Well I started this experience out by kicking, then screaming, then dragging my heels, but by applying some of that kicking to my own posterior and embracing the experience I have gained significant comfort with the many things the Internet has to offer.
As I now bid a fond farewell I want to say thank you to 16 Things for this experience. I am grateful to you for sharing this with me.
Adieu.
16 December 2008
Thing 16: Geotagging Item #2
Mt. Rainier seen from the Kerry Park
When she decides to grace you with her presence it is an awsome site. This is almost the view that I would have had from my kitchen window while living in Seattle. Very fond memories!
Thing 16: Geotagging Item #2
discovery park lighthouse
I love this shot! It looks so surreal, but after living in Seattle for seven years I know just how real this can be. This is the Seattle I miss.
Thing 16: Geotagging
1. Geotag a couple of your images and make a link to them on your blog. Flickr has directions on how to do this if you don't recall the whole process from Thing 9.
Done.
2. Search Flickr's Map of the World and make a link to a couple images that you find interesting. Done
Blog Prompts:
Did you like Flickr's geotagging feature?
Yeah. It's really easy to use and rather fun.
Did you explore any of the other geotagging services? How did they compare to Flickr?
No, I didn't.
How will you use this tool either personally or professionally?
I will probably only use this personally in the future. It will be a fun way to collect photos or possibly take a tour of the world!
Why would anyone ever want to geocache? Seriously, why? What is wrong with these people?
The only thing I can think of is that they have too much time and money on their hands and not enough global conscience.
Done.
2. Search Flickr's Map of the World and make a link to a couple images that you find interesting. Done
Blog Prompts:
Did you like Flickr's geotagging feature?
Yeah. It's really easy to use and rather fun.
Did you explore any of the other geotagging services? How did they compare to Flickr?
No, I didn't.
How will you use this tool either personally or professionally?
I will probably only use this personally in the future. It will be a fun way to collect photos or possibly take a tour of the world!
Why would anyone ever want to geocache? Seriously, why? What is wrong with these people?
The only thing I can think of is that they have too much time and money on their hands and not enough global conscience.
Thing 15: Podcasts
1. Take a look at one or two of the podcast directories listed in Resources to find a podcast that interests you or listen to a local podcast in the list. Find some interesting library-related podcasts like book reviews or library news or a podcast on anything else that interests you.
Done.
2. Listen to one more of the podcasts. Link it in your blog if you would recommend it to others.
Done. and done.
3. Add the RSS feed for a podcast to your blog reader account.
Done.
4. Try this simple, telephone-based tool that let's you "phone in" your podcast. Gcast says it's so easy your grandma could do it.
Done.
Done.
2. Listen to one more of the podcasts. Link it in your blog if you would recommend it to others.
Done. and done.
3. Add the RSS feed for a podcast to your blog reader account.
Done.
4. Try this simple, telephone-based tool that let's you "phone in" your podcast. Gcast says it's so easy your grandma could do it.
Done.
Blog Prompts:
1. Which podcast(s) did you listen to?
MPR's In the Loop with Jeff Horwich
2. Which of the directories did you find easiest to use?
They were all pretty easy to use. I enjoy listening to MPR so that is why I chose it.
3. Has this Thing inspired you to do any podcasting yourself or to subscribe to a podcast to listen to it regularly?
No podcasting myself, but I can see listening more to different podcasts.
4. If Walt Whitman were alive today (which I am certain that he is not), do you think he'd podcast? If so, what would he call his podcast? Would his parents listen to it? Why or why not? Discuss.
I have to admit that I do not know enough about Walt Whitman to answer this question.
Thing 14: Research Project Calculator
For this Thing:
1. Look at the RPC and the Assignment Calculator. Don’t try to cover every aspect of the tools, but rather browse the steps and consider how useful this could be to research assignments at school.
Done.
2. Look at the supporting materials in the Teacher Guide. Are any of these useful to you?
I don't know about any one of these being useful, but as a whole if you know your instructor is using these steps to create an assignment it gives you as the student another way to approach you research. Done.
Blog Prompts:
Which of the two calculators seems better suited for your research work here at Ai Minnesota? Why?
Since I am not a student anymore (officially, yes I know we are all always learning and students of life...) I'm not certain which would be better for me. I know that if I had these tools in college or even high school I would have felt much more confident going into assignments.
How might the RPC and the Teacher Guide help you manage research projects?
Seeing the steps that are thought out on the assignment creation breaks it down and gives a focus to accomplishing the assignment.
