never too late

Week 9 - Thing 23 - Summary

2007-08-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe - I reached the end of the journey. Success!
What are my thoughts and feelings?

What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
First, it was just a thrill to create my own blog. The image generator was great fun and I found Flickr useful to find images and publish photos for family use. YouTube was a blast; online productivity helpful and I will be using Overdrive a great deal.

How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
It has given me more enthusiasm and self-confidence to explore computer technology and all its possibilities.

Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
I am surprised that I found more information, tools and applications that will be helpful, both professionally and personally.
Working on my own at home, I am pleased that I finished the project with only a few calls for help from coworkers. On the other hand, I missed the camaraderie experienced with a joint effort.
I also realize that I spent way more time than expected on the various exploratory exercises - by my own choice.

What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
For novices like me it would have helped to have a little more computer technology, such as how do you move an image from one place to another without losing your mind. Simple steps for the initiated, but...

If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again chose to participate?
I certainly would.

How would you describe your learning experience in a few words or a few sentences, so we can share our successes and promote this program?
It was an exciting, fun, challenging and at times frustrating journey well worth the time invested.

Week 9 - Thing 22 - Project Gutenberg and Overdrive

2007-08-02T10:28:00.000-07:00

This was very useful. I first explored possibilities with Project Gutenberg and was delighted to find that I can download books in German, French and Spanish. A great tool for the future.
I downloaded the Overdrive Media console, checked the CCPL website and downloaded a Spanish Language audiobook.
Great. Now I know what I am talking about if a customer needs more detailed instructions.
Next I will learn to burn a CD since that particular audiobook publisher allows it.

Week 9 - Thing 21 - Podcasts

2007-08-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

After looking at some of the directories to find podcasts, I added the Merlin learning link to my blogline account.
As in previous exercises, I have found that one has to be quite selective to find podcasts that fit specific interests. There is so much available.
I see the advantage of libraries using podcasts for booktalks, storytimes and training programs.

Week 8 - Thing 19 - Web 2.0 awards list

2007-07-30T10:21:00.000-07:00

After looking at a variety of categories, such as Travel, Fun and Music, I concentrated on Library Thing. Within the groups category, I found non-fiction, adult fiction and YA fiction. These can be very helpful for Readers' advisory as well as personal use. I am planning to let more patrons know about this site and ask them to give me their feedback.

Week 9 - Thing 20 - YouTube

2007-07-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY9qcDCFeVI

I watched "Create a Lemon Battery" among many other short pieces of various French Chansonniers and humorists. A great way to watch and listen to old favorites like Edith Piaf.

Libraries could use this tool for short "how-to" instructional videos, especially when introducing a new electronic feature or other new feature at the library.

Week 8 - Thing 18 - Online productivity

2007-07-29T13:21:00.000-07:00

With my existing Google account, I explored Google docs and created a document, listing all my 23 Things accounts with IDs and passwords.
I found this site easy to use and like the idea of having documents available online, without the need of a floppy or other device to save my documents.
This is certainly a great tool for teams and other cooperative efforts and projects.

Week7 - Thing 17 - Sandbox Wiki

2007-07-18T18:01:00.000-07:00

Not too hard. I signed up at maryland sandbox, followed the prescribed steps and - voila - my blog is added to Favorite Blogs.
Now, if you will excuse me, I will go and play some more in the sandbox.

Week 7 - Thing 16 - Wikis

2007-07-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

What is a wiki?
According to wikipedia, a wiki is: "A collaborative website which can be directly edited by anyone with access to it."
A wiki is a community-building, social and interactive tool.
As a person interested in languages, I was pleased to find out that "wiki" means quick in Hawaiian.

At CCPL we have been using wikis to share information among teams and committees.
Other library applications could be: Reader's advisory, Book clubs, Patron feedback about books or databases, to support a specific event, or develop a community project.

Week 6 - Thing 15: The Future of Libraries

2007-07-12T18:35:00.000-07:00

My previous blog leads directly to the U Tube video, "The machine is using us". Let's turn it around and use the machine to our advantage. This concept is not new and applies to all aspects of the technology revolution of recent decades.
The same exciting revolution is happening in libraries. I particularly appreciated the statement in the article "Away from Icebergs", stating: "if our services can’t be used without training, then it’s the services that need to be fixed—not our patrons."
The future of libraries includes not only technology, but an integration and collaboration of various communities. As a passionate traveler, I see the librarian of the future as a tour guide who can use technology, communities, human interaction and a sense of adventure to guide our patrons through a satisfying library experience wherever they are.
Finally, I liked the Santa Monica Public Library website with various links for visitors, residents, business, city hall and city services. One stop shopping for information.

