Wow, I've made it to the end of my epic journey and I have to say I feel very proud!!
After a late start to the programme, it seemed like an enormous feat ahead of me, especially as several weeks elapsed after finally starting the programme when my computer completely packed up on me. So when it finally got going again, I have to admit to a lot of cramming, late nights and bulging eyes in an attempt to keep up the momentum and for fear of being computerless again.
I have to admit to enjoying taking part in this challenge. I enjoyed learning new 'computery' things that even my husband and kids had never heard of. There were some exercises which I didn't enjoy but on the whole it was a very worthwhile experience.
My favourite exercises were Image Generators, Zoho Writer, Library Thing and Flickr. These were all applications I had never used before but will definitely use in the future.
I enjoyed the exercises for You Tube and Social Bookmarking, mainly because I had used them before and knew a little about what they had to offer.
My least favourite exercises were RSS feeds, Podcasts and Technorati. I found these quite difficult to understand but at least I know what they are now and their uses.
So now I am looking forward to receiving my MP3 player and getting away from this computer and going for long walks listening to my music. Although I have enjoyed this experience, I prefer the simpler pleasures of life, computers and technology being quite low down on my list!!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Exercise 22- Social Networking and Libraries
As I said in my previous post, I do think that libraries using social networking tools such as bebo and facebook could be a way of attracting young people to the library. Young people today are so 'cyber' orientated that it could be one way of getting them interested in becoming a 'friend' of the library if they were not already involved previously. My kids use the computer constantly, it is the future and if libraries want to keep up, this is probably one of the ways it will do so.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Exercise 20 - E Books
I found this very easy to find. I like Google Book Search and it was very easy to use. I found a book of Wordsworths' poems and read some pages in the format of an e-book.
I thought the Kindle was a really innovative idea. I looked on Amazon.com and read the write up on the Kindle. It sounds a very clever idea and I can see lots of uses for it. The fact you can read a couple of chapters of a book before you decide to buy is definitely a plus.
I can see that e-books and the kindle have a place in the world today but I don't think they can ever replace the feel of a real book, the smell of an old book and the turning of real pages. I also don't think reading off a screen can be very good for your eyes in the long run. I think I'll stick with the real thing!!
I thought the Kindle was a really innovative idea. I looked on Amazon.com and read the write up on the Kindle. It sounds a very clever idea and I can see lots of uses for it. The fact you can read a couple of chapters of a book before you decide to buy is definitely a plus.
I can see that e-books and the kindle have a place in the world today but I don't think they can ever replace the feel of a real book, the smell of an old book and the turning of real pages. I also don't think reading off a screen can be very good for your eyes in the long run. I think I'll stick with the real thing!!
Exercise 21 - Bebo, Facebook etc
I was already experienced with Facebook and Bebo before starting the 23 things, so this was not new for me. I have a Facebook account myself and really enjoy using it as a way of communicating with friends overseas. I find it a really good way to keep in touch and it is also fun to use. My kids use Bebo which is really Facebook for kids and again they find it a fun way to keep in touch with their friends.
I thought it was great the Auckland City Library and Rotorua are using Bebo to keep their patrons up to date with 'library matters'. It definitely brings their libraries up to date and will appeal to the youngsters who we should be really encouraging into our libraries.
I thought it was great the Auckland City Library and Rotorua are using Bebo to keep their patrons up to date with 'library matters'. It definitely brings their libraries up to date and will appeal to the youngsters who we should be really encouraging into our libraries.
Exercise 19 - Podcasts
Having never been involved or used Podcasts before, this was all new to me. I took the tutorial 'What is a Podcast' and it all became a little clearer.
I explored Pod Nova and found this site quite interesting - http://www.podnova.com/channel/396280/. It is a book review site.
I explored Yahoo Audio and found it to be very user friendly. Not sure how much I will use Podcasts in the future, I have managed ok without them so far so probably not very often!!
I explored Pod Nova and found this site quite interesting - http://www.podnova.com/channel/396280/. It is a book review site.