Assuming you'll graduate from Ai MN someday -- can you think of any uses for personal or professional projects—could you use any of these tools to help manage a timeline for a project of your own?
Yes quite possibly. It of course won't assist for all jobs, but for certain jobs it could come in very handy.
1. Look at the RPC and the Assignment Calculator. Don’t try to cover every aspect of the tools, but rather browse the steps and consider how useful this could be to research assignments at school.
Done.
2. Look at the supporting materials in the Teacher Guide. Are any of these useful to you?
I don't know about any one of these being useful, but as a whole if you know your instructor is using these steps to create an assignment it gives you as the student another way to approach you research. Done.
Blog Prompts:
Which of the two calculators seems better suited for your research work here at Ai Minnesota? Why?
Since I am not a student anymore (officially, yes I know we are all always learning and students of life...) I'm not certain which would be better for me. I know that if I had these tools in college or even high school I would have felt much more confident going into assignments.
How might the RPC and the Teacher Guide help you manage research projects?
Seeing the steps that are thought out on the assignment creation breaks it down and gives a focus to accomplishing the assignment.
Assuming you'll graduate from Ai MN someday -- can you think of any uses for personal or professional projects—could you use any of these tools to help manage a timeline for a project of your own?
Yes quite possibly. It of course won't assist for all jobs, but for certain jobs it could come in very handy.
Thing 13: Online Productivity Tools
1. Customized home or “start” page.
I have done this with my home computer, but since I am at work I am choosing to skip this step with my work computer. Done.
2. Calendar: Choose a calendar from this article and try it out.
I chose the Google calendar. Done.
3. Just about everyone makes lists. Try one of these online list tools to manage your activities. Ta da list or Remember the Milk .
I tried Ta da list. Done.
4. Some tools roll multiple features—calendars, lists, reminders, etc--into one service. Take a look at Backpack features.
Done.
Blog Prompts:
1. Which start page did you choose? Why did that one appeal to you? Will you make it your permanent home page?
I didn't actually set it as my work home page, but i would choose the iGoogle home page. It seemed simple, straight forward and uncluttered. If I were to change my homepage I would choose this one.
2. Did you find a tool that has some uses for you at school or at home? Which tool(s) would you recommend to others?
Not really. I think my set up here doesn't really apply for this. Maybe at another job or if I start using my home computer more.
3. How can the online calendars be useful to you?
They can be accessed anywhere. I liked the feature of creating a calendar. If I was taking a trip it would be an easy way to let my family know my plans.
4. What about the to-do lists—helpful, too much work…?
Easy, but too much. For the things I put on a to do list I usually would need the list with me. It seems like a redundant step since I add notes and make adjustments as I complete tasks and I do not have a computer with me at all times.
5. Did you try out Backpack? What did you think?
No. I wasn't interested at this time.
I have done this with my home computer, but since I am at work I am choosing to skip this step with my work computer. Done.
2. Calendar: Choose a calendar from this article and try it out.
I chose the Google calendar. Done.
3. Just about everyone makes lists. Try one of these online list tools to manage your activities. Ta da list or Remember the Milk .
I tried Ta da list. Done.
4. Some tools roll multiple features—calendars, lists, reminders, etc--into one service. Take a look at Backpack features.
Done.
Blog Prompts:
1. Which start page did you choose? Why did that one appeal to you? Will you make it your permanent home page?
I didn't actually set it as my work home page, but i would choose the iGoogle home page. It seemed simple, straight forward and uncluttered. If I were to change my homepage I would choose this one.
2. Did you find a tool that has some uses for you at school or at home? Which tool(s) would you recommend to others?
Not really. I think my set up here doesn't really apply for this. Maybe at another job or if I start using my home computer more.
3. How can the online calendars be useful to you?
They can be accessed anywhere. I liked the feature of creating a calendar. If I was taking a trip it would be an easy way to let my family know my plans.
4. What about the to-do lists—helpful, too much work…?
Easy, but too much. For the things I put on a to do list I usually would need the list with me. It seems like a redundant step since I add notes and make adjustments as I complete tasks and I do not have a computer with me at all times.
5. Did you try out Backpack? What did you think?
No. I wasn't interested at this time.
12 December 2008
Thing 12 Blog Prompt 1: Bacon...uhhh...ok
So I clicked on the Del.icio.us link for Popular Bookmarks and saw this bookmark title If I Die A Bacon-Related Death, I'd Like It To Be Because Of This. Curiously I clicked on it and at once I was repulsed, intrigued, and a little hungry. I don't think this will be a blog that I return to, but it's good to explore all the streets around your neighborhood at least once.
