I explored the cooking video site www.imcooked.com. It features videos that people everywhere have uploaded, and allows users to rate and comment on the videos. I enjoyed browsing through the different categories, such as vegetables and vegetarian, soups, casseroles, etc. You can see the most viewed, recently added, most popular, top rated, etc.
It seems to be a good way to browse and find new recipes, and it certainly is helpful to see the cooking demonstrations. It also appears to have lots of different style videos--lots to look at!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thing #17: Look at Online Productivity Tools
I played around with Google Docs a little bit. I used the word processing program. We just upgraded our Microsoft Office to the new version, so I have been playing around with some new features on both of these word processing programs. The Google Docs seems nice enough, as far as I can see.
One of the main advantages I can see is that you can access your documents anywhere, from any computer. I do like to backup my documents, though, so I don't know think I would feel secure enough just having my files stored online only. I'd have to have backup copies--this way if our computer crashed, I'd have my online copies, and if there is a problem with the Internet, then I'd have my computer copies.
One of the main advantages I can see is that you can access your documents anywhere, from any computer. I do like to backup my documents, though, so I don't know think I would feel secure enough just having my files stored online only. I'd have to have backup copies--this way if our computer crashed, I'd have my online copies, and if there is a problem with the Internet, then I'd have my computer copies.
Thing #10: Online Image Generators
I played around with Letter James (www.letterjames.com) and the ALA's create your own mini read posters (http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/hqops/publishing/graphics/READ_Mini_Posters.cfm).
Both were cool. Here is the ALA poster:
Thing #6: Discover Mashups
These are cool. I created a couple of trading cards on Big Huge Labs' Trading Card maker. The first card has one of my daughter's paintings featured, and the other has a photo of one of my son's soccer games.
These were done very quickly. As usual with all of these Things, there are so many possibilities--this will require revisiting when I have time!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Thing #15: Learn about Wikis
This topic really appealed to me. The idea of collaborating within a group to create and edit a website of shared information is great. The possibilities seem endless, and I enjoyed looking at the wikis that were linked in the Discovery Exercise. There was one that was created to help attendees at an ALA conference with all kinds of information about the conference but also restaurants and other tips that looked especially helpful.
I think having users add and edit content (in the right environment and for the right purposes) would work wonderfully to create a richer and more varied website.
Also, I think that a wiki used within a library for collaborative projects sounds very helpful and interesting. Passing emails around and sharing copies of documents via email would be eliminated, and, it seems to me, would make the committee work much more productive and transparent.
I know the InfoLine has a new wiki, but I haven't seen it yet, since I work only on Sundays. But that is definitely on my list of things to discover soon!
I think the library will be able to employ wikis for many purposes, perhaps including a wiki for posting and discovering activities and happenings all around the community.
I think having users add and edit content (in the right environment and for the right purposes) would work wonderfully to create a richer and more varied website.
Also, I think that a wiki used within a library for collaborative projects sounds very helpful and interesting. Passing emails around and sharing copies of documents via email would be eliminated, and, it seems to me, would make the committee work much more productive and transparent.
I know the InfoLine has a new wiki, but I haven't seen it yet, since I work only on Sundays. But that is definitely on my list of things to discover soon!
I think the library will be able to employ wikis for many purposes, perhaps including a wiki for posting and discovering activities and happenings all around the community.
Thing #14: Perspectives on Library 2.0
I read the articles in the OCLC newsletter about Web 2.0 and where it will take libraries. I was especially interested in the one about the Librarian 2.0 and the traits necessary for the librarian in this changing world.
I appreciated the points about meeting the customers using the technology they are using, such as blogs, myspace, im's, wikis, etc. The writer also makes the point that technology is not added to libraries just for the sake of technology but because it helps the customers and removes barriers to accessing the library's resources.
Changes come quickly, and the old model of slow change and long periods spent developing new services can't be the new model.
I think our library is on the right track, and I'm glad to see that we are implementing these kinds of changes already!
I appreciated the points about meeting the customers using the technology they are using, such as blogs, myspace, im's, wikis, etc. The writer also makes the point that technology is not added to libraries just for the sake of technology but because it helps the customers and removes barriers to accessing the library's resources.
Changes come quickly, and the old model of slow change and long periods spent developing new services can't be the new model.
I think our library is on the right track, and I'm glad to see that we are implementing these kinds of changes already!
Thing # 13: Learning about Tagging and Discovering Delicious.com
I used Delicious.com and found it very interesting. I checked out HFAR's bookmarks on readers' advisory and found them useful.
I also searched for graphing calculator sites and found several that I can use.
I like having my own account here so that I can save these bookmarks. I haven't had time yet to transfer these to my computer at home so I can access them and save them automatically there.
I feel that it's a good way to find sites that are recommended by others, and anything that leads you on to different and hopefully better and new information is great!
I also searched for graphing calculator sites and found several that I can use.
I like having my own account here so that I can save these bookmarks. I haven't had time yet to transfer these to my computer at home so I can access them and save them automatically there.
I feel that it's a good way to find sites that are recommended by others, and anything that leads you on to different and hopefully better and new information is great!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)