Twitter & Yammer

Have been using Yammer for some months now and find it to be a valuable source of information. Have had some very useful ideas and links that I have passed onto TAFE staff.
I must admit there are days when I don't link in because I am too busy, involved in other activities and just don't think about it. Also, because it doesn't play a major role in my work practices I have to remember to do it, in amongst my other tasks. Maybe it's just a matter of my headset, and that this will gradually change in time.
Certainly a great source of unusual information at times, and some instant online help/advice when needed. It is a useful communication tool for staff, much quicker than emails. A quick way to get library information/messages out into the wider TAFE community, or to respond with a library perspective to messages put up.

Library Thing

Have added some titles and done some exploring on the site. Great fun and quite interesting. Can see it's value for people really interested in sharing discussions and ideas about books and authors. We supply books for several reading groups and I can see this as an add on to their face to face discussions, not sure how they would cope with the techology though. Could start a library online discussion group, maybe targeting young mothers or teenagers.

Image generators

Found this one a while ago and used it to send my grandsons a more interesting birthday message.
Fill in a short birthday message in the text box and check out the preview. a bit of fun.

http://www.imagechef.com/ic/make.jsp?tid=Baking+Cake

There is so much out there to explore and some of it could be very useful for marketing/promoting our services and doing it with a bit of flair and fun.

My podcast

Hope this works - had fun making it.

http://workspace.office.live.com/?wa=wsignin1.0#dunnestephen/LEARN Network/Wellbeing.mp3

YouTube et al

Checked out YouTube and found this mashup of a symphony composed for the Internet and it's amazing. A very real example of international cooperation using current technologies on a grand scale.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC4FAyg64OI&feature=channel

Applying this concept just think how exciting it would be to provide an international flavour to our services for both us and our clients. Not sure how it could be done but some brainstorming, workshops even a LEARN meeting segment could generate some ideas worth exploring.

I know that our Horticulture lecturer was putting some links to YouTube for Aquacponic and Hydroponic videos in the program Moodle for students to view.

Also found Torvill and Dean's beautiful ice dance that won them the gold in the 1984 Olymips - a joy to watch again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8obUdxnTlc
Had fun exploring the site and it's quite easy to navigate.

Library 2.0 & Web 2.0

Like a couple of other 23 Thingers, yesterday I was a bit daunted with the readings for this. However after 100 km round trip from and to work, and another look at it now I have to say that I am blown away by the possibilities of what this could mean for our services BUT there are a lot of 'ifs' that go with it.
The cultural changes needed to embrace these new ways of delivering/providing our services will take time to learn/train, may need encouragement for some to see the potential for their benefits, and require support from peers and also those who hold the purse strings. I'm sure we are all aware, it's the putting it into sustained action that we have to work on....and how to do that is the question.
I know some are too daunted by enormity of this new vista and don't want to go there but I think some of that comes from knowing, or feeling, there just isn't the 'time' to explore and get to know it at their own pace, certainly in the work place. I know I have felt very pressured at times with this project as i am behind and I want to get it finished but it has to be in and amongst the other things that are going on for me each day in my work space.
OOps, reading back over this sounds a bit like a soapbox delivery...it's not, just some reflections as a response to the readings.
I am really enthused by the possibilities of how these concepts and technologies can engage our communities and enhance our services and am looking forward to where we go with them.

Del.icio.us

Was thinking back over my exploration for this activity while driving home last night and had a thought....could we better manage our USS lists on Del.icio.us? With appropriate tagging they could be accessed from anywhere and we would be bringing another one of our practices into the Web 2.0 environment. A link to the site could be added to all program Moodle and Janison sites and it may encourage input from staff and students who, I'm sure, would have sites that they value as course/information resources.
Just a thought....interested in any comments.

Revisiting Flickr

I have just had a relaxing hour revisiting Flickr so I am more comfortable with moving on. What fun, and sooo much to look at and explore. It would be very easy to get lost for hours following the links that interest me.

I liked the Flickr map and checked out the latest Clipsal photos linked to Adelaide. Like Wendy I made a Trade card and also opened an account. I tried uploading a couple of photos but for some reason this didn't work so will go back to that later.

