Listed below are the 22 Things (or small exercises) that you can do on the web to explore and expand your knowledge of the Internet and Web 2.0.
Week 1: Introduction
1. Read this blog & find out about the program.
2. Discover a few pointers from lifelong learners and learn how to nurture your own learning process.
3. Watch this video from YouTube. (Don't worry if you don't get it. It will definitely make sense soon.)
4. Finally, spend a little time exploring TEVA and see what kind of fun things you can find from our collection.
Week 2: Blogging
5. Set up your own blog & add your first post.
6. Take a quick tutorial about TEL and spend some time searching TEL for either newspaper articles, health information or even an idea for the next novel you read. Record something on your blog that surprised you from TEL.
Week 3: Photos & Images
7. Explore Flickr and learn about this popular image hosting site.
8. Have some Flickr fun and discover some Flickr mashups & 3rd party sites.
9. Create a blog post that includes a picture from TEVA and comment on someone else's blog entry.
Week 4: RSS & Newsreaders
10. Learn about RSS feeds and setup your own Bloglines newsreader account.
11. Locate a few useful library related blogs and/or news feeds.
Week 5: Play Week
12. Take a look at LibraryThing and catalog some of your favorite books.
13. Take a closer look at YouTube.
14. Roll your own search tool with Rollyo.
15. Overcome your fear of Myspace
Week 6: Tagging, Folksonomies & Technorati
16. Learn about tagging and discover a Del.icio.us (a social bookmaking site)
17. Explore Technorati and learn how tags work with blog posts.
18. Read a few perspectives on Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and the future of libraries and blog your thoughts.
Week 7: Wikis and Archive-It
19. Learn about wikis and discover some innovative ways that libraries are using them.
20. Check out the Internet Archive and TSLA's own Archive-It project.
Week 8: Online Applications & Tools
21. Take a look at some online productivity (word processing, spreadsheet) tools.
22. Explore any site from the Web 2.0 awards list, play with it and write a blog post about your findings.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
About the Learning 2.0 Project
Following the example set forth by TSLA in adapting this program, this blog is part of HRRL's Learning 2.0 project to encourage staff to experiment and learn about the new and emerging technologies that are reshaping the context of information on the Internet today.
The objectives of this program are to:
Encourage exploration of Web 2.0 and new technologies by HRRL staff and member libraries.
Provide staff with new tools (that are freely available on the Internet).
Reward staff for taking the initiative to complete 22 self-discovery exercises.
The Learning 2.0 program was adapted from the originally designed program by Helene Blowers, Public Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg County Technology Director, with the support and assitance of several staff and is loosely based upon Stephen Abram's article, 43 Things I (or You) might want to do this year (Information Outlook - Feb 2006) and the website 43Things.
The design of this online program was completely built on Web 2.0 technologies that are freely available on the Internet. These sites include: Blogger, Flickr, Odeo, YouTube, PBWiki & Bloglines.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
FAQs
Just the FAQs
How does this online learning program work?
This is a self-discovery program which encourages staff to take control of their own learning and to utilize their lifelong learning skills through exploration and PLAY. There will be no classes or workshops offered to support this program. Instead, staff are encouraged to work together and share with each other their discoveries, techniques and "how to's" both in person and through their blogs.
Is this program open to all staff?
We encourage the directors of our libraries to allow all of their staff to participate. Everyone needs to keep learning. Use it or lose it we say.
How do I track my progress for each of the 22 things?
Each staff member that chooses to participate in this program will be required to keep a blog to track their progress.
I've seen the list of 22 things on the website, but how do I know what to do with them?
We've segmented the exercises into weeks which is just a loose guideline. Begin at the beginning and just click your way down the list. That being said, work at your own pace. Some exercises will take longer than others and of course sometimes you have more time to play than others. The point of this is not regimented "homework assignments", the point is to learn and have fun at the same time.
Can I work ahead through the list of items on my own?
Yes, of course. You are encouraged to self-direct your discovery process, especially by working ahead on your own! However, if you do work ahead on some items, be sure to check back on your colleagues' progress and experiences.
What if I need help - who can I call?
Since this program is self-directed and is being completed by many staff members throughout the system simultaneously, you are encouraged to work with colleagues along your discovery journey. If you need more help, feel free to contact Troy or Chris at the Regional Library.
Do you have further questions about the Learning 2.0 program that you suspect are asked frequently? Click on Post a comment below.
How does this online learning program work?
This is a self-discovery program which encourages staff to take control of their own learning and to utilize their lifelong learning skills through exploration and PLAY. There will be no classes or workshops offered to support this program. Instead, staff are encouraged to work together and share with each other their discoveries, techniques and "how to's" both in person and through their blogs.
Is this program open to all staff?
We encourage the directors of our libraries to allow all of their staff to participate. Everyone needs to keep learning. Use it or lose it we say.
How do I track my progress for each of the 22 things?
Each staff member that chooses to participate in this program will be required to keep a blog to track their progress.
I've seen the list of 22 things on the website, but how do I know what to do with them?
