I think I've mentioned before, this is not something I will use on a personal level. I put my required books in but later I will remove the account in some fashion. It was interesting to see how many members owned some of the titles I inserted. One of my favorite books of all time (The Mists of Avalon) had the most entries - 5816. Conversely, I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles had been entered by zero members. A bit of a surprise. I suppose there is some guilt involved with the idea that I would access this site for "like" books but I am not interested in joining the community and building the catalog and its reference tags. Some guilt, just not enough for me to overcome.
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/jewelspeony
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Week 8 Thing 18
I did check out Zoho Writer, created something and then "shared" it with my teen. Yet again, I find myself viewing these applications through her eyes or at least my view of her experiences while trying to meet requirements of classes. Students are often given group projects to be completed outside of class. My daughter is forever running in to difficulties with formatting issues with classmates computers and email issues as they try to email documents back and forth. One makes changes, another makes changes and then they all try to edit the "master" copy down. Sometime she takes documents from her mac at home on her jump drive to school only to encounter formatting issues when they use the DELL lab that day. Web based document services gets people away from some of these difficulties. If one is to be working on the text and one is to be locating the images, they can do that and lay it in to the document as it is located.
I am curious as to whether ASD's filter would let zoho through? Anyone know?
The tool bars are acheiveable to anyone who has used word processing programs. In fact, most of the icons look exactly the same. I am willing to leave a "library" of documents online but would also back up to my computer when document is finalized.
I can't help but think with the ubiquitous nature of Google that one might be better served with using Google Docs. Much of the planet is already familiar with google, many have a g mail acct. With the resources behind google, I can't help think that it will become a well supported and easy to use feature very quickly. I know, I just helped Google continue on their path to world domination.
PS - I love free stuff!!
Overall an easy way to coauthor something with someone without a lot of the difficulties.
I am curious as to whether ASD's filter would let zoho through? Anyone know?
The tool bars are acheiveable to anyone who has used word processing programs. In fact, most of the icons look exactly the same. I am willing to leave a "library" of documents online but would also back up to my computer when document is finalized.
I can't help but think with the ubiquitous nature of Google that one might be better served with using Google Docs. Much of the planet is already familiar with google, many have a g mail acct. With the resources behind google, I can't help think that it will become a well supported and easy to use feature very quickly. I know, I just helped Google continue on their path to world domination.
PS - I love free stuff!!
Overall an easy way to coauthor something with someone without a lot of the difficulties.
Week 7 Thing 17
I like how the curriculum Wiki is organized. The categories are helpful.
I noted in Thing 16 how I would use a wiki and like someone else noted in the curriculum wiki, I too have referred to Faith's East High wiki for organizational ideas.
I enjoy having access to peoples ideas- what they take away from the same exercises I did can be SO different. Sometimes all I need is to read through some of their ideas and then I have a spring board to what will actually fit my staff and students.
Many thanks to Deborah M. for all the links to the white board resources!
Someone had the idea of using a voice thread intro on their library wiki. I wonder if that would work going through ASD filters, etc.? Even a voice thread demo of using Webcat (opac)on the wiki might be helpful to families.
I noted in Thing 16 how I would use a wiki and like someone else noted in the curriculum wiki, I too have referred to Faith's East High wiki for organizational ideas.
I enjoy having access to peoples ideas- what they take away from the same exercises I did can be SO different. Sometimes all I need is to read through some of their ideas and then I have a spring board to what will actually fit my staff and students.
Many thanks to Deborah M. for all the links to the white board resources!
Someone had the idea of using a voice thread intro on their library wiki. I wonder if that would work going through ASD filters, etc.? Even a voice thread demo of using Webcat (opac)on the wiki might be helpful to families.
Week 7 Thing 16
As with many things on the net, my frustrations with wiki's come when they are not updated or removed when they become dated. I don't think it's necessary for the Princeton public library to leave their books reviews from a summer book group from more than a year ago. If the reviews are good, couldn't they add them to a different page about reviews and eliminate the old summer book club link? As I searched through several of these wiki's, it becomes necessary to sift through the items are still valid and those that are not (net searching tip sheets from 2005 or before). I don't feel it necessary to leave an active archive on the net for the world to see, but then again, I don't like to journal my life and activities to be unearthed after I'm gone either. I also understand that the types that are creating the info on the net probably have a difficult time tracking the volumes out there.
On the positive side, I believe it is the easiest jump for some of us to provide access to resources to our institutions. I took two different web page design classes and never did feel ready or capable of managing it on an on going basis. My encounter with HTML made my jaw drop and I had flashbacks to my confused state during library cataloging class. I had one introduction to wiki creation and management a year ago and sighed with relief because I knew this was doable for me with my limited skill set and allowed me to meet a professional obligation for dissemination of information and resources.
