Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Thing 4 - Flickr

The photo below is one that I found on flickr. I am never quite sure if I do all the steps correctly to add items to my blog. But I just keep trying things and sooner or later it works. I need to play some more with flickr to see how I can have my own pictures on there. I uploaded one from a vacation. That worked great. Now I want to try to make a slide show of a few pictures from a vacation. So I will be back exploring another day.

Right now it is late and I must go to bed.

After saving this and viewing my finished blog, I see that it says I posted this at 6:26 PM. I really am not going to bed at 6:26. It is really 10:26. :)

Celebrity Cruise Ship ©good's photostream@flickr.com

Thing 3 - RSS Feeds

I had a little understadning of RSS before this. Now I have a better understanding. However, I do not see the use for me in the world of my library. I can see them being used on your own website or blog. In my day to day work environment, I don't even have time to check for the latest news from a feed. I believe this will be one of the 23 things that I chalk up to experiencing but not using on a daily basis. I teach a class at Hamline University in the summer and fall. One of the classes is supposed to spend a lot of time on blogs. Many of the students (teachers) in the class could not find a good use for a blog. I think they would feel the same way about RSS feeds. The one place I could see them being used would be in a current events class. Getting the daily news could be helpful instead of having to search the web for the same information. I will need to read other blogs to see how public libraries might be using RSS.

The Palinet tutorial was very good. And the Common Craft Show is great. Watching both the blog video and the RSS video helped to understand both concepts in plain English.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Thing 2 - Library 2.0

Most of the big shift to Library 2.0 is in the area of public librairies. That is where 23 Things on a Stick came from here in Minnesota. Public libraries serve a different cliental than school libraries. I am in an elementary school library. I cannot make all the changes I want as I am in a more structured area and also teach most of my day. But my delivery of instruction has changed immensely in the last two years. We are using more technology to teach. Library 2.0 is not just about technology. But it certainly is a paradigm shift of introducing students to different ways of accessing information. It is exciting and I am looking forward to learning more as we continue on the 23 Things journey. I will pass on my knowledge to my students.

Thing 2 - Stephen Abram

We can all find 15 minutes in which to learn something new. We often say we have no time. We need to take the time. Doing this blog does makes us reflect on what we have learned. And let's us share what we have learned with others. Journaling has never been my strong suit, but I can type fast and put my thoughts here. After doing this blog I also understand better my daughter's obsession with Facebook and My Space. It is different, but her generation thrives on sharing through the computer.

I enjoyed Stephen's comments. He has enthusiasm for new learning.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Thing 1 -Build an Avatar

What fun! There are things on the web that if you don't know they are there, you miss all the fun.

I had fireworks going on my background. But it did not seem to work. However, I may go and try it again.

I have just spent about two hours on Thing 1 and I learned so much. Plus it was fun.

On to Thing 2. (I feel like I am in the Cat in the Hat)

Thing 1 - Setting Up the Blog

I do so enjoy point, click and go. That is my kind of technology. It is great that there are others out there that can set up the basics and the rest of us can come along and use things.

I hope to gain valuable information as I explore Web 2.0.

I am in the final years in my career in library/media/technology but I know I will continue to learn and this is a great way to do that. I look forward to the next event.