We've segmented the exercises into weeks which is just a loose guideline. Begin at the beginning and just click your way down the list. That being said, work at your own pace. Some exercises will take longer than others and of course sometimes you have more time to play than others. The point of this is not regimented "homework assignments", the point is to learn and have fun at the same time.
Can I work ahead through the list of items on my own?
Yes, of course. You are encouraged to self-direct your discovery process, especially by working ahead on your own! However, if you do work ahead on some items, be sure to check back on your colleagues' progress and experiences.
What if I need help - who can I call?
Since this program is self-directed and is being completed by many staff members throughout the system simultaneously, you are encouraged to work with colleagues along your discovery journey. If you need more help, feel free to contact Troy or Chris at the Regional Library.
Do you have further questions about the Learning 2.0 program that you suspect are asked frequently? Click on Post a comment below.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Web 2.0 Tools
Throughout the course of this Learning 2.0 program we’ve explored just a small sampling of these new internet technologies and websites that are empowering users with the ability to create and share content. But given time there are so many more we could explore. Current estimates place the number of web 2.0 tools at somewhere between 300 & 500 with only a handful emerging as market dominators. And although time will only tell which of these new collaborative, social networking and information tools will remain on top, one
thing is for sure, they're not going to go away (at least anytime soon).
For this discovery exercise, participants are asked to select any site from this list of Web 2.0 Awards nominees and explore it. With so many to choose from, it might be handy to first select a category that interests you (like Books or Personal Organization) and then simply select a tool/site to explore. Be careful to select a tool that is Free and that doesn't require a plug-in or download. The majority of these free, so this shouldn’t be a problem.
Discovery Exercise:
1. Select any site/tool from the list of Web 2.0 Awards nominees. (If you prefer to select from just the winners, here’s a link to the short list.)
2. Explore the site you selected.
3. Create a post about your discovery. What did you like or dislike about the tool? What were the site’s useful features? Could you see any applications for its use in a library setting?
Web 2.0 – with so much to explore, just start with ONE. :)
I'd just like to take this time to thank all the little people who made this award possible. Share your thoughts and results from Week 8 by clicking here!
thing is for sure, they're not going to go away (at least anytime soon).
For this discovery exercise, participants are asked to select any site from this list of Web 2.0 Awards nominees and explore it. With so many to choose from, it might be handy to first select a category that interests you (like Books or Personal Organization) and then simply select a tool/site to explore. Be careful to select a tool that is Free and that doesn't require a plug-in or download. The majority of these free, so this shouldn’t be a problem.
Discovery Exercise:
1. Select any site/tool from the list of Web 2.0 Awards nominees. (If you prefer to select from just the winners, here’s a link to the short list.)
2. Explore the site you selected.
3. Create a post about your discovery. What did you like or dislike about the tool? What were the site’s useful features? Could you see any applications for its use in a library setting?
Web 2.0 – with so much to explore, just start with ONE. :)
I'd just like to take this time to thank all the little people who made this award possible. Share your thoughts and results from Week 8 by clicking here!
Online Productivity
Online productivity web-based applications (think word processing and spreadsheets) have exploded over the past two years -- and for good reasons! These powerful applications provide users with the ability to create and share documents over the Internet without the need of installed desktop applications. Some experts speculate that this emerging trend may mean the death to Microsoft Office and other software-based productivity tools, while others think web-based applications have their place, but not in the office. But no matter which side of the office suite platform you side with, on this both sides seem to agree: web-based apps have their place.
One large benefit to web-based applications it that they eliminate the need to worry about different software versions or file types as you email documents or move from PC to PC. Another bonus is that they easily accommodate collaboration by allowing multiple users to edit the same file (with versioning) and provide users the ability to easily save and convert documents as multiple file types (including HTML and pdf). You can even use many of these tools, such as Zoho Writer and Google Docs, to author and publish posts to your blog. It’s this type of integration with other web 2.0 tools that also makes web-based apps so appealing.
For this discovery exercise, participants are asked to take a look at a web-based word processing tool called Zoho Writer, create a simple document and then document your discoveries in your blog. If you're up to the challenge, you might even export your document as an HTML file or publish it through Zoho to your blog.
With Zoho and other web-based applications, the possibilities are endless.
Discovery Resources:
A short list of web-based productivity applications – Note: this list was authored in ZohoWriter and exported it as HTML.
Discovery Exercise:
Create a free account for yourself in Zoho Writer.
Explore the site and create a few test documents of two.
Try out Zoho Writer’s features and create a blog post about your discoveries.
OPTIONAL:
If you're up for the challenge, try using Zoho’s "publish" options to post to your blog.
* NOTE: You can also explore Google Docs (formerly known as Writely), Google's online word processer, as an option for this exercise.
BTW: Here’s a document (viewable as a webpage) I mocked up in Zoho about some of the features I found beneficial.
All of your documents, anywhere you want them. Share your thoughts and results from Week 8 by clicking here!
