Discovery Exercise:
1.Read two or three of the perspectives on Library 2.0 from the list above.
2.Create a blog post about your thoughts on any one of these.
One of the chief faults of the pirate-librarian is that I have this ability to see things from multiple perspectives... so in some regards, I can see where the library 2.0 proponents are coming from...and I can see where the people who say that components of "library 2.0" have always been with the profession.
But in particular, I think I'd like to comment on
"Away from the Iceburgs".
The way I was reading it, the author says that the library notion of a "just in case" collection is a detriment, or at the very least a hinderance to the "progress" of the profession. There is a part of me that can see his point, but at the same time I find the view a bit disturbing. So all that is new is progress and the only thing to be desired?? To me that's a dangerous notion. Yes, progress should be embraced, but what about those who can't or won't use these new technologies to acess information?
I'm thinking in terms of those who perhaps can't afford internet access --- and yes, I realize that many of these folks at least have the opportunity for online access here at the library. But at the same time, some of these technologies take time to learn... in an effort to make acess available to greater numbers of people, libraries often have to (as a matter of course) limit how long a particular customer can be on a particular machine. Which of course means that those who have unlimited time (a computer with internet acess at home) are the ones who will benefit most from a 2.0 persepective with libraries linking databases, etc online.
Then, too, there are people who are not comfortable with these 'new' technologies. These are not the people who are going to demand that all of our content be online.
And the notion of user education: "Libraries are poorly equipped and insufficiently staffed for teaching. Ask yourself what your patron-to-librarian ratio is (at the University of Nevada it’s about 680 to 1) and then ask yourself how you’re going to train all those patrons.".
His point is valid that libraries are largely poorly equipped and inefficiently staffed for teaching. But my own comment is that while there are some people who want to be taught how to find information themselves, there is an even greater number who have no intrest in learning how... Call me cynical, but I personally call it the "McLibrary" syndrome. These are the folks that for whatever reason (lack of time, intrest, etc) do not want to know HOW to find the information, they want the librarian to find it for them.
I'm not really sure where I'm going with this to be honest... its interesting to think about!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
#9 Explore MERLIN and then locate a few other useful library-related blogs and/or news feeds
Discovery Exercise:
1. Explore some of the search tools noted above that can help you locate some news feeds.
2. Find the feed for our MERLIN site and subscribe so that you get the latest news. (Hint: It is located on the Home page) Done on 8/23.... easy enough to do! :)
3. 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? Which Search tool was the easiest for you? Which was more confusing? What kind of unuseful 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?
I thought a lot of these were a bit confusing... in terms of use. I really didn't find any library related blogs or feeds that I felt like subscribing to (other than the ones I had mentioned in the previous post)....
1. Explore some of the search tools noted above that can help you locate some news feeds.
2. Find the feed for our MERLIN site and subscribe so that you get the latest news. (Hint: It is located on the Home page) Done on 8/23.... easy enough to do! :)
3. 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? Which Search tool was the easiest for you? Which was more confusing? What kind of unuseful 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?
I thought a lot of these were a bit confusing... in terms of use. I really didn't find any library related blogs or feeds that I felt like subscribing to (other than the ones I had mentioned in the previous post)....
Thing#8: Make Life Really Simple with RSS and a News Reader
Still playing catchup. I don't know if I'll finish on time to earn CEU's or any "prizes"....but that's really not why I'm doing this. I'm doing it because I am interested in technology and want to know about the latest gizmos, even if I don't find them personally useful. It is useful to know what customers are talking about... or maybe even that resource X could be useful to them.
Discovery Exercise:
1. Follow the discovery resources above to learn more about RSS and newsreaders.
a. RSS in plain english (online video)
Comments: I liked the guy's voice in the video...easy to understand what he was saying..and I didn't feel like he spoke to slowly or too quickly. Plus I thought it was hysterical when he did the thumbs down and said "booo" to the old way of reading the web, and "yeaah!" for the 'new' way. Who said informative items had to be boring? ;)
b.
