I'm both relieved and saddened that this project has ended. But first a lot of congratulations need to go out. First I congratulate the 2.0 team that put it together, DD, KM, and DG. Congratulations to the approximately 40 blog participants. I also congratulate those that won during the biweekly drawings, CV, TD, BL, CYL. And finally, I want to congratulate the big winner of the final prize. Congrats Library Challenger!
Anyway, I really did enjoy participating in this project. I wish I had a little bit more time to participate, but I did what I could do in the time that I had. I am going to miss the opportunity to learn in this manner by exploring and playing. But in short, I'm glad it's over so that I have more time to attend to more pressing matters.
I do have one more piece of congratulations... Congratulations to APL Admin for allowing such a project to take place and be such a huge success in the library. That was a great idea!
I do hope to continue the blog for my original purposes of keeping an online account of how my kids are ever-changing. For that, I'm wishing myself luck in continuing one more thing to do. :)
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Week 12 - Final reflection
• What was the most important thing that you learned? Why?
The most important thing I learned is how there is yet so much to learn. I don’t want to profess to be a perpetual student, forever learning something new. At some point, I just want to stop learning stuff and just enjoy what I know. The problem is, if you slow down too long, technology and the present will pass you by. So I just need to resign myself to learning otherwise I’ll end up like those people that still have the flashing 12:00 on their hi-tech VCR’s.
• What was the most challenging exercise? Why?
I don’t know if I have a most challenging exercise. I think the challenges progressively got more and more challenging. As I progressed into the challenge, I feel like I had more and more to learn and I just had to be more and more open to the fact that there is a lot of personal information floating on the Internet. Some of them real, some of them not, and some are anonymous… much like the owners of some of the blogs in this challenge. I guess you just have to pick your poison. But if I have to pick, it was the podcast. The challenge was not hard, but I think making time to incorporate podcasts would be difficult for me. Then again, if I learn to use it more, I’m sure I’ll be grateful.
• What were your favorite discoveries or exercises?
I think my favorite discovery is that these 2.0 tools are not created to make it hard for those that are behind the times, they have been created to make life easier. My favorite is Google Reader. I regularly check on certain websites, including the SGV Tribune. But now I don’t have to go there, it just comes to me, like I subscribed to the paper which I haven’t done in many many years.
• How can the Arcadia Public Library use these technologies to deliver or improve library services?
I think the gist of these tools has something to do with communicating words, images, information, thoughts, feelings, or a mix of any and all of those. I think APL is in the business of information. And whatever tools that are available to get the patron the information they need is a tool that should be used by the library.
• How successful was the “self-directed” learning model? Is this a useful way of encouraging staff development?
I believe allowing the staff to explore rather than pushing the staff to learn the tools is most beneficial for those that participated. There’s no sense in pushing or requiring people to learn tools that they don’t want to learn. If they don’t want to learn it, they probably won’t ever use it. So why waste the effort of pushing? I liked this model.
• What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
I don’t think the 2.0 organizers need to do anything to change the program. I think you all did a great job is prodding participants. But I do have to say the biggest challenge was time. I appreciate the opportunity to explore 2.0 tools while on the job. But sometimes making the time was hardest part of each task. Although it was difficult to add one more thing to my plate, I have to say that I honestly enjoyed participating in this program.
• If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again choose to participate?
I don’t know who I’m quoting when I say this, but HELL YEAH!!! And again, thank you to Danielle, David, and Kathy for putting it together. And thanks to the library for allowing this program to be put on at APL.
The most important thing I learned is how there is yet so much to learn. I don’t want to profess to be a perpetual student, forever learning something new. At some point, I just want to stop learning stuff and just enjoy what I know. The problem is, if you slow down too long, technology and the present will pass you by. So I just need to resign myself to learning otherwise I’ll end up like those people that still have the flashing 12:00 on their hi-tech VCR’s.
• What was the most challenging exercise? Why?
I don’t know if I have a most challenging exercise. I think the challenges progressively got more and more challenging. As I progressed into the challenge, I feel like I had more and more to learn and I just had to be more and more open to the fact that there is a lot of personal information floating on the Internet. Some of them real, some of them not, and some are anonymous… much like the owners of some of the blogs in this challenge. I guess you just have to pick your poison. But if I have to pick, it was the podcast. The challenge was not hard, but I think making time to incorporate podcasts would be difficult for me. Then again, if I learn to use it more, I’m sure I’ll be grateful.
