Week 9 - #23 DONE!!!!!!!

1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

I liked the fact this was self-paced. I was able to do this when I had the time to do it. Also, I discovered how helpful everyone else has been in their blogs and in person... many co-workers who finished early were able to help others.

2.How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?

The program reinforced my 'playing to learn' way of how I understand and learn about new things.

3. Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?

I enjoyed looking through some of the Web 2.0 Awards.

4. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?

Not sure there is much to improve upon, I feel the program was very successful... seeing all the completers from Harford County is great!!

5. And last but not least… If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again choose to participate?

Definitely!

6. How would you describe your learning experience in a few words or a few sentences, so we can share our successes and promote this program?

Fun!! Promoted an internal community of share among co-workers in and out of our own deparments or branches.

Week 9 - # 22 Audiobooks

I don't listen to audiobooks, I have tried before to listen to them but I just can't seem to get into them. However, I know there are tons of people who enjoy listening and I can see how the two library products, Overdrive and Netlibrary (which will be going away soon), are very useful to such patrons. They are convenient and the patrons can access them from home... where they are which is convenient. One other thing, I do have an iPod which isn't compatible with either one of these products... but even if it were compatible I doubt that I would download any audiobooks.

Week 9 - # 21 Podcasts

Just as there are blogs on almost every interest, there are also podcasts on many different interests from entertainment to sports to shopping. I looked for some library-related podcasts on Podcast Alley, which I liked better than Podcast.net.

I have listened to podcasts before... one was of a radio program that I couldn't listen because I was never home or in my car at the time. Another one I have enjoyed was one called Acorns and Merlot. It was started in 2005 by two high school kids from the suburbs of Pittsburgh. I don't listen to podcasts on a regular basis, this is something I have done when I have had the time or when I remembered to listen.

A good idea for the library would be to have storytelling podcasts for children! A library I used to work for had 'storytelling' over the phone, and this was a very popular service provided to the juvenile patrons. Podcasts may also be good for booktalks for all patrons, not just children.

Top 25 Librarian Bloggers...

The Online Education Database has ranked the top librarian blogs.

Week 9 - # 20 YouTube

I am familiar with YouTube, and have looked at it videos on there. I don't think I am as enamored with it as many of my friends are. I have friends who YouTube (used as a verb, like Google) everyday. Again, I don't have the time. This is not to say that I haven't looked at it before and do go there occasionally to see things that I missed or heard about somewhere.

Week 8 - # 20 Web 2.0 Awards

Have you ever wanted to design your own t-shirt?? Well, Threadless lets users design their own t-shirt. To become a t-shirt, they do have to be voted on by the online community. This is one I have looked at numerous times before. I also picked it because I just got done reading a YA novel that had it in there... a girl was describing a boy by saying he had on "his Threadless t-shirt".

Week 8 - # 18 Google Docs

I chose to look at Google docs since I already have a gmail account, and didn't want to sign-up for yet another thing (Zoho). Plus, I have worked with Google docs before, and the great thing about it is the ability to share and collaborate on the documents. Currently, we are emailing attachments back and forth to one another to be able to share and collaborate on documents. It is much easier to do this through Google docs.

Week 7 - # 17 Sandbox wiki

It was interesting seeing what fellow 2.0ers from all over the state are into... I added some comments to some of the sections.

I have used pbwiki before, and find it very easy to use. It makes wikis and wiki editing not seem so daunting.

Week 7 - #16 Wikis

I trained at the wiki station at HCPL's Technology Fair, so I know about wikis and what some libraries are doing with them. In addition, I edit and update a wiki for a YALSA committee that I am on. I also volunteered to maintain the wiki for the new ALSC committee I am serving on.

Wikis are a good idea when people collaborate on them. I have seen wikis where there is no collaboration and just information... like a web site. There are some wikis that are basically just web sites, and I think many use wikis for this purpose since they do not need to learn html or any other programming language or they do not need to pay a webmaster to do the job.

Week 6 - #13 Web 2.0, Library 2.0

Web/library 2.0 is about going where your users are... going to myspace, youtube, flickr, second life... and meeting them where they are. To do this, we have to keep up with where they are. This can be done by doing the 23 things, and continuing after this to keep up-to-date with the future of libraries and the web.

There are some who do not 'embrace' web 2.0. If you would like another take on it, you can read The Cult of the Amateur: How Today's Internet is Killing Our Culture by Andrew Keen. It was a very interesting read.

Week 6 - #14 Technorati

I am not a fan of Technorati, it is too 'busy'. The search results were different when searching in blogs, tags, and the directory. I found this out when I looked at it before when I was searching for something else.

