This is another hard part about RSS - finding blogs that are worthwhile to me. There are many many blogs out there, and while they all may be very wonderful, only a few of them are relevant to me. This part is definitely a trial and error process. If I stumble across a blog address while reading something library-related, I'll often go to it, browse the latest two or three postings, and then decide if it's something I could see myself reading often. I also check the frequency of posting and the date of the latest posting. If it hasn't been updated in a while, it's usally not worth it to me to bookmark.
Then, I'll check out the list of blogs that they follow. If a blog is interesting to me, odds are the blogs that person reads have a good chance of being interesting as well.
Blogs I like:
Naomi Bates's YA Books and More
School Library Media Activities Monthly
Confessions of a Pioneer Woman - nothing to do with libraries, but check out the Black Heels to Tractor Wheels story - it's SO addicting!
Tweendom
I've got a ways to go...
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Week 4 - Thing 8 - RSS
I have a love/hate relationship with RSS. The love part is easy - it comes to you! Most websites now have an RSS features to them, and as Sandra pointed out, even EBSCO offers an RSS feature that can keep you up to date. They offer a journal alert, which will alert you anytime a new issue of the journal or magazine comes out and provide links to it, and a search alert, which will alert you as new information that fits your specific criteria of your search is available.
RSS can save time since you don't always have to go out and check sites for updates, they come to you in your RSS reader (as the Common Craft video points out).
HOWEVER - You still have to check the RSS reader (I use Bloglines, when I actually do use RSS). I have Bloglines set up as a widget in my igoogle homepage, but the problem is, I hardly ever check my igoogle homepage. So...I think I need a better system...
I do like my Bloglines though, because, even if it says I have a number of unread postings, I can just say "mark as read" if I don't have the time to read them! I'm working on keeping my listserv subscriptions under control at the moment, but I think after I've got a handle on that, I'll start working hard to keep up with one or two blogs via Bloglines.
RSS can save time since you don't always have to go out and check sites for updates, they come to you in your RSS reader (as the Common Craft video points out).
HOWEVER - You still have to check the RSS reader (I use Bloglines, when I actually do use RSS). I have Bloglines set up as a widget in my igoogle homepage, but the problem is, I hardly ever check my igoogle homepage. So...I think I need a better system...
I do like my Bloglines though, because, even if it says I have a number of unread postings, I can just say "mark as read" if I don't have the time to read them! I'm working on keeping my listserv subscriptions under control at the moment, but I think after I've got a handle on that, I'll start working hard to keep up with one or two blogs via Bloglines.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Think Before You Post
Has anyone seen this video? Its kind of scary and has quite a sinister tone...
What do you think?
What do you think?
Week 3 - Thing 7 - Technology
I've been immersed in Camtasia for the past few weeks. I will be conducting a staff training session at Region 12 to help staff members learn to use this amazing program. I am completely in love with Camtasia! The possibilities are endless! Video tutorials that can be posted online for your customers to view on their own time...that's customer service. I'm in the middle of taking a course in online teaching, and making a video lesson with some kind of tablet software, or recording your voice along with a PowerPoint presentation, can really enhance the quality of an online course and appeal to the auditory learners. I can see many applications for libraries as well. Quick tutorials that demonstrate how to log on to the different databases, how to conduct effective Boolean searching techniques, how to use the advanced search feature of your library's catalog. You can even add in quizzes and surveys to measure your viewers comprehension or collect their opinions.
The software is so easy to use too! All you need is a microphone and a computer. You can buy the full version of Camtasia, or you can download a free 30-day trial from the TechSmith website. There is also a shareware version of this screen capture software called Jing that is worth checking out. It does the same stuff that Camtasia does, just not as much. Jing does have a feature that allows you to take custom screen shots (like the Tech Smith product - SnagIt, which I also am completely addicted to) to include in handouts and PowerPoint presentations.
Fun stuff!
