This activity helped me get some terminology sorted, and increased my confidence so that I am keen to help the librarian (for whom I volunteer)produce some tutorials about using the OPAC, for those who aren't familiar with it. Here's what I learnt: In the library setting, slideshows are useful for presentations, storytelling and training purposes. 'Slideshare' is an online slideshow hosting service, where slideshows (powerpoints, open office and PDF files) can be uploaded and shared online, or embedded into a blog or website. The slideshow then has a URL which can be shared via email. Soho is a similar site that allows you to create, edit and upload online presentations.ScreenCasting involves making a digital recording of a computer screen with added audio.
I explored Screenr and attempted to make a presentation about using the OPAC in my public library. I couldn't get the audio to work...(guess I need a microphone)but I'm sure this would be easily sorted. What I learnt was that the technology is very user friendly (surprise surprise). It is the development of the script that would be time consuming. When I first started my online study, I made good use of screencasts when learning how to use the CSU library. Now I feel I'm ready to make one! This is an excellent tool and I hope I can convince Ros that we can make some really useful screencasts.
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Activity 17: Nings
Like lots of new technological terms, I had come across the term Ning but had no idea what it was before I completed this activity. Here's what I know now. A Ning is a site that combines elements of blogs, wikis and forums. It is a social networking site for an online community. Ning used to offer a free service, but now it is fee based (which upset some users). I explored the 'Mosman Reader' Ning which contained lots of content and seemed to be an active community. For myself, the 'Library 2.0' Ning was very interesting, expecially the 'New Librarian Experience' group, and the 'Public Libraries 2.0' group. I also found the 'NSW Public Library's' group (run by Ellen) and tried to join, but haven't had an email reply yet. Ning claims to be 'the worlds largest platform for creating social websites'. Phil Bradley's weblog lists some alternatives that are free; www.zimbio.com and www.socialgo.com. Ning is a really effective online community building tool. I also think in a public library setting, those participating in an online Ning community could also meet physically. So I see it could be a way to build an online community that would spill over into the physical environment of the library too.
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Activity 16: Evaluation of Web 2 Tools
In this activity I learnt how lots of Web 2 tools can have a built in ability to gather statistics about users. Google analytics is used to gather statistics from websites, blogs and wikis. The University where I completed my placement used google analytics to see which parts of their website and which information sources were most used. Survey Monkey is a free or fee based service for creating a survey to use online. The public library I visit recently hosted a survey created by servey monkey, which I completed.
I have set up a Feedburner account to analyse use of my blog. Let me say I am not expecting great things here. For libraries, I can definitely see the benefits of these statistic gathering tools. If a librarian wanted to create a blog, wiki, podcast etc., and needed permission to do so, being able to say statistics would be so easily gathered about the tool would be a great selling point, when everything these days needs to be costed and justified etc.
I have set up a Feedburner account to analyse use of my blog. Let me say I am not expecting great things here. For libraries, I can definitely see the benefits of these statistic gathering tools. If a librarian wanted to create a blog, wiki, podcast etc., and needed permission to do so, being able to say statistics would be so easily gathered about the tool would be a great selling point, when everything these days needs to be costed and justified etc.
Activity 15: Del.icio.us
I have just created a Delicious account(as I didn't do so in the first course),so here is my Delicious tagcloud. Am rather pleased with it but realise it is rather small compared other peoples. It is a start....
Actually this tagcloud is quite a personalised description of how I spend my time. This activity wasn't too difficult, partly because I did spend time exploring Delicious in the first nswlearning2 course. I have to admit that my 'Favourites' box was so random and unorganised and dated, I had to sort through and decide which sites to bookmark via delicious. This really is a good activity for a soon to be librarian (am worried that my Favourites box didn't look like a librarian's Favourites box should, however.....my Delicious account does!). I will definitely be adding to it, and can really see the benefits for libraries to share websites they have tagged, as searching for useful sites/requested topics is so time consuming.
