Week 4, Thing #8 & #9 RSS

I started out by exploring Google Reader and setting that up and then I checked out Bloglines and created an account there. For some reason, the Google Reader appeals to me more. Perhaps it's because it appears on my Google Home Page and so it is readily available.

It has been more difficult for me to come up with a good use of RSS. I presently use the Google Toolbar to sort sites that I like to visit into folders. This system of visiting my favorite sites every day seems to work well so I'm not sure that RSS will make it easier. I did subscribe to several more sites to put into my Google Reader, just to try them out, but then was unhappy with the volume of reading I'd have to deal with, so I deleted some of them. I really don't want more to read, I barely keep up with my favorites now. So, I've put the subscribe button up on my Google Toolbar and then when I'm visiting a site that I know I'll want to return to, I can just add it to my Google Reader and see how that works out.

Then, this morning I had a brainstorm that will really help me out. Since I've started this class, I have enjoyed reading everyone's blogs, but it is really time consuming to click through everyone's name on the list to see if they've added anything to their blog. So.... now I've added everyone's blog site to my Google Reader and put them all in a folder. As I read through them, I can mark what I've read. Then, at a glance I can see any updates you all have posted and just read those. I thought about linking my Google Reader to my blog so that others can take advantage of that, but I am not sure that would work out.

I'm looking forward to reading everyone's blog on RSS to see what use they have made of it.

Week 3, Thing #7 Technology Thoughts

While I sometimes feel that technology is getting overwhelming, I admit to using and enjoying much of it. It's a matter of finding what is useful to you, in your personal and professional life, and using it to make your leisure time and work experience better. ing It's alright not to use everything. While exploring Flickr and all the adjunct sites, I had this feeling that I'd have to quit my day job just to find the time to use all of it. As with our jobs, there is always so much more that we could be doing than we have time for. The trick is not to get so overwhelmed that you freeze and don't do anything.

Since our family is scattered all over the U.S. (California, North Carolina, Arizona & Florida - yes, we stayed in the frozen north while the kids left), the use of e-mail, webcams, skype, smugmug (Flickr-like photo posting site) and even You-Tube have made it easier for all of us to feel more in touch.

In the library, of course technology is now a given. While making a magazine cover today, I realized that could make use of that idea with my 6th grade students. We just started a new research project on inventors & inventions. Those who finish early could make a magazine cover with their inventor's photo and feature headlines pertaining to his/her inventions or discoveries. It would be a good incentive to keep everyone working at a good pace. I can also imagine them creating a blog for their inventor.

Right now my biggest problem is that I've lost my staff due to budget cuts , so implementing new and ambitious projects is difficult. I could possibly collaborate with the computer lab and thus get some added time and assistance. I've felt a great deal of frustration in the past few years as I've had to downsize my research projects, especially the technology aspects, just to get the basic job of running the library done. At this time of expanding technology and emphasis on literacy, cutting back on library services is counterproductive. I suspect many of you have experienced the same.

Week 3, Thing #6 Mashups & 3rd Party Sites

I've just spent hours (while half-watching football games) exploring the unbelievable number of mashups and 3rd party sites. There were so many fascinating ideas. Internet Inferno was very entertaining.

For my grand finale, I made a magazine cover featuring my granddaughter. It was fun, but time consuming.

I can imagine using a number of the sites and toys, while some are just interesting but I don't see a use for them. I guess there is something for everyone. I loved the Trip Planner because we often travel. It was good to see photos of places we're planning on going this year and to read travelers' tips on places to stay, eat and sights to see. I know I'll be going back to that one. I thought that Mosaickr was preferable to Montagr, much easier to see the featured photo in the mosaic.
I decided to bookmark several of the sites. I wandered around the sites so much I was afraid I'd never find them again.

Week 3, Thing #5 Flickr

I have been using Smugmug for some time for posting photos for family and friends to share. I think it is very similar to Flickr. I just opened a Flickr account and uploaded a photo. I wanted to export it to the blog but I couldn't figure out how that works. So, I uploaded it from my computer. It's a picture of the students who participated in our summer Read-a-thon, along with me and the organizer of the event.
I'm going to continue exploring Flickr to see if I prefer it to Smugmug.
After reading many of your posts, I figured I'd better get back to exploring Flickr. I enjoyed the map photos, all the items you can make with your pictures and just looking at various posted photos. I went to my town in Places and was surprised at how many photos had been posted. At this time, I have all my photos in Smugmug and have them organized. Even though I like Flickr, I don't think I'll be taking the time to switch them all over. That sounds like a summer activity. Though I might advise friends and colleagues just starting out to go with Flickr.
Oh, I did find the directions on Flickr on how to upload to your blog. Somehow I missed it the first time. It just goes to show that these sights need more than one look.

Week 2, Thing #3 Blog , Thing #4 Avatar

It took a few steps to set up the blog. First, setting up a gmail account, making an avatar (That was fun - though there were no grey hair color options. Maybe they think that grey haired people don't make Avatars), making the decisions on setting up the blog, and then figuring out how to post.

At first I didn't see how to export the Avatar. Once I found those directions, it was simple. I already had a gmail account but wanted a separate one for this. Posting is very easy and comes out looking professional with the templates. I'm looking forward to reading everyone's and making mine more individual over time.

At school, I've fallen behind on keeping up the library website, but I see that perhaps a blog would be a much easier way to go. I'm thinking that I could link a blog to the school website. Has anyone does this, rather than maintaining a website?

Week 1, Thing #2 7 Effective Habits

I've recently been feeling like the new technology is passing me by. I used to keep up with the latest until, due to budget cuts at school , I lost all my staff and had to make new priorities. Now I have this fear that if I don't stay current, years from now I'll be totally lost. This program seems like a good way to take care of my concerns. So, my GOAL is simply to catch up with the latest technology. Time could be an OBSTACLE but I'll just have to use my evenings and weekends. Since I think I will enjoy it, it should work out. Now that the holidays are over, hopefully extra time will open up. At any rate, it's a good way to start out the new year.
It's not yet clear to me what I'll need in my TOOLBOX. I assume that will become clearer along the way. I think that all the others participating will be my RESOURCES. I'm already looking forward to the next step.

Week 1, Thing #1 The Beginning

I enjoyed starting by reading about the program and looking at some of the blogs of previous participants. It was good to read about others' experiences. I think if I take this step by step, I'll be able to do it too.