Week 6 - Thing 14

2007-07-12T04:33:00.000-07:00

After viewing the Technorati tour, I explored the Popular Feature page. What a growing wealth of blogs and information.
The exercise with the keyword search "Learning 2.0" demonstrated the huge variety and number of results obtained by searching blog posts, tags or the blog directory. Going back to blog posts a few minutes later, I experienced the growth from 24,732 to 24, 737.
I also searched PLCMCL2 and mdlearn2 blogs.
The lesson I took away from looking at the top 100 favorate blogs is this: You have to develop a very discrminating search method to quickly get the information valuable to you, or you will be sitting at the computer for hours.

Week 6 - Thing 13

2007-07-10T17:38:00.000-07:00

After all the Fourth of July fun, it's time to get back to more play time.
After listening to the tutorial and reading the habits of wildly successful users, I signed up with http://del.icio.us and started tagging.
There is so much, one can get lost. The trick is to zero in on specific areas of interest. My tags so far are: travel, oregon (for planning a future trip), and free Spanish lessons. I will need some more time to stalk users in these categories.
Another trick will be to manage, consolidate and weed the tags. With these skills, I can see the site becoming useful and time-saving instead of just playing the time away.

Week 5 - Thing 12

2007-06-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

Rollyo
I created an account and explored the site, but found it a little confusing and a redundant tool. For my interest in travel, for example, I already have a number of sites that will alert me to some target destinations and prices.
However, I may be missing something and will explore further.

Week 5 - Thing 11

2007-06-30T08:52:00.000-07:00

Library Thing
Easy to use and lots of areas to explore.
I added at least 5 books and plan on making a list of what I want to read next.

Week 5 - Thing 10

2007-06-28T16:35:00.000-07:00

A star is born

Week 4 - Thing 9

2007-06-26T08:15:00.000-07:00

I subscibed to Merlin and added it to my feeds. I find the "cut and paste" method easy.
While exploring Feedster, Topix.net, etc, I realized that it is time to get selective in what I want to add to my feeds. For example, I got carried away, looking at a couple of Forum topics in Topix.net.
Bottom line: I will have to curtail my "playing time" at the computer to balance the rest of my fun time.

Week 4 - Thing 8

2007-06-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

I set up my bloglines newsreader account at:
www.bloglines.com/public/ebenet@carr.org
Then I signed up for over 14 feeds. There is so much to see and learn; it's a brand-new mountain vista.

Week 3 - Thing 7

2007-06-21T17:19:00.000-07:00

I am interested in opening a Skype account. This will allow us to communicate at a lower cost with our families overseas. So far, I have downloaded Skype, but have not taken any further action.

Week 3 - Thing 6

2007-06-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Heather's instructions, I finally succeeded: Here is a view of the Matterhorn.

There is so much to explore in Flickr mashups and 3rd party sites, it's amazing. My preferred is Mappr. It's going to be an excellent way to organize travel souvenirs.

I am excited about learning all this "stuff".

Week 3 - Thing 5

2007-06-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

I had fun exploring Flickr, Tags and Groups. Then I got carried away looking at photos of one of my favorite mountains, the Matterhorn. Unfortunately, I was not able to transfer the photo to my blog. Here is my next challenge....I will learn.

Matterhorn and Zermatt, Valais, Switzerland

Out of the Train - few of Zermatt and Matterhorn -The Matterhorn (14,693 feet) is perhaps the most familiar mountain in the European Alps. On the border between Switzerland and Italy, it towers over the Swiss village of Zermatt and the Italian village Breuil-Cervinia in the Val Tournanche. The mountain derives its name from the German words matt, meaning valley or meadow, and horn, which means peak.

My first Blog

2007-06-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

With the first Thing I have learned that it is difficult for me to convince myself that I CAN and WANT to use technology to my advantage.
On the other hand, I have no difficulty to begin with the end in mind, realizing that at times that end will have to be modified.