• What were your favorite discoveries or exercises?
I think my favorite discovery is that these 2.0 tools are not created to make it hard for those that are behind the times, they have been created to make life easier. My favorite is Google Reader. I regularly check on certain websites, including the SGV Tribune. But now I don’t have to go there, it just comes to me, like I subscribed to the paper which I haven’t done in many many years.
• How can the Arcadia Public Library use these technologies to deliver or improve library services?
I think the gist of these tools has something to do with communicating words, images, information, thoughts, feelings, or a mix of any and all of those. I think APL is in the business of information. And whatever tools that are available to get the patron the information they need is a tool that should be used by the library.
• How successful was the “self-directed” learning model? Is this a useful way of encouraging staff development?
I believe allowing the staff to explore rather than pushing the staff to learn the tools is most beneficial for those that participated. There’s no sense in pushing or requiring people to learn tools that they don’t want to learn. If they don’t want to learn it, they probably won’t ever use it. So why waste the effort of pushing? I liked this model.
• What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
I don’t think the 2.0 organizers need to do anything to change the program. I think you all did a great job is prodding participants. But I do have to say the biggest challenge was time. I appreciate the opportunity to explore 2.0 tools while on the job. But sometimes making the time was hardest part of each task. Although it was difficult to add one more thing to my plate, I have to say that I honestly enjoyed participating in this program.
• If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again choose to participate?
I don’t know who I’m quoting when I say this, but HELL YEAH!!! And again, thank you to Danielle, David, and Kathy for putting it together. And thanks to the library for allowing this program to be put on at APL.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Week 11 - Yelp.com
For this second-to-last challenge I wanted to try something out other than Library Thing or Rollyo. I followed the Web 2.0 Awards link and tried out several of the different links.
First I tried the mashup Coverpop.com The site was billed as a montage which allows you to view different images from one main collage. After playing with the different montages and being absolutely intrigued mostly because I tried to do a similar collage effect with the pictures of the kids on the front of my blog. I decided against using it. Unfortunately I didn’t think this was going to help with this assignment.
Then I tried OneSentence.org, “true stories, told in one sentence.” I tend to ramble and repeat myself so I thought this would be helpful. It was interesting and entertaining, unfortunately not something that would be helpful to me.
I was hit and miss with a few others like CocktailBuilder.com, Guess-the-Google, Boxxet, Yahoo Answers (which was very promising), and Findory (which is now defunct). I finally settled on Yelp.com. Yelp.com is a city guide to help you decide on where to go, what to do, and most importantly, WHERE TO EAT! On a personal level, I was excited to stumble upon it to add as one of the tools I can use to try new things. I have had some success with Yahoo Local in finding new places to go so Yelp.com was an added bonus. I think if somebody were to take a trip, this can be a good tool in helping decide where to go and what to try. On the flip-side, if you are one to take pictures of everything you eat and everywhere you go (you know who you are), this is a great way to share your experiences. Next week, my family plans on taking a little vacation and I already have a small list of places to eat that I have all intentions of dragging my family to. Who knows, I might be one of those shutterbugs that’ll take pictures of the food and post on the internet.
From a library point of view, I can see using this tool to help patrons find places to go, see, and eat. I know this tool will come in handy if I want to share the local eateries with some workshop attendees. I don’t even have to give them a review of the food, they can go look it up themselves. So be adventurous, try one of the hole-in-the-wall places that Yelp.com might send you to. You just might be pleasantly surprised. Bon Appetit!
First I tried the mashup Coverpop.com The site was billed as a montage which allows you to view different images from one main collage. After playing with the different montages and being absolutely intrigued mostly because I tried to do a similar collage effect with the pictures of the kids on the front of my blog. I decided against using it. Unfortunately I didn’t think this was going to help with this assignment.
Then I tried OneSentence.org, “true stories, told in one sentence.” I tend to ramble and repeat myself so I thought this would be helpful. It was interesting and entertaining, unfortunately not something that would be helpful to me.