One large benefit to web-based applications it that they eliminate the need to worry about different software versions or file types as you email documents or move from PC to PC. Another bonus is that they easily accommodate collaboration by allowing multiple users to edit the same file (with versioning) and provide users the ability to easily save and convert documents as multiple file types (including HTML and pdf). You can even use many of these tools, such as Zoho Writer and Google Docs, to author and publish posts to your blog. It’s this type of integration with other web 2.0 tools that also makes web-based apps so appealing.
For this discovery exercise, participants are asked to take a look at a web-based word processing tool called Zoho Writer, create a simple document and then document your discoveries in your blog. If you're up to the challenge, you might even export your document as an HTML file or publish it through Zoho to your blog.
With Zoho and other web-based applications, the possibilities are endless.
Discovery Resources:
A short list of web-based productivity applications – Note: this list was authored in ZohoWriter and exported it as HTML.
Discovery Exercise:
Create a free account for yourself in Zoho Writer.
Explore the site and create a few test documents of two.
Try out Zoho Writer’s features and create a blog post about your discoveries.
OPTIONAL:
If you're up for the challenge, try using Zoho’s "publish" options to post to your blog.
* NOTE: You can also explore Google Docs (formerly known as Writely), Google's online word processer, as an option for this exercise.
BTW: Here’s a document (viewable as a webpage) I mocked up in Zoho about some of the features I found beneficial.
All of your documents, anywhere you want them. Share your thoughts and results from Week 8 by clicking here!
Week 7: Wikis and Archive-It
19. Learn about wikis and discover some innovative ways that libraries are using them.
20. Check out the Internet Archive and TSLA's own Archive-It project.
Cave drawings of the 21st century and the archivists that save it for posterity. Share your thoughts and results from Week 7 by clicking here!
20. Check out the Internet Archive and TSLA's own Archive-It project.
Cave drawings of the 21st century and the archivists that save it for posterity. Share your thoughts and results from Week 7 by clicking here!
Internet Archive
The Internet changes every millisecond. We all use it, but who is archiving it?
In May 2007, California officially recognized the Internet Archive, established in 1996, as a library. The designation makes the online archive eligible to apply for several federal grant programs that are administered by the state of California. But even more importantly, says Brewster Kahle, Internet Archive founder and digital librarian, was the recognition that a digital library is on equal footing with a print material archive -- that the Internet is becoming "more a part of our real civic structure."
Click on the About IA link at the top of the Internet Archive website.
Find something that interests you on the Internet Archive and write a review about it.
Just like Internet Archive that records the World Wide Web, TSLA uses Archive-It to archive State documents. Check it out at Archive-It
Discovery Exercise:
• Choose our Institution and browse the information we have archived.
• Find something that you think may interest our patrons and make a blog entry about it.
You're telling me that NSYNC fansite I made when I was 15 is never going to go away?!? Share your thoughts and results from Week 7 by clicking here!
In May 2007, California officially recognized the Internet Archive, established in 1996, as a library. The designation makes the online archive eligible to apply for several federal grant programs that are administered by the state of California. But even more importantly, says Brewster Kahle, Internet Archive founder and digital librarian, was the recognition that a digital library is on equal footing with a print material archive -- that the Internet is becoming "more a part of our real civic structure."
Click on the About IA link at the top of the Internet Archive website.
Find something that interests you on the Internet Archive and write a review about it.
Just like Internet Archive that records the World Wide Web, TSLA uses Archive-It to archive State documents. Check it out at Archive-It
Discovery Exercise:
• Choose our Institution and browse the information we have archived.
• Find something that you think may interest our patrons and make a blog entry about it.
You're telling me that NSYNC fansite I made when I was 15 is never going to go away?!? Share your thoughts and results from Week 7 by clicking here!
Wikis
A wiki is a collaborative website and authoring tool that allows users to easily add, remove and edit content. Wikipedia, the online open-community encyclopedia, is the largest and perhaps the most well known of these knowledge sharing tools. With the benefits that wikis provide the use and popularity of these tools is exploding.
Some of the benefits that make wikis so attractive are:
• Anyone (registered or unregistered, if unrestricted) can add, edit or delete content.
• Tracking tools within wikis allow you to easily keep up on what been changed and by whom.
• Earlier versions of a page can be viewed and reinstated when needed.
• Users do not need to know HTML in order to apply styles to text or add and edit content.
In most cases simple syntax structure is used. As the use of wikis has grown over the last few years, libraries all over the country have begun to use them to collaborate and share knowledge. Among their applications are pathfinder or subject guide wikis, book review wikis, ALA conference wikis and even library best practices wikis.
Discovery Resources:
Use these resources to learn more aboout wikis:
• Wiki’s: A Beginner’s Look – an excellent short slide presentation that offers a short introduction and examples.
• What is a Wiki? – Library Success wiki presentation
• Using Wikis to Create Online Communities – a good overview of what a wiki is and how it can be used in libraries.
Discovery Exercise:
1. For this discovery exercise, you are asked to take a look at some library wikis and blog about your finding.
Here’s a few examples to get you started:
• Genealogy and Wikis
• Library Success: A best practices wiki
Wikis...collabrotive tool of the future or one of those wooden torches people put around their patio? Share your thoughts and results from Week 7 by clicking here!
