Dot the I's and cross the T's

Almost There

Learning new technology is not as nerve wracking as driving along the Pacific Highway near Ballina.

Just checking. What have I learnt about the 71/2 habits of learning?

Habit 1. Begin with the end in mind.
When I commenced this online course I was hoping to learn about new technology and how I could use it in my work place and for my own interests.

Habit 2. Accept responsibility for your own learning!
I have always tried to accept responsibility for my own learning. I am continually refreshing my skills and learning new skills. I see learning as a challenge and am always setting new tasks.

I am a member of ALIA and committed to continued professional development - each year when I pay my ALIA membership renewal I inform ALIA what I have been doing in the last 12 months towards my Professional Development.

Habit 3. View Problems as Challenges.
While doing this online course I have had a few problems with RSS Feeds, Flickr, YouTube, and so on but I have enjoyed the challenge of trying to find a way around each problem.

Habit 4. Have confidence in yourself as a competent effective learner.
I am confident that I if I follow provided instructions I will be able to learn how to do what is required. Also I am confident that if instructions are incomplete I am prepared to try something different to achieve the desired results.

Habit 5. Create Your Own Learning Toolbox.
When I first read about the list of 7 1/2 habits I was intrigued by habit 5. I am keen to create my own learning tool box. In it I will put all of the essential tools that I need to effectively use electronic technology to add to my own learning and to improve my skills.

Habit 6. Use Technology to Your Advantage.
I am interested in Local History and would like to be able to create a WepPage of Blog that uses photographs, videos, and podcasts to gain interest and help make people aware of recording and preserving their own local history.

Habit 7. Teach and Mentor Others.
At work I have been able to work with other staff members as we worked our way through the Learning 2 activities.

Habit 7 1/2. Play.
I have spent many hours playing and having fun using the different technology that has been available while completing this online course.

Thank you for the fun learning environment. I have really enjoyed myself and have spent a lot more than 15 minutes a day in my own time at home just having fun.

Week 12: Wrap Up; Social Networks and Catch Up

Almost finished.

I am interested in joining Facebook and Myspace all the young people I know keep talking about these social networking sites and how great they are. A friend complained that he could not find anyone on Facebook that went to his school at the same time that he was there. He is in his fifties so I guess it will take some time before older people start using social networking. But as our children are using it we will need to also go to Facebook to connect with them and their friends.



If libraries want to encourage young people to use libraries they need to advertise that there is free Internet available for members, this could be done on Facebook or Myspac

Week 11. Online Applications and Tools

I have not been able to look at the slideshow from slide share for examples of of free online productive tools - it was too slow to load on dial up. I will try at work soon.

I was able to sign up for an account at Google Docs. I created a document and shared it with nswpln@gmail.com not sure if it went through correctly. The first time I put a (.) after nsw. So I tried sharing again using correct email address but it still went to same person.

It was easy to create a document and to look at different versions of same document after corrections.

I tried adding a picture but something went wrong so I deleted the link.

After the sharing document I then tried to send it to my blog - there were a few hiccups but eventually I found the correct tab to click. The instructions in help were a little different to what I did. But eventually the document was sent to my Blog. I wonder where the other two tries went.

I shared a book review for a book I read a few weeks ago as my document for this exercise.

Book Review

Agnes and the hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer

This book is about a woman with anger problems. She writes a food column and is called Cranky Agnes. Agnes is living in her dream house and will do anything to keep her house.

Agnes is preparing to cater for an important wedding. (She has a lot to lose if she doesn't hold the wedding at her house). As the wedding date gets closer things start going wrong.

Each time she solves a problem another obstacle appears. There is a few accidental killings, some shootouts and some murders.

There is a secret room, a missing 5 million dollars and lots of secrets.

It all starts when a picture of her dog wearing a necklace appears in the local newspaper.

All the way through the book Agnes keeps cooking delicious meals for her friends and anyone else who happens to call in to her house, especially at breakfast time.

As well as the delicious meals, Agnes finds time to spice up her love life.

I really enjoyed this book. There were a lot of surprises, some of the situations were a bit unbelievable but so funny.

Mashups - Calendar

This is a favorite beach that I sometimes go to.

Patrons using the library often ask to use a calendar. This type of Mashup could be used to make calendars with local scenic photographs or some local historic photographs and placed around the library. Or made available as requested. Monthly calendars could be put on computer desktops so users can quickly access a calendar.

Week 10. Mashups

I tried making a jig saw with one of my photographs but I did not like it.

Then I tried Hockneizing a photo of a cubby house I recently saw - when it was Hockneized it looked a bit like the house that Jack built. I liked it so I saved it.

Then I made a calendar of my favorite beach scene.

Mashups could be used in libraries to showcase activities and events held in the library.

They could be used in a display to advertise new books.

Week 9. Podcasts and Audio

I looked at some of the podcasts. Some of the book talks were interesting. A nice small snippet of information.

British Library podcasts were easy to listen to and very informative. Lists of podcasts arranged by year.



ABC Online had some interesting podcasts.



I did listen to some of this podcast. Click here to listen EdPod 2008_0410 Thursday 10 April 2008 Popular Podcasts EdPod Radio National.

It is easy to link to a podcast. Just right click and copy shortcut. Go to your blog write your blog highlight some text to click then click the ling option (near left align button) and right click and select past and add URL for the podcast.

Libraries could use Podcasts to feature guest speakers on their Webpage to advertise Book Talks, Youth Activities, and other special activities. Maybe story telling for children and oral history interviews from the Libraries Local History Collection to let patrons know what is available.

Week 8. Answer boards and Social Searching

I looked at http://www.taste.com.au/ and did their recipe search for spring rolls - 24 results. I like the look of cha gio Vietnamese Spring Rolls. It is quick to use and has fantastic pictures.

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/ was a bit slow to load so I will look at it another day when at work.

I looked at Answer Board Librarian's wiki - the librarian's gave good answers and signed their name and position titles.

There will be another 'Slamming the Boards' on Thursday 10 2008 where Librarian's are asked to answer questions on Answer Boards.

If librarian's regularly take part in 'Slamming the Boards' and advertising their library it would be good publicity and a way to inform Internet users that their local library could be a good source of information.

A type of Answer Board could be used with commonly asked questions on the local area. Staff could research their local area and provide answers. Or information about popular authors or books could be featured with book reviews.

Just Amazing

My learning so far. So amzing. Back in February when I

fist looked at what would be covered in Learning 2.0.

Chartres grass maze
Originally uploaded by tina_manthorpe

I thought it was a maze of information that I would never

be able to stumble through. But gradually over the last few

weeks I have found my way, took a few wrong turns also got side tracked on other information and activities that we are not expected to do.

I have helped some staff where I work especially when they were lost using Flickr and I have made some comments in a few blogs.

I found this picture of a maze on Flickr and I really liked Tina Manthorpe's photo of Chartres Grass Maze. After a lot of headaches I worked out how to copy a photo from Flickr to my Blog.