Because I don't normally jump from wiki to wiki evaluating them but use one at time when needed, I didn't realize how truly bland they are to look at when used in succession. Like most, I guess I have become accustomed to the colorful, graphic rich web sites that are out there that I complain about because you have to sort through all those fabulous features to get to the content desired. Geez, I'm never happy!
For my application in an elementary library, a closed classroom project wiki makes a great deal of sense. It is an authentic beginning step for youthful users where ethics and protocols can be shared while content is being delivered and standards demonstrated. Also, link pathways for particular class projects is a suitable use. I think it is a reasonable place for students to post their ideas for Battle of the Books questions.
On the positive side, I believe it is the easiest jump for some of us to provide access to resources to our institutions. I took two different web page design classes and never did feel ready or capable of managing it on an on going basis. My encounter with HTML made my jaw drop and I had flashbacks to my confused state during library cataloging class. I had one introduction to wiki creation and management a year ago and sighed with relief because I knew this was doable for me with my limited skill set and allowed me to meet a professional obligation for dissemination of information and resources.
Because I don't normally jump from wiki to wiki evaluating them but use one at time when needed, I didn't realize how truly bland they are to look at when used in succession. Like most, I guess I have become accustomed to the colorful, graphic rich web sites that are out there that I complain about because you have to sort through all those fabulous features to get to the content desired. Geez, I'm never happy!
For my application in an elementary library, a closed classroom project wiki makes a great deal of sense. It is an authentic beginning step for youthful users where ethics and protocols can be shared while content is being delivered and standards demonstrated. Also, link pathways for particular class projects is a suitable use. I think it is a reasonable place for students to post their ideas for Battle of the Books questions.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Chapter 1 Reflections
Chapter 1 references The Tipping Point by Gladwell and the notion that epidemics serve as a metaphor for change and behaviors can spread like viruses and that the tipping point is “the moment within an epidemic when everything can change”. The question is posed as to how much new technology and methods are enough for the tipping point to be reached in schools.
The initial internet/computer movement seemed to be an extension of the war between the have’s and the have not’s. Everything was application based and that required development, testing and in the end money for those who could afford the application. This was also a reason education could never keep up with technology. Our funding did not allow for the latest updates and applications and heaven knows, nothing ever happens rapidly in education anyway. Technology is just not static enough for education.
It seems to me that the tipping point will be present when the Web and its egalitarian 2.0 notions are brought to everyone through free web access and greater band with within communities. I was caught off guard when I read that two years ago the U.S. only had 44% broadband access. When our capitalistic culture looks beyond short term profits (I have nothing against competition in the market place) and understands the future of our culture in the global marketplace is at stake perhaps the change can occur. If the power of 2.0 and its potential is to be met, along with the potential of our students, we must insure access to the technology first. Only with ubiquitous access can the scales tip to real integration to the learning process.
The initial internet/computer movement seemed to be an extension of the war between the have’s and the have not’s. Everything was application based and that required development, testing and in the end money for those who could afford the application. This was also a reason education could never keep up with technology. Our funding did not allow for the latest updates and applications and heaven knows, nothing ever happens rapidly in education anyway. Technology is just not static enough for education.
It seems to me that the tipping point will be present when the Web and its egalitarian 2.0 notions are brought to everyone through free web access and greater band with within communities. I was caught off guard when I read that two years ago the U.S. only had 44% broadband access. When our capitalistic culture looks beyond short term profits (I have nothing against competition in the market place) and understands the future of our culture in the global marketplace is at stake perhaps the change can occur. If the power of 2.0 and its potential is to be met, along with the potential of our students, we must insure access to the technology first. Only with ubiquitous access can the scales tip to real integration to the learning process.
Week 6 Thing 15
It is a bit difficult to separate out my feelings as a library professional from those of my citizen self. When Rick Anderson lobs the "look skeptically at the very idea of a library “collection” grenade, my citizen self feels the shrapnel impact. As a professional, I recognize the need to bob and weave to keep up and anticipate the needs of citizens.
While I believe in the mantra "Make and effort, not an excuse" I feel there are some challenges to "keeping up". I do take responsibility for my learning, hence my enrollment in this class, but we are faced with some logistical issues handled differently in the private sector. In tech heavy industries money, personnel and staff development are dedicated to keeping people in the loop because their success and or failure may depend on it. Public institutions like libraries do not have those luxuries. The job as it currently exists must be delivered AND consideration must be given to where services might be going and the ground work is laid for this simultaneously.