Some of the benefits that make wikis so attractive are:
• Anyone (registered or unregistered, if unrestricted) can add, edit or delete content.
• Tracking tools within wikis allow you to easily keep up on what been changed and by whom.
• Earlier versions of a page can be viewed and reinstated when needed.
• Users do not need to know HTML in order to apply styles to text or add and edit content.
In most cases simple syntax structure is used. As the use of wikis has grown over the last few years, libraries all over the country have begun to use them to collaborate and share knowledge. Among their applications are pathfinder or subject guide wikis, book review wikis, ALA conference wikis and even library best practices wikis.
Discovery Resources:
Use these resources to learn more aboout wikis:
• Wiki’s: A Beginner’s Look – an excellent short slide presentation that offers a short introduction and examples.
• What is a Wiki? – Library Success wiki presentation
• Using Wikis to Create Online Communities – a good overview of what a wiki is and how it can be used in libraries.
Discovery Exercise:
1. For this discovery exercise, you are asked to take a look at some library wikis and blog about your finding.
Here’s a few examples to get you started:
• Genealogy and Wikis
• Library Success: A best practices wiki
Wikis...collabrotive tool of the future or one of those wooden torches people put around their patio? Share your thoughts and results from Week 7 by clicking here!
Week 6: Tagging, Folksonomies & Technorati
16. Learn about tagging and discover a Del.icio.us (a social bookmaking site)
17. Explore Technorati and learn how tags work with blog posts.
18. Read a few perspectives on Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and the future of libraries and blog your thoughts.
Tagging, Folksonomies and Technorati, oh my. Share your thoughts and results from Week 6 by clicking here!
17. Explore Technorati and learn how tags work with blog posts.
18. Read a few perspectives on Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and the future of libraries and blog your thoughts.
Tagging, Folksonomies and Technorati, oh my. Share your thoughts and results from Week 6 by clicking here!
Library 2.0
Library 2.0 is term used to describe a new set of concepts for developing and delivering library services.
The name, as you may guess, is an extension of Web 2.0 and shares many of its same philosophies and concepts including harnessing the user in both design and implementation of services, embracing constant change as a development cycle over the traditional notion of upgrades, and reworking library services to meet the users in their space, as opposed to ours (libraries).
Many have argued that the notion of Library 2.0 is more than just a term used to describe concepts that merely revolve around the use of technology; it also a term that can be used to describe both physical and mindset changes that are occurring within libraries to make our spaces and services more user-centric and inviting.
Others within the profession have asserted that libraries have always been 2.0: collaborative, customer friendly and welcoming. But no matter which side of the debate proponents fall, both sides agree that libraries of tomorrow, even five or ten years from now, will look substantially different from libraries today.
Discovery Resources:
OCLC Next Space Newsletter – Web 2.0: Where will the next generation of the web take libraries?
Five Perspectives:
Away from Icebergs
Into a new world of librarianship
To more powerful ways to cooperate
To better bibliographic services
To a temporary place in time
Discovery Exercise:
1. Read two or three of the perspectives on Library 2.0 from the list above.
2. Create a blog post about your thoughts on any one of these perspectives. Library 2.0 - It's many things to many people. What does "Library 2.0" mean to you?
Personally, I can't wait for the Beta version of Library 2.14. Share your thoughts and results from Week 6 by clicking here!
The name, as you may guess, is an extension of Web 2.0 and shares many of its same philosophies and concepts including harnessing the user in both design and implementation of services, embracing constant change as a development cycle over the traditional notion of upgrades, and reworking library services to meet the users in their space, as opposed to ours (libraries).
Many have argued that the notion of Library 2.0 is more than just a term used to describe concepts that merely revolve around the use of technology; it also a term that can be used to describe both physical and mindset changes that are occurring within libraries to make our spaces and services more user-centric and inviting.
Others within the profession have asserted that libraries have always been 2.0: collaborative, customer friendly and welcoming. But no matter which side of the debate proponents fall, both sides agree that libraries of tomorrow, even five or ten years from now, will look substantially different from libraries today.
Discovery Resources:
OCLC Next Space Newsletter – Web 2.0: Where will the next generation of the web take libraries?
Five Perspectives:
Away from Icebergs
Into a new world of librarianship
To more powerful ways to cooperate
To better bibliographic services
To a temporary place in time
Discovery Exercise:
1. Read two or three of the perspectives on Library 2.0 from the list above.
2. Create a blog post about your thoughts on any one of these perspectives. Library 2.0 - It's many things to many people. What does "Library 2.0" mean to you?
Personally, I can't wait for the Beta version of Library 2.14. Share your thoughts and results from Week 6 by clicking here!
Technorati
So now that you’ve been blogging for awhile, you might be wondering just how big the blogosphere is.
Well, according to Technorati, the leading search tool and authority for blogs, the number of blogs doubles just about every 6 months with over 51 million blogs currently being tracked by the site. If the blogging trend continues, it is estimated that Technorati will have tracked its 100 millionth blog in just 5 months.
