Start Program

Great Job!

2007-08-02T15:00:00.001-04:00

32. Create a post
Summarize your weeks.

Wow! Congratulations!! You’ve reached the 32nd activity in your journey. Be sure to give yourself a pat on the back for completing the program. Your final exercise is to reflect on your learning journey and post a few thoughts. Here are some questions to prompt you if you're drawing a blank ...

1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
3. Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
4. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
5. If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you chose to participate?

In closing, we want to thank you for joining us on this journey. Our greatest hope is that this is not the end of our learning together as a system, but rather it’s the start of something amazing …

Week 10

2007-08-02T14:56:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Week 10

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28. Podcasts, videos and downloads
Online video hosting sites have exploded allowing users to easily upload and share videos on the web. YouTube is currently top dog serving up over 1 million video views a day and allowing users not only to upload their own video content easily, but also embed clips into their own sites. Do some searching around in YouTube and see what the site has to offer. You'll find just about anything. Of course, like any free site you’ll also find lots of stuff not worth watching too. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t explore and see for yourself what the site has to offer.
Youtube
Browse the website, view some videos and then find a video you enjoy and embed this into your blog.

29. Pick a podcast directory from this week's links
Add a RSS feed to your blogline.
Pod Cast Alley
Yahoo Podcasts Tutorial

30. Download Library
The Lee County Library System has a program called Download Library. Here you can select from a wide range of books or dvds and download the content to your computer or portable device. To use this feature you will need your LCLS card number. Browse through Download Library and once you find a book or dvd that interests you download a part or the entire work.
Download Library

31. Create a post
Discuss your findings.

Week 9

2007-08-02T14:51:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Week 9

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25. Online applications
One large benefit to web-based applications is they eliminate the need to worry about different software versions or file types as you email documents or move from PC to PC. Another bonus is they easily accommodate collaboration by allowing multiple users to edit the same file (with versioning) and providing users the ability to save and convert documents as multiple file types (including HTML and PDF). You can even use many of these tools, such as Zoho Writer and Google Docs (formerly known as Writely) to author and publish posts to your blog. It’s this type of integration with other Web 2.0 tools that make web-based applications so appealing.

The availability and use of online productivity web-based applications (think word processing and spreadsheets) has exploded over the past two years and for good reasons! These powerful applications provide users with the ability to create and share documents over the internet without the need of installed desktop applications. Some experts speculate this emerging trend may mean the death to Microsoft Office and other software-based productivity tools, while others think web-based applications have their place, just not in the office. But no matter which side of the office suite platform you side with, on this both sides seem to agree; web-based applications have their place.
Create an account.
Zoho Writer

Explore the site and create a few test documents.
If you're up for the challenge, try using Zoho's "publish options to post to your blog."

26. Web 2.0 Awards
Throughout the course of this Play to Learn program, we’ve explored just a small sampling of these new internet technologies and websites that are empowering users with the ability to create and share content. But given time, there are so many more we could explore. Current estimates place the number of Web 2.0 tools at somewhere between 300 & 500 with only a handful emerging as market dominators. And although time will tell which of these new collaborative, social networking and information tools will remain on top, one thing is for sure, they're not going to go away anytime soon.

For this discovery exercise, participants are asked to select any site from this list of Web 2.0 Award nominees and explore it. With so many to choose from, it might be handy to first select a category that interests you (like Books or Personal Organization) and then simply select a tool/site to explore. Be careful to select a tool that is free and that doesn't require a plug-in or download. The majority of these are free so this shouldn’t be a problem.
Web 2.0

27. Create a post
Describe your discoveries. What tool did you choose? What did you like or dislike about it? What were the site's useful features? Can you see how these applications could be used in a library setting?

