into my Blogline list of feeds.

Either these "23 Things" are getting easier or I am getting better at using the features. It is probably a combination of both (as well as the fact that my mind is not cluttered with schoolwork in July!) As much as I am devoted to my work, I could easily put off going back to school until October 1st. I suspect that September is going to be hot, hot, hot since the summer has been somewhat cool. (And chocolate has been known to melt in student lockers on the top floor of my school!)

I am listening to Rick Steves talk about Paris (and those bookstalls along the Seine) as I type. Can't get any better than that!

Week 9: Thing 20 (Discover YouTube and a few sites)

Now that I realized (duh) that I could link the urls just like I do on our Claris 3.0 webpage software, I have gone back to link the urls in Things 12 and 8. This is the Wedding Entrance Dance that I saw on YouTube, courtesy of Jacquie, who posted it on LM_Net. Maybe a bit unconventional, but joyful! I liked it so much that I have watched it twice so far.

I also enjoyed watching America's Child video by singer and pianist Phil Vassar, which reminded me of a video made long ago by former colleague, B.A., (and that one was great, too) and some great clips from The West Wing. Here is one of my favorite West Wing clips.

Although I have always watched YouTube "for fun", I know that there are some training materials on it and perhaps that might be a good library application of this Web 2.0 tool.

Week 8: Thing 19 (Discover any site from Web 2.0 Awards List)

The most interesting thing about viewing the Web 2.0 Awards list is how many of the sites I now know because I have explored them in this class. I found the house that my brother is renting via zillow.com, read up on Twitter (although I really don't have time to wonder about what people are doing...), went to LinkedIn to see how my network has grown, etc. from the shortlist. Then I went back to the main awards page just to see what all of these sites do (just read the more detailed descriptions...). It would take more time than I have (my goal being to finish this class by July 31) to go to every site. But I will remember that they are out there or hopefully be more knowledgeable when I "hear" them mentioned on LM_Net (guess that is a bit hit as to which one of the 14 participants that I am!) But since we will be identifying ourselves soon (not on the blog, but maybe via an e-mail from J.S.), I guess it is not a big deal.

Week 8: Thing 18 (Online Productivity (word processing, spreadsheet) Tools)

This is a link to my Google Doc. It was easy to do and easy to post. Originally I wanted readers to copy the link and paste it in a new browser to read it or (but now that I have learned to do this...and so easy!) just click on my new link!.

Week 7: Thing 17 (Learning 2.0 Sandbox Wiki)

Finally a "thing" that was both quick and easy (except I had to dig back into my e-mail to find the alternative exercise...). I enjoyed working with the wiki that J.S. set up for our group and added a comment (well, first, I tried to add my comment to the directions...sorry!) and then added a page. I think that I could get into this! Yet another log in and password so it's good we have our list to record them! I enjoyed this "thing" and may explore it further. Finally, I am on to Week 8!

Week 7: Thing 16 (Learn about Wikis)

I found the wiki information very informative. I certainly knew about wikipedia but some of the other uses of wikis were new to me. Perhaps the SIT team could use wikis, maybe not in writing the plan itself but in writing minutes or summative type documents.
We are working on editing some of our church bylaws and everyone involved sent their suggestions via e-mail. How much easier it might have been to edit the sections as a group via the wiki format instead of posting and reposting and reposting.
I especially liked the idea that book reviews could be added to online catalogs, such like books can now be review for Amazon.com. I think that idea has some merit.
Finally, I don't know how locked down we are in using wikis on the school level. (I would have to get out the state department report to remember how J.K. advised us to answer the questions...) But certainly there would be applications (if allowed) in the upper grade levels. Science Lab Reports, for example, when being completed by a team of four students, might be done very effectively as a wiki!

Week 6: Thing 15 (Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and the Future of Libraries)

"Whether we called it reading, or scholarship, or research, or study, what brought us to librarianship was the power inherent in bringing together people and ideas...But whatever it was, it took us to thinking about librarianship, about a career where we could continue to chase some of those ideas and introduce them to other people.

On the surface, what we do every day now has little to do with that original, deep impulse to connect people with ideas. We do budgets and solve personnel problems. We hope that the next level of automation will somehow go a little more smoothly than the last one did.

Let us remember what brought us here. If librarianship is the connecting of people to ideas, it doesn't matter where the ideas exist."
---GraceAnne A. DeCandido

Library 2.0 is all about changing the way that we approach library services to meet our patrons' needs so that we can still connect them to ideas, in very different ways than when we were students.

And as the authors of the Library 2.0 articles point out, it is almost a tightrope that we need to walk to keep our libraries (and library services) relevant for our patrons, i.e., students and teachers.

The buzzwords of the 21st century include access to technology (aka, the Digital Divide), privacy, security. We can print pictures of books straight from Amazon.com so that kids could search for their overdue items. Digital cameras make it easy for us to take many pictures and to erase our mistakes. And if the local newspaper makes a mistake on a student's name, one call and the web edition can be changed so that the information is recorded correctly for posterity.

