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.