Mission accomplished! Done & finished!
I had a great time doing the 10 things. It was a wonderful learning experience as well as fun.
The number one thing that stuck in my head the most was the "podcasting" assignment. I didn't know how that worked. Now, I use it all the time! It's literally awesome.
I also use my RSS feed a lot more because it is very useful. My del.icio.us account is filling up with many websites.
Overall, I believe that the Skokie ten was a wonderful opportunity to learn about the many convenient ways to retrieve information and engage in social networks. It is all a learning experience and the thing to remember is that ANYONE can do it.
I don't believe in pushing these tools away. They may seem as overwhelming to some, but all it takes is just playing around, getting a feel for all of it and before you know it, PRESTO!
You will be a pro! if not, then, savvy! :-) :-) ;-)
B
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Thing 10: The Virtual Library Branch.
One thing I find myself using from the Library's website is the research feature. Since I am a medical buff (some say more of a hypochondriac) ;-) but really, I say I should have been a doctor, but, I'll admit that I'm a weakling.
Anyhoo, I really like using the 'research' tool on the website and check out the 'health and medicine' databases which include articles, journals and newspaper articles on the latest news for medicine. It's great and very useful, I can find anything I am interested in.
I also use the research tool to find topics in regards to the classes I am taking at Dominican.
Now, when it comes to coming up with an idea on how to add more gadgets or make the Library's website even better than it is, I find it to be my weak point because I see a ton of stuff on the site where I believe they are all useful for patrons.
The only idea that's popping in my mind as I write this is maybe create a blog feature for Skokie Library Card holders can create a site via the wesbite where they become one big SPL Blog community. This would create an interaction as well as fun. Patrons can help eachother out in any aspect of learning.
Just one idea I guess.
I would call it the "SPL Blogosaurus!" :-D
"Come one! Come all! Let's blog! Let's get to know eachother!"
I believe it would benefit the library very much. Why you ask? because it would allow the staff to see what kind of patrons come in, how they think, and what they like, thus, leading to more ideas on what to add to the website.
I hope that sounded like it made sense.
B
Anyhoo, I really like using the 'research' tool on the website and check out the 'health and medicine' databases which include articles, journals and newspaper articles on the latest news for medicine. It's great and very useful, I can find anything I am interested in.
I also use the research tool to find topics in regards to the classes I am taking at Dominican.
Now, when it comes to coming up with an idea on how to add more gadgets or make the Library's website even better than it is, I find it to be my weak point because I see a ton of stuff on the site where I believe they are all useful for patrons.
The only idea that's popping in my mind as I write this is maybe create a blog feature for Skokie Library Card holders can create a site via the wesbite where they become one big SPL Blog community. This would create an interaction as well as fun. Patrons can help eachother out in any aspect of learning.
Just one idea I guess.
I would call it the "SPL Blogosaurus!" :-D
"Come one! Come all! Let's blog! Let's get to know eachother!"
I believe it would benefit the library very much. Why you ask? because it would allow the staff to see what kind of patrons come in, how they think, and what they like, thus, leading to more ideas on what to add to the website.
I hope that sounded like it made sense.
B
Thing 9: Google Tools - Online Productivity.
I had heard of 'Google Docs' for the longest time but didn't know that it can do what it does.
Very interesting. I uploaded a document on Google Docs. I'll admit I'm a bit rusty in handling it/figuring it out but I can see how it can be useful.
So, basically, I upload a document and instead of E-mailing or attaching the document to an email that can be forwarded to someone I post it up on Google Docs and everyone can go on the web and find it creating less clutter for everyone.
I can see myself using this in the future, but in order to do that I must continue fiddling with it.
Nice.
Very interesting. I uploaded a document on Google Docs. I'll admit I'm a bit rusty in handling it/figuring it out but I can see how it can be useful.
So, basically, I upload a document and instead of E-mailing or attaching the document to an email that can be forwarded to someone I post it up on Google Docs and everyone can go on the web and find it creating less clutter for everyone.
I can see myself using this in the future, but in order to do that I must continue fiddling with it.
Nice.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Thing 7: Podcasting!
