Week 9: My Learning 2.0 XP

I've taken a couple of days to try to decide what I want to say about how very much I have enjoyed this opportunity. Everything I come up with sounds remarkably silly to me. I was that kid in high school who was talented but not enough to be in the various talented programs offered. That kid who was pretty but clearly no prom queen. That kid who had potential, personality and a bright productive future ahead of her but no scholarship, grants or parental financial support to go to college. I think that is what makes me the "sponge" I am today in that basically any opportunity to learn, I soak it up. I must say that this has been not only informative but fun for me. Also, I enjoy the blogging aspect of this project. I work three jobs and don't always have as much time as I would like to be able to explore the Internet so when I learn how to make it happen quicker and more simply-Hallelujah!! Technologically my next thing to tackle is mp3 devices. I'm surprised I've not already learned all about it because I am an avid music lover. My wish list not only includes one of those but also a Blackberry, which all I truly know about it is that its more than a cell phone but less than a computer and I can check my e-mail wherever and whenever I wish. I've no doubt though that both will require my fair share of Internet tutorials. Hey, maybe there are Commoncraft: Explanations in Plain English for those as well. Wish me luck.

Week 9: It's a Web 2.0 World

The statement 2.0 implies an upgrade of the world wide web but technically that isn't so. In my opinion, moreover it points to the evolution and change of getting the end-user (aka us) more involved. My personal use of the Internet and place in the web culture community, as it is today, is that of being creative and well informed when communicating to not only my immediate friends but also those I acquire virtually. As said eloquently on Wikipedia, "Web 2.0 encapsulates the idea of inter connectivity and interactivity of web-delivered content." Today's Internet affords us more freedom, openness, participation, experience, creativity/personalization, and collective intelligence than ever before. I graduated from high school in 1993....imagine the force I may have been with this technology. Unfortunately the generation after have grown up with it all along and don't realize the invaluable resources right at their fingertips for the taking. If the library is to stay vital, we need to be interactive and interconnected with these and subsequent generations right at their literal fingertips.

Week 8: Social Networking Footnote

One point I forgot to mention is my very high regards for the producers of the YouTube series Commoncraft: Explanations in Plain English. The title truly says it all. If I am confused, they literally draw it out for me. If not, they educate me with a way to explain it to those around me....like..oh... my mother. In this most reason segment on Social Networking, I especially liked the description: "Like a map for a highway, [social networking sites]..show you the people network to get to you next destination..."It doesn't get much simpler than that.

Week 8: Social Networking and Stereotypes

Not the most educational lesson for me personally whereas I have mentioned before my avid use of MySpace, however it did breathe life into my soapbox. In the podcast, there were several key points that need to be repeated-over and over again until the message gets out.
1. New technology breeds fear.
2. The Internet is constantly evolving.
3. Molesters are seen as lurking on the Internet (where in reality children are molested by someone they know 8 out of 10 cases).
4. Perception is distorted.
5. We need to teach and model safe practices.
6. Be relevant. Be where the next generation of customers is.
These points are so very important when it comes to Internet in general. Let's delve in deeper. Take my generation, the thirty-somethings. Many of us not only utilize and enjoy a social network, but rather have more likely than not signed up for each one coming and going. I personally don't recall how many I'm on with a picture and a profile. I can tell you with much confidence thought that all are outdated with the exception of my MySpace (www.myspace.com/taintedangelheart). DISCLAIMER: This is my personal, not so private, page and in no way, shape, or form reflects the beliefs, opinions or attitudes of any of my family, friends or employers. Any judgements made about my person or values are solely the opinion and responsibility of the viewer and may not be assumed to be an accurate perception or representation of who I am as an individual. With that said, I've decided to fore go that portion of the assignment and introduce you to my existing "masterpiece."

Week 7: Web Widgets, Gadgets, and Warcraft

Imagine that! I've been using "widgets" or "gadgets" all along and didn't have a clue that what it was. I am an avid myspacer so I've been introduced to this (of sorts) long ago. None-the-less I very much enjoyed this lesson and discovered a widget via http://www.widgetbox.com/ that I truely like on the goings on of the popular online game, World of Warcraft. Two words-Thank you!!!!

Week 6: Del.icio.us Update

AHA!!!!! I figured out how to add bookmarks and tags to Del.icio.us without adding the handy dandy button onto to the toolbar. Now I feel accomplished for the day.

Week 6:Tags,Social Bookmarking, and Folkso-what?

Ok...Tags I get, understand and like. In theory- the whole of this lesson I understand. In action-not so much. I was certain I grasped it until I began my Del.icio.us adventure. I signed up, logged in and jumped onto the confusion bandwagon. But I think I also discovered the error of my ways. In reading over the help topics from Del.icio.us this struck me; "The recommended way is to use one of our browser add-ons. Once installed..."If I'm right, I am completing the majority of these lessons while at work and on a network maintained by someone other than myself and I am guessing my installations my have limits. If I'm wrong, then...I'm clueless. Anyone who can shed light, please feel free to ease my flusteration.