The ability to connect to library colleagues through Instant Messaging and e-mail has taken away much of the isolation previously felt when one was the "only librarian" in one's school. Technology in the library has also helped our patrons to appreciate librarians and to view our libraries as more than warehouses of dusty books.

We are not the only ones in the building with tech skills anymore, although we probably learned them early-on. But regardless of where we are in our personal use of technology, we still need to have enough library related tech skills to guide our patrons through the techno-maze.

Libraries (and librarians) need to step forward to connect people with the vast amount of information that is now available through the world wide web, shared catalogs, digital formatting, and user interface, but still must evaluate each step to make sure that it is an improvement in services (vs. just using technology for technology's sake) as they continue to encourage their patrons to become lifelong learners.

Week 6: Thing 14 (Explore Technorati and learn how tags work)

After looking at the Technorati options (and exploring a few current topics and topics that I am interested in), all I can say is "wow!" This is why Rosanne Barr (just to use an example) said in today's Parade magazine in the T-N that she spends 4-5 hours blogging, uploading, searching, etc. One of the books that I am currently reading is called Born Digital. After just getting into the first few chapters (and looking at Technorati), it is obvious to me that there is a learning curve here or maybe a wider generation gap in the making. The teens today who almost don't remember the 20th century, were definitely born digital. I feel like that I can label myself as a Digital Settler type (not as far back as Bob N. or Carey W., but definitely one who used e-mail when it was all text, circa 1994 in my case) The lowest level of tech user, known as a Digital Immigrant, just answers e-mail and sends jokes around, according to the book, and I know people in my generation who definitely fit into that category. I wish that I had time to do some of the advanced options, but at least I know that they exist when I read about them or have a specific use for them or just the time to spend more time on the internet (and I already spend too much time on the internet!) Maybe someday I will insert the html code into my blog. Maybe someday I will even claim my blog on Technorati, but for now, it is time to move on to Thing 15.

Week 6: Thing 13 (Learn about Tagging and discover a Del.icio.us)

I tried to view the video but could not access it so read a couple of the articles instead. This tagging issue goes right along with the raging discussion about the DDC and how some libraries (both school and public) are abandoning formal cataloging and classification in favor of arranging libraries like bookstores. Perhaps there are some valid points to consider same, but when the original cataloger leaves, the next person cannot follow their train of thought consistently. It would just be impossible!

When I looked for mystery books by searching the del.icio.us bookmarks, I found them by searching bookmarks such as mystery, mysteries and mystery books. Some websites appeared in all three categories and some did not. As one of the articles advised, if you like to tag, clean up your tagging and be consistent, both for yourself and for those who follow your bookmarks. I like to explore as much as anyone else, but a misspelling or misclassification can lead to a dead end.

In the same vein, yes, let's display books in many ways to encourage reading and to support readers' interests, but when it comes to doing cataloging and classification I can't see abandoning Sears, LC or Dewey because who has time to make it up yourself! So tagging to share bookmarks, yes. Tagging to do research, maybe!

Week 5: Thing 12 (Roll Your Own Search Tool)

I am beginning to explore Rollyo and will be back soon...here is a health search tool that I rolled out. Hope I did it correctly!

http://rollyo.com/dessiefan/health_concerns/

I was trying to the optional exercise and paste in the code for the searchboxes and although it pasted, I can't search correctly. Since I am tired of fighting with Rollyo (and maybe bloglines just won't accept the searchbox code, just web pages...), I will move on unless I get an inspiration for the missing link. I know that I am just missing a step...

I think that Rollyo would have potential as a way to save bookmarks or subject searches as you move from computer to computer.

UPDATE: Now that I have explored the html option more carefully, clicking on this should take you to my rollyo.

Week 5: Thing 11 (LibraryThing)

Here is the link to a few books from my personal library. I could work on using LibraryThing for a long time because I can see how useful it might be if I had the time to do the entering. (On the other hand, there are some books on this list that I have owned for years, so I also have a list in my head...) But it certainly would be handy to have a "portable" list when I want to collect books by some of my more recent "favorite" authors. Sometimes I don't remember what recent books that I own and I could call up this list electronically as I am looking through books in a dusty used bookstore or a local yard sale. A great idea!

I almost gave away my identity so had to change my username to keep all of you in suspense at bit longer. Here is the link to my personal library...just a few books that I randomly chose to try out this site.

http://www.librarything.com/home/DessieFan

Week 5: Thing 10 (Online Image Generator)

Here is my avatar. It is from http://uk.avatars.yahoo.com/

This was a lot of fun and best of all, it is free! On to Thing 11: I'm almost halfway! (Maybe when I have time, I will create a casual avatar complete with capri pants, too!)