Thing 12: Tagging and Del.icio.us
Do yourself some tagging:
1. You can tag (Blogger calls them labels) your Blogger posts with keywords or phrases. From the Dashboard, go to Manage Posts and choose the post you want to add tags to. Enter the words in the Labels for this post box in the lower right. Type in your tags (commas between each word or phase). Click Publish Post to re-publish the post with its labels (tags) to your blog.
Done.
2. Watch this great overview of Social Bookmarking provided by our good friends at CommonCraft.
Done.
3. Create a Del.icio.us account for yourself and discover how this useful bookmarking tool can replace your traditional browser bookmark list.
Done.
4. Explore the site options and try clicking on a bookmark that has also been bookmarked by a lot of other users. Can you see the comments they added about this bookmark or the tags they used to categorize this reference?
Yes. Done.
Blog Prompts:
1. Create a blog post about your experience and thoughts about this tool.
Done.
2. Can you see the potential of this tool for research assistance? Or just as an easy way to create bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere?
I can. A lot of research begins on the web and then goes on from there. This would be a really easy way to do some work from home and the be able to link back to sites while you are working at school. This Blog Prompt put an "or" between two questions, but I think they are the same. Yes, an easy way to create bookmarks that can assist you with work or play.
3. Do you see any other useful applications of tagging and del.icio.us in your academic and/or professional life?
No, not at this time.
1. You can tag (Blogger calls them labels) your Blogger posts with keywords or phrases. From the Dashboard, go to Manage Posts and choose the post you want to add tags to. Enter the words in the Labels for this post box in the lower right. Type in your tags (commas between each word or phase). Click Publish Post to re-publish the post with its labels (tags) to your blog.
Done.
2. Watch this great overview of Social Bookmarking provided by our good friends at CommonCraft.
Done.
3. Create a Del.icio.us account for yourself and discover how this useful bookmarking tool can replace your traditional browser bookmark list.
Done.
4. Explore the site options and try clicking on a bookmark that has also been bookmarked by a lot of other users. Can you see the comments they added about this bookmark or the tags they used to categorize this reference?
Yes. Done.
Blog Prompts:
1. Create a blog post about your experience and thoughts about this tool.
Done.
2. Can you see the potential of this tool for research assistance? Or just as an easy way to create bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere?
I can. A lot of research begins on the web and then goes on from there. This would be a really easy way to do some work from home and the be able to link back to sites while you are working at school. This Blog Prompt put an "or" between two questions, but I think they are the same. Yes, an easy way to create bookmarks that can assist you with work or play.
3. Do you see any other useful applications of tagging and del.icio.us in your academic and/or professional life?
No, not at this time.
Thing 11: Online Creations
For this Thing, explore each of the tools listed.
Done.
and then:
1. Choose one of the tools listed under Slideshows, Photos, and eFolio and create a slideshow or photo montage. Add photos and/or information and then link it to your blog.
Done.
I chose to "Share Your Photos" and created a pocket sized photo album.
Blog Prompts:
What uses do these tools have for professional or personal use?
Job hunting, networking, and promotion are all part of being a professional. You need the tools to show off your talents to the fullest potential and these are great. You can be creative, dignified, silly, whimsical. You could display the same elements of you talents in many different fashions and market yourself for each individual need - and it's free!
Was the tool you used easy to navigate and understand?
Very easy. I could see lots of uses both personal and professional.
Would you recommend it to others?
Absolutely!
Do you use other sharing tools for photos, documents, or other creations that you would recommend?
Not yet, but I'm getting much more comfortable with the Internet and its many uses.
Done.
and then:
1. Choose one of the tools listed under Slideshows, Photos, and eFolio and create a slideshow or photo montage. Add photos and/or information and then link it to your blog.
Done.
I chose to "Share Your Photos" and created a pocket sized photo album.
Blog Prompts:
What uses do these tools have for professional or personal use?
Job hunting, networking, and promotion are all part of being a professional. You need the tools to show off your talents to the fullest potential and these are great. You can be creative, dignified, silly, whimsical. You could display the same elements of you talents in many different fashions and market yourself for each individual need - and it's free!
Was the tool you used easy to navigate and understand?
Very easy. I could see lots of uses both personal and professional.
Would you recommend it to others?
Absolutely!
Do you use other sharing tools for photos, documents, or other creations that you would recommend?
Not yet, but I'm getting much more comfortable with the Internet and its many uses.
Thing 10: More Flickring Around
1. Go to Big Huge Labs.
Done.
