Six Questions Answered for the Technical Trainer

1. Librarything and Wikis were my favorites. They are both useful in the work I do in the library.
2. This program has assisted my lifelong learning goals by demonstrating to me once again that perseverance and overcoming obstacles pays off. It has also given me a jump start on technologies that I would not have known about otherwise. I believe that this experience will come in handy when dealing with patrons and I hope to incorporate some of my new knowledge in the library projects I'm involved in.
3. I was surprised at my ability to puzzle through some of the technology problems that arose for me.
4. You could improve the program by adopting a broader view of learning styles. For example, having knowledgeable staff that were more hands-on accessible to your students might have facilitated the learning process for some. Not every one learns well by remote e-mail. Unfortunately, rarely was knowledgeable staff in the department available to help at the time allotted me to work on Twentythree Things. One hour a week hardly covered the time it took to read, let alone do the exercises. If you are self-taught there are many dead end roads you travel before finding one that takes you in the right direction on your journey. The Trial and error method of learning takes time and the ability to be able to tolerate frustration. It is especially frustrating to try and learn a new task when you are also being asked to multi-task other assigned duties at the same time. Guaranteeing a student an approriate amount of time to learn without interuptions that frustrate and hamper trains of thought would have been a vast improvement in the program and would have made learning a more enjoyable experience.
5. I would participate again, but I would hope that improvements were made.
6. I would describe my learning experience as self-taught. I would say that Twentythree Things made me develope new neurological synapses in my brain.

Podcast once again

http://www.podcastalley.com/what_is_a_podcast.php

I'm still not digging this podcast stuff. Maybe it will grow on me.

Podcast Again

I did drop a podcast by Mayo Clinic into my blog.

Summing It Up

I found some things applicable to my life and some not. Flickr might be something I might use; whereas, I highly doubt if I'll ever produce a podcast. I thought the Avatar's and Meez were like playing with electronic paper dolls. YouTube was a fun site, but since I use my computer almost strictly for work I probably wouldn't use YouTube. Librarything was great. I liked the reviews from ordinary people and found many titles I'm interested in reading. I thought it was a good way to keep track of books you've read and the books you want to read in the future. It also could be used as a reader's advisory tool. The idea of keeping favorite web sites in one place on Rollyo makes for a more efficient use of time and it could be a beneficial tool for researching a subject or writing a paper. Techorati (blogger's paradise) is suitable for exploration of people's opinions. Sometimes that's what you want rather than an authority that has a sponsor. The online productivity tools are wonderful. I could see using one of these to write down brainstorming ideas for the WRP. Anyone on the committee could add ideas as they pop up. To be able to write your own book! Wow! I know some patrons in Havre de Grace who would be drooling if they knew about this. The blog itself was a nice organizational device for all the things we've learned. I like the links on my blog. They make it much easier to access all the various sites we've been exploring. Overall I've learned a lot and feel I've made progress in entering the technological world.

Audiobooks

I took a look at the sites and chose to download The Crossing by Howard Fast from Netlibrary. It took 20 minutes to install a mediaplayer and get a license. I listened to the beginning of the book and took note of where I could download it to a cd. The cd might be more pracitcal for my use. Another option would be to download it to a portable device (if I had one) and listen to it that way. About the only time I would listen to an audiobook would be in the car. I wouldn't listen to one on my computer because I use my computer primarily at work and that's it. I never take an audiobook when I'm hiking or walking because I prefer to listen to the sounds around me. In the car I like to deaden the noise of the traffic. I believe there is a portable device that lets you listen to music, and I assume a book on cd under water while you are swimming laps. I hear it's very expensive $300+. Now that might be nice to have on days when you didn't feel like swimming, but knew you would put in the laps anyway.

Podcast

Have spent three hours trying to attach a podcast to my blog with no luck--no one here in the staff room knows how to do it, so there's no help forthcoming---am totally frustrated and feel like pulling out my hair!

YouTube

Watched a video called Falcor the Urinator about a Shih Tzu who urinated on the carpet and slept on his pee pad. He did all sorts of tricks during the video so you know he's got to be smart, just has some sort of issue going on with the peeing. He was very cute with a mischievous look in his eyes. YouTube is a fun site.