Week 4: Thing 9 (Merlin, etc.)

I found Merlin very informative. I always wanted to work in a public library, but my path went elsewhere so it is interesting to compare our two worlds. It is also shows a contrast to see the many social networking tools that are not allowed in the public school setting. I did some searching for an obscure author (and found nothing) but will keep checking back. I don't want to be overwhelmed with newsfeeds, so I just subscribed to Merlin. It was so easy to jump from the RSS directly into bloglines as long as you stay logged in (and even if the browser is closed, you are still logged in...) I also learned about picking up reserve books at the Washington Street Branch in a new and different way. I am also wondering how this will work out, but I guess if people are going to take a 5-finger discount, they won't bother to reserve books to do so!

Week 4: Thing 8 (RSS Feedlines and Bloglines Reader Account)

http://www.bloglines.com/public/ELD

Here are my RSS feeds. This took longer than 20 minutes, but it was interesting! Some of the links were broken (or I didn't grab the entire URL), but I got there! (The key is to allow your bloglines to be public. I didn't do that the first time...) I will have to start reading the feeds and then change them as I see what I enjoy (in my spare time, that is!) I have spent so much time on this that I don't have anything else to say! Moving right along...

UPDATE: Back to my rss feeds, I go, to link properly. I can't believe that I didn't catch this before as it is not really any harder than linking on Claris. I guess I was just brain dead at the time!

Click on linked RSS feeds.

Week 3: Thing 7 (Blog Post about Anything Tech Related)

My tech topic: Newspapers online. Well, I am trying to get into them. I love reading newspapers and always try to read one wherever I travel to get a feel for the local scene. I also like getting quick information or reprints of articles online or to be able to e-mail an article to a friend. But reading the entire newspaper online, well, I am trying to get into this. I had a trial subscription to a major city newspaper (total online edition, not the quick summaries or major articles like I can get from the T-N or a free newspaper website) and I can actually read it page by page just like I had it in my hands. I certainly can read the major news stories, but it is the smaller columns that I seem to miss when I read online, even if I really try to catch everything. So it is still not the same...although much cheaper than a mail subscription or home delivery. I love technology and certainly get a lot of my news online these days, so I will keep trying...

Week 3: Thing 6 (Flickr Mashups & 3rd party sites)

I am finally getting back into the 23 things! I really enjoyed the Flickr sites, especially the place where you can create posters and jigsaw puzzles. I see some Christmas ideas in the making! I played around with both and need to find some inspirational quotations. Most of the ones that I have as e-mail tags deal with books and reading (wonder why?) I also don't have a lot of pictures of different subjects so will have to make a point to use my camera more. (Well, I have some, but since we are trying to stay anonymous until the end of this course, I don't want to put in any family members just yet!)

Week 3: Thing 5 (Explore Flickr)

I am playing around with Flickr, but haven't gotten too far yet. I don't have advanced photography skills, so I am hoping that Flickr will help me produce a good finished product in the same way the Clip Art does. More later, after I go thru the tutorial again.

Week 2: Thing 4 (Register Your Blog/Track Your Progress)

I set this blog up last week and seemed to get a lot of spam on my personal e-mail account (which might be coincidental) so I changed the e-mail address to my BOE account. At least the spam there (mostly) gets quarantined! I did enjoy choosing a background. The time certainly went by quickly as I played around with the selections. I think that the title of my blog is too long, but I don't want to start over. I did try googling it and my blog must be buried a few pages down. So I probably won't pick up any fans or followers, whatever they are! Happy blogging, everyone!

Week 2: Thing 3 (Set Up Your Own Blog)

Well, I did this "thing" last week, too, but wasn't sure what to write so I just added a couple of quotations. (I have been collecting poetry and quotations since 7th grade, so I have lots and lots...) But between e-mail and my ten-year diary (which I just got for my birthday), I have lots of ways to express my thoughts. So I am not sure if I have the time for extensive blogging. But I do feel strongly about many things, so who knows?

Week 1: Thing 2 (Pointers from Lifelong Learners)

The information about lifelong learning was interesting. I can't say that I watch enough in the way of movies or TV to learn a lot there. (I do love The Weather Channel and Dave Schwartz...and when I looked up the spelling of his name I found out that he had been let go due to economic conditions...that doesn't make me feel really happy with the executives at NBC!) But I certainly learn a lot from books and my two newspaper subscriptions (as well as Google News, of course!) I would also say that I learn a lot from the "girls" and "guys" at work. I always say that I have learned a lot about life at ___________ Elementary School.

Week 1: Thing 1 (About this program)

So far this has been a great way to learn about Web 2.0.  I am so busy all the time that I thought that I would get ahead on the 23 things while I have the time!

Reading has always been my home, my sustenance, my great invincible companion. "Book love," Trollope called it. "It will make your hours pleasant as long as you live."
--from How Reading Changed My Life, by Anna Quindlen