I can see the value of this site for a number of programs where visual images could be loaded as a set for students to access via a link on the subject Moodle site with the benefit of both students and lecturer being able to add relevant images to build the resource.

"I'm king of the castle"...on Flickr anyway.

Found this happy fellow in some of the latest images loaded into Flickr in the last fifteen mins.
He's certainly having his say about something...probably complaining about the last one to use the post not cleaning up after themselves!!!

Could spend a lot of time scrolling through all there is to look at...I think if I was using it it would be for a focused search or I find it gets a bit overwhelming. I find I don't enjoy just looking on the internet...I need a purpose for being there.

Wiki and PBWiki

I had opened a Wiki account some time ago in a LEARN workshop with Desmond. I remembered immediately I saw his notes in our reading list so I dug out my originals and hey presto I was away, and my site that has been lying around with nothing to do is now going to be revitalised. I'm sure my grandsons will enjoy sharing it with me.

Have just read Mindboggl's comments and would agree with the value of a Wiki for the library for some things but not all. Program resource lists, subject guides, book news and reviews - where a collborative space would be of benefit to all. I would question the use of this for general information that doesn't need to be changed, such as the library contact details, opening hours etc. Staffing time to monitor the site would be a consideration in setting up something like this. I could see in the public arena that "Friends of the Library" or selected volunteers could take on the responsibility for maintaining the site.

Have played in the sandbox and put in my penny's worth. Now on to the next activity.

Monday - not off to a flying start!

Monday morning and I thought I would be able to get an good hour or two of online activity in before other work related interruptions started, but the system is sooo sloooowww still that I'll just have to leave it and try again later!!
I am still getting my head around the RSS feed as I haven't had a clear run with it since I started. I have done the required activities but in such an ad hoc way because of the system problems that I would like to play with it more for clarification.
As a learner I can feel the frustration of not being able to achieve what I want with this, and the helplessness of not knowing how to 'fix it'.
ICT 'Help Desk' have just informed me that a job has been logged re this problem and that to try again later today to log into the site(s) I want to access.

Blogging blues!

After nearly a whole day of frustrating dropouts every time I tried to add feeds to my Bloglines I have had the problem sorted by our IT person. I must admit that I was starting to go cross-eyed! It is easy when it all works as it's meant to.
Thinking of some useful sites for work related info had me thinking; I thought of using some of the sites from the USS lists...will look at that later as I need to get my skates on now and glide through the rest of the activities to get myself up-to-date.

Well, I'm back in harness again and just going to set up my RSS feeds. Have been checking out the messages from the group's blogs I am following and it seems that people are having an interesting time exploring.

I haven't deserted the boat. Tasks scheduled for this week (and I only have until Wed) will not see me doing any 23 Things until I get back from Adelaide next week.
Happy exploring.

Movi Madness!!

Just had a great session with Marie using See&Share with Movi (until it dropped out). After several attempts to engage Movi with no joy, and then a screen message telling us that the Internet was having problems and would drop out...it was back to the telephone for audio.
We achieved just as effectively with this combination.
Looked at and drew on a document, then went into a Centra room and had a good look at the screen, all the icons, and several items on the Agenda. It was great looking at it this way and discussing it without having to be manipulating it at the same time.
Next was our Moodle sites where we went in and together stepped through changing the time zone setting. It was fun doing it together and less frustrating as we each picked up different 'signposts' as we worked through the process.
I know I work better on something like this when I am communicating with others while doing it.

Reflections

Thinking about this technology as I'm using it brings to mind the 'hundred monkey' concept. When enough of us are using it and automatically creating ways of incorporating it into our daily communications and other activities it will really take off for us as a network.
For me it's the having to stop and think about how, when, why I will use these 'things' that creates the barrier I need to dissolve. Part of that process will occur with this project because it's making me take the time to look, experiment, explore and become familiar with these technologies. It's taking me out of my comfort zone a bit however I am really enjoying the experience as I am discovering I can do this.
I know I will enjoy promoting this to others and would like to work with this group on brainstorming some promotional ideas we can take away with us.

I've arrived

The hardest part of this exercise was getting the URL I liked! Well I'm away with this at last but now have to dash as I have a plane to catch.

Will get back to this next week and post some thoughts.