CNET Video: RSS – Feel the Need for Feeds
Comments: Clear video. Good explanation.
c. Feed Me: A gentle introduction to Internet feeds
Comments: No sound (which after the two videos and the podcast, I was almost expecting.) But that was nice. I also liked being able to 'pace' it to my own speed by clicking on "next" when I was ready.
d. Using Bloglines Tutorial (how to keep up with dozens of blogs everyday)
****
2. Create a free online Bloglines account for yourself and subscribe to at least 10 newsfeeds to your reader. See Using Bloglines Tutorial steps 1-3 for instructions.
Done and done! As there are a few fun things I like to check -- online comics like "Unshelved" and "Kevin and Kell" it will be nice to have them in one place along side of my professional reading. A little laughter and levity when something stressful happens can mean the world when one works with the public. After all, I might be a pirate librarian...but I think my supervisor and branch manager might frown on me ordering a customer to "walk the plank".
3. Create a post in your blog about this exercise. Optional: If you're up to the challenge, you can provide the URL address to your public bloglines account (find where to find this below)
I have to say, I found this to be REALLY useful...both professionally and personally. I don't quite feel daring enough to post my public bloglines account simply because I do have things from "both sides" of my life... and I will not leave myself open to being accused of looking at personal stuff while online at work. Unless, of course, I am on 'my own time' (breaks and meal times).
Discovery Exercise:
1. Follow the discovery resources above to learn more about RSS and newsreaders.
a. RSS in plain english (online video)
Comments: I liked the guy's voice in the video...easy to understand what he was saying..and I didn't feel like he spoke to slowly or too quickly. Plus I thought it was hysterical when he did the thumbs down and said "booo" to the old way of reading the web, and "yeaah!" for the 'new' way. Who said informative items had to be boring? ;)
b.
CNET Video: RSS – Feel the Need for Feeds
Comments: Clear video. Good explanation.
c. Feed Me: A gentle introduction to Internet feeds
Comments: No sound (which after the two videos and the podcast, I was almost expecting.) But that was nice. I also liked being able to 'pace' it to my own speed by clicking on "next" when I was ready.
d. Using Bloglines Tutorial (how to keep up with dozens of blogs everyday)
****
2. Create a free online Bloglines account for yourself and subscribe to at least 10 newsfeeds to your reader. See Using Bloglines Tutorial steps 1-3 for instructions.
Done and done! As there are a few fun things I like to check -- online comics like "Unshelved" and "Kevin and Kell" it will be nice to have them in one place along side of my professional reading. A little laughter and levity when something stressful happens can mean the world when one works with the public. After all, I might be a pirate librarian...but I think my supervisor and branch manager might frown on me ordering a customer to "walk the plank".
3. Create a post in your blog about this exercise. Optional: If you're up to the challenge, you can provide the URL address to your public bloglines account (find where to find this below)
I have to say, I found this to be REALLY useful...both professionally and personally. I don't quite feel daring enough to post my public bloglines account simply because I do have things from "both sides" of my life... and I will not leave myself open to being accused of looking at personal stuff while online at work. Unless, of course, I am on 'my own time' (breaks and meal times).
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
#14 Discover Technorati and learn how tags work with blogs
Technorati Profile
Discovery Exercise:
1. 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? yes, they were. Keyword in blog posts returned anything with "learning" or "2.0" in the posts... Blog directory seemed a bit more specific, and searching tags the most specific/accurate results.
2. Explore top favorited blog, top searches and top blogs. Is anything interesting or surprising?
One of the top favorited blogs that intrigued me was "Lifehacker, tips and downloads for getting things done." I just looked at a few posts, like on the shelf life of common food items...and decluttering - which is something I struggle with in my own home. I can see why it has been favorited by quite a few people. Top searches just seemed to be common keyword searches...nothing too interesting or surprising to me. WTF is one category you can click on..and to be honest I thought it stood for something much naughtier than it did... (heheh.. okay, so maybe the pirate librarian's mind was down in the bilgewater).. it stands for Where's the fire, btw (by the way). Seems a hot topic these days is "I saw your nanny" blog...and I can see why it might be a hot topic given our children are our most important resource...and if I had a nanny, I'd want to know if he or she was slacking off on the job much less doing something inappropriate!
