#23 THE END!

Seems like everyone is sighing with relief when they get to this final post. I remember the Learning 2.0 Contract we all agreed to at the beginning: I achieved my goal - to finish; ran into some obstacles along the way (I mean challenges!); and as for the timeline......

I did struggle with a lot of the exercises - perhaps with more time I could have understood the technologies a little better. But at least I'm a lot more informed about Web 2.0 than I was in the beginning. I was excited the other day when I heard mention of Flickr on the TV and I knew what they were talking about.

I am concerned about all the accounts that I've created along the way - my email address is attached to websites all over the place. I don't think a blogging life is for me!

#22 Audiobooks

I suppose the library patrons would take to this technology. I'd be happy not to have to deal with lost and damaged cassettes and discs. Downloadable language learning kits would be popular, I think.

#21 Podcasts

This is something else I'd heard about often but hadn't encountered. I used to like listening to Marty & Fifi on TripleM and they would tell their fans to download the podcast from the website but it all sounded a bit too hard for me. And as I mentioned earlier my PC at home is quite unfriendly towards such modern technologies.

#9 News feeds

I followed Learning 2.0's instructions on adding news feeds from Ebsco - found it a bit cumbersome.

#8 RSS feeds

Okay, I've finally come back to this exercise. I have created a Bloglines account even though I keep getting a message which says that I have not been validated. I have followed the instructions and as far as I can tell I've added a few feeds to my account.

#20 Youtube

Of course I'd heard about Youtube but had not been tempted to look at the site before now - in fact, I discovered the other day that my clunky old computer at home is very hostile towards podcasts and video and I was not able to access either. Perhaps we could add video to our library's home page with a cook's tour of the newly rebuilt NEW branch. Or a week by week look at the redevelopment of the GW branch. I had a look at a few clips while on Youtube (it's very addictive) and had a good laugh at this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td922l0NoDQ&feature=related - don't know if I did that right??!! If not, it's the one called 'March of the Librarians'

#19 Web 2.0 awards

Naturally, I had a look at the winners in the books category - see http://www.biblio.com/. I'm sure it would be useful to recommend to patrons who are looking for out-of-print books - couldn't believe the prices though! I was pleased to see that the site could be limited to Australia and New Zealand.

#18 Web-based apps

At last, I've found something that I can get excited about. Working in a public library that offers internet access but not other applications such as word-processing, I'd be very happy to promote Zoho Writer and Google Docs to our customers. Both seemed very sophisticated, offering all the features (and more) you would expect from other wordprocessing products. I did think for a moment that I would send something from Zoho Writer to my blog (who am I kidding?)

#17 Sandbox wiki

Well I've been to the Sandbox - we all know what happens there! I'm finding this very frustrating. I have no idea whether I've added my blog or not. I did have a look around though - checked out a few 'favourites', even added one of my own (I think). Could there be a new category added for 'Favourite wine'? I know a few colleagues who could make some suggestions. If I don't get a red box in the staff tracking log, I'll know I've contributed some more of my stuff to the big, black hole.

#16 Wikis

I have just discovered that some person unknown to me has added a comment to one of my posts! So how do I feel about wikis? The interactivity of Web 2.0 is a bit foreign to me. It doesn't seem right that anyone can add their two-bobs-worth to a website, especially one you would expect to have some authority, like an encyclopedia. I did like the idea of community wikis though - I would love to know what people really thought of the new restaurant in town before I spend my money there.
http://www.libsuccess.org/ - liked this site as well.

#15 Web 2.0, Library 2.0

As I read Rick Anderson's article I was wondering...."if the profession is a boat.....", I hope I'm not sinking! Maybe I should consider this Learning 2.0 exercise as a life preserver. I've been happy plodding along helping little old ladies "get an email address" during Senior Cits Week - well I'd better get ready for when they want to chat about Flickr, RSS feeds, De.icio.us, etc. and how it all relates to their blog on MySpace.

#14 Technorati

Had a look at this site and did a search for Learning 2.0. Was I surprised by the results of my search? Well, yes. I can't believe that there are so many people out there blogging about "stuff" and that I was getting hooked on reading it all. If I started tagging my posts would anyone really want to read them. I think not!

#13 Del.icio.us

Yes, I can see how people who use the internet a lot could use this tagging system to find their way back to various sites. And yes, it would be handy if you used lots of different pcs. Not sure whether it would be useful to me or not. Perhaps I need to learn how to share.....

#12 Rollyo

Yes, I can see how Rollyo would be useful - especially if I could get it to work! But I have managed to create an account with Rollyo (just what I need, another account) and listed a couple of websites but just couldn't get any results from my search. I shall move on to the next exercise though.....

#11 LibraryThing

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/whatsawiki

My God! I did it! It's taken me all afternoon to get through LibraryThing and have "catalogued" five books. Must say I was a bit excited about LibraryThing - I like things in order. Is there something similar for your CD collection?

#10 image generators

http://www.i-mockery.com/halloween/bag/monster-initial-generator.php

So here is a link to an image generator which I chose at random. Didn't have enough time to create an image. Maybe later.

#7 Technology...

Well, I'm sure anyone reading my blog (could anyone be that desperate for something to read) will guess that I'm a bit of dinosaur when it comes to technology. I'm still coming to terms with the VCR. And I might be the last person running their computer with Windows '98. In the TV world of plasmas and LCDs, I sit watching a ten year old 12" portable (it does have a remote control though!)

The only "gadget" I own which is evenly vaguely high-tech is my MP3 player. And I had to get a teenager to write me some basic instructions on how to drive it. The Sony walkman has been retired to the bottom drawer. I'm keeping it though - just in case I want to play some cassettes.

#6 Flickr fun, mashups, etc.

Are we having fun yet! I've taken the tour around the Flickr site - seems like virtual scrapbooking to me. I don't even put my photos in albums (does anyone remember those?). I have updated to a digital camera so now all my photos are stored on memory cards. Perhaps I should be sharing them with the rest of the world.

I'm afraid that the mashups and 3rd party sites lost me.

#5 Flickr

Today's the day! If I don't succeed in adding a picture to this space today, then I'm just moving on.

This is not the picture that I wanted! But I'm not going to be fussy. I'm happy with this for now. If anyone finds my picture of a lovely pink cupcake out there in cyberspace perhaps you could forward it to my blog. Thanks W. for encouragement and a few tips - I've made some progress.