Thursday, November 29, 2007

Week 10 # 23 Is this really the end?

I have several comments to make.
1. 10 hours is WAY WAY too little for the actual amount of time spent on this. I suppose if you already know /or are familiar with the materials, 20 hours may be just right, but for many of us, especially us technophobes and NeoLuddites, it is not enough.

2. Starting with the blog is good, since with all the use I feel fairly comfortable with it. However there has been so much thrown at us in such a short time
with so little instruction, that most of what I have been exposed to is one
amorphous mass. I have e-mails, websites, memberships, passwords to who
knows what, and have very little idea of what password goes with which
program.






3. Given how busy we are, the items should be spread out over a year. Begin with the blog for about 2-3 weeks since it is the basis for reporting progress. Then Wiki, since that and Flickr are the two most likely to be used at the library. Give them about a month each.




4. Each topic should have a step by step detailed guide either printable or downloadable (many of us are linear thinkers and "just find someone on staff who knows to help you" doesn't cut it, especially if most of the staff aren't particularly interested in technology.) Spending 4 hours on a Friday morning (a busy catch-up day) after having spent several frustrating hours during the week trying to work the exercises isn't too helpful.






5. Take the oportunity to make more meaningful exercises other than just signing up for whatever program is this week's topic. Using the program several times over a period of time will make the information stick better.






Blogging isn't as bad as I thought, although since I have never been one to write a diary I don't see myself blogging. I will have to use Wiki and possibly Flickr although I don't use a real camera well, much less one of these electronic gizzies. The Avatar was fun. I always wanted to be a red-head. If I ever get a computer, Library Thing would be fun (and useful) I could spend my whole retirement organizing my books. The word processing deal might be useful too. As for the rest, I'll probably never use it.



As member of the Tribe of the Book, firmly planted in the 20th if not the 19th century, I am not impressed with 2.0. Perhaps 2.0 enthusiats might do well to meditate on the recent computer soap opera (death followed by amnesia) before they write off (can they write?) low tech solutions. I'll do what I must, but the book will outlast me.






I do not have Life Long Learning Goals. I learn what I must to survive. I learn what I am interested in for joy. Goals do nothing but kill the joy.





















Week 9 #22 Downloadable Media

I am familiar with the library's downloadable media and explain it to patrons upon occaision. I tried out the other two sites, and didn't like them as well. They would be great for people looking for classics and older materials, but for people like me with frivolous tastes, not so useful. If I had a computer and listened to books on tape, and didn't have an actual book, I might use the library site, but frankly unless you are driving in a car or there is no actual book available, I don't think I would want to use it. (You still can't take an MP3 player or a computer into a bubble bath.)

Week 9 #21 Podcast

Checked out the various podcast directories. They were full of stuff. It isn't easy finding the nugget in all that huge slag heap. The Google effect, I expect. All kinds of junk, just not the junk you want. I found two Podcasts? but the directory wouldn't let me save it to Bloglines so I picked up Muggle net to fulfill the requirements. The other podcasts are saved, but I'm not altogether sure where. Had to get help. Hate that.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Week 9 #20 Youtube


I liked this video. It reminded me of every family picture session known to man in spirit if not in actuality.

That being said, while I have always enjoyed the videios that people occaionally send me, there was an awful lot of stuff to wade through to find something to worth watching.

It might be useful to make a video to project during crafts showing in detail how to do something a little complicated like braiding or tying a knot, so everyone can watch while you are helping individuals.