Yes, these numbers are astounding, but as you’ve already seen for yourselves, blogging is so easy that these publishing tools are being taken advantage of by almost every industry, including libraries.
So how does a person get their blog listed as part of the blogosphere and how can you tag your posts with keywords to make them more findable through a Technorati search? The answer to the first question is that your blog is probably already being captured by Technorati due to the fact that you're already using Blogger, the most popular blogging tool.
But if you want to join the party and have your blog officially listed on Technorati and also take advantage of the watchlist and other features, you’ll need to claim your blog yourself. As for tagging posts with Technorati tags? This is easy, too. All you need to do is add a little bit of HTML code to the bottom of your post (see my example below) and Technorati will pick up these tags when it spiders (or web crawls) your site.
There are a lot of new features that have been added to Technorati this past summer, including new ways to search for blogs. You can search for keywords in blog posts, search for entire blog posts that have been tagged with a certain keyword, or search for blogs that have been registered and tagged as whole blogs about a certain subject (like photography or libraries).
Discovery Resources:
Technorati Tour – videocast of new features & new look
Technorati Popular feature
Discovery Exercise:
1.Take a look at Technorati and try doing a keyword search for “Learning 2.0” in Blog posts, in tags and in the Blog Directory. Are the results different?
2.Explore popular blog, searches and tags. Is anything interesting or surprising in your results?
3.Create a blog post about your discoveries on this site.
OPTIONAL: If you're up for a challenge, learn how to tag your posts by with Technorati tags so they can join tag searches. You may also want to consider claiming your blog and creating a watchlist.
NOTE: When adding HTML code, you'll want to make sure you're in Blogger's Edit HTML window.
Now that everyone is the world is reading your blog, share your thoughts and results from Week 6 by clicking here!
Well, according to Technorati, the leading search tool and authority for blogs, the number of blogs doubles just about every 6 months with over 51 million blogs currently being tracked by the site. If the blogging trend continues, it is estimated that Technorati will have tracked its 100 millionth blog in just 5 months.
Yes, these numbers are astounding, but as you’ve already seen for yourselves, blogging is so easy that these publishing tools are being taken advantage of by almost every industry, including libraries.
So how does a person get their blog listed as part of the blogosphere and how can you tag your posts with keywords to make them more findable through a Technorati search? The answer to the first question is that your blog is probably already being captured by Technorati due to the fact that you're already using Blogger, the most popular blogging tool.
But if you want to join the party and have your blog officially listed on Technorati and also take advantage of the watchlist and other features, you’ll need to claim your blog yourself. As for tagging posts with Technorati tags? This is easy, too. All you need to do is add a little bit of HTML code to the bottom of your post (see my example below) and Technorati will pick up these tags when it spiders (or web crawls) your site.
There are a lot of new features that have been added to Technorati this past summer, including new ways to search for blogs. You can search for keywords in blog posts, search for entire blog posts that have been tagged with a certain keyword, or search for blogs that have been registered and tagged as whole blogs about a certain subject (like photography or libraries).
Discovery Resources:
Technorati Tour – videocast of new features & new look
Technorati Popular feature
Discovery Exercise:
1.Take a look at Technorati and try doing a keyword search for “Learning 2.0” in Blog posts, in tags and in the Blog Directory. Are the results different?
2.Explore popular blog, searches and tags. Is anything interesting or surprising in your results?
3.Create a blog post about your discoveries on this site.
OPTIONAL: If you're up for a challenge, learn how to tag your posts by with Technorati tags so they can join tag searches. You may also want to consider claiming your blog and creating a watchlist.
NOTE: When adding HTML code, you'll want to make sure you're in Blogger's Edit HTML window.
Now that everyone is the world is reading your blog, share your thoughts and results from Week 6 by clicking here!
Tagging
Tagging is an open and informal method of categorizing that allows users to associate keywords with online content (webpages, pictures & posts).
Unlike library subject cataloging, which follows a strict set of guidelines (e.g., Library of Congress subject headings), tagging is completely unstructured and freeform, allowing users to create connections between data anyway they want.
In the past few weeks, we’ve already explored a few sites — Flickr and LibraryThing to name two — that allow users to take advantage of tagging.
This week, in addition to exploring Technorati tagging, we want to also take at popular social bookmarking site called Del.icio.us (typed in as http://del.icio.us/). Del.icio.us is a social bookmarking manager which allows you to bookmark a web page and add tags to categorize your bookmarks.
Many users find that the real power of Del.icio.us is in the social network aspect, which allows you to see how other users have tagged similar links and also discover other websites that may be of interest to you. You can think of it as peering into another users’ filing cabinet, but with this powerful bookmarking tool each user's filing cabinet helps to build an expansive knowledge network.
For this discovery exercise, you are asked to take a look at Del.icio.us and learn about this popular bookmarking tool.
Discovery Resources:
Otter Group Del.icio.us tutorial (8 min video) - Highly recommended!!!
Us.ef.ul: A beginners guide to Del.icio.us
Several Habits of wildly successful Del.icio.us users
Discovery Exercise:
View the 8 minute Del.icio.us tutorial to get a good overview of its features.