Untitled Zoho entry first draft

Review: Innocent Traitor: a novel of Lady Jane Grey by Alison Weir

Weir has written a fictitious account of the sad life and beheading of Lady Jane Grey, niece of Henry VIII. Manipulated into a marriage against her will by authoritarian parents and forced to assume the thrown of England after the demise of Edward, Henry's son, Lady Jane Grey was a pawn in the hands of unscrupulous, power hungry traitors. Not only was this novel an education in the history of ascension of the royal family, but a moving account of an innocent child preyed upon throughout her short life by authorities that were superior to her. Her only champions were her nursemaid and of all people, the woman who had her reluctantly beheaded, Mary. Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon did her best to spare Lady Jane Grey's life by offering her the chance to renounce her belief in Protestantism and embrace Catholicism; however, Lady Jane refused thus sealing her own fate.

Zoho

OOOh I like this. I wrote a review in this site. Not having to resort to word is quite an innovation.

Untitled Zoho entry 2nd draft

Innocent Traitor By Alison Weir

Weir has written a fictitious account based on letters and historical accounts of the short and harassed life of Lady Jane Grey, niece of Henry VIII. Covering her life as a toddler to the age of thirteen, Weir has portrayed a child who is bullied, ridiculed, and criticized unmercifully. Physical punishment and food deprivation are the norm for noncompliance with her parents demands. It is hard to imagine parents being so cruel to a child of royal blood; however, I have read some excerpts of Lady Jane's own letters and the only solace she finds for the relentless chastisement for imperfection is in her studies. Forced to be a key player in a plot to usurp the crown, she submits under duress to an unwanted marriage, then is thrust upon the thrown as queen after Edward's death. At every turn she is manipulated by power hungry parents and an entourage of various characters who lust for power of the throne. Her only champions are her beloved nursemaid and of all people, Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Mary is her reluctant executioner. Politics are politics and people have to be sacrificed even if they are only thirteen and unwilling pawns in their parents traitorous acts.

Zoho

http://writer.zoho.com/index.do I wrote a review of a book I read.

Web 2.0 Award Winners

Liked LuLu--thought it would be great to publish a family tree--seemed to have easy steps and to be user friendly---might also be a useful tool in the classroom. Librarything is great---I already have an account with them from a previous exercise. I went in and added a book to my list. I'm interested in heath topics and am following a specific drug. www.medstory.com had clinical trials--very good! www.medicinenet.com--not so impressed with this one---had info that I have found doing a strict google search.

del.icio.us Revisited

I looked at PLCMCL2...looking at Orange County Library....their podcasts and RSS feeds.
I can see how you could get up-to-date information sent to you all the time, therefore you could keep abreast of all that was happening. I did not sign on for an RSS feed since I already have one from Yahoo for news feeds about a certain subject I am interested in keeping track of. At this point in time I don't wish to clutter my e-mail with too many things. I explored the concept of tagging and took a look at bundling (grouping things together) for easier access. In the future I may have more need for this tool.

Wiki's Again

I found the wiki's fascinating. I took a look at the Bull Run Library wiki which is not sponsored or endorsed by the library. It had some fascinating links under Seen on the Web. One of those links was to Easy Calculations--know your age on the day you were born--I was at that moment, well I won't say---needless to say it was fun to see my time on this earth broken down to minutes. Another link took me to Color Palate Generator---totally fun---you can put a url of an image in and it will analyze the colors in---I then connected with Color Hunter, then a tag called Art that took me to art color palettes. I checked out Open World Cat and was enthralled by all the connections one can make from one title!

Wiki Exploration

To a look at Ann Arbor's wiki and found it informative. I like the idea of getting input from ordinary people who live there. I mean where else can you find lunch specials for less than $5.oo on a site. I also like the Booklovers wiki. I loved the reviews and saw several books I want to read. Also, I think it would make a good reader's advisory. We could develop a wiki for some of our programs, like the Winter Reading Program. It's a good place to get ideas.
In general, I like the whole idea of collaboration.

http://marylandlibrariessandbox.pbwiki.com/Pigtopia

Here is my wiki post. I wrote a review to share.