I explored Yahoo Audio and found it to be very user friendly. Not sure how much I will use Podcasts in the future, I have managed ok without them so far so probably not very often!!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Exercise 17 - Web 2.0 Awards List
It was interesting to see which sites had come top of the list and won awards and I wasn't surprised that sites like 'del.icio.us' and 'flickr' were up there at the top.
I was impressed with a site called 'Spanish Pod' which is a site where you can learn Spanish in easy steps. You can download lessons onto your Mp3 player. I thought this would be a very useful site and one that could be used in libraries to good effect.
I signed up for the food website ' i'm cooked' http://www.imcooked.com/index.php. This is an entire website dedicated to food, my kind of site! It is a great site where you can share videos for recipies with other people. I found it to be very user friendly.
I was impressed with a site called 'Spanish Pod' which is a site where you can learn Spanish in easy steps. You can download lessons onto your Mp3 player. I thought this would be a very useful site and one that could be used in libraries to good effect.
I signed up for the food website ' i'm cooked' http://www.imcooked.com/index.php. This is an entire website dedicated to food, my kind of site! It is a great site where you can share videos for recipies with other people. I found it to be very user friendly.
Zoho Writer
ZOHO WRITER
I am having a play around with zoho writer and I am finding that it is quite similar to microsoft word.
I think it is different in the way you can share your document with others without having to email them.
It is also good that you can export documents in their current state.
It is an on line application.
I am enjoying having a play around with it!!
Exercise 15 - Rollyo
Not too impressed with this site, a little uninspiring. Don't think I will be using this one very often.
I created my own Rollyo site as requested and added a couple of sites I'm interested in.
http://rollyo.com/bunnee/
I created my own Rollyo site as requested and added a couple of sites I'm interested in.
http://rollyo.com/bunnee/
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Exercise 14 - Library Thing
I loved this site. How user friendly, just what I needed!!
I created my account and added some of my favourite books.
http://www.librarything.com/home/bunneeee
I created my account and added some of my favourite books.
http://www.librarything.com/home/bunneeee
Exercise 13 - Generators
http://www.letterjames.com/start.php?mod=image-gallery&lang=0&kat=6&charset=0&site=5
I really enjoyed this exercise and could have played around with all the different options available for ages. Unfortunately, not enough hours in the day!!
Exercise 12 - Sandbox
I found this exercise really interesting. The U-Tube video showing how to set up Wet Paint Wiki site was well done and explained how to make one in very easy steps.
I think it is an interesting idea to have a social website which grows as people contribute to it. It is useful for people with a common interest who need to collaborate. It seems to work well and elimates the need for people to send emails back and forth to one another and everyone involved can stay in touch and up to date.
I don't think I would use it too much but I can see its appeal.
I think it is an interesting idea to have a social website which grows as people contribute to it. It is useful for people with a common interest who need to collaborate. It seems to work well and elimates the need for people to send emails back and forth to one another and everyone involved can stay in touch and up to date.
I don't think I would use it too much but I can see its appeal.
Exercise 11 - Wikis
I already had quite a lot of experience with Wikis and Wikipedia before I started this exercise, so I knew how they operated. My children use Wikipedia quite a lot for homework purposes but you also have to be careful as the fact that anyone can write a Wiki or add to it can make it an unreliable source at times.
I watched 'Wikis in Plain English' on You Tube and for any one who wanted to create their own Wiki, it was a really good step by step guide.
I watched 'Wikis in Plain English' on You Tube and for any one who wanted to create their own Wiki, it was a really good step by step guide.
Exercise 10 Web 2.0
Reading 'Where will the next generation of the Web take libraries' by Tom Storey was very interesting and illustrated the point that people are using libraries less for simply reading purposes and now expect to access everything digitally. The web is such an important part of our lives now and will only continue to gain in momentum in the future. So much information is now digital that libraries cannot stand around and be left behind. As an information tool in itself, we must move with the times. Libaries have definitely changed over the last 10 years, readers needs have changed and how they use libraries now is quite different.