Create a blog post about your experience and thoughts about this tool.
Can you see the potential of this tool for research assistance? Or just as an easy way to create bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere?
OPTIONAL: If you’re up to the challenge, create a Del.icio.us account for yourself and discover how this useful bookmarking tool can replace your traditional browser bookmark list. You might even want to explore Del.icio.us’ latest addition, a network badge.
(Psst! see it over there at the end of the navigation sidebar)
NOTE: If you do setup a Del.icio.us account, here’s a quick word about the Del.icio.us Buttons. On PCs that have the toolbars locked down, these will install as options in your browser bookmarks. Use the “Post to my Del.icio.us” link to add the current webpage to your account (you may need to log in). Use the “My Del.icio.us” link to view your online account.
TAG! Now that you're it, share your thoughts and results from Week 6 by clicking here!
Unlike library subject cataloging, which follows a strict set of guidelines (e.g., Library of Congress subject headings), tagging is completely unstructured and freeform, allowing users to create connections between data anyway they want.
In the past few weeks, we’ve already explored a few sites — Flickr and LibraryThing to name two — that allow users to take advantage of tagging.
This week, in addition to exploring Technorati tagging, we want to also take at popular social bookmarking site called Del.icio.us (typed in as http://del.icio.us/). Del.icio.us is a social bookmarking manager which allows you to bookmark a web page and add tags to categorize your bookmarks.
Many users find that the real power of Del.icio.us is in the social network aspect, which allows you to see how other users have tagged similar links and also discover other websites that may be of interest to you. You can think of it as peering into another users’ filing cabinet, but with this powerful bookmarking tool each user's filing cabinet helps to build an expansive knowledge network.
For this discovery exercise, you are asked to take a look at Del.icio.us and learn about this popular bookmarking tool.
Discovery Resources:
Otter Group Del.icio.us tutorial (8 min video) - Highly recommended!!!
Us.ef.ul: A beginners guide to Del.icio.us
Several Habits of wildly successful Del.icio.us users
Discovery Exercise:
View the 8 minute Del.icio.us tutorial to get a good overview of its features.
Create a blog post about your experience and thoughts about this tool.
Can you see the potential of this tool for research assistance? Or just as an easy way to create bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere?
OPTIONAL: If you’re up to the challenge, create a Del.icio.us account for yourself and discover how this useful bookmarking tool can replace your traditional browser bookmark list. You might even want to explore Del.icio.us’ latest addition, a network badge.
(Psst! see it over there at the end of the navigation sidebar)
NOTE: If you do setup a Del.icio.us account, here’s a quick word about the Del.icio.us Buttons. On PCs that have the toolbars locked down, these will install as options in your browser bookmarks. Use the “Post to my Del.icio.us” link to add the current webpage to your account (you may need to log in). Use the “My Del.icio.us” link to view your online account.
TAG! Now that you're it, share your thoughts and results from Week 6 by clicking here!
Week 4: RSS & Newsreaders
10. Learn about RSS feeds and setup your own Bloglines newsreader account.
11. Locate a few useful library related blogs and/or news feeds.
Share your thoughts and results from Week 4 by clicking here!
11. Locate a few useful library related blogs and/or news feeds.
Share your thoughts and results from Week 4 by clicking here!
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Finding Feeds
Now that you have a newsreader (your Bloglines account), you can begin adding other newsfeeds that interest you.
There are several ways you can locate newsfeeds:
When visiting your favorite websites -- look for news feed icons that indicate the website provides it. Often a feed icon will be displayed somewhere in the navigation bar of the site.
(Here's an image that contains a sampling of several feed icons).
Use Blogline's Search tool - Bloglines recently expanded search tool lets you search for news feeds in addition to posts, citations and the web. Use the Search for Feeds option to locate RSS feeds you might be interested in.
Other Search tools that can help you find feeds:
Feedster - One of the largest collections of RSS feeds, Feedster lets you search for feeds in three categories: news, blogs & podcasts
Topix.net - This search tool allows you to locate recent newsfeed items based upon keyword or phrase searching. The tool focuses specifically on news and media outlet RSS feeds for information, not weblogs.
Syndic8.com - Syndic8 is an open directory of RSS feeds that contains thousands of RSS feeds that users have submitted.
Technorati - Technorati is a popular blog finding tool that lets you search for blogs. Since RSS feeds are inherent to all blogging tools, Technorati Blog Search can help you find RSS feeds for topic specific blogs you may be interested in.
Additonal Resource: Technorati Tutorial on finding and adding your blog.
Discovery Excercise:
Explore some of the search tools noted above that can help you locate some news feeds.
Create a blog post about your experience. Don't know what to blog about? Here some questions to think about:
Which method of finding feeds did you find easiest to use?
Which Search tool was the easiest for you?
Which was more confusing?
What kind of useful feeds did you find in your travels?
Or what kind of unusual ones did you find? What other tools or ways did you find to locate newsfeeds?