2. Choose one of the utilities from drop down list.
Done.
3. Create an image and save it to your computer.
Done.
4. Create another image or two to illustrate your 16 Things activities.
Done.
5. Upload your images to your blog to share with others.
Oh, my beautiful sunshine girl!My husband took these shots of Peanut without even looking at the camera! He's really good. I love the mosaic tool on http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/.
This could get very addicting!
Blog Prompts:
Consider how you can use these tools in your assignments, professionally or for self-promotion.
These tools are a great way to package and display your creations. This could be used to showcase your capabilities for interviews, or to send out greetings, funnies or holiday wishes showcasing your talents reminding businesses and project managers that you are out there and talented.
What do you think of sharing photos online?
Overall I think it is really good. Professionally it allows access to your talents in an easy and convenient manner. Socially it is a good way to stay in touch with others especially since you can set up privacy limits. I think you also just have to accept the fact that even if you do not want everyone to see your photos someone will find a way to access and copy or share your information.
Consider copyright and licensing issues.
I think as with other venues copyright and licensing is a must. The Internet is still a slippery place so one has to be aware that you are never fully free of theft and invasion, but with laws it can help to bring those entities and individuals to justice. That's the hope anyway...
11 December 2008
Thing 9: Photo from Flickr
Hope you enjoy this! The photo was taken by grandma Ginnie when she and grandpa Denny were up for a visit back in June or July. It was our baby girl's first time in an Irish pub (granted it was early lunchtime) but she had a ball. She even did a little table dancing to the lively music playing in the background.
Thing 9: Photosharing with Flickr
1. Create a Free Account in Flickr (note that Flickr is now part of Yahoo! If you have a Yahoo! account for email or MyYahoo!, log in with that.).
Done.
2. Then use a digital camera (you can check one out from The Cage) to capture a few pictures.
Done.
3. Upload these photos to your new Flickr account and tag at least one of the images with “Ai MN 16 Things”. Be sure to mark the photo “public”.
Done.
4. Add one or more of your images to your blog. You can add the image in one of two ways:
Flickr's blogging tool (need a Flickr account to see the button) lets you click the Blog This button (right above the picture) and add any public photo on Flickr to your blog. Be sure to give credit to the photographer, if it is not your photo.
Blogger's photo upload feature lets you add photos from your computer or from the Web and choose the placement in the blog post. Click the little photo icon in the toolbar on the New Post page—it is in the row of tools above the post box. Follow the instructions in the pop up box.
Done.
5. Once you have the photo uploaded and tagged, create a post in your blog about your photo and Flickr experience.
Done.
Will you use Flickr for school, work, for your personal photos, or in another way?
I can totally see using this for my personal photos. It is a little messy to work with, but I think once I get used to having to go back and forth quite a bit as I set things up it shouldn't be difficult. I think I will start using this to send out all the photo updates of my little girl to the grandparents, siblings and other relatives and friends.
Done.
2. Then use a digital camera (you can check one out from The Cage) to capture a few pictures.
Done.
3. Upload these photos to your new Flickr account and tag at least one of the images with “Ai MN 16 Things”. Be sure to mark the photo “public”.
Done.
4. Add one or more of your images to your blog. You can add the image in one of two ways:
Flickr's blogging tool (need a Flickr account to see the button) lets you click the Blog This button (right above the picture) and add any public photo on Flickr to your blog. Be sure to give credit to the photographer, if it is not your photo.
Blogger's photo upload feature lets you add photos from your computer or from the Web and choose the placement in the blog post. Click the little photo icon in the toolbar on the New Post page—it is in the row of tools above the post box. Follow the instructions in the pop up box.
Done.
5. Once you have the photo uploaded and tagged, create a post in your blog about your photo and Flickr experience.
Done.
Will you use Flickr for school, work, for your personal photos, or in another way?
I can totally see using this for my personal photos. It is a little messy to work with, but I think once I get used to having to go back and forth quite a bit as I set things up it shouldn't be difficult. I think I will start using this to send out all the photo updates of my little girl to the grandparents, siblings and other relatives and friends.
10 December 2008
Thing 8: Wikis
Blog Prompts:
1.What did you find interesting about the wiki concept?
Sometimes when I am researching there are things that I have questions about that possibly the author did not feel were important or of interest. With the wiki concept there might be someone who adds information about a concept that I may be interested in within a topic. It is the idea that more information can be better.
2.What types of applications within schools and professional organizations might work well with a wiki?
