Semantic Web

The semantic web is a "behind-the-scenes" technology that enables the user to have a better online experience. The goal of W3C is to combine information on the web. After attempting a "W3C Search for Dummie's", I learned that the difference between Web2.0 and the semantic web, is that Web 2.0 is all about people and communication, whereas semantic web is all about the machines. (webopedia). Beyond that, I feel like I might be experiencing data overload.

Internet 2

From what I understand (which to be honest, isn't that much), Internet 2 is a non-profit, "member-led community" that provides a faster Internet with more network capacity. Rutgers is a member of Internet 2, which from what I understand, means we (as students) benefit from this. After what seemed like an eternity of trying to translate the website, I did a search on this and found an interesting article on www.slate.com. It helped my understanding (I think) of the community. Alexander Russo, the author of the article said:

"Internet2 was never designed to replace the Internet most of us are using now. It's more like a beach or a restaurant—great when not too many people know about it, frustrating when everybody and his mother starts to show up. Internet2's promoters like to compare it to early research networks that fostered the creation of canonical apps like the World Wide Web and e-mail. So, even if you never use Internet2 to download movies at hyperspeed, you still might benefit from the research. Let's just hope they let us use e-mail2."

Chapter 12--The Grand Finale

I've enjoyed the 23 things experience quite a lot. It has exposed me to tools and technologies some of which I had been unfamiliar. And it went beyond mere exposure to include actually using and getting comfortable with them. At the outset, the program explained that it was intended to build a toolbox for a librarian to use and I think it has done that.

The program has also had a collateral impact on my thinking. Specifically, I had conceived a librarian's role in knowledge building as maintaining a gateway to published materials so that members of the community could use it to promote their own lifelong learning. I still believe that, but I now sense that the librarian may be able to do something beyond that--namely, to show the members of the library community how to be better readers. It seems to me that many of the tools in the 23 things can have considerable impact on the social side of the learning community, whereby members can coach each other by sharing insights and the like. That sharing will, in turn, enrich the reading experience group members have.

I was sufficiently impressed with the 23 things program that I went to the article and website on which it was based. This is a really cool approach to self development starting with the simple concept of putting goals on a list and tracking progress. You can also see how others are doing and get terrific ideas for new things to try and explore. Check it out.

Chapter 11--Podcasts and Netlibrary

Podcasts--I will admit it--I love podcasts. They are on every conceivable topic. They can be audio or video. And for the most part, they are free, Of all the podcast directories that are out there, two are the best for those people who to be lifelong learners. The first is Itunes U and its companion "Beyond the Campus." Itunes U has an unbelievable number of lectures, courses, occasional talks from a continually expanding group of schools. Many of the schools have companion websites for those courses where they present course outlines, bibliographies and other supplementary materials. "Beyond the campus" features educational podcasts from organizations like the Library of Congress, WGBH and similar groups. My second favorite directory is at learnoutloud.com. That organization sends me a daily email highlighting a usually free introduction to a course or a complete audiobook. Sometimes the originating website charges for the content but it is often worth it and, for the most part, you can sample it for free.

Netlibrary--I used to thoroughly love Netlibrary. I could download both audiobooks and ebooks. Unfortunately, the Netlibrary content that you can access is controlled by your home library. Consequently, when I belonged to the Basking Ridge Public Library I was able to access both ebooks and audiobooks from Netlibrary. But then Basking Ridge changed and restricted the Netlibrary content to just ebooks. For audiobooks they shifted to Overdrive Media. I was never able to get my Basking Ridge ID to work with Overdrive. I then paid a $100 fee for an out of state membership in the New York Public Library. It also uses Overdrive Media but it has from 5 to 10 times more content than Basking Ridge has on the same system and considerably more than Netlibrary does. Getting these systems right is crucial for a library. The future belongs to audiobooks and ebooks.

Chapter 10--Part II

Here's me cheering her on, and there's the superstar. I love when people reach their goals! It's the best!