All the news that is fit to print is even better when you don't have ink all over your hands after reading it. Share your thoughts and results from Week 4 by clicking here!
There are several ways you can locate newsfeeds:
When visiting your favorite websites -- look for news feed icons that indicate the website provides it. Often a feed icon will be displayed somewhere in the navigation bar of the site.
(Here's an image that contains a sampling of several feed icons).
Use Blogline's Search tool - Bloglines recently expanded search tool lets you search for news feeds in addition to posts, citations and the web. Use the Search for Feeds option to locate RSS feeds you might be interested in.
Other Search tools that can help you find feeds:
Feedster - One of the largest collections of RSS feeds, Feedster lets you search for feeds in three categories: news, blogs & podcasts
Topix.net - This search tool allows you to locate recent newsfeed items based upon keyword or phrase searching. The tool focuses specifically on news and media outlet RSS feeds for information, not weblogs.
Syndic8.com - Syndic8 is an open directory of RSS feeds that contains thousands of RSS feeds that users have submitted.
Technorati - Technorati is a popular blog finding tool that lets you search for blogs. Since RSS feeds are inherent to all blogging tools, Technorati Blog Search can help you find RSS feeds for topic specific blogs you may be interested in.
Additonal Resource: Technorati Tutorial on finding and adding your blog.
Discovery Excercise:
Explore some of the search tools noted above that can help you locate some news feeds.
Create a blog post about your experience. Don't know what to blog about? Here some questions to think about:
Which method of finding feeds did you find easiest to use?
Which Search tool was the easiest for you?
Which was more confusing?
What kind of useful feeds did you find in your travels?
Or what kind of unusual ones did you find? What other tools or ways did you find to locate newsfeeds?
All the news that is fit to print is even better when you don't have ink all over your hands after reading it. Share your thoughts and results from Week 4 by clicking here!
RSS and Blogs
You’ve heard of RSS?
You’ve seen those small funny tags on websites? You’ve heard co-workers and acquaintances swear by it, but still have no idea what RSS is?
Well don’t worry, according to a recent survey you’re still in the majority, but this is changing rapidly. In the information world, RSS is not only revolutionalizing the way news, media and content creators share information, but it also is swiftly changing the way everyday users are consuming information. RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” and is a file format for delivering regularly updated information over the web.
Just think about the websites and news information sources you visit every day. It takes time to visit those sites and scour the ad-filled and image-heavy pages for just the text you want to read, doesn’t it?
Now imagine if you could visit all those information sources and web pages in just one place and all at the same time … without being bombarded with advertising… without having to search for new information on the page you’d already seen or read before… and without having to consume a lot of time visiting each site individually. Would that be valuable to you?
Well, it’s available now through a newsreader and RSS.
This week’s discovery exercises focus on learning about RSS news feeds and setting up a Bloglines account (a free online newsreader) for yourself to bring your feeds together.
Discovery Resources:
Feed Me: A gentle introduction to Internet feeds - a good tutorial from Palinet, a library cooperative
RSS Feeds: Getting Started – This online tutorial (created by the Nashville Public Library) walks you through how to setup a Bloglines account and add RSS feeds.
Discovery Exercise:
Create a free online Bloglines account for yourself and subscribe to at least 10 newsfeeds to your reader.
Watch the RSS Feeds: Getting Started for information about setting up your Blogines account and adding feeds.
See Using Bloglines Tutorial steps 4 – 9 for how to subscribe to different types of feeds (podcasts, Flickr albums, etc)
Create a post in your blog listing some of your favorite blogs.
Some recommended blogs to read:
Genealogy Librarian
Free Range Librarian
Cyndi's List of Blogs
Stephen's Lighthouse
The Shifted Librarian
Tame the Web
Unshelved
The Practical Archivist
Foldering
Archival Ardor
RSS? Is that like an ILS? That little orange button does something? Share your thoughts and results from Week 4 by clicking here!
You’ve seen those small funny tags on websites? You’ve heard co-workers and acquaintances swear by it, but still have no idea what RSS is?
Well don’t worry, according to a recent survey you’re still in the majority, but this is changing rapidly. In the information world, RSS is not only revolutionalizing the way news, media and content creators share information, but it also is swiftly changing the way everyday users are consuming information. RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” and is a file format for delivering regularly updated information over the web.
Just think about the websites and news information sources you visit every day. It takes time to visit those sites and scour the ad-filled and image-heavy pages for just the text you want to read, doesn’t it?
Now imagine if you could visit all those information sources and web pages in just one place and all at the same time … without being bombarded with advertising… without having to search for new information on the page you’d already seen or read before… and without having to consume a lot of time visiting each site individually. Would that be valuable to you?
Well, it’s available now through a newsreader and RSS.
This week’s discovery exercises focus on learning about RSS news feeds and setting up a Bloglines account (a free online newsreader) for yourself to bring your feeds together.
Discovery Resources:
Feed Me: A gentle introduction to Internet feeds - a good tutorial from Palinet, a library cooperative
RSS Feeds: Getting Started – This online tutorial (created by the Nashville Public Library) walks you through how to setup a Bloglines account and add RSS feeds.
