This has been an interesting, fun and frustrating project. I learned quite a lot, and explored a number of social networking and productivity tools that I would not have discovered without this project's tasks. I particularly enjoyed learning more about Flickr, which I had been using, but didn't realize how much more there is to learn about it, until doing some of the exercises involved in Learning 2.0
I did a lot of the projects on personal time, because it is just too hectic at work, and I need time to think about what I write. Since I really wanted to learn, this was certainly not a problem for me.
In order to remain relevant, I think the Learning 2.0 program needs to be updated on a more frequent basis. Some of the things I looked at, including Technorati and Rollyo, don't seem all that useful at this point. Instead of Rollyo, I think it would be great to do a project on creating your own search engine, using Google Custom Search.
There are also new things out there, such as Twitter, that would be really helpful to know more about. I am on Twitter, but I really don't understand it very well, and I know I'm not using it all that effectively. I think the library could be Twittering, and if we were to consider that, it would be most helpful if the staff had a working knowledge of the codes and lingo used there. Twitter is not even mentioned in the version of Learning 2.0 that we used.
It also would have been nice if there would have been a little more feedback. I tried to post comments on other blogs involved with this program, but very few of my colleagues returned the favor. It was a little lonely writing only for myself!
I will continue to blog, as it's a nice way to think about and share ideas, and so far as SCLD's program goes, I am very pleased that there is now a blog for sharing continuing education information and another for sharing book reviews. I hope to continue to contribute worthwhile content to both of them!
Monday, July 20, 2009
When this project first started, I opened a Facebook account. I had looked at MySpace, but hated it's messy layout. Facebook seemed tidier. My daughter was desperate to open an account on one of those two sites, but I was not willing to allow her, without really understanding what it entailed myself. So, there I went.
The first week that I had my account, I re-connected with a couple of classmates from highschool, which was fun. Then suddenly, nearly every member (including my 74-year-old mother) also signed up for accounts. Then, acquaintances from other on-line social networks that have undergone some changes, reconnected as well, and I found myself spending more time than I like to admit, catching up with all of them.
I finally allowed Siobhan to open an account after school let out for the summer. I've had sufficient time to learn the ins and outs of privacy settings, and she is instructed that we must remain "friends," in order for her to continue.
I still see some huge pitfalls with this very entertaining website. If a kid "Friends" most of their classmates, and then sees that there is a meet-up somewhere, to which they have not been invited, that will be a very sad moment. If somebody writes something nasty on somebody else's wall, every friend they have will see that, reflecting badly on possibly everybody that reads or partakes in that conversation. I have also learned that it is possible to "block" somebody, which can cause terribly hurt feelings. My teenaged niece puts such random posts up that it litters my wall, and makes no sense. I think she is having a private conversation and doesn't realize that where she puts it makes it public for all 700 of her friends. Another relative put up some highly private (in my opinion) information about herself that I felt would damage her reputation and possibly come back to haunt her in job searches. She too has hundreds of "friends," so even though not everybody has access to her information, I believe that she may be putting herself at risk.
My privacy settings were set so high, that nobody could find me; in fact when my daughter signed up, between her privacy settings and mine, we could not find each other, by e-mail or name. At the moment my privacy settings are a little looser, and I have had a few friend requests since. Once I feel like I've connected with the folks that I might like, I will lock it down tight once again.
For now, if you want to find me, look for "Wilma Gyswyt Flanagan." I have filled out all the profile information and followed all the steps on "The Extra Super Bonus Set" of the Learning 2.0 project.
The first week that I had my account, I re-connected with a couple of classmates from highschool, which was fun. Then suddenly, nearly every member (including my 74-year-old mother) also signed up for accounts. Then, acquaintances from other on-line social networks that have undergone some changes, reconnected as well, and I found myself spending more time than I like to admit, catching up with all of them.
I finally allowed Siobhan to open an account after school let out for the summer. I've had sufficient time to learn the ins and outs of privacy settings, and she is instructed that we must remain "friends," in order for her to continue.
I still see some huge pitfalls with this very entertaining website. If a kid "Friends" most of their classmates, and then sees that there is a meet-up somewhere, to which they have not been invited, that will be a very sad moment. If somebody writes something nasty on somebody else's wall, every friend they have will see that, reflecting badly on possibly everybody that reads or partakes in that conversation. I have also learned that it is possible to "block" somebody, which can cause terribly hurt feelings. My teenaged niece puts such random posts up that it litters my wall, and makes no sense. I think she is having a private conversation and doesn't realize that where she puts it makes it public for all 700 of her friends. Another relative put up some highly private (in my opinion) information about herself that I felt would damage her reputation and possibly come back to haunt her in job searches. She too has hundreds of "friends," so even though not everybody has access to her information, I believe that she may be putting herself at risk.
My privacy settings were set so high, that nobody could find me; in fact when my daughter signed up, between her privacy settings and mine, we could not find each other, by e-mail or name. At the moment my privacy settings are a little looser, and I have had a few friend requests since. Once I feel like I've connected with the folks that I might like, I will lock it down tight once again.
For now, if you want to find me, look for "Wilma Gyswyt Flanagan." I have filled out all the profile information and followed all the steps on "The Extra Super Bonus Set" of the Learning 2.0 project.
Thing 22: Downloadable Audiobooks
I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with our down-loadable audiobooks. This is mainly because my computer is a Mac, and even though I can now get some books in the MP3 format, which can be downloaded onto the Mac, most things are still only available to download via a Windows machine. I have hope that as time goes by, this will change, especially since recently, many books that were previously unavailable for use on an iPod have now become iPod friendly. When the software becomes more Mac-friendly, I will be using this service a lot more, I'm sure!
My daughter uses the service all the time. She uses my little Netbook to download and transfer her books to a 2 GB Sansa Clip. She has certain books that she listens to over and over again. Although her rights to listen expire after the two week check-out period, she leaves the files in place, and re-reserves the books. Then when she gets the new check-out, she simply re-installs the rights, and doesn't have to re-download the whole book. Clever child.
I have assisted a number of customers with difficulties in getting the software properly installed on their computers. I even made a "housecall" once, to a customer who turned out to be a neighbor of mine!
I still prefer to actually read my books, but under certain circumstances, like a long journey, a good audiobook is just the ticket. Among long journeys, I count my longer bike rides, where I can listen, using earphones that still allow me to be aware of what is happening around me. The Overdrive program is great, because you don't have to permanently store the data on your hard-drive, and of course the price cannot be beat. I'm waiting for the day when we add digital downloads of the print versions as well for e-book readers. Our libraries can be smaller, and hold so much more. It's a good thing, as Martha Stewart always says.
My daughter uses the service all the time. She uses my little Netbook to download and transfer her books to a 2 GB Sansa Clip. She has certain books that she listens to over and over again. Although her rights to listen expire after the two week check-out period, she leaves the files in place, and re-reserves the books. Then when she gets the new check-out, she simply re-installs the rights, and doesn't have to re-download the whole book. Clever child.
I have assisted a number of customers with difficulties in getting the software properly installed on their computers. I even made a "housecall" once, to a customer who turned out to be a neighbor of mine!
I still prefer to actually read my books, but under certain circumstances, like a long journey, a good audiobook is just the ticket. Among long journeys, I count my longer bike rides, where I can listen, using earphones that still allow me to be aware of what is happening around me. The Overdrive program is great, because you don't have to permanently store the data on your hard-drive, and of course the price cannot be beat. I'm waiting for the day when we add digital downloads of the print versions as well for e-book readers. Our libraries can be smaller, and hold so much more. It's a good thing, as Martha Stewart always says.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)