Speaking of which...I've done childcare, and it is not an easy job...even when children are "developmentally typical" much less special needs... so if you have a good daycare, or a good nanny -- please be sure to tell them how very much you appreciate them. Or even better, write a letter that will go in their permanent file... and/or give them a gift they can really use... I like to give my son's teachers gift certificates to a local teacher supply store...so many teachers buy things for their classrooms with their own money...why not help them out?
3. Create a blog post about your discoveries on this site. *doing now*
OPTIONAL: If you're up for a challenge, learn how to tag your posts by 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 “mdlearn2.” You may also want to consider claiming your blog and creating a watchlist.
*** I claimed my blog..and perhaps once this training exercise is over, I'll link my other blogs to technorati as well. I have a blog I keep for my "Sims2" family as well as another personal blog.
Discovery Exercise:
1. 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? yes, they were. Keyword in blog posts returned anything with "learning" or "2.0" in the posts... Blog directory seemed a bit more specific, and searching tags the most specific/accurate results.
2. Explore top favorited blog, top searches and top blogs. Is anything interesting or surprising?
One of the top favorited blogs that intrigued me was "Lifehacker, tips and downloads for getting things done." I just looked at a few posts, like on the shelf life of common food items...and decluttering - which is something I struggle with in my own home. I can see why it has been favorited by quite a few people. Top searches just seemed to be common keyword searches...nothing too interesting or surprising to me. WTF is one category you can click on..and to be honest I thought it stood for something much naughtier than it did... (heheh.. okay, so maybe the pirate librarian's mind was down in the bilgewater).. it stands for Where's the fire, btw (by the way). Seems a hot topic these days is "I saw your nanny" blog...and I can see why it might be a hot topic given our children are our most important resource...and if I had a nanny, I'd want to know if he or she was slacking off on the job much less doing something inappropriate!
Speaking of which...I've done childcare, and it is not an easy job...even when children are "developmentally typical" much less special needs... so if you have a good daycare, or a good nanny -- please be sure to tell them how very much you appreciate them. Or even better, write a letter that will go in their permanent file... and/or give them a gift they can really use... I like to give my son's teachers gift certificates to a local teacher supply store...so many teachers buy things for their classrooms with their own money...why not help them out?
3. Create a blog post about your discoveries on this site. *doing now*
OPTIONAL: If you're up for a challenge, learn how to tag your posts by 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 “mdlearn2.” You may also want to consider claiming your blog and creating a watchlist.
*** I claimed my blog..and perhaps once this training exercise is over, I'll link my other blogs to technorati as well. I have a blog I keep for my "Sims2" family as well as another personal blog.
Thing #13 Tagging and Discover Del.icio.us
Discovery Exercise:
1. View the 12 minute Del.icio.us tutorial to get a good overview of its features.
The video was disabled, so I viewed the alternative article at http://tinyurl.com/ynszc8.
2. Take a look around Del.icio.us using the PLCMCL2 account that was created for the original program exercise at the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County. 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.
3. 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?
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'm not so sure I see the potential in this for research assistance.... but definitely see the value in it as for the social aspects and as a way to acess one's bookmarks from anywhere.
I'm interested in quilting so I checked out some sites that others had bookmarked... I may have to go back and mark a few of those sites for myself.
And, of course, I looked to see if anything had been marked under "Pirates".... arr!! (heh heh heh)
I think the value in marking what others have found is that you don't have to "reinvent the wheel". On the other hand looking at what everyone else has looked at can be a negative if you are trying to "think outside the box"....
1. View the 12 minute Del.icio.us tutorial to get a good overview of its features.
The video was disabled, so I viewed the alternative article at http://tinyurl.com/ynszc8.
2. Take a look around Del.icio.us using the PLCMCL2 account that was created for the original program exercise at the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County. 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.
3. 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?
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'm not so sure I see the potential in this for research assistance.... but definitely see the value in it as for the social aspects and as a way to acess one's bookmarks from anywhere.
I'm interested in quilting so I checked out some sites that others had bookmarked... I may have to go back and mark a few of those sites for myself.