Discovery Exercise:
Create a free online Bloglines account for yourself and subscribe to at least 10 newsfeeds to your reader.
Watch the RSS Feeds: Getting Started for information about setting up your Blogines account and adding feeds.
See Using Bloglines Tutorial steps 4 – 9 for how to subscribe to different types of feeds (podcasts, Flickr albums, etc)
Create a post in your blog listing some of your favorite blogs.
Some recommended blogs to read:
Genealogy Librarian
Free Range Librarian
Cyndi's List of Blogs
Stephen's Lighthouse
The Shifted Librarian
Tame the Web
Unshelved
The Practical Archivist
Foldering
Archival Ardor
RSS? Is that like an ILS? That little orange button does something? Share your thoughts and results from Week 4 by clicking here!
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Week 8: Online Applications & Tools
21. Take a look at some online productivity (word processing, spreadsheet) tools.
22. Explore any site from the Web 2.0 awards list, play with it and write a blog post about your findings.
Who has time to be productive when there are all these fun sites to look at? Share your thoughts and results from Week 8 here!
22. Explore any site from the Web 2.0 awards list, play with it and write a blog post about your findings.
Who has time to be productive when there are all these fun sites to look at? Share your thoughts and results from Week 8 here!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Week 5: Play Week
12. Take a look at LibraryThing and catalog some of your favorite books.
13. Take a closer look at YouTube.
14. Roll your own search tool with Rollyo.
15. Overcome your fear of Myspace
Shouldn't every week be a play week? Share your thoughts and results from Week 5 by clicking here!
13. Take a closer look at YouTube.
14. Roll your own search tool with Rollyo.
15. Overcome your fear of Myspace
Shouldn't every week be a play week? Share your thoughts and results from Week 5 by clicking here!
Rollyo
Do you have a group of websites that are your favorites? Or a set of online resources that are similar that you frequently use to answer homework or reference questions?
Well Rollyo may be the tool for you. Rollyo allows you to create your own search tool for the just the websites you know and trust. Take a look at some of these search rolls that have already been created:
Public Domain e-Books Search
Rare Book Library Search
Free Photos
Quick Quotes
Explore other rolls here.
Discovery Exercise:
Explore Rollyo and create an account for yourself.
Create a search roll for any subject you like.
Is Rollyo for you? Share your thoughts and results from Week 5 by clicking here!
Well Rollyo may be the tool for you. Rollyo allows you to create your own search tool for the just the websites you know and trust. Take a look at some of these search rolls that have already been created:
Public Domain e-Books Search
Rare Book Library Search
Free Photos
Quick Quotes
Explore other rolls here.
Discovery Exercise:
Explore Rollyo and create an account for yourself.
Create a search roll for any subject you like.
Is Rollyo for you? Share your thoughts and results from Week 5 by clicking here!
LibraryThing
Are you book lover or cataloger at heart?
Or do you enjoy finding lost and forgotten gems on the shelf to read? Then LibraryThing may be just the tool for you.
Developed for book lovers, this online tool not only allows you to easily create an online catalog of your own it also connects you to other people who have similar libraries and reading tastes.
Add a book to your catalog by just entering the title -- It’s so easy that you don’t even need MARC record training to do it – or connect with other users through your similar reading tastes.
There are lots of ways to use LibraryThing. You can even view your books on a virtual shelf, add a widget to display titles that are in your catalog or install a LT Search box on your blog.
So why not join the ranks and create your own library online. With over 65,000 registered (BTW: LibraryThing also has group forum for librarians users and over 4.7 million cataloged books, you're bound to discover something new.
Discovery Resources:
About LibraryThing
Library Thing tour
LibraryThing blog (updates & news)
Discovery Exercise:
Take a look around LibraryThing and create an account.
Add a least 5 books to your library.
Blog about your findings and be sure to link to your LibraryThing catalog.
Just can't get enough of cataloging at work? Share your thoughts and results from Week 5 by clicking here!
Or do you enjoy finding lost and forgotten gems on the shelf to read? Then LibraryThing may be just the tool for you.
Developed for book lovers, this online tool not only allows you to easily create an online catalog of your own it also connects you to other people who have similar libraries and reading tastes.
Add a book to your catalog by just entering the title -- It’s so easy that you don’t even need MARC record training to do it – or connect with other users through your similar reading tastes.
There are lots of ways to use LibraryThing. You can even view your books on a virtual shelf, add a widget to display titles that are in your catalog or install a LT Search box on your blog.
So why not join the ranks and create your own library online. With over 65,000 registered (BTW: LibraryThing also has group forum for librarians users and over 4.7 million cataloged books, you're bound to discover something new.
Discovery Resources:
About LibraryThing
Library Thing tour
LibraryThing blog (updates & news)
Discovery Exercise:
Take a look around LibraryThing and create an account.
Add a least 5 books to your library.
Blog about your findings and be sure to link to your LibraryThing catalog.
Just can't get enough of cataloging at work? Share your thoughts and results from Week 5 by clicking here!
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