Hooray, I have finished doing Learn 2.0 or Web 2.0 online! It's only taken me almost a year to do.
I have enjoyed learning about Podcasts, social networking, tagging, wikis, RSS, online tools and applications, photos and images and more! But am also glad that it is completed and I can do other things with my time.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do this.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Week 9 - ebooks
Have just had a look at a picture of Amazon's 'Kindle' - the wireless ebook reader, which is about the same size as a paperback. I haven't seen anyone in New Zealand with one yet but that's not to say that there aren't any here.
I had a look at the Netlibrary and watched and listened to the demonstration of setting up an account, selecting an ebook and downloading. It was interesting to note that the files can be big, about 180MB, are slow to download on dial-ups, have an expiration, have to delete files manually and do not run on ipods and the like.
I also had a look at www.ebooks.com, a popular electronic book store. Nicely laid out with various categories including best-seller books and fiction and non-fiction choices.
It will be interesting to see how popular ebooks and 'Kindle' become in time. They will probably come into their own realm just like the microwave has a place in the kitchen but didn't takeover from the conventional oven. I still like the feel of paper type books!
I had a look at the Netlibrary and watched and listened to the demonstration of setting up an account, selecting an ebook and downloading. It was interesting to note that the files can be big, about 180MB, are slow to download on dial-ups, have an expiration, have to delete files manually and do not run on ipods and the like.
I also had a look at www.ebooks.com, a popular electronic book store. Nicely laid out with various categories including best-seller books and fiction and non-fiction choices.
It will be interesting to see how popular ebooks and 'Kindle' become in time. They will probably come into their own realm just like the microwave has a place in the kitchen but didn't takeover from the conventional oven. I still like the feel of paper type books!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Week 9 - Podcasts
Podcasts have great potential to be the next big thing after radio. The reason being is that you can download to your mp3/ipod previously played interviews or radio shows.
For example, if I wanted to listen to an interview on the radio about the government's recent budget, which was to be aired on the radio at, say 2pm Saturday. However, I had other plans at that time and wasn't able to listen then. I could listen to the budget interview using the internet, by going to their website and clicking on their podcast section and listen to it. Alternatively, I could download it from their website on to my mp3/ipod and listen to it while I was on the train for example.
For example, if I wanted to listen to an interview on the radio about the government's recent budget, which was to be aired on the radio at, say 2pm Saturday. However, I had other plans at that time and wasn't able to listen then. I could listen to the budget interview using the internet, by going to their website and clicking on their podcast section and listen to it. Alternatively, I could download it from their website on to my mp3/ipod and listen to it while I was on the train for example.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Week 9 - Discover YouTube
Have just been having a look around YouTube and what a lot there is to see! Had a look at several video clips including the video made by library school students about a student who gets some books out from the library on Rock'nRoll and learns to play the guitar.
Also looked at a clip made by some school students about Monarch butterflies and then looked at the susanboyle video clip that has been on the news lately.
You could spend a lot of time just watching, and posting your own video clips, to YouTube. It really makes the world seem like a small place when video clips are globally shared.
Also looked at a clip made by some school students about Monarch butterflies and then looked at the susanboyle video clip that has been on the news lately.
You could spend a lot of time just watching, and posting your own video clips, to YouTube. It really makes the world seem like a small place when video clips are globally shared.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Week 8 - Discovering Web 2.0 Tools
Wow, what a huge list of sites on the Web 2.0 Awards. Interesting to see what categories there were as they covered things such as genealogy, reading maps, philantropy and cooking. It just shows the huge range of websites available on the internet.
I had a look at the site http://www.imcooked.com/ and watched a short video of a woman making an omelette. This site is like a recipe scrapbook where recipes are found, kept if you like them and shared with others. Recipes can also be rated and commented on.
I started to watch another video on how to cook battered and stuffed chillies. It was about 7 minutes long but it took so long to load that I gave up on that.
So overall I thought this website was good to be able to find and share recipes but the loading of the video clips was too long. Maybe it was just my slow computer!
I had a look at the site http://www.imcooked.com/ and watched a short video of a woman making an omelette. This site is like a recipe scrapbook where recipes are found, kept if you like them and shared with others. Recipes can also be rated and commented on.
I started to watch another video on how to cook battered and stuffed chillies. It was about 7 minutes long but it took so long to load that I gave up on that.
So overall I thought this website was good to be able to find and share recipes but the loading of the video clips was too long. Maybe it was just my slow computer!
Online Applications and Tools - Week 8
I have been reading about 'Zoho' an online application which includes Zoho Writer and Zoho Spreadsheets.