Chapter 10--You Tube

I've always been a huge fan of you tube. It seems that if I miss one of my favorite shows, I can always look to you tube to catch the repeat. There's nothing I particularly dislike about the site. If there is something that particularly offends me, I simply won't watch or search for it. For this exercise I looked up the NYC Marathon from November 1st. My sister reached her goal of losing 100 pounds and ran the marathon for the first time on Sunday. Gotta be proud!"

Chapter 9--18 & 19

I tried the Zoho word processor first. As far a an individual's word processor goes, it didn't seem to be much of an advance over the word processors that are packaged with computers. It does have an attractive appearance on the screen and the commands are clear at a glance. It can give a document some nice features, but again none of that seems like a big deal. The main attraction it has is its ability to furnish real time collaboration on a document . It would be worth seeing that in operation--especially the feature that lets all changes be shown on all screens at the same time. The questions I have about a program like this include: (a) what's the practical number of participants who can be working on the same document at the same time? , (b) what kind of editorial discipline do they each have to have?, and (c) what about security? How do you lock up text so that it won't take further changes?

I was very impressed with SOEmoz Web 2.0 site. While the assignment called for picking one of the award winners and exploring it, I explored SOEmoz instead. What a great collection of the best web sites in the 40 or 50 categories they have! I was particularly impressed with the leaders in photos and digital images. The awards shown on the link in the 23 things is to the 2008 awards. I looked for 2009 awards and found that they are still accepting nominations. I think it would be cool to revisit this website after those awards are made.

Chapter 8--"wiki, wiki"

Hawaiian's have the right idea: "wiki, wiki" means, quick and fast. (If only it were that easy to actually get to Hawaii.) That is certainly what the wiki technology is all about--quick and fast access to information. Most people automatically think of wikipedia when considering wiki's. However, there are wikis for almost anything. The advantages of wikis are obvious: quick access to information that anyone can contribute to. Anyone can add content and contribute their ideas to a particular wiki of interest. The disadvantages are almost the same. Because anyone can contribute, it is easy to be misled by information.

If used correctly, libraries could use wikis in a number of ways. The library community can contribute to topics of all genres. For example, in a high school library, the wiki could be a useful tool for research. The librarians could update articles of interest based on subject matter and include books that pertain to the subject being researched. As a 9th grade English teacher, freshmen tend to be quite overwhelmed when they receive their first research opportunity. This tool would be ideal for them. On the same note, the librarian could recommend books for independent reading for the teenager. The students could also update the wiki adding information that was useful for the. Because a wiki is interactive, the librarian would have the ultimate say in what is posted. They have the ability to track what's been changed. A high school library wiki allows the student to become a part of the library community in a way they weren't able to before. I found a useful wiki here. Enjoy!

Chapter 7--Part Deux

It looks like "teamwork really does make the dreamwork." This access project really got me in a bit of a twist! But thanks to Mara (for sending me directions for '03, and helping me realize I needed directions for '03), I was able to finish. (Also a quick shout-out to my teammate Terri for offering to spend the afternoon working on this together. That meant a lot.) Anyway, I think I've got this access concept down. I also hope I never run into Larissa Tuttle, Driver #30 in Hansen, Florida. I blame her.

Chapter 7--HELP PLEASE!!! Access

So I'm really hoping someone reads this and can offer a solution to my problem. I can't seem to add a new record button to my form (access part 1). I don't have a design ribbon. I've searched and searched. AND I think I messed up on creating the form. It looks real funny. NOTHING like the picture. I'm so frustrated. Not to mention the fact that my home Access is not compatible to Rutgers Access, so all my work in class went down the drain. I'm sure there is a way to convert the file, but please don't tell me if that's the case. I don't want to know. I really don't like Access. Not my friend. Not my friend at all.

Chapter 6--13, 14 & 15

13. Here's the potential that Delicious might have for libraries. I start with the concept that you've got several communities of learners in the library. Each one of those communities shares an interest and is likely to spend time surfing the Internet looking for resources on their common interest. Without Delicious, once they found a useful website, they'd be likely to email the link to the group. Delicious makes it possible to assign a tag to each little community. When the members find a useful website they post it on Delicious with their groups tag. Instant circulation of information. Plus, Delicious lets you tap into what other people who have this interest found. There are some really smart guys out there dreaming this kind of stuff up.