Week 8

2007-08-02T14:33:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Week 8

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22. Wiki
"Sandbox" is the term that wikis often use to describe the area of the website that should be used for pure play. For this discovery and exploration exercise, PLCMC set up a Learning 2.0 Favorites wiki that was for nothing but play! So the LCLS created something similiar. All we want you to do is add an entry to the PBWiki Sheldon's Play House. Anything goes. Check it out, play around and add your thoughts. To mark your adventure on this site, you should add your blog to the Favorite Blogs page.
Watch the Wiki Slideshow.
Wiki Slideshow
Do the wiki tour.
Pbwiki Tour

23. Play House
View PLCMC's Sandbox Wiki and check out their section on Wiki Help.
Learning 2.0 Sandbox Wiki
Now, enter Sheldon's Play House and select "edit page".
Use 'lcls' as your password.
Create your own username and enter your email address.
Once you are in, add one item to the Play House.
Also select the link listed 'Favorite LCLS Blogs' in the sidebar, add your blogs'
url to the list.
Sheldon's Play House

24. Create a post
Tell us what you found interesting?
How could our library effectively use a wiki?

Week 7

2007-08-02T14:18:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Week 7

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18. Del.icio.us
Del.icio.us is a social bookmarking manager which allows you to bookmark a web page and add tags to categorize your book marks. Many users find the real power of Del.icio.us is in the social network aspect, which allows you to see how other users have tagged similar links and also discover other websites that may be of interest to you. You can think of it as peering into another users’ filing cabinet, but with this powerful bookmarking tool each user's filing cabinet helps to build an expansive knowledge network. Browse the Del.icio.us website. View the tutorial and then check out a podcast on Otter Group about tagging as well.
Del.icio.us
Otter Group

Tagging is an open and informal method of categorizing that allows users to associate keywords with online content (web pages, pictures & posts). Unlike library subject cataloging, which follows a strict set of guidelines (i.e. Library of Congress subject headings), tagging is completely unstructured and freeform, allowing users to create connections between data anyway they want.

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19. Technorati
So now that you’ve been blogging for awhile, you might be wondering just how big the blogosphere is. Well, according to Technorati, the leading search tool and authority for blogs, the number of blogs doubles just about every 6 months with over 51 million blogs currently being tracked by the site. If the blogging trend continues, it is estimated that Technorati will have tracked its 100 millionth blog in just 5 months. Yes, these numbers are astounding, but as you’ve seen for yourselves, blogging is so easy that these publishing tools are being taken advantage of by almost every industry, including libraries.

So how does a person get their blog listed as part of the blogosphere and how can you tag your posts with keywords to make them more findable through a Technorati search? The answer to the first question is that your blog is probably already being captured by Technorati since you're using Blogger, the most popular blogging tool. But if you want to join the party and have your blog officially listed on Technorati and also take advantage of the watchlist and other features, you’ll need to claim your blog yourself. As for tagging posts with Technorati tags? This is easy, too. All you need to do is add a little bit of HTML code to the bottom of your post (see example below) and Technorati will pick up these tags when it spiders (or web crawls) your site. There are a lot of new features that have been added to Technorati this past summer, including new ways to search for blogs. You can search for keywords in blog posts, search for entire blog posts that have been tagged with a certain keyword, or search for blogs that have been registered and tagged as whole blogs about a certain subject (like photography or libraries).
Example
Technorati

20. Web 2.0 Library 2.0

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Library 2.0 is a term used to describe a new set of concepts for developing and delivering library services. The name, as you may guess, is an extension of Web 2.0. It shares many of its same philosophies and concepts including harnessing the user in both design and implementation of services, embracing constant change as a development cycle over the traditional notion of upgrades, and reworking library services to meet the users in their space, as opposed to ours (libraries).

Many have argued that the notion of Library 2.0 is more than just a term used to describe concepts that merely revolve around the use of technology. It is also a term that can be used to describe both physical and mindset changes that are occurring within libraries to make our spaces and services more user-centric and inviting. Others within the profession have asserted that libraries have always been 2.0: collaborative, customer friendly and welcoming. But no matter which side of the debate proponents fall, both sides agree that libraries of tomorrow, even five or ten years from now, will look substantially different from libraries today.
Browse these websites.
Away from Icebergs
Into a new world of librianship
To more powerful ways to cooperate
To better bibiographic services
To a temporary place in time

21. Create a post
Share your thoughts about these tools.
Comment on the potential of these tools for research assistance, bookmarking or other ideas you may have.