Week 5: Multimedia Memories

Multimedia at work? First off, podcasts and vodcasts are something that are not foreign to me but the thought of my making one is. I don't know why? I mean, in the back of the closet somewhere is a old reel-to-reel tape with videotaped memories of a four year old running around a snowman from her father giggling the whole way. Also, when I was slightly older I discovered that each Christmas I wanted a new tape recorder because I had worn mine out recording everything from myself singing to audio clips from The Smurfs, Knightrider and Rags to Riches series'. But, at the ripe old age of 33, the only multimedia I had truly wondered why I've waited so long to do was the photo-sharing. I love photography and have been told I am decent at it, especially macro photography. My idea of photo sharing was a set of 12 matching photo albums, each labeled by color of the enclosed floral subjects corresponding. Sometimes, however, I wish I had made duplicates so that I could also have them with the particular travel/event as well. Photo-sharing storage on the Internet and its allowing you to assign keywords for searchability is ingenious. Now I've just got one task remaining...to upload only a few zillion of my photographic memories to the web.

Week 4: IM and I

First off...
"pst....fyi <3 IM via cell er MSN itsa gr8. bbl or c u 2morrow. tyty. 8)"

Now if you understood that then you too are either a IMer or gamer. I regularly use my cellular phone to text message to either a friend's cellular o their e-mail. When I can't contact someone that way, I may log into MSN IM to see if they are online.

I suppose I should translate the above...
Note...for your information I love instant messaging through the use of cell phone or MSN messenger, it is great. Be back later or I will see you tomorrow. Thank you, thank you. (smile)

I will have to check back with the Virtual Librarian for he/she was offline at the hour I was able to work on this weeks Learning 2.0. I am pleased to announce though I have managed to catch myself up on this fun and educational online course. Thanks to VBPL for the opportunity.

Week 3: WIKIS-Woe is me!

Okay, so about this Wiki business. I get the idea, I totally get the ease in the purpose, and I even think inserting a link in a Wiki edit would be easy enough. Take the Virginia Beach Public Library System Wiki (as suggested). In it the Norfolk-Southern Railroad was mentioned. Now in a search I did find information on the Norfolk-Southern Railway via a link. So PRESTO! right? Wrong. I had no earthly idea how to make that connection dispite the Wikipedia cheatsheet, youtube video, and tutorials. So, alas I chickened out and the only edit I saved was the change from Railroad to Railway. Now is the time to hold my breath in wait to see who has issue with that small of a change.

Week 2:RSS and Me

RSS?? Something I've always seen but never explored or knew what it was all about, much less what it actually meant. Well, FYI (for your information) RSS (Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary) is the information one stop shop. It saves time clicking on different favorites or typing in various addresses. You just subscribe and BINGO! there are the links to all right in one place. Now, to just remember to go check it, since its now in my internet highway todo list of World of Warcraft gaming, Myspace blogging, MSN chatting, and managing now four e-mail accounts without Outlook. Wish me well.

Week 1: BLOGS.....In the beginning

This blog is a product of a training opportunity through my work at Virginia Beach Pulic Library entitled Learning 2.0. It seems this will be a very fun experience whereas I already very much enjoy blogging on myspace. So, now you know, this will be my little spot aside from there to verbalize my "Going Thru the Motions" of being me. Visit me again soon.

(Italic information is copied)
Getting Started
The Internet is woven into the fabric of everyday life. Newly established and emerging Internet communication technologies such as blogs, wikis, and online social networks provide people with greater flexibility to collaboratively participate in an already complicated and continuously evolving information seeking process. These web-based technologies are enabling communication and increasing social interaction. Communication is transforming into a process where people move seamlessly between devices and in person encounters.Learning 2.0 Remix is an online learning program to encourage Virginia Beach Public Library employees to experience these prevalent and emerging web-based technologies. They are changing the way in which people, business and society access information and communicate with each other.The content for this online learning and discovery program will be posted to this blog over the course of nine weeks, beginning the week of September 29th and ending the week of December 1st. Yes! We skipped over Thanksgiving week. Participants have an additional week to complete the program. Learning 2.0 Remix ends on Friday, December 12.Participants will…READ each blog post.THINK about the information contained in the “Learn More Resources”.LEARN through completing the hands-on activities.DO more in their professional and personal lives due to increased awareness, knowledge and skill.For participants, these activities represent a total weekly time commitment of 30 – 50 minutes.The online learning program seeks to:
Engage library employees in fun, collaborative, lifelong learning opportunities featuring information literacy concepts, skills and dialog.
Encourage new thinking and innovation through exploration of Web 2.0 and new technologies.The Learning 2.0 Remixed blog will highlight the following web-based technologies:
Week 1 - September 29 - Blogs
Week 2 - October 6 - RSS
Week 3 - October 13 - Wikis
Week 4 - October 20 - Instant Messaging
Week 5 - October 27 - Multimedia
Week 6 - November 3 - Tags, Folksonomy, Del.icio.us
Week 7 – November 10 - Web Widgets and Gadgets
Week 8 – November 17 - Social Networking
Week 9 - December 1 - Web 2.0
Participants will use these technologies as learning tools and gain first hand knowledge of how they may be applied in business and in their personal lives.
Posted by Cindy Hart