And, of course, I looked to see if anything had been marked under "Pirates".... arr!! (heh heh heh)
I think the value in marking what others have found is that you don't have to "reinvent the wheel". On the other hand looking at what everyone else has looked at can be a negative if you are trying to "think outside the box"....
Jumping back to week 1: thing 2
Thing #2: Lifelong learning
1. Make sure you have headphones or speakers attached to your computer.
2. Open up the 7 & 1/2 Habits online tutorial and view the online tutorial. The tutorial was developed by the training specialists at the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
3. As you watch and listen, write down which habit among the 7 & 1/2 that is easiest for you and which is hardest. You will use your personal blog (which you will set up next) to post your thoughts about lifelong learning.
The easiest habit for me is having confidence in myself as a competent, effective learner. While I might act silly at times, I know I'm highly intelligent. A person doesn't graduate cumme laude or make it into Phi Betta Kappa by being an idiot! But I will add that I believe my confidence is in my ability to learn things .... when it comes to people I'm not always adept at reading them. I like to say I'm book smart, not necessarily people smart.
The habit I have the most difficulty with is the one where you view problems as challenges. Problems make me wish I really was a pirate and could whip out me scimitar and hack the offending obstacle to bits! Barnacles to problems! (lol)
I also have to say, I can be a bit impatient.... the tutorial was interesting, but I can read text a lot faster than the narrator could speak. I found myself scrolling through the tutorial because the narrator was reading slowly and with little inflection. I found it a bit annoying, to be dead honest.
1. Make sure you have headphones or speakers attached to your computer.
2. Open up the 7 & 1/2 Habits online tutorial and view the online tutorial. The tutorial was developed by the training specialists at the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
3. As you watch and listen, write down which habit among the 7 & 1/2 that is easiest for you and which is hardest. You will use your personal blog (which you will set up next) to post your thoughts about lifelong learning.
The easiest habit for me is having confidence in myself as a competent, effective learner. While I might act silly at times, I know I'm highly intelligent. A person doesn't graduate cumme laude or make it into Phi Betta Kappa by being an idiot! But I will add that I believe my confidence is in my ability to learn things .... when it comes to people I'm not always adept at reading them. I like to say I'm book smart, not necessarily people smart.
The habit I have the most difficulty with is the one where you view problems as challenges. Problems make me wish I really was a pirate and could whip out me scimitar and hack the offending obstacle to bits! Barnacles to problems! (lol)
I also have to say, I can be a bit impatient.... the tutorial was interesting, but I can read text a lot faster than the narrator could speak. I found myself scrolling through the tutorial because the narrator was reading slowly and with little inflection. I found it a bit annoying, to be dead honest.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Week 5: Thing #12
Still playing catch-up. Not sure if I'll finish or not. Usually I'm a finish what I start kind of pirate, but sometimes real life gets in the way. Or my own personal laziness...whichever. ;)
Thing#12:
Discovery Exercise:
1. Explore Rollyo and create an account for yourself.
2. Create a search roll for any subject you like.
3. Create a post in your blog about your experience and link to your search roll. Can you see a potential use for tools like this?
To be brutally honest (and my colleagues will tell you I'm usually that - sometimes to my own detriment) --- I found this exercise completely inane. There was nothing I really felt like creating a search roll for. While I hate to be stereotypical, I find that Google typically does return results that are useful to me. That's why its so popular people -- cause it WORKS.
The only use I could see in this is that it might help narrow results down if a google search returned way, way too many hits.
Maybe.
Thing#12:
Discovery Exercise:
1. Explore Rollyo and create an account for yourself.
2. Create a search roll for any subject you like.
3. Create a post in your blog about your experience and link to your search roll. Can you see a potential use for tools like this?
To be brutally honest (and my colleagues will tell you I'm usually that - sometimes to my own detriment) --- I found this exercise completely inane. There was nothing I really felt like creating a search roll for. While I hate to be stereotypical, I find that Google typically does return results that are useful to me. That's why its so popular people -- cause it WORKS.
The only use I could see in this is that it might help narrow results down if a google search returned way, way too many hits.
Maybe.
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