WEEK 5, THING 11: LIBRARYTHING

I can see where Library Thing could help get me organized. I don't keep a list of books that I have read because I am not organized enough to know where to keep such a list. I like the idea of having the book cover on the page. It adds some color and I will be more apt to use the site since it won't be just a list of titles. I like the idea of adding my review so down the road when I forget what the book was about the review will remind me. I haven't been able to add the list of books to my blog. Hopefully, before the 23 Things is over I will master it.

WEEK 5, THING 10: PLAY AROUND WITH AN ONLINE IMAGE GENERATOR

I liked the name in lights generator. I could not get the airplane one to work. It would have been nice to imagine owning my own airlines. There was the link to FDToys
so I made a movie poster. Just could not get it to copy to my blog. I printed out a copy and have it hanging near my desk. I like the idea that everyone can manipulate photos and you don't have to pay an expert to design the finished product for you.

I got my name in lights with notcelebrity.co.uk

WEEK 4 THING 9: EXPLORE MERLIN AND NEWS FEEDS

Merlin has a section on learning links that was helpful. I looked through the one on computers.
As far as news feeds, I was unable to hook up with Library Journal News and Reader's Club Rss Feeds. The others on the list went okay.

I enjoyed making the avatrar

WEEK 4, THING 8: LEARN ABOUT RSS AND SETUP BLOGLINES NEWSREADER ACCOUNT

What I like about RSS newsreader is the time savings. I can just go to one place and read the top stories. I also added some of the other 23 things blogs to see how other blogs look. Now the one thing I have not read is if the stories on the blogline will disappear by themselves after a time or if I have to do something to delete them like in email. Hopefully, I will find out before the site gets too full and crashes. My blogline newsreader account is http://www.bloglines.com/public/username

WEEK 3, THING 7: BLOG POST ABOUT ANYTHING TECHNOLOGY RELATED

I have to admit that I use the Internet everyday. Our library computer system does not allow for misspelled words or incorrect titles. I wish it were more like google where it asks if you mean _
The Google site is used too many times in a day to count. I use it for spelling or looking up an author's webpage to see a list of their published books. I use Amazon to check the exact title of the book a patron requested when they are not sure of it. Since moving to a new city I am always using Mapquest inorder to find my way around the area. The Internet Movie Database comes in handy when someone needs to know the name of an actor in a specific movie. I know I survived 50 years without a computer but I will admit it has made my life easier.

WEEK 3, THING 6: FLICKR MASHUPS & 3RD PARTY SITES

The mashups and 3rd party sites looked interesting. I did not join any of the groups. I really enjoyed the Flickr toys. I made a magazine cover with a picture of my library on the front cover. Other options for having fun with your photos seemed worth trying.

WEEK 3, THING 5: EXPLORE FLICKR

I enjoyed Flickr. It is fantastic for sharing photos with friends and family that live across the country. No more waiting for reunions to share photos. I liked the feature where the photos can be private or public.

2007_0620Image0003

2007_0620Image0003,
originally uploaded by annlibraryassociate.

This is my home away from home

Mono Lake Winter Kayaking1

Mono Lake Winter Kayaking1,
originally uploaded by Buck Forester.

When the world is too hectic, imagine yourself here

WEEK 2, THING 4: REGISTER YOUR BLOG AND TRACK YOUR PROGRESS

Registering my blog was simple. No problems here. I am confused on tracking my progress. I am not sure if I should print out the form and enter the information or if I just enter the information into the computer. I will need to get clearification on that issue.

WEEK 2, THING 3: SET UP YOUR OWN BLOG & ADD YOUR FIRST POST

I found the directions to setting up a blog easy to follow. The hardest part was deciding on the template. I had to make a correction to one of my posts, which wasn't too difficult. Naming the blog was easy for me. I named it after my two pets. I thought the chance of someone else using the same name was extremely slim.

WEEK 1, THING 2: POINTERS FROM LIFELONG LEARNERS

This topic is covered in my second post. Great feeling that I am actually on schedule so far.

WEEK 1, THING 1: ABOUT THIS PROGRAM

The program has started. It will run for 9 weeks until August 31, 2007. The program 23 things is to encourage me to experiment and learn new technologies that are reshaping the context of information on the Internet. This sounds all well and fine but I have some reservations.
The scariest part of this whole program is that it is self taught. I am not a person that can learn well from written instructions, on the other hand show me once and I will remember it.
The next 9 weeks should prove interesting to say the least.

LIFELONG LEARNING

The "23 Things" program talked about 7 and 1/2 lifelong learning habits used by effective life long learners. They are:

1- Begin with the end in mind
2-Accept responsibility for your own learning
3-View problems as challenges
4-Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner
5-Create your own learning toolbox
6-Use technology to your advantage
7-Teach/Mentor others
1/2-Play

I just watched the pod cast on 7 & ½ Habits. I enjoyed the tutorial. It was presented in an easy to understand format, not progressing too quickly or too slowly. The pictures were also enjoyable.

Easiest habits of the 7 & ½ Habits for me is Teach/mentor others. I enjoy teaching my Sunday school 1st graders. One of my favorite’s aspects of my job at the library is teaching patrons how to use the our on line card catalog.

The next easiest habit is view problems as challenges. My philosophy about life is every obstacle placed in front of me is an opportunity to learn and grow. Life would be very boring if you already knew everything and had no interesting little bumps along the way. After all life is the journey not the destination.

Accept responsibility for your own learning. I always hated the kids in school who understood math problems right away. I would have to work on them for hours before the light bulb above my head would light up. I understood at an early age that some things are understood quickly while others take longer.

Begin with the end in mind. I am pretty good about this habit. When I start a project I have the end envisioned. The problem is a lot of time once into the process, my goal changes. I took a course at my community college in home electrical, the end in mind to be able to know when I was being charged for unnecessary things. I thought it would be a course that explained electrical terms. The course did that and so much more, I am now able to wire a house or fix small electrical lamps or extension cords.

Hardest habits for me are
Confidence in myself as a competent effective learner. I am not a confident person. My whole world changed drastically two years ago and my confidence seems to have disappeared. Many times I hear myself saying out loud YOU CAN DO THIS. I have to admit I am usually amazed when I do accomplish the task. An example would be I did not know anything about PC’s. I have a friend that helped talk me through tearing a computer apart to see the mother board and explain everything to me so when someone talked about a part of the computer I would understand. The friend talked me through putting the computer back together and downloading the different programs. Yes the computer does work. My fear of breaking a computer disappeared.

Play. I don’t seem to have enough hours in a day to play. I schedule one afternoon a month to go out with friends for lunch and a movie. The time it takes for that causes enough of a backload that it takes a week to catch up

FIRST POST

Hello! I am new to blogging. I work in a Maryland Public Library in Anne Arundel County. The libraries in the state are participating in a project called "23 Things", the program will help increase my knowledge of the internet. Right now about the only part of the internet I use is email and mapquest. In the coming weeks, I will be posting my thoughts about information resources on the internet. The blog is my first introduction to these new resources. It seems very strange to me, almost like publishing a personal journal. Why would anyone else want to read my journal?
It isn't like I am a journalist, author or celebrity.