I was hit and miss with a few others like CocktailBuilder.com, Guess-the-Google, Boxxet, Yahoo Answers (which was very promising), and Findory (which is now defunct). I finally settled on Yelp.com. Yelp.com is a city guide to help you decide on where to go, what to do, and most importantly, WHERE TO EAT! On a personal level, I was excited to stumble upon it to add as one of the tools I can use to try new things. I have had some success with Yahoo Local in finding new places to go so Yelp.com was an added bonus. I think if somebody were to take a trip, this can be a good tool in helping decide where to go and what to try. On the flip-side, if you are one to take pictures of everything you eat and everywhere you go (you know who you are), this is a great way to share your experiences. Next week, my family plans on taking a little vacation and I already have a small list of places to eat that I have all intentions of dragging my family to. Who knows, I might be one of those shutterbugs that’ll take pictures of the food and post on the internet.
From a library point of view, I can see using this tool to help patrons find places to go, see, and eat. I know this tool will come in handy if I want to share the local eateries with some workshop attendees. I don’t even have to give them a review of the food, they can go look it up themselves. So be adventurous, try one of the hole-in-the-wall places that Yelp.com might send you to. You just might be pleasantly surprised. Bon Appetit!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Week 9 & 10 - BoobTube on the internet
My username on youtube is akgonz. I have to say I usually peruse YouTube as an afterthought or a distraction. I usually get into it when I hear of a video clip that’s a must see. Or if there’s a song I want to listen to, but I don’t have it on hand or it’s not playing on the radio… no problem… youtube it then play it on the computer. It is not one of my regular and daily stops. I like it a lot for it’s entertainment value. I do have to concur with something that Garo posted on his blog about videos disappearing. Sometimes I want to go back to it, but the original is gone. Like I said, I normally use YouTube as an afterthought or to listen to a song. So for my purposes, if the video is gone, no big deal. If the original is no longer available, there will be lots of other people posting their vids with the same song playing through it, specially if it’s a hit song…. Serves my purposes.
Here’s one of the videos I like a lot. It’s from a prison camp in the Philippines. It’s nice to see that there are still places that trust their prisoners enough to get something like this together. I have to say, if I have to ever serve time, I’d like to be in a place like this. Encarcerated dancers!
For this assignment, I opted not to try any other video hosting sights. YouTube seems to be the biggest one out there. And I really like the way it works for me and serves my purposes. Yes, on occasion I want to be able to watch something that won’t be available, but it won’t be available anywhere else either without hours of scouring the internet.
Components for APL, or how APL might use YouTube? Well, like MySpace, it would be nice to be able to use YouTube to publicize some of our events. Perhaps even a vid clip on YouTube that would give somebody a tutorial on some of our services (online catalog, renewing materials online, a how to clip that was done during a teen program, even crafts from Children’s storytime). Like MySpace, if an upcoming performer, like the Kaleidoscope Concert series or a Children’s performer has a clip on YouTube, why not link it to our homepage as a preview of what’s to come.
And podcasts... Ok, so this is one I am not completely sold on yet. I figure, theoretically, I can download the podcast on an mp3 player and listen to it on the go. Or, if I want to listen to it on my computer, I can have it run while I do other things around my computer so I can hear the podcast? Since I don’t have a video player, I’ll treat this as an audio experiment… which then kinda makes it nostalgic. Like the old days when people would listen to a radio program instead of watch TV. But I suppose once I catch up to the times, I can get a video podcast and view it anywhere I want. It did give me a chance to catch up with some guys I used to listen to on NPR, Click and Clack with Car Talk. 2 guys discussing funny stuff that happens to them, usually pertaining to cars. This is one I’ll have to experiment with further since I’m not so sure I’m ready to podcast, yet. I will however add that one of our programs last year, it was a back to school program, was very well attended. Unfortunately it was at the same time one of the schools had open house so many people missed it. The big highlight of the evening was showing how Tutor.com worked. On our website it is currently a PowerPoint presentation. Perhaps others might find it beneficial as a podcast that they can follow while using the site. Maybe even as a story time for the Children's room. I noticed that Denver Public Library has children's books on podcasts. I think it can be entertaining and education for kids to be able to read along with their books..... kinda like our kits.