It is amazing how many blogs are out there, how much time people devote to reading them, posting to them, creating them, and commenting on the posts. I just do not have the time to sit and create posts to my blog, read the tons that are out there, and comment on them.

Week 6 -# 13 Tagging and Del.icio.us

I can see the potential for this tool. This would be useful to have 'your' bookmarks available to you at work, at home, or anywhere. Although, if you are looking for a particular web site, I am sure you could just 'Google' it and find it just as easy. I liked being able to tag my sites, but this is the same as keeping them in categorized folders.

I also created an account, added favorites to it, and added the del.icio.us icons to my tool bar which made it much easier to tag and add the web sites to my favorites.

Week 5 -#12 Rollyo

I created a Rollyo account and search roll. The search roll was very easy to create, I added web sites that I used for selecting video games. I can see how this would be a useful tool when answering reference questions or if there are web sites that one typically uses all the time. There are many web sites that I use everyday.

I added my video game search roll to the right.

Week 5 -#11

The problem fixed itself! I didn't have to figure anything out.

Week 5 -#11

Okay, I just posted the comment about Library Thing, and all of my stuff on the right-hand side went away. So, you may not see my current reads, my avatar, etc. Sigh!!! Isn't technology just great!!!! Oh well, I will figure it out tomorrow.

Week 5 -#11 Library Thing

I had looked at Library Thing a while ago, but never created an account or added books... until now. It was extremely easy to create the account, add books, add tags to the books, etc. I think it would be useful to keep a list of books that you have read. I am not sure I will keep up with this... although it might be good for a readers advisory for your own reading and for patrons. I added my reads to the blog.

Week 5 - #10 Play around with an online image generator

This was fun! I liked going through... picking out my hair, eye color, clothes, etc. It did take some time to go through everything. As you can see, I used Meez.com to create my avatar.

Week 4- #9 Explore MERLIN

I explored MERLIN.

I found Technorati and Topix.net easiest methods for finding feeds. I did not like the look and feel of Feedster or Syndic8.com. As for Synic8.com, I did not try a search. It wasn't very aesthetically pleasing... which isn't a reason, but it did contribute to my not using it.

On another note... who knew there were blogs about James Dean!!!

Week 4 - # 8 RSS and Newsreaders

I went to create an account at bloglines, and it told me that I already had an account. This account was created 2 years ago. I already had a list of my feeds, and added a few more for this exercise. Obviously, I did not have a need for it for the past two years, so much so that I forgot that I had the account. I can see it being useful for librarians to add feeds of sites they use daily for their job. I am not sure that I will continue to use this after becoming re-acquainted with it. I like the fact that you are able to put all of your feeds together in one place. However, it takes time to read through the feeds, and who has time to do that!! I like to re-acquaint myself with my favorite web sites, blogs, etc. on my own when I have the time.

I have added my feeds to the right-hand sidebar.

Week 3 - # 7 Technology related

I found out about 2 music sites, one is Eventful.com and the other is Finetune.com. On Eventful.com, you can upload your iTunes and Last.fm to see when your favorites are coming to a town near you. You will receive alert when they are coming. Finetune.com lets you make a playlist and add it to your blog. If you have a Nintendo Wii, Finetune.com streams music through your Wii.

Week 3 (cont.) -# 6 Flickr and Mashups

My creation
Originally uploaded by akopang

I used fd's Flickr Toys to add a caption to my alligator picture. It was easy to do, however I tried to add a caption/thought balloon and the balloon was too big. It didn't fit on the picture. I also tried the Mappr which lets you add your picture to a place on a map. I added my picture of the New River Gorge Bridge to where the picture was taken in West Virginia (my home state).

Week 3 -# 5 Flickr

Old Faithful
Originally uploaded by akopang

This picture is from a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park. I already had a Flick account before starting the 23 things. It is very easy to use! It is a great way to share your photos with others.

Week 2 - # 3 and # 4

Done. Currently, I use blogger for a work related blog. In the past, I have had many issues with it. However, so far so good... I have not had any problems with it in the past few months and posting has been easier and less frustrating.

Week 1 - # 1 and #2

I did the 7 1/2 Habits tutorial. The easiest habit for me will be 7 1/2, which is to play. It will be the easiest since this is the way I learn. I am looking over the other habits and not sure which one will be the hardest... I don't think there is just one.

Monkey Girl

It was hard to pick a name for my blog URL. I had to try numerous times to find one that worked. The name of the blog was easy, but the URL was taken already. I guess I am not the only monkey girl.