Technorati

Basically a blog site for millions, gad zillions, soon to be a Googleplex of blogs. I searched for blogs on Forteo a drug I'm researching and lo and behold my very own Rollyo account came up in Swampsong. So now I really am connected and am out and about in the internet world! I also looked at some of the most popular like Boing Boing, but was not impressed. I also took a look at Engadget (a Top Blog). Although it was not high on my interest list, I'm sure there are plenty of patrons who want to keep abreast of the latest in technological gadgetry. Lastly, I went into Top Searches and found a music site that interests me.

Libraries 2.0 Thoughts on articles

I liked what Rick Anderson had to say. The drop in circulation rates (55% in his system in 12 years!) makes it clear that print collections are becoming less and less important and access to the web from any place anywhere is the way of the future. I especially though his comments in reference to user centric services i.e. services that don't require training. I'm all for that! The question is how do we move forward and bring our services to the patrons?

Michael Stevens addresses that question. He suggest libraries should have open forums regarding decisions and plans. The library should use instant messaging to meet users in their space. Mashups should be used to build web sites. He advocates using technology that passes the test, it must meet the users need in a new and improved way. The library needs to make faster decisions and be constantly on the lookout for information that impacts the future. He goes on to suggest that the librarian's role will be to help the consumer create content and in effect become his own program director. The bottom line is we must look forward and embrace change.

Chip Nilges expounds on the benefit's of the collective intelligence and how it should be encouraged and used to promote a collaborative effort in obtaining and dispersing information.

John Reimer had some interesting ideas for expanding cataloging. He mentioned metadata bases and embraced the Open Worldcat Project. Opening up cataloging would avoid duplication of records. He suggest using RSS feeds to package and push content to user's where they work.
He cited the Endeca-based NC State catalog as an example of cataloging on the cutting edge. It offers numerous ways to navigate and ways to cluster results that are helpful to the user. He promotes the collaboration of cataloging be extended beyond the library sector. He also advocates the use of web features like review and tagging be incorporated into the catalog and that delivery of materials to the patron be extended beyond the library and include access to the inventory of college bookstores and online book vendors. They sound like innovative ideas that will help meet the challenges of maintaining patron interest and keep the library a viable entity in the 21st century.

Rollyo Account

I have made my own searchroll for the drug Forteo. I have added several medical sites and a few blogs to my searchroll. Check it out! http://www.rollyo.com/editroll.html

Rollyo

I understand that Rollyo is a customized list of trusted search engines one puts together for oneself or to share with others. One can also tap into expert bloggers searchrolls and benefit from all the research they have compiled. I did that and went into one of the searchrolls labeled Most Popular. It was called Mr. Fix-it! I found out that epsom's salt can be used as a fertilizer for roses, as well as vegetables. You use one T. epsom salt per one gallon of water. I don't grow roses, but I do grow vegetables. I'll try it out. Combining sites you like in one spot makes it easier to access information and is a more efficient use of time once you have compiled the list.
I liked tapping into experts searchrolls.

del.icio.us URL

http://del.icio.us/pugwump

I did not find this very informative. I thought it was a lot of fluff. I don't have the desire or want to waste time reading this type of thing. Wiki's are more interesting to me.

Merlin URLhttp://www.merlin.lib.md.us/?q=node/21

http://www.merlin.lib.md.us/?q=node/21

RSS FEEDhttp://www.bloglines.com/myblogs

http://www.bloglines.com/myblogs

librarything URL Link

http://www.librarything.com/

Rollyo URL Link

http://www.rollyo.com/

Linking to URL/ How To

1. make sure you are in compose 2. right click on the insert link icon 3. paste in url and say ok
4. paste url into body of blog

test

http://rollyo.com/pugwump/forteo/

Rollyo

Rollyo

I created an account and a search roll called Forteo. It is a search roll that contains information about a drug I am researching.

Librarything

Librarything is a great thing. I made a list of some of my favorite books and also a list of some of the books I want to read. I am having trouble importing my Librarything standard widget to my blog! I have been trying for over an hour!

Meez

I had fun playing with Meez and Avatar. I decided upon exporting the Meez to my blog. So here she is, a substitute for the real Pugwump.

Merlin

After a rough start in which Merlin would not let me set-up an account because according to them my e-mail was already in use; I was contacted by them via my e-mail the very next day and told I was approved, what link to click on and what temporary password I must use to get in.