As Anderson states "No profession can survive if it throws its core principles and values overboard in response to every shift in the zeitgeist." Let's face it those "shifts" he's referring to are more frequent than the mood of a female 16 year old! I have difficult striking a balance between unresponsiveness and band wagon jumping. My "committment issues" come shining through when it comes to dedicated limited budget and labor dollars to projects and developments without having a firm confidence that will effect library users or efficiency.
While I believe in the mantra "Make and effort, not an excuse" I feel there are some challenges to "keeping up". I do take responsibility for my learning, hence my enrollment in this class, but we are faced with some logistical issues handled differently in the private sector. In tech heavy industries money, personnel and staff development are dedicated to keeping people in the loop because their success and or failure may depend on it. Public institutions like libraries do not have those luxuries. The job as it currently exists must be delivered AND consideration must be given to where services might be going and the ground work is laid for this simultaneously.
As Anderson states "No profession can survive if it throws its core principles and values overboard in response to every shift in the zeitgeist." Let's face it those "shifts" he's referring to are more frequent than the mood of a female 16 year old! I have difficult striking a balance between unresponsiveness and band wagon jumping. My "committment issues" come shining through when it comes to dedicated limited budget and labor dollars to projects and developments without having a firm confidence that will effect library users or efficiency.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Week 6 Thing 14
As I searched around on Technorati we should all be grateful I do not have a seizure disorder. If I were actually interested in reading others blogs, the pulsing ads would have kept me from my desires and sent me in to a full blown seizure. Even if I would utilize blogs in my life ( I won't), this particular site would have to tone things down before I would add it to my del.icio.us list. I actually had to squint my eyes while I looked around on a couple of pages because of the constant barrage of ads.
I did complete the search and what came up between the directory and blog posts did come out different. I received more results on the blog posts but I only glanced at a couple before determining I had no interest.
The fact that Technorati exists is a testament to the self aggrandizing culture we are living with. There are far too many people on the planet that feel every thought and emotion is worthy of foisting on to the rest of the planet and worse yet, that we should be looking for it, reading it and responding because what they have to say is so profound. As I reviewed the information on the "Tour" page these thoughts were only confirmed by comments such as "We're here to help make sense of all the interesting stuff we do in real-time. " AND "We've personalized the homepage so you can get a look at all the stuff you care about on one page." See my comments below about what they think is important about entertainment.
Unfortunately, I clicked on the entertainment tab and then movies where I was faced with the following: Lindsay Lohans Breasts Are Looking Damn Juicy.
Sorry but this was on their front page of entertainment/movies. They can't come up with commentary with more value regarding the entertainment industry and upcoming film releases than some guys crude drool over how Lohan's breasts look in a tank top? I'm not sifting through this crap. Don't get me wrong, I am aware of the value of Internet resources for education. It is just that the task is so enormous and evolving on how to get people to be discerning about what they use. Take one look at the undesirable effects TV has had on our culture. Imagine what effect the trash on the net will be able to achieve in a generation or two.
Tagging Advantages: My tags make sense for me on my del.icio.us acct. It keeps me organized in regard to projects in my school. I MAY find other sites using a tag search on del.icio.us. that could assist me in my work.
Tagging Disadvantages: There are far too many variations on what the tag really means. No universal guidelines or requirements.
I did complete the search and what came up between the directory and blog posts did come out different. I received more results on the blog posts but I only glanced at a couple before determining I had no interest.
The fact that Technorati exists is a testament to the self aggrandizing culture we are living with. There are far too many people on the planet that feel every thought and emotion is worthy of foisting on to the rest of the planet and worse yet, that we should be looking for it, reading it and responding because what they have to say is so profound. As I reviewed the information on the "Tour" page these thoughts were only confirmed by comments such as "We're here to help make sense of all the interesting stuff we do in real-time. " AND "We've personalized the homepage so you can get a look at all the stuff you care about on one page." See my comments below about what they think is important about entertainment.
Unfortunately, I clicked on the entertainment tab and then movies where I was faced with the following: Lindsay Lohans Breasts Are Looking Damn Juicy.
Sorry but this was on their front page of entertainment/movies. They can't come up with commentary with more value regarding the entertainment industry and upcoming film releases than some guys crude drool over how Lohan's breasts look in a tank top? I'm not sifting through this crap. Don't get me wrong, I am aware of the value of Internet resources for education. It is just that the task is so enormous and evolving on how to get people to be discerning about what they use. Take one look at the undesirable effects TV has had on our culture. Imagine what effect the trash on the net will be able to achieve in a generation or two.
Tagging Advantages: My tags make sense for me on my del.icio.us acct. It keeps me organized in regard to projects in my school. I MAY find other sites using a tag search on del.icio.us. that could assist me in my work.
Tagging Disadvantages: There are far too many variations on what the tag really means. No universal guidelines or requirements.
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