No idea what podcasting meant. Now I know fully after experiencing it.
I chose "pod cast alley." Searched in the box and typed in "libraries." Chose two links "uncontrolled vocabulary" and "the library channel."I followed the skokie ten directions in regards to them and realized that this 7th thing is very fascinating to me. I'm going to use it a lot!
I wasn't aware that there was something like this out there.
I also typed in "orthodoxy" in the search box of the site because I was interested to see if they had anything on my denomination...and....lo n behold there they did...I immediately copied and pasted the URL in the my RSS reader...
To me, this is utterly amazing! I can not stress on how much I love this particular one! I can listen to anything I want to!
I used to think that iTunes and windows media only had this type of tool.
Guess, I was wrong!
B
I chose "pod cast alley." Searched in the box and typed in "libraries." Chose two links "uncontrolled vocabulary" and "the library channel."I followed the skokie ten directions in regards to them and realized that this 7th thing is very fascinating to me. I'm going to use it a lot!
I wasn't aware that there was something like this out there.
I also typed in "orthodoxy" in the search box of the site because I was interested to see if they had anything on my denomination...and....lo n behold there they did...I immediately copied and pasted the URL in the my RSS reader...
To me, this is utterly amazing! I can not stress on how much I love this particular one! I can listen to anything I want to!
I used to think that iTunes and windows media only had this type of tool.
Guess, I was wrong!
B
Thing 8: Wikis
Wiki Wiki Wiki!!!!
I first shook hands with this term back in June for my summer class, then completely forgot it's meaning. That all changed when I went to Library 2.0 (my class) and said "Ohhhhh!!! yeah, that's right!"
BUT! when I went on line to look at one site called "WIKIpedia.com" I realized that I STILL didn't know what "wiki"meant.
Thanks to my browsing around on wikipedia, I started discovering that you sign up for it. So, that's what I did...sign up! Browsed some more on it but felt a little confused. It wasn't until I saw the demonstration video on what wikis were.
So, I went back to wikipedia to see if I can understand it better based on what I had seen on the video. It made more sense especially when we started using it with other students in class.
One of the other wiki sites used in the class was "pbwiki" and is still being used by me and my classmates. It's very useful especially in the field that I'm pursuing. I'll be honest, if I wasn't pursuing that field, I don't know if I would be using it. Maybe for leisure.
All depends I guess.
I first shook hands with this term back in June for my summer class, then completely forgot it's meaning. That all changed when I went to Library 2.0 (my class) and said "Ohhhhh!!! yeah, that's right!"
BUT! when I went on line to look at one site called "WIKIpedia.com" I realized that I STILL didn't know what "wiki"meant.
Thanks to my browsing around on wikipedia, I started discovering that you sign up for it. So, that's what I did...sign up! Browsed some more on it but felt a little confused. It wasn't until I saw the demonstration video on what wikis were.
So, I went back to wikipedia to see if I can understand it better based on what I had seen on the video. It made more sense especially when we started using it with other students in class.
One of the other wiki sites used in the class was "pbwiki" and is still being used by me and my classmates. It's very useful especially in the field that I'm pursuing. I'll be honest, if I wasn't pursuing that field, I don't know if I would be using it. Maybe for leisure.
All depends I guess.
Thing 6: Social Bookmarking.
I recently discovered "Social Bookmarking" in my current Library 2.0 class that I'm taking at Dominican.
When I first tried out del.icio.us my thoughts were "complicated, I don't get it! what is this?"
But, I played with it for a while. I totally understand it now and very happy with it because it makes my life a little bit easier. All, my sites come to me! Great idea in my opinion.
Just a side note:
The whole process of becoming familiar with tools such as these has allowed me to come to terms that when one engages themselves in figuring it all out, it can be very confusing to some or many....but give it time and play with it. I still get frustrated with other tools that are presented to me in class, but much to my surprise I end up figuring it all out in the end. Everytime!
My suggestion? Play with the tools even if it takes an hour or longer. Don't have time? No worries! :-) Take a break, come back whenever, try again...it'll still be there for you.
