10.23 End/Beginning

I enjoyed this learning experience and want to play around with some of the items some more, especially LibraryThing. That was probably my favorite. I did not ask for much help because I am really bad with this kind of stuff and wanted to try to figure as much out on my own as possible. I think that is fairly obvious because my blog is pretty sad looking.

I would like to particiapte in more of these activities but timing is an issue. Summer is not a quiet time for every section of the building. I think it would be better to plan an activity like this over a longer period of time. I know this was a work activity and we were encouraged to take part but I felt like I was neglecting my other work when I spent more than 15 minutes on this.

I guess I am also old school. I cannot see myself posting a lot of personal type items on the web i.e. photos. Although I do thing that it is an inexpensive way to share with family and friends.

It did give me the urge for a better computer at home and for it to be a laptop. When I did work on this at home, I always borrowed Andrew's laptop instead of using our old computer. Sitting in the recliner was a lot more fun.

10.22 Social Networking

I think the word addicting is a good way to describe social networks. I know my son spends a lot of time on them. He has an account on Facebook and MySpace. I think contact with your peers is important and this seems to be the preferred method. But I wonder sometimes if it is just a competition - I have more contacts then you do, etc.

I am a lot more private then people may think so I don't believe I am not real comfortable with these sites. I am also concerned with how safe they are.

Like several of the other items we have looked at, there are probably uses for the library. However are we on information overload? Are there so may formats, we are not providing information in the best manner?

9.21 Podcasts

I found several podcasts I would like to listen to, including ones on literature, and history. I think the ones I would listen to the most right now would be news related, especially the political ones.

I think podcasts could be used as an instructional tool by the reference librarians to reach more students, especially incoming freshmen, in various classrooms. However, I still think face-to-face instruction would be better. But a podcast that could be refered back to may be helpful.
Personally I am a visual learner and would prefer some kind of videocast over an audiocast.

I do think all these different tools could be helpful in aiding students, like myuself, with different learning styles.

9.19 YouTube

How long could you watch YouTube before you hade seen everything? Needless to say I searched for video that had to do with Ocracoke and got 76 hits. I have only looked at a couple. I am going to try and post the one about dolphins to my blog but I have not been too successful with adding items to it.

I suppose most things could be used as an educational tool if you worked at it, including YouTube. We already have a video about Alden. Anything that would make the library fun would be good. The more welocming we can be, the more we will be used - not just as a place for research but as the place to hang out and study.

8.19 Other Web 2.0s

Well I had to check out the book category. I selected the Reader2 site, which had received an honorable mention. I didn't like the site. Compared to LibraryThing, I thought it was rather dull in appearance and not as easy to explore.

I am not sure how the site could be used in a college library setting. Maybe someone could enter the books they have used while researching a paper and see what suggestions they could get for similar material. i am not sure if they would find a lot of new resources that way or not.

I am going to have to put more of the books I have read into Library Thing to see what kind of responses I get to see how I feel about the possibilty of a similar site being a research aid.

8.18 Online Working Documents

I was a little disappointed with the online planners/calendars. I am going to play with them some more and look for others to see if I can find one I like. I am on a search for the perfect pen, the perfect bag and the perfect calendar. Well maybe..

I do not think I will use the online documnets and spread sheets myself but I think they are a great idea. I think they are a great planning tool for events, class projects, meetings, etc. I think it would make it a lot easier to work on a paper together. I wonder if the writing tutors are using this tool with the students.

7.17 Sandbox Wiki

Well I added my blog to the Favortie Blog page - the Library Learning Wiki. This was one of the easiest projects so far. But I still have mixed feelings about wikis.

7.16 Wikis

I think I would like to have more time to explore the Library Success wiki. It look likes it has a lot of great information. The Princeton Public Library Wiki does not appear to have been updated recently.

I still have mixed feelings about wikis. I noticed on the Library Success wiki, you now have to authenticate with your email address due to the amount of vanalism on the site. I understand the beauty of a wiki is that anyone can put information on the site which makes it a great way to share information, thoughts, ideas, etc. However, not everyone is the expert they think they are and maybe should not be posting.

There could be uses for an Alden wiki. However are we going to have information in so many different places and formats, people will become confused on wher to look? Or it will become to time consuming?

Maybe we could develop a wiki from the UC classes which the students could added to - what did they find helpful, tips they have for other students, etc. We could have a wiki for our student works - not accessible through the staff wiki - with information for them, where they could add tips for each other. I think authenication for that one would be the best.

6.15 Library 2.0

All we have to do is look around to see things are changing at Alden. I can still remember the card catalogues. Now we can view the table of contents without even touching the book. Good-bye browsing in the stacks.

The easier it is for students to obtain information the better but they still need to know the importance of good research techniques. Some people seem to forget everything is not a click away.

The more colloboration the better though. I read that OCLC now has an office in Bejing.

The biggest drawback I see is having the money to facilitate dreams into reality.

6.14 Technorati

As with other search engines, etc, where you search in the Technorati site effects you number of immediate results. I think I would use this site mostly to look for other blogs for information on a variety of topics. The site was easy to navigate which I liked.

As with the other exercises though, I could spend all day on these sites and still have a lot more to learn and explore. I don't think I have a good handle on the best way to use all these things to make them work most effectively for me.

I am still not comfortable with posting a lot of information on the web. I am a lot more private than many may guess.