14. We all see a lot of stuff on YouTube but it's not the only one out there. My father uses Vimeo. He says one of the differences is that YouTube strips out any music you put on the video while Vimeo doesn't. If a librarian is going to use shared videos to enhance a group exercise, music can help preserve interest.

15. Podcasts are terrific. Itunes and other podcast directories tend to be a little unwieldy. This is an area where Delicious can make a real contribution by sharing the benefits of having a large group of podcast hunters present results tailored to a subject--in other words, weeding out dead-ends. By the way, here's a link to a podcast I like a lot. It's the Times weekly interview show with current authors and critics. This one happens to feature Maureen Dowd commenting on Dan Brown's new book.

Chapter 5-Part Two, A Library Thing

Another fantastic find! It reminds me a lot of "we read" and "good reads" from facebook. Seeing as I temporarily deactivated my facebook account, Library Thing is right up my alley. There is nothing I love more than reading and talking about books. This site gives me the opportunity to reach out to others with similar reading tastes and offer reviews of books, while reading reviews from others. One feature of this site that is particularly exciting is the fact that it connects the user with local bookstores, libraries and book festivals. It also offers information and invitations to upcoming author signings and events!

Chapter 5- Part I, Image Generators

This particular exercise was especially entertaining for me. I'm no stranger to image generators. I could spend hours tooling around on sites such as faceinhole.com and yearbookyourself.com. I decided to include a countdown clock on my blog. This particular clock is counting down to my powerpoint presentation. Perhaps a bit of humor will erase a bit of my anxiety. I also included a map from bighugelabs.com. As an avid traveler, it's fun to see where I've been and where I'd like to go. This exercise opened my eyes to a whole new world of image generators.

Chapter 4- Part Two, Finding Feeds

In exploring this topic, I checked out how two libraries have adapted the RSS device to their operations. The first library I visited was the New York Public Library. It didn't have as extensive a list of RSS feeds as I thought that it would but here is one that seems particularly useful to me: http://www.nypl.org/rss/bestoftheweb.xml. I am not sure how New York decides what to use RSS for. It could be that given the breadth of its community of users it must necessarily confine itself to only the most general of topics.

The Library of Congress has a much more extensive list of RSS feeds. They are found at http://www.loc.gov/rss/. In addition to having a number of feeds that relate directly to its role in the federal government, it also has a great variety of feeds that seem to address the interests of everyone in the country. I suppose that the difference between these two libraries could be explained by the virtually unlimited funding that is available to the Library of Congress

Chapter 4--Part One, RSS Feeds

RSS (Real Simple Syndication) is a web tool that has powerful advantage for both members of the library community and for the managers of the library.

Subscribers to RSS feeds automatically pull information to them saving them the trouble of hunting down websites or waiting for emails. That can be an important time saver for many people. Moreover, since the RSS subscription is functioning 24/7, the subscriber is assured of being up to date on whatever information he is interested in. In addition, the format of the RSS feed--a headline and a few sentences--permits the subscribers to perform quick scans, only going deeper when something interests him. In a way, it's like flipping through the pages of a magazine.

For the manager of a library, RSS has powerful advantages. First, it's easy to update. Second, it is an easier way to get information to the library community than preparing and sending out emails even with pre-existing email address collections. In other words, since the subscriber to an RSS feed is pulling information towards himself, the library is saved the hassle of pushing information out. Third, it is a good vehicle for the library to new programs. Finally, it is a simple way to entice the subscriber to link back in to other library programs.