The great thing about Zoho is that it is all done online, no need to have the right software installed in your computer. Just connect to Zoho Writer, for example, and create a document or use Zoho Spreadsheets to do accounting calculations. A document or spreadsheet can easily be edited online and anyone can read the document as a public file on a webpage. Documents can also be shared and files upload all done online.
Another advantage of using Zoho or for that matter any online application is that it can be accessed from any computer anywhere! No need to carry around a USB drive or disc.
One disadvantage I thought about is that computers still on a dial-up internet service may be a bit slow and lag.
The great thing about Zoho is that it is all done online, no need to have the right software installed in your computer. Just connect to Zoho Writer, for example, and create a document or use Zoho Spreadsheets to do accounting calculations. A document or spreadsheet can easily be edited online and anyone can read the document as a public file on a webpage. Documents can also be shared and files upload all done online.
Another advantage of using Zoho or for that matter any online application is that it can be accessed from any computer anywhere! No need to carry around a USB drive or disc.
One disadvantage I thought about is that computers still on a dial-up internet service may be a bit slow and lag.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Social Networking - Week 7
As part of Manukau Libraries Learning 2.0 I have been having a look at the social networking sites of Bebo, MySpace and Facebook.
Firstly, I looked at the Bebo page set up by an Auckland City Libraries' staff member. Quite a lot to it and interesting to look at.
It makes me think back to when people had 'pen pals' in other countries and would write to each other, sometimes becoming good friends. Pen pals had to have similar interests and write to each other fairly regularly for it to work. Sometimes pen pals would eventually meet each other in person. I think it is similar with social networking.
But there is more to these social networking sites. They are like scrapbooks that people put their photos on, quizzes, favourite music/bands, videos on YouTube, widgets or anything that is of interest to them.
Then once your website is set up, people view your website and can become your 'friends' (as long as you are happy with that). Friends add their comments and photos and so it goes. A person can have hundreds maybe even thousands of friends added to their website.
These social networking sites are popular with teenage and young people who find it a great way to communicate with friends from all over the world.
The Hennepin County Library is a good example of a library making use of the social networking site Facebook. It would appeal to young people who use social networking sites and also enjoy reading. It is possible for Book Club readers to post lists of favourite books for discussion, share lists and see what other clubs are reading.
The catalog of the Hennepin County Library can be added to your website or blog, and like other social networking sites, you can become a friend, add comments or upload photos and videos. This Library has 1,125 fans already!
Firstly, I looked at the Bebo page set up by an Auckland City Libraries' staff member. Quite a lot to it and interesting to look at.
It makes me think back to when people had 'pen pals' in other countries and would write to each other, sometimes becoming good friends. Pen pals had to have similar interests and write to each other fairly regularly for it to work. Sometimes pen pals would eventually meet each other in person. I think it is similar with social networking.
But there is more to these social networking sites. They are like scrapbooks that people put their photos on, quizzes, favourite music/bands, videos on YouTube, widgets or anything that is of interest to them.
Then once your website is set up, people view your website and can become your 'friends' (as long as you are happy with that). Friends add their comments and photos and so it goes. A person can have hundreds maybe even thousands of friends added to their website.
These social networking sites are popular with teenage and young people who find it a great way to communicate with friends from all over the world.
The Hennepin County Library is a good example of a library making use of the social networking site Facebook. It would appeal to young people who use social networking sites and also enjoy reading. It is possible for Book Club readers to post lists of favourite books for discussion, share lists and see what other clubs are reading.
The catalog of the Hennepin County Library can be added to your website or blog, and like other social networking sites, you can become a friend, add comments or upload photos and videos. This Library has 1,125 fans already!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Library 2.0
Have just been reading two articles about Library 2.0.
The first one, by Rick Anderson, was titled Away from Icebergs. In his article he talks about there being three icebergs that are barriers to libraries moving forward in the future.
The first iceberg is the "Just in case" collection. Here he is referring to how libraries used to be when collections were only available in print format. Patrons will now expect to access everything - from digital collections of journals, books, blogs and podcasts.
The second one is "Reliance on User Education". Don't ask yourself how are we going to train all of the patrons. But rather focus on eliminating the barriers that exist between patrons and the information they need.
The last iceberg is the "Come to us" model of library service. We have to find new ways to bring our services to patrons rather than them coming to us, that is, on the Web and in their daily patterns of work, study and play.
I found Rick Anderson's comments on the 'iceberg barriers' to be quite accurate in how libraries need to adapt themselves in order to remain relevant to and meet the needs of future patrons.
The other article I read was titled To a temporary place in time, written by Dr Wendy Schultz.