A prime example would be for the AiM to create a wiki about the school for new and perspective students. Current or former students could edit the wiki to add information they feel future students should know about or fill in more details if they feel an entry is insufficient.
3.Many teachers/faculty "ban" Wikipedia as a source for student research. What do you think of the practice of limiting information by format?
I think this is no different that it has always been. When I was in school certain magazines or other publications were banned as valid source for student research. With a wiki there is a large amount that is open to question regarding the sourcing of information. Until someone else comes along and questions a citation or requests a citation it could simply be considered some one's opinion, not valid fact or statement.
4.Which wiki did you edit?
Yeah, ok, I am that "guy". I got logged in to PBwiki, but I couldn't find "The Ultimate Dream Supply Kit" . So I just played in the Sandbox. Forgive me, but I only have so much time to play around with the 16Things.
1.What did you find interesting about the wiki concept?
Sometimes when I am researching there are things that I have questions about that possibly the author did not feel were important or of interest. With the wiki concept there might be someone who adds information about a concept that I may be interested in within a topic. It is the idea that more information can be better.
2.What types of applications within schools and professional organizations might work well with a wiki?
A prime example would be for the AiM to create a wiki about the school for new and perspective students. Current or former students could edit the wiki to add information they feel future students should know about or fill in more details if they feel an entry is insufficient.
3.Many teachers/faculty "ban" Wikipedia as a source for student research. What do you think of the practice of limiting information by format?
I think this is no different that it has always been. When I was in school certain magazines or other publications were banned as valid source for student research. With a wiki there is a large amount that is open to question regarding the sourcing of information. Until someone else comes along and questions a citation or requests a citation it could simply be considered some one's opinion, not valid fact or statement.
4.Which wiki did you edit?
Yeah, ok, I am that "guy". I got logged in to PBwiki, but I couldn't find "The Ultimate Dream Supply Kit" . So I just played in the Sandbox. Forgive me, but I only have so much time to play around with the 16Things.
Thing 7: Online Collaboration Tools Part 2
Blog Prompts:
1. Which of these tools is easier for you to use?
I think I found Zoho a little easier to use, but that could be because Google Docs gave me some trouble editing in the beginning. Eventually it let me work on it. I think anyone who is familiar with PCs won't think anything of it. If you are used to Macs you might have to think a little harder about the verbage (but not that much).
2. How do the features of each compare? Does one have features that would make you choose it over the other?
Honestly they really felt the same to me. One did not stand out over the other. Possibly I did not go far enough to discover everything, but for the basics that I would use it for with my skill level I had no trouble using either one.
3. What would the Founding Fathers think of these tools? Would the final draft of the "Declaration of Independence" have been better had these tools been at their disposal? Hmmm, I wonder...
I'm not sure what they would have thought. I believe they might have used these tools to a certain degree in the beginning stages, but if you were a member of the Second Continental Congress in 1776, you were a rebel and considered a traitor by the King of England. You knew that a reward had been posted for the capture of certain prominent rebel leaders and signing your name to the Declaration meant that you pledged your life, your fortune, and your sacred honor to the cause of freedom. This was not just a business proposal or an office procedural memo. This was life or death. I don't think that the Founding Fathers would have trusted the safety or sanctity of online collaboration. Something is said for working together in person to hold each other to your word and honor.
1. Which of these tools is easier for you to use?
I think I found Zoho a little easier to use, but that could be because Google Docs gave me some trouble editing in the beginning. Eventually it let me work on it. I think anyone who is familiar with PCs won't think anything of it. If you are used to Macs you might have to think a little harder about the verbage (but not that much).
2. How do the features of each compare? Does one have features that would make you choose it over the other?
Honestly they really felt the same to me. One did not stand out over the other. Possibly I did not go far enough to discover everything, but for the basics that I would use it for with my skill level I had no trouble using either one.
3. What would the Founding Fathers think of these tools? Would the final draft of the "Declaration of Independence" have been better had these tools been at their disposal? Hmmm, I wonder...
I'm not sure what they would have thought. I believe they might have used these tools to a certain degree in the beginning stages, but if you were a member of the Second Continental Congress in 1776, you were a rebel and considered a traitor by the King of England. You knew that a reward had been posted for the capture of certain prominent rebel leaders and signing your name to the Declaration meant that you pledged your life, your fortune, and your sacred honor to the cause of freedom. This was not just a business proposal or an office procedural memo. This was life or death. I don't think that the Founding Fathers would have trusted the safety or sanctity of online collaboration. Something is said for working together in person to hold each other to your word and honor.
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