I watched 'Web 2.0 - The machine is using us' on U-Tube and found it very interesting and clever. It was interesting to show how we and the web are so interwined, one cannot survive without the other and how it is driven by us and our need for it.
I watched 'Web 2.0 - The machine is using us' on U-Tube and found it very interesting and clever. It was interesting to show how we and the web are so interwined, one cannot survive without the other and how it is driven by us and our need for it.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Exercise 9 Technorati
Well, I found technorati a bit too much really. It was not really explained very well and just seems to me it is yet another internet tool for gathering information, some of it quite irrelevant.
"Boing Boing" was rated as the number one blog with 3,888 fans and the top story was "security guard beat man in soccer arena, then get beat up by players". Need I say anymore!! Not one I will be using often!
"Boing Boing" was rated as the number one blog with 3,888 fans and the top story was "security guard beat man in soccer arena, then get beat up by players". Need I say anymore!! Not one I will be using often!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Exercise 8 - Del.icio.us
I found Del.icio.us to be a very interesting tool and can see how it would be very useful for research purposes. I found it very user friendly as well. All in all, a good exercise.
Exercise 7 RSS
After much extensive reading, my eyes are now aching, I managed to create the bloglines account and subscribe to various different feeds.
It was actually easier than I thought it would be and I can see the relevence and usefulness of using RSS.
Subscribing to the different sites was quite user friendly expecially when using bloglines quick picks.
It was actually easier than I thought it would be and I can see the relevence and usefulness of using RSS.
Subscribing to the different sites was quite user friendly expecially when using bloglines quick picks.
Exercise 6 Technology
Having been asked to write a blog on technology today, I questioned myself how much technology played a part in my day to day life. The answer to this and I expect to most people today is an enormous amount. We are surrounded by technology at home, at work and also at play. There is no getting away from it however we may try.
I personally sometimes feel quite swamped by the extent on which we rely upon technology today and yearn for bygone days when I couldn't be reached on the phone at any time of the day or night, when children were not continually plugged into some technological device or watching a screen in one form or the other.
However, whilst there are irritations with technology, I also recognise its importance and how it plays a significant part in our lives and will continue to now and in the future. Afterall, there are several technological items I couldn't live without, one of them being my hair straighteners!! I am also partial to watching the odd DVD with a glass of wine on a Saturday night!! With this in mind, I must put my negative feelings towards tecnolology to oneside and move with the times.
I personally sometimes feel quite swamped by the extent on which we rely upon technology today and yearn for bygone days when I couldn't be reached on the phone at any time of the day or night, when children were not continually plugged into some technological device or watching a screen in one form or the other.
However, whilst there are irritations with technology, I also recognise its importance and how it plays a significant part in our lives and will continue to now and in the future. Afterall, there are several technological items I couldn't live without, one of them being my hair straighteners!! I am also partial to watching the odd DVD with a glass of wine on a Saturday night!! With this in mind, I must put my negative feelings towards tecnolology to oneside and move with the times.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Exercise 5 Flickr applications
I thought this Flickr application was very clever and really easy to use!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Experiences using flickr
I found this exercise really interesting and enjoyed viewing lots of different photos.
I also found flickr quite user friendly. All in all, a good experience!
I also found flickr quite user friendly. All in all, a good experience!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The start of an epic journey!
Hello
Today I start the Web 2.0 programme. Very late starter, as in most things in life but nonetheless I am here now and on the road to, hopefully, gaining some much needed technical knowledge.
Well, here goes, got lots to catch up on, feeling very excited about my new journey of discovery, quite nervous having heard all the horror stories, web 2.0 taking over people's lives, will I survive?........ Watch this space.......
Today I start the Web 2.0 programme. Very late starter, as in most things in life but nonetheless I am here now and on the road to, hopefully, gaining some much needed technical knowledge.
Well, here goes, got lots to catch up on, feeling very excited about my new journey of discovery, quite nervous having heard all the horror stories, web 2.0 taking over people's lives, will I survive?........ Watch this space.......
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
