Week 3 - comments on Viability of Webcasts

Webcasts are becoming more and more useful for training and lifelong learning. I have attended several in the past months, as well as used Illuminate in a classroom learning environment. If the people operating the webcast and online learning environment are well prepared and able to use the equipment, then the webinar is usually a positive experience. However, buyer-be-ware! We must be prepared or we waste peoples time and sometimes money!

I especially like the ability to go back and view archived webinars. Sometimes a person's schedule does not allow them to be part of a live learning experience. But carving out some time to concentrate on a subject even for a few minutes is great. I find the shorter the instructions--usually the faster one can actually implement the learning. Technology is really about hands-on learning. We have all sat in seminars giving us instructions about some concept or technology, but true learning happens when we are working with the software or equipment.

As we continue to create excellent teaching tools and keep up-to-date learning expeirences, I think that webcasts will become our chosen library for learning for more than 10 years to come.

As Abrams stated, the younger generation natuarally goes to YouTube for learning. This will probably increase not decrease!

Week 3 - Webcast: Twenty Five Technologies to Watch and How

Wow!

If you want to be pushed a bit on technology uses in libraries,
view the SirsiDynix Event Archives,"Twenty Five Technologies to Watch and How,"
by Stephen Abram —VP of Innovation, SirsiDynix.

I definitely need to take his challenge and just take time, have fun and learn about different tech areas. I need to learn more about scrapbooking and tagging, as well as putting together custom searches and microfederation abilities to better provide subject wisdom. It seems that these could help use such old things as "paths" for the modern age.

I am hopeful that over time e-readers will become more reasonable for libraries to provide for patrons. The new IPAD looks really interesting for those of us who might enjoy having a magazine, newspaper or book to use, while also having things at hand via the net. Will this become more the standard, versus the use of mp3's, ipods and phones?

Cloud software seems to be the next stage for libraries if we can keep our computers safe from attacks. We will have to learn this so we can help patrons be able to use the software. The expansion however, will help those with the information gap be able to compete more fully.

Some of what Abrams talks about integrating into libraries makes me understand that we really need to be moving to hiring and training more librarians who are tech able and savvy. Discussing such things as local dominance through geocoding was a bit father ahead than our library is ready for. It will take time to assimilate all this information.

I'd love to learn how to bring our websites to personal sites, Facebook pages, etc. I do think this is very important for the social network. It would not just be pushing information to them via a message sent, but a presence.

If you have not seen this web cast, please watch it at: http://www.sirsidynixinstitute.com/archive.php

This site also provides a down loadable copy of his PowerPoint presentation he used.

In retrospect however, don't let him overpower you, his presentation was done through a simple PowerPoint presentation and audio presence. While he talked about technologies, I did find it interesting however, that he did not use a more techno-savvy way to share his information through maybe a video conference or recording. Maybe he's still learning too!

Week 2 - thoughts about online communities and our library use of them

Our library has a basic blogg. So what I learn here, I can add or improve on ours. Will they want to become facebook fanatics for the library. I hope we become better at communicating through facebook and other ways. It will just take time to set up, and then keep it not only updated but fun so others will visit.

Week 2 - addition: Linkedin

Signing up for linkedin will be a new experience. I'd like to connect with more library collegues so that we can share without boring others on my facebook account.

I need to update my profile and decide what to share with others in the library world.

This will take some time and thought however.

See you on facebook and linkedin!

Week 2 - Updating Facebook

Tonight I had the great pleasure to update all my security settings. I also had really appreciated learning how to make groups or lists of my facebook. I will enjoy being able more fully create special communication to chosen groups.

I am also going to learn and create pages and share things with select ones.

These may seem simple to some, but the added help has been rally great!

Week 1 - more blogging - Getting the right intonation

In case I did not introduce myself enough in our first blog, I want to let you all know that when you check into this blog, that you need to get the right intonation and attitude. For years I have used this phrase when expressing "my" opinion. So when you think or say the title of my blog, get a bit of attitude. Like millions in the world, I have always thought it would be great to write a book. However, books should be more than just opinions expressed, they really should have something useful to add to the world's conversation.

I'd love to share a song that I think will be very real to us as the fog clears. However, I have not found a way to place it on this blog yet. So as I learn, maybe I'll be able to share the song with you.

Week 1 - other comments

Whew! This is soooo much easier than WP! I feel like I've come home. Now all I have to do is find out what else I'm to do for the rest of the weeks work.

“Week 1: Blogging”

This Blog has my name in it. I am participating in 23 things Kansas so that I can learn and grow in technology. I am looking forward to a journey with many others. Together we will become better to serve others.

Note: you may have noted that I had a blog in WordPress, but found that I really wanted one in Blogger.

Happy Learning fellow traveler!