Week 6

2007-08-02T14:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Week 6
Did you realize you are half way through your learning experience already?

15. Social Networks
Social networking sites are websites which promote the idea of users "getting connected" with other users based on shared interests, backgrounds and other associations. In most instances, in order to participate you must reveal basic details about yourself. In addition, you must also allow your online friends and connections the opportunity to obtain additional information about you.

What really makes these sites popular are the connections made between users. This is very similar to the connecting concept behind Flickr tags; you can find people based on shared interests and traits. But with social networking sites, it becomes more involved. You get to approach other users and invite them to declare an association with you. Some sites call your associations 'friends,' others call them 'contacts.'

MySpace - Popular Social Networking Site

MySpace recently opened participation to non-individuals. Bands, clubs, community groups and, yes, even libraries were encouraged to create profiles that would improve the richness of their online community. This was key for MySpace. With the inclusion of these group entities, MySpace became a real life community. Users could do more than just connect with their friends, they could become involved with organizations they never ventured towards before. To this day, MySpace remains the most popular social networking site on the web.

Why should libraries be interested?

It's all about relevance. Libraries need to be where users are. If a library has a presence on MySpace or Facebook, they have a better chance of finding users who don't often come into their buildings or go to their websites. This is especially true of college-age students. Here is where libraries can and should promote their fabulous services. Check out this list which features a slightly younger demographic.
Libraries on Myspace YALSA.

Your activity is to go to MySpace and locate Tom's page and browse it. Tom just happens to be the creator of MySpace. While on his page, try to find his zodiac sign.
Myspace

16. Gaming
Gaming can seem like a "just for fun" activity but it is also a way to engage in social networking. Online gaming can be simple text based games played alone to advanced interaction with complex graphics and virtual worlds engaging many players simultaneously. Many online games are associated with online communities which enhances the social networking experience for many users.
Play this game.
Billiards

17. Create a post
Give us your impression about Tom's MySpace page and record his zodiac sign.
Share with us your reaction to the game and include your score.

Week 5

2007-08-01T16:55:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Week 5

11. Image Generator

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For this discovery exercise, we just want you to have fun. Find a few fun images or text generators to play around with. Later we will ask you to post your "best" image. Often adding the image you mocked up to your blog is as simple as copying and pasting code that the page provides. If not, you may just need to right click on the image and then save it to your hard drive before using Blogger’s image button to add it to your post. If you’re having difficulty getting your image added to a post in your blog, seek out a co-worker for assistance.
*explore the two generator sites listed below
*upload an image to one of the generator sites and play with it
Generator Blog
Letter James

12. Library Thing
Are you a book lover or a cataloger at heart? Do you enjoy finding lost and forgotten gems on the shelf to read? Then LibraryThing may be just for you. Developed for booklovers, this online tool allows you to easily create an online catalog of your own. You add a book to your catalog simply by entering the title. You don’t need MARC record training to do this! You can then view your books on a virtual shelf or add a widget to display titles that are in your catalog. It can also connect you to people who have similiar libraries and reading tastes. There are lots of ways to use LibraryThing. Check it out!
*create an account on Library Thing
*add a few of your favorite books to the site
Library Thing

13. Rollyo

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Do you have a favorite group of websites? Do you frequently use the same set of online resources to answer homework or reference questions? Well Rollyo may be the tool for you. Rollyo allows you to create your own search tool for just the websites you know and trust.
*explore Rollyo and create an account for yourself.
*create a search roll for any subject you like.
Rollyo

14. Create a post
Post an altered image on your blog and tell us about this week's experiences.
What tools will you continue to use?

Week 4

2007-08-01T16:52:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Week 4

8. RSS

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You’ve heard of RSS? You’ve seen those small funny tags on websites? You’ve heard co-workers and friends swear by them, but still have no idea what RSS is?

RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” and is a file format for delivering regularly updated information over the web. Just think about the websites and news information sources you visit every day. Doesn't it take time to visit those sites and scan the ad-filled and image-heavy pages for just the text you want to read? Now imagine if you could visit all those information sources and web pages in just one place and all at the same time… without being bombarded with advertising… without having to search for new information on the page you’d already seen or read before… and without having to consume a lot of time visiting each site individually. Would that be valuable to you? Well, it’s available now through a newsreader and RSS.
RSS Video

9. Create a blog line

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Bloglines
Now that you have a newsreader (your Bloglines account), you can begin adding other newsfeeds that interest you. When visiting your favorite websites look for newsfeed icons that indicate the website provides it. Often a feed icon will be displayed somewhere in the navigation bar of the site.

Discover some feeds you would like to add.
Add the Play to Learn blogline and some of your coworkers' bloglines as well.
Instructions for adding feeds

10. Create a post
What do you like about RSS and newsreaders?
How might this technology be used in your work or personal life?
How can libraries use RSS and benefit from this technology?

Optional: If you're up to the challenge, you can provide the URL address to your public bloglines account on your blog.

Week 3

2007-08-01T16:50:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Week 3

5. Flickr

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Photo sharing websites have been around since the 90s, but it took a small startup site called Flickr to catapult the idea of “sharing” into a full blown online community. Within the past year, Flickr has become the fastest growing photo sharing site on the web and is known as one of the first websites to use keyword “tags” to create associations and connections between photos and users of the site.

Take a good look around Flickr and discover what this site has to offer. Find out how tags work, what groups are and all the neat things that people and other libraries are using Flickr for.
Library Stuff

If you're up for the challenge.... Create a free account in Flickr and use your location's digital camera to capture a few pictures of something in your branch. Upload these to your Flickr account and tag at least one of the images “LCLS PTL” and mark it public. So go ahead, explore the site and have some Flickr photo fun.
Flickr

6. Flickr mashups and 3rd party sites
Like many web 2.0 sites, Flickr has encouraged other people to build their own online applications using images found on the site. Through the use of APIs (application programming interfaces), many people have created third party tools and mashups that use Flickr images. Explore some of the fun Flickr mashups and 3rd party tools have to offer.
Montager
KrazyDad
FD Toys'
Trading Card Maker

7. Create a post
If you created a Flickr account tell us about it. If you didn't, write about what you liked and/or disliked about Flickr.

Week 2

2007-08-01T16:48:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Week 2
Congratulations on completing your first week.

3. Set up a blog
Now that you’ve done some exploring on this blog and understand how this program will work, it’s time to set up your own blog. For this program, you will use Blogger, a free online blog hosting service that is easy to use. Once you have created your blog, begin recording your thoughts and discoveries.

Here are two things to note:
1. Write down your login and password.
2. Record your blog address
Your blog address will be http://(xxxx).blogspot.com, (xxxx)=the unique identifier you entered in Step 2 when creating your blog.
Blogger

NOTE: How you identify yourself on your blog is your choice. You can blog under a screen name or as yourself. However, you will need to identify yourself to us so we can monitor your progress throughout the program. Please send your blog URL to Catherine at cvaughn@leegov.com. This way we will know who you are and that you are participating in the program.

4. Create a post
Discuss the 7 and 1/2 lifelong learning habits that were easiest and hardest for you (from week 1) and explain why.

Week 1

2007-07-31T10:13:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Week 1

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1. Read the content on our blog
Explore our blog, become familiar with it. We have 10-weeks together!

2. View the "7 & 1/2 Habits to Life Long Learning" online presentation

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As you watch and listen, write down which habits among the 7 & 1/2 that are easiest for you and which are hardest. Also, take time to think about and create a personal goal. Next week you will post your thoughts.
7 & 1/2 Habits to Life Long Learning

That's it for this week. Check back Monday for next week's exercises.