Here’s one of the videos I like a lot. It’s from a prison camp in the Philippines. It’s nice to see that there are still places that trust their prisoners enough to get something like this together. I have to say, if I have to ever serve time, I’d like to be in a place like this. Encarcerated dancers!
For this assignment, I opted not to try any other video hosting sights. YouTube seems to be the biggest one out there. And I really like the way it works for me and serves my purposes. Yes, on occasion I want to be able to watch something that won’t be available, but it won’t be available anywhere else either without hours of scouring the internet.
Components for APL, or how APL might use YouTube? Well, like MySpace, it would be nice to be able to use YouTube to publicize some of our events. Perhaps even a vid clip on YouTube that would give somebody a tutorial on some of our services (online catalog, renewing materials online, a how to clip that was done during a teen program, even crafts from Children’s storytime). Like MySpace, if an upcoming performer, like the Kaleidoscope Concert series or a Children’s performer has a clip on YouTube, why not link it to our homepage as a preview of what’s to come.
And podcasts... Ok, so this is one I am not completely sold on yet. I figure, theoretically, I can download the podcast on an mp3 player and listen to it on the go. Or, if I want to listen to it on my computer, I can have it run while I do other things around my computer so I can hear the podcast? Since I don’t have a video player, I’ll treat this as an audio experiment… which then kinda makes it nostalgic. Like the old days when people would listen to a radio program instead of watch TV. But I suppose once I catch up to the times, I can get a video podcast and view it anywhere I want. It did give me a chance to catch up with some guys I used to listen to on NPR, Click and Clack with Car Talk. 2 guys discussing funny stuff that happens to them, usually pertaining to cars. This is one I’ll have to experiment with further since I’m not so sure I’m ready to podcast, yet. I will however add that one of our programs last year, it was a back to school program, was very well attended. Unfortunately it was at the same time one of the schools had open house so many people missed it. The big highlight of the evening was showing how Tutor.com worked. On our website it is currently a PowerPoint presentation. Perhaps others might find it beneficial as a podcast that they can follow while using the site. Maybe even as a story time for the Children's room. I noticed that Denver Public Library has children's books on podcasts. I think it can be entertaining and education for kids to be able to read along with their books..... kinda like our kits.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Week 8 - MySpace
I think what I liked best about MySpace and probably other social networking sites is that it gave you a chance to see your friends through another perspective. I’ve heard it said that you can tell a lot about somebody by the friends they keep. Well, sometimes you can’t see the other types of friends your friends might have. Well, these social networking sites lets you get to know your friend’s friends. Kinda gives you another perspective into who they are. Another thing I like about it is that it lets you see somebody’s more creative side which they are not always open about. Cons, well, within minutes of signing up with MySpace I had 3 friend invites from spammers. Not to mention all the advertising and junk on certain pages. Sometimes it just gets too busy. Then again, maybe I’m just getting old.
I think Social networking sites are popular for the same reasons I described above. Moreover, I think social networking sites are very popular with the younger generation. Online allows for more free expression. Myspace allows free expression and lets you keep in touch with other friends with the tools they have available, like IM, sending messages, posting pictures. And I haven’t even touched on the music part of MySpace which is a huge part of what they do. Discovering music by bands that have not been mainstreamed I think is a thrill on its own.
Honestly, I think a social networking site is just an additional tool the library could use to publicize events. Perhaps if a performer for a Children’s program or the Kaleidoscope Concert Series had a MySpace page, it could give the public an idea of what to expect in the upcoming performance. Curious Gonzo's MySpace
I think Social networking sites are popular for the same reasons I described above. Moreover, I think social networking sites are very popular with the younger generation. Online allows for more free expression. Myspace allows free expression and lets you keep in touch with other friends with the tools they have available, like IM, sending messages, posting pictures. And I haven’t even touched on the music part of MySpace which is a huge part of what they do. Discovering music by bands that have not been mainstreamed I think is a thrill on its own.
Honestly, I think a social networking site is just an additional tool the library could use to publicize events. Perhaps if a performer for a Children’s program or the Kaleidoscope Concert Series had a MySpace page, it could give the public an idea of what to expect in the upcoming performance. Curious Gonzo's MySpace
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