The software is so easy to use too! All you need is a microphone and a computer. You can buy the full version of Camtasia, or you can download a free 30-day trial from the TechSmith website. There is also a shareware version of this screen capture software called Jing that is worth checking out. It does the same stuff that Camtasia does, just not as much. Jing does have a feature that allows you to take custom screen shots (like the Tech Smith product - SnagIt, which I also am completely addicted to) to include in handouts and PowerPoint presentations.
Fun stuff!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Week 3 - Thing 6
I have a soft spot for fun gadgets, like these mashups and other online applications developed with inspiration from Flickr.
I made a trading card with FD Toy's application:
nothing too thrilling, but fun, nonetheless.
I created a postcard with Delivr and sent it to my friend who is teaching in Korea this year. Saved tons on postage!
My favorite is probably the Rasomizr, though. I remember discovering this application during a reference class I took in library school. I was completely distracted for the whole class period. I love that it changes the pictures every time!
ransomizr
I made a trading card with FD Toy's application:
nothing too thrilling, but fun, nonetheless.I created a postcard with Delivr and sent it to my friend who is teaching in Korea this year. Saved tons on postage!
My favorite is probably the Rasomizr, though. I remember discovering this application during a reference class I took in library school. I was completely distracted for the whole class period. I love that it changes the pictures every time!
ransomizr
Week 3 - Thing 5
I love Flickr! There are so many talented people out there and I love looking at what they've shared with the world. I used to wonder why people would use Flickr. I had Facebook for sharing my photos with my friends and that worked just fine for me. Why would I need to put them on Flickr for my friends too? But as I explore the site more and more, I see that it's not just a place to upload pictures of your birthday party or picnic for your friends to see. It really is a creative outlet as well, and a clearinghouse for great images!
The Creative Commons search allows you to remain legal, and ever since I've found out about that, I'm addicted! I can't wait to try making a powerpoint like the example on Kim Cofino's blog.
The Creative Commons search allows you to remain legal, and ever since I've found out about that, I'm addicted! I can't wait to try making a powerpoint like the example on Kim Cofino's blog.
Week 2 - Thing 4
Twitter isn't for everyone. I did find that I was MUCH more of a lurker rather than a poster. When I first started using Twitter, I got my account set up, and added the TwitterFox application in my Firefox browser window. I think might have been my downfall. Because I wanted to keep up with the tweets, I added it on my home computer as well, and that made things difficult. If it marks it read at home, it might not mark it read when you log on back at work.
It was also VERY distracting, I found. I would be working on something online, and then all of a sudden, a tweet would pop-up in the corner of my browser. Of course, I had to go click on it and see what it was, and then I'd find other tweets I hadn't seen and some of them would have links, so I'd click on those, and you can see what that can lead to...
The key to Twitter, in my opinion, is to find the right group of people to follow. It can be an extremely beneficial tool to get short pieces of information quickly. But if you haven't found the right community, you won't get information that you can use, and this application can simply become a distraction. Finding that community takes time, and time is something I don't have much of at the moment. I might explore this method of communication again later down the road. The other side of Twitter is contribution. I'm not much of a contributor, so it doesn't seem like it's a good tool for me to use. It was kind of fun to play with for a little while though!
It was also VERY distracting, I found. I would be working on something online, and then all of a sudden, a tweet would pop-up in the corner of my browser. Of course, I had to go click on it and see what it was, and then I'd find other tweets I hadn't seen and some of them would have links, so I'd click on those, and you can see what that can lead to...
The key to Twitter, in my opinion, is to find the right group of people to follow. It can be an extremely beneficial tool to get short pieces of information quickly. But if you haven't found the right community, you won't get information that you can use, and this application can simply become a distraction. Finding that community takes time, and time is something I don't have much of at the moment. I might explore this method of communication again later down the road. The other side of Twitter is contribution. I'm not much of a contributor, so it doesn't seem like it's a good tool for me to use. It was kind of fun to play with for a little while though!
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