Fun with Flickr

Originally uploaded by Kathleen McKeever

Chapter 3- Photos and Images

I have to admit, when it comes to photo-sharing, my experience is pretty much limited to uploading photos onto Facebook. I have received countless invitations from friends to view their photos on Flickr, but to be honest, I tend to ignore those invitations. As I've said before, technology intimidates me and signing up for yet another website for which I'll forget my sign-in name and password as soon as it's created isn't my cup of tea. (However, I did learn through this tutorial that I can browse photos without being a member.) Plus, there are only so many photos of weddings, babies first steps and a friend's recent trip to Orlando that a girl can handle. I mean, I saw some of the photos on Facebook, do I really need to see more?

However, after reading through the Flickr tutorials and learning about what the website can actually do, I'm intrigued. I never realized that social networking could exist through photos. The fact that I can explore pictures of libraries around the world, and connect with the people who took those photos is amazing. I also like the idea that if you join Flickr, you have the option of making your photos private, or only sharing them with certain groups. That particular "safety net" makes me feel much more comfortable if I were to post pictures of my nephews.

One particular Flickr tool that I will definitely use in the future is the idea of creating a Flickr map. I have traveled quite a bit and would love to add my personal photos to a map to show my friends and family exactly where each photo was taken. On that same note, the Findr tool also sounds useful. From what I understand, I could look at pictures from around the world using this feature. The next time I plan a trip, it would be great to use this tool and check out pictures that other people have posted who have traveled to that same spot.

When I consider the applicability of this website for libraries, the advantages are obvious. First, to the extent that the library is employing a strategy of knowledge sharing through a web-based network of learners, these tools permit the community of learners to benefit from the advantages that pictures offer. Pictures add color, information, entertainment and emotion whether they appear in a book or on screen. Second, the library can tap yet another area of user creativity. Where one person may feel most comfortable with the written word, others may feel better able to contribute creatively by posting photographs, videos, maps and charts. Flickr, and similar tools, open that avenue of access to creativity. Finally, the use of these social networks gives the library and its patrons all of these advantages at relatively low cost.

Chapter 2--Reactions to Learning 2.0 #1 and #2

My thoughts on #1--There were three things that jumped out at me here. First, the purpose of this exercise is self-discovery. I'm good with that. I find myself forever interesting, especially to me.

Second, the idea of having fun with this seems to be the dominant leitmotif of the project. That's useful since some technical terms sometimes intimidate more than they invite. If an RSS feed can be fun, I'm up for it whatever it turns out to be.

Third, the concept of an information literacy toolbox is intriguing and I'll bet useful. That concept is repeated in the 7 and a half habits segments.

My thoughts on #2--Some of the habits discussed are harder for me than others. For example, it is difficult for me to view problems as challenges that can be learned from. One of my weak points, both professionally and personally is realizing that problems and obstacles are learning opportunities that can help me grow and learn. Another area of difficulty is habit 4--having confidence as a competent learner. Clearly I am a competent learner, otherwise I wouldn't have made it as far as I have. But to have confidence in all that I do is where I fall short, and hope to improve.

Most of the habits are easy for me, though. For example, I have a wonderful "toolbox". I have plenty of family and friends who are willing to teach me when I am unsure. I use technology to my advantage every day.

Apart from this, I pondered the issue of the implication of lifetime learning for libraries. First, lifetime learning implies that libraries need to be able to serve the needs of everyone. From toddlers to octogenarians who come to learning with a wide diversity of motivations, interests, skill sets and objectives. The pubic library needs to be able to find a way to serve all these needs.

Second, the breadth of the requirements described in number one, conflicts with the physical and financial limitations of the library. To adequately address these needs the library requires cost effective strategies. These should include concentrating on sources that will provide access to more detail resources that may be located in other places. In other words, the library should be a gateway rather than a destination. To bolster the library's function as a gateway it needs to place great stress on the use of networks. In other words, in addition to informing where information is, it should also furnish a pathway to it. The internet is one such pathway and certainly well within the financial and physical limitations of a library.

Third, since the library is a public place it has the ability to create sub-communities of learners that promote mentoring and other exchanges of information.

Chapter 1--9/10/09

I've never blogged before. Let's see how this goes...Learning 2.0, here I come!