In this article Dr Schultz talks about the library experience of the future and discusses it under the following headings:
The first one, by Rick Anderson, was titled Away from Icebergs. In his article he talks about there being three icebergs that are barriers to libraries moving forward in the future.
The first iceberg is the "Just in case" collection. Here he is referring to how libraries used to be when collections were only available in print format. Patrons will now expect to access everything - from digital collections of journals, books, blogs and podcasts.
The second one is "Reliance on User Education". Don't ask yourself how are we going to train all of the patrons. But rather focus on eliminating the barriers that exist between patrons and the information they need.
The last iceberg is the "Come to us" model of library service. We have to find new ways to bring our services to patrons rather than them coming to us, that is, on the Web and in their daily patterns of work, study and play.
I found Rick Anderson's comments on the 'iceberg barriers' to be quite accurate in how libraries need to adapt themselves in order to remain relevant to and meet the needs of future patrons.
The other article I read was titled To a temporary place in time, written by Dr Wendy Schultz.
In this article Dr Schultz talks about the library experience of the future and discusses it under the following headings:
- Library 1.0 Commodity
- Library 2.0 Product
- Library 3.0 Web 3D to Library 3D Services
- Library 4.0 The Neo-Library Experience
In the last one (Library 4.0) she sees libraries as mind gyms, idea laboratories, as art salons and also as knowledge spas.
I found this article very futuristic and look forward to seeing it put into practice!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Have just done the searches on Technorati for Learning 2.0. Using the keyword search function we found different results for blog posts and tags. There were more results for tags, about 750, than for blog posts, about 550.
Technorati is a good website to find the 100 most popular blogs, the most popular blog subjects and just fun to have a look around at other people's blogs. You could spend a lot of time looking at the website and lots of blogs!
Technorati is a good website to find the 100 most popular blogs, the most popular blog subjects and just fun to have a look around at other people's blogs. You could spend a lot of time looking at the website and lots of blogs!
I have just been reading about Tags and Bookmarking using the site Del.icio.us. Tags are a way to organise your work or blogs in a free-form method of catagorising. Other users can add their comments and links to this. It is helpful when you run multiple blogs or different sorts of blogs/podcasts such as a video blog (vblog), written blog or audio blog.
With regard to using bookmarking as research assistance, I think it would need to be less free-form or more controlled so that people do not create unsuitable catagorises. Bookmarking is better suited to be used as a tool to let you access blogs anywere.
With regard to using bookmarking as research assistance, I think it would need to be less free-form or more controlled so that people do not create unsuitable catagorises. Bookmarking is better suited to be used as a tool to let you access blogs anywere.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Learning about Wikis
I am now back into the Manukau Libraries Web 2 Learning exercises after several months break from it.
So have started where I left off at Lesson 5 and it is all about Wikis. It was interesting to read about the pros and cons of wikis. The most famous wiki is, of course, Wikipedia which is like an encyclopedia which anyone can contribute to with their knowledge on a particular subject. Then another person can add to or edit this information and so it goes from there.
The great thing about wikis is that information can easily be added by anyone without knowing HTML. Another advantage is that it is easily kept up-to-date with new information, whereas an encyclopedia has to be scrutinised by experts before it is published and means delay in getting the information.
However, even though wikis can give 'instant' information on a topic, this information may be inaccurate or misleading. People can also vandalise the information posted. So it is probably not a good idea to base any research just on wikis, you need to verify your findings from other sources of information such as reference material.
Another use for Wikis is, for example, if you were going to a conference in a city you have never been to before, a wiki could be created and people can add such information as which restaurants they liked, timetables for the conference and attractions they enjoyed doing.
So have started where I left off at Lesson 5 and it is all about Wikis. It was interesting to read about the pros and cons of wikis. The most famous wiki is, of course, Wikipedia which is like an encyclopedia which anyone can contribute to with their knowledge on a particular subject. Then another person can add to or edit this information and so it goes from there.
The great thing about wikis is that information can easily be added by anyone without knowing HTML. Another advantage is that it is easily kept up-to-date with new information, whereas an encyclopedia has to be scrutinised by experts before it is published and means delay in getting the information.
However, even though wikis can give 'instant' information on a topic, this information may be inaccurate or misleading. People can also vandalise the information posted. So it is probably not a good idea to base any research just on wikis, you need to verify your findings from other sources of information such as reference material.
Another use for Wikis is, for example, if you were going to a conference in a city you have never been to before, a wiki could be created and people can add such information as which restaurants they liked, timetables for the conference and attractions they enjoyed doing.
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