Embrace it! Don't hate it! :-P
When I first tried out del.icio.us my thoughts were "complicated, I don't get it! what is this?"
But, I played with it for a while. I totally understand it now and very happy with it because it makes my life a little bit easier. All, my sites come to me! Great idea in my opinion.
Just a side note:
The whole process of becoming familiar with tools such as these has allowed me to come to terms that when one engages themselves in figuring it all out, it can be very confusing to some or many....but give it time and play with it. I still get frustrated with other tools that are presented to me in class, but much to my surprise I end up figuring it all out in the end. Everytime!
My suggestion? Play with the tools even if it takes an hour or longer. Don't have time? No worries! :-) Take a break, come back whenever, try again...it'll still be there for you.
Embrace it! Don't hate it! :-P
Friday, November 9, 2007
Number 3. Done, Dit, Do!
As Ricky Ricardo once said: "I can not believe it!" Thus, is the case of step 3.
I had the privelage of chatting on Google chat a few days ago with Ruth from Youth!
At first I thought it was someone else wanting to chat with me. I was wrong.
It was Ruth! :-)
I'll be honest, I have chatted on Google chat before with friends of mine in the past but never with someone from Skokie, especially, an employee.
It's a fun way to chat, plus, Gmail is the best in my opinion. No spam, no jargon. Just right to the point and fast!
Can't think of anything else to say about except that, it's fun!
I had the privelage of chatting on Google chat a few days ago with Ruth from Youth!
At first I thought it was someone else wanting to chat with me. I was wrong.
It was Ruth! :-)
I'll be honest, I have chatted on Google chat before with friends of mine in the past but never with someone from Skokie, especially, an employee.
It's a fun way to chat, plus, Gmail is the best in my opinion. No spam, no jargon. Just right to the point and fast!
Can't think of anything else to say about except that, it's fun!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Thing 5: Flickr and Photosharing!
This I definitely did not know about!
When I followed these steps, I got so confused as to what I was actually doing. About 20-25 minutes later, I realized that Flickr allows one to add a blog list and then with the "blog this" tool I could see my picture posted on my blog. No one knows how I have been struggling to figure out how someone does that!!! I didn't know how one adds pics like that onto their blog.
This is beyond awesome!
I thank the steps in guiding me!
Awesome, awesome, and again, AWESOME!!!
Bob
When I followed these steps, I got so confused as to what I was actually doing. About 20-25 minutes later, I realized that Flickr allows one to add a blog list and then with the "blog this" tool I could see my picture posted on my blog. No one knows how I have been struggling to figure out how someone does that!!! I didn't know how one adds pics like that onto their blog.
This is beyond awesome!
I thank the steps in guiding me!
Awesome, awesome, and again, AWESOME!!!
Bob
Thing 4: Social Networking!
Ok, so just so everyone knows...I didn't do THING 3 yet because I'm waiting for someone out there to chat with me. :-(
So, I decided to just go ahead and try a new Socical Networking site. The one I did was not in the list. The name of the site is: "www.xanga.com." My url is: www.xanga.com/bphire.
Xanga is another blog spot for people who want to have fun. There are also new feature options where if one does not want to write a blog, they can post video blogs of themselves! Much like you tube only in a little bit of a different way.
When I was filling in the "about me" sections. I noticed that they had more fun options to write about one's self. For example, in the "Movies" section, there was a "actor that would play me in a movie," which I thought was very cool because MySpace and Facebook do not have these fun features.
If anyone is interested, feel free to try it out. www.xanga.com
You must register by creating name using you're email account. It's a lot of fun!
Let me know if anyone needs help with it. I will do the best I can to help! :-)
Until then...
P. Sout!
Bob
So, I decided to just go ahead and try a new Socical Networking site. The one I did was not in the list. The name of the site is: "www.xanga.com." My url is: www.xanga.com/bphire.
Xanga is another blog spot for people who want to have fun. There are also new feature options where if one does not want to write a blog, they can post video blogs of themselves! Much like you tube only in a little bit of a different way.
When I was filling in the "about me" sections. I noticed that they had more fun options to write about one's self. For example, in the "Movies" section, there was a "actor that would play me in a movie," which I thought was very cool because MySpace and Facebook do not have these fun features.
