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!.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
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!
Monday, July 13, 2009
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!
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!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
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!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
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.
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