16 December 2008

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.

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.

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.

Thing 10: More Flickring Around


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


Happy Family, originally uploaded by ferocioushugs.

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.