If anyone is interested, feel free to try it out. www.xanga.com
You must register by creating name using you're email account. It's a lot of fun!
Let me know if anyone needs help with it. I will do the best I can to help! :-)
Until then...
P. Sout!
Bob
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Added the RSS Feed into my blog!
Adding the RSS Feed into my blog template seemed a little difficult to do at first, but after playing around with it, I finally got it!
I went to Itunes.com and clicked on the RSS feed for the top 10 hits in music. I then copied and pasted the URL inside the "Feed URL" box and PRESTO! I am proud!!! :-D
I took me 5-10 minutes to figure that one out. The reason for my confusion was because I thought I could just copy and paste the URL of a website, but quite the contrary.
It was then after that I figured out that all I needed to do was click an RSS feed symbol and then copy and paste the URL of THAT!
Nice!
Bob
I went to Itunes.com and clicked on the RSS feed for the top 10 hits in music. I then copied and pasted the URL inside the "Feed URL" box and PRESTO! I am proud!!! :-D
I took me 5-10 minutes to figure that one out. The reason for my confusion was because I thought I could just copy and paste the URL of a website, but quite the contrary.
It was then after that I figured out that all I needed to do was click an RSS feed symbol and then copy and paste the URL of THAT!
Nice!
Bob
Thing 2!
I've had an RSS aggregator for the past 2 weeks now because of my "Library 2.0" class.
I remember first hearing about it in my summer class which was a course on HTML web designing.
I have to admit that it has to be the best thing ever invented. Tons of hours were spent on looking at websites and searching for news in the past. All this has changed, I have everything coming to me. How cool is that I thought. Now I use it more often.
It took me a little while to figure out how to work it but after fiddling around with it and IT becoming mine, I feel that it's a wonderful tool.
I remember first hearing about it in my summer class which was a course on HTML web designing.
I have to admit that it has to be the best thing ever invented. Tons of hours were spent on looking at websites and searching for news in the past. All this has changed, I have everything coming to me. How cool is that I thought. Now I use it more often.
It took me a little while to figure out how to work it but after fiddling around with it and IT becoming mine, I feel that it's a wonderful tool.
Here I am!
Well, hello everybody out there in SPL world!
Here I am with my first completion of the "10 things." I feel that this will be very exciting!
What's even cooler is the fact that I am currently taking a class at Dominican University called "library 2.0," and what we're covering is very similar to what we are trying to accomplish with the 10 things of Skokie Public Library. I've covered a few things in the class such as blogging and the RSS. Next is the social networking with different sites such as: flickr.com, del.icio.us.com, and wikpedia.com. Obviously there are a plethora of sites in the information super highway in which I am unfamiliar still, but I believe that experiences such as these can expand one's mind further, thus making them feel GREAT about becoming a computer GENIOUS and knowing all the computer slang that I'm sure once upon a time made us say: "what is THAT word mean???" :-)
What a wonderful opportunity to learn more by actually putting these tools to use!
So, let it be known that I am a student and do not know everything, but am sure looking forward to working with everyone in this journey of technological education! Woo hoo!!!
Let the games begin!
Bob
Here I am with my first completion of the "10 things." I feel that this will be very exciting!
What's even cooler is the fact that I am currently taking a class at Dominican University called "library 2.0," and what we're covering is very similar to what we are trying to accomplish with the 10 things of Skokie Public Library. I've covered a few things in the class such as blogging and the RSS. Next is the social networking with different sites such as: flickr.com, del.icio.us.com, and wikpedia.com. Obviously there are a plethora of sites in the information super highway in which I am unfamiliar still, but I believe that experiences such as these can expand one's mind further, thus making them feel GREAT about becoming a computer GENIOUS and knowing all the computer slang that I'm sure once upon a time made us say: "what is THAT word mean???" :-)
What a wonderful opportunity to learn more by actually putting these tools to use!
So, let it be known that I am a student and do not know everything, but am sure looking forward to working with everyone in this journey of technological education! Woo hoo!!!
Let the games begin!
Bob
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