Activity 14: Tweeting
So I've been hearing about tweeting and seeing the twitter icon everywhere for ages, and now I've spent some time trying to understand the attraction. Here's what I've learnt: Tweets can be up to 140 characters only, tweets are short bite sized updates, tweets allow you to publish your thoughts quickly and follow others' thoughts/information streams, tweets can be viewed by everyone (public homepage) a group or indiviuals, tweets can be published to a blog or social networking site, tweets make connections, tweets serve a different purpose to blogs and email. Librarians tweet to keep clients updated and informed on any manner of things. I did a tweet search for public libraries and found some interesting topics to follow...the convoy of no confidence heading to Canberra, and another..'Take action: stop the privatization of California's public libraries' by Watchdogsniffer (how do they think of these names?). My first impression of tweets was that they are a different language! For example, this ALIA tweet: RT2helenmilner Some slides on slideshare for #disll&future enjoyment slidesha.re/nVBFQH+filmison YouTube bit......I guess Helen Milner must understand this tweet. Some tweets definitely require some deciphering, but I think you would get used to the
language and 140 character limit with practice. I haven't gone as far as getting a twitter account myself. I'm more interested as a result of my exploration though.
language and 140 character limit with practice. I haven't gone as far as getting a twitter account myself. I'm more interested as a result of my exploration though.
Friday, 5 August 2011
Activity 13: Refreshing the blog
So I have revisited what is possible via blogger, and changed a few things (the colour and font of the title, and font of the description). I looked at other templates, but decided to keep my book shelves template, as I really like it, and books are still relevant to the topic of libraries, despite the prevalence of digital/online everything. I also learnt that blogs can have up to 100 authors (for blogger anyhow), and a blog can be read by anyone, people I choose, or only blog authors. I also became more aware of other settings and what they achieve, such as how the archives can be sorted.
As I'm not following a weekly timetable for this program, I can't really comment on how much I've blogged since the 2.0 course, as I only just completed activity 12 an hour or so ago.
I guess JoBlogsWeb2 is a form of 'Life blogging' (which is reality blogging), in that it records my progression through this program. I like the informality of it, and how such informality can make a blog appealing to a large audience.
So far I haven't commented on others blogs, partly because lots of them were created quite a while ago, and I'm not sure that the authors would be checking them now for comments. However I did notice in the feedback form that participants do like comments, so....when I do come across a blog that seems to be current, I will comment on it from now on. Mylee provided the only comment on my blog so far, and I did like getting a comment. Thanks Mylee.
As I'm not following a weekly timetable for this program, I can't really comment on how much I've blogged since the 2.0 course, as I only just completed activity 12 an hour or so ago.
I guess JoBlogsWeb2 is a form of 'Life blogging' (which is reality blogging), in that it records my progression through this program. I like the informality of it, and how such informality can make a blog appealing to a large audience.
So far I haven't commented on others blogs, partly because lots of them were created quite a while ago, and I'm not sure that the authors would be checking them now for comments. However I did notice in the feedback form that participants do like comments, so....when I do come across a blog that seems to be current, I will comment on it from now on. Mylee provided the only comment on my blog so far, and I did like getting a comment. Thanks Mylee.
Activity 12: Social Networking
Mmmmmm. I've just spent another frustrating 45 minutes trying to find a library in Second Life. Yes...I am really useless at it, and have given up for the second time. I did sign up and get myself an avatar, but really,...I will have to get my teenage son to help me. And I have been going so well with this techhy stuff up till now. However, I have learned some things. Second Life is huge, and I will definitely return to it to explore some of the 'real' destinations.
Facebook: I did have a facebook account some time ago, but gave it up. I think it's rather wonderful for our younger generations to be able to socialize with eachother in such a fun and effective way. My three oldest have all moved away from home to persue careers, and facebook helps them keep in contact with all their old friends (and their new ones as well). Facebook for libraries: Facebook builds relationships (and these relationships become viral when patrons spread the word about the library with their friends),helps the library create its own personal brand, facilitates patron interaction which allows the library to gain insight from its customers (in an easier manner than via focus groups or surveys), facilitates display of flickr photos, can host an RSS feed from the library website, can host youtube videos of library orientation (or any youtube video)....Facebook creates community.
Facebook: I did have a facebook account some time ago, but gave it up. I think it's rather wonderful for our younger generations to be able to socialize with eachother in such a fun and effective way. My three oldest have all moved away from home to persue careers, and facebook helps them keep in contact with all their old friends (and their new ones as well). Facebook for libraries: Facebook builds relationships (and these relationships become viral when patrons spread the word about the library with their friends),helps the library create its own personal brand, facilitates patron interaction which allows the library to gain insight from its customers (in an easier manner than via focus groups or surveys), facilitates display of flickr photos, can host an RSS feed from the library website, can host youtube videos of library orientation (or any youtube video)....Facebook creates community.
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