Exercise 17

Adding to the Wiki Sandbox was surprisingly easy. I may just have to try creating my own later. I think several of the exercises we have done will get explored more later. This is a great overview.

Exercise 16

I think that a book lovers Wiki is a great idea. Multiple people could review books or just rate them. I also like the idea of wikis for groups of people working on a project or in the same type of work. I'm still not too sure about wikis like Wikipedia. I guess I worry too much about the gullibility of people who accept everything on it as truth. Wikis, like blogs, are good for opinions but you need to be sure of the source for the factual material.

Exercise 15

In my opinion (which is the only one that counts anyway ;-) ), Library 2.0 is not a new concept. It may have new technology and new and faster implementation, but it is something that libraries and librarians have been doing all along.

But they/we also have to take into account the patrons who are not ready for the new technology and new information sources. We still occasionally have someone come in wishing for the old card catalogs -- which I do not miss at all. Especially filing the cards!! Some of these patrons can be brought forward by education, but not all can.

So I guess what I am saying is that we have to embrace the future while still keeping a toe hold in the past.

Exercise 14

I find Technorati to be confusing. I guess as a cataloger I am used to subjects that match the information. When I put in keywords for things I am interested in, very few of the posts that came up seemed to have anything to do with that subject. I may have to play around with it to see if I am searching incorrectly.

Learning 2.0 did bring up a lot of hits. How would you narrow it down to a readable amount? And how do you know which ones are authoritative? I guess that's the thing about blogs -- anyone (including me) can write about anything like she is an expert.

Exercise 13

I think Del.icio.us will be a great help to us, since sometimes we are at our own desks and sometimes at the Reference desk. The Favorites at the reference desk computers have so many entries that it is almost impossible to find anything. It's almost easier to go to one of the search engines to find the site you want. This will make it easier.

I'm not sure how it would be as a research tool. I think it would probably be good for someone doing a book or dissertation, but I'm not sure it would be needed for just a research paper. Although it would be a good place to keep references until the paper is turned in, just in case the paper is lost or computer crashes or "the dog eats it."

Exercise 12

Select Search Engine...urban legends/hoaxesSearch The Web

Powered by Rollyo

Rollyo could be interesting. Unfortunately, for most of the sites I have to search I have to sign in, so I don't think this would work. But it is a fun task anyway. And as I think about it more, I may find other uses, too. It is very easy to use and a great idea.

Exercise 11

I rather enjoyed LibraryThing. I think I will like the suggestions portion when I get more of my favorites entered. It is very easy to use.

Exercise 10

I used LolCat Buildr for both of these. The first one I just used the picture as found on the web site.

The other picture I copied to a photo editor, changed the color and cropped before adding it back to LolCat to add the caption, which I then played around with to change the colors and effects.

I could play around with this all day. (Boss, you didn't read that did you?) Sigh, I guess I better get some of my other work done. I would like to just play around with new technology all day.

Exercise 9

I found Feedster, Topix.net and LisZen probably the easiest and most intuitive to use. I will probably use LisZen more in my work life, to keep up with some of the library developments. Syndic8.com and Technorati may be more interesting if I were more into blogs. I have never really seen the point of them, although if I had more spare time, I might come to enjoy some of them.

Exercise 8

Well, I have finally gotten through the RSS section. It is interesting finding out what sites have RSS feeds and which do not. Sometimes it is very surprising. I think this could help me keep up with new information in libraries as well as in my institution. The only problem is finding the links you need to get the right information and to not be overwhelmed.

I think I will probably have to winnow down the number of feeds I have put on my blogroll which is http://www.bloglines.com/public/Copy-Cat. My problem is that I barely have enough time to keep up with e-mail, so I'm not sure how I will fit RSS feeds into my schedule.

Exercise 7

This is hard because there is so much technology that I am interested in and yet know so little about that I don't feel I can contribute much to it.

Right now I am trying to learn more about Microsoft Office 2007. We have just migrated over and are having fun (both literally and sarcastically) learning the new Outlook (after using Groupwise) and the updated versions of Word and Excel. There are great features on the new ones and things that we wish had carried over from the old. Of course, some of these could be features we just haven't found on the new version.

We are enjoying having a calendar we can share in the department to put our appointments and vacation time on, so we know when to expect each other to be out of the office. About the time we learn everything we think we need to know to do our jobs well, they will come out with a newer one. Oh, well, that just keeps us going with our LIFELONG LEARNING.

Exercise 6 part 2 Badge

I enjoyed uploading this picture I had received via email and turning it into a badge. These could be used for a family reunion or just for fun. Did somebody say something about 'playing'? Do I remember something about 7 1/2?

Exercise 6 Mashups and 3rd party sites

I think flickReplacr sounds interesting. Let's see how it works with blogs about cats and books. Or if it works here at all.

It looks like I can't get it to work here. I guess I'll have to try something else to fulfill my requirements for this exercise. Sigh!! I hate to play.

Exercise 5 : That cat's got a gold grill!

That cat's got a gold grill!
Originally uploaded by eekthree.

Is this a real copy cat or not!!! I had a little problem figuring out how to get my account set up and, of course in the middle of doing this, had a little problem with flickr not opening pictures to upload.

I think this could be fun.

7 1/2 lifelong learning habits

I think the hardest of the 7 1/2 habits for me is the 1st one -- Begin with end in mind. I may have a goal in mind, but it may be unrealistic. I tend to have grand goals instead of reachable ones. Or, sometimes I just want to learn something just to be challenged with something new.

I guess that means my easiest habit is #3 -- View problems as challenges, which I think includes #7 1/2 -- Play. If I don't have any challenges, I get bored and start sticking my nose into other people's work and sometimes get myself in trouble. Give me a new computer program and I will enjoy playing around with it until I learn most of of the tricks for it. Then I end up most times helping others in my department to find the features that they need.

In the beginning

In the beginning God created man. Years later man created the computer. It (or they) has been running (ruining?) man's life ever since. And woman's, too.

This is my first attempt at blogging, led by PLAN's Navigating New Technologies. I find I must keep on my toes, to stay ahead of (or at least somewhere close to) by 15 year old son. I guess this makes me a die-hard life long learner.