No matter what one does, whether one's deeds serve virtue or vice, nothing lacks importance. All actions bear a kind of fruit.::Buddha::
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Quotey Quote Quote
Thing Seven--Technology Update
Man, these 23 things are starting to get annoying. I feel as if I should have looked in advance to see if there were a few things I didn't already know about. Alas, I must finish what I start; that's just how I roll. This thing is really an assignment is to take some sort of technological advance and blog about it. Since I've already blogged about flickr a few times, I'm gonna go ahead and ignore that suggestion. How about Danbury Library's catalog? Widgets and tagging and blogging, oh my!
I am totally pumped for this new system--you have no idea. Somehow, since coming to SCILS, I've become all about folksonomies and user-driven tags. I eat, sleep and breathe metadata. In fact, i feel bad for Danielle if she's reading this, since this website was actually brought up in our cataloging class (which I am totally digging). Anyway, she can just stop reading now, if she likes.
As for this new take on the public library catalog, it's simply awesome. I highly recommend going into the catalog and searching for a book. Any book. I looked up Harry Potter, being obsessed with everything about him and his universe, and found all sorts of tags that users applied to open an entirely new way of surfing the library catalog. Instead of dealing only with LC's subject headings (because really, some of them just don't make sense. see also: anime being classified as "Animation (Cinematography) Japan"), users can search for material on their own terms. This is a great usage of new 2.0 technology and a great step for libraries everywhere. I can't wait to use something like this in my school library's automation--you know, when I get a school library and can convince the school board that it's a great idea. So... maybe never, but we'll see.
I am totally pumped for this new system--you have no idea. Somehow, since coming to SCILS, I've become all about folksonomies and user-driven tags. I eat, sleep and breathe metadata. In fact, i feel bad for Danielle if she's reading this, since this website was actually brought up in our cataloging class (which I am totally digging). Anyway, she can just stop reading now, if she likes.
As for this new take on the public library catalog, it's simply awesome. I highly recommend going into the catalog and searching for a book. Any book. I looked up Harry Potter, being obsessed with everything about him and his universe, and found all sorts of tags that users applied to open an entirely new way of surfing the library catalog. Instead of dealing only with LC's subject headings (because really, some of them just don't make sense. see also: anime being classified as "Animation (Cinematography) Japan"), users can search for material on their own terms. This is a great usage of new 2.0 technology and a great step for libraries everywhere. I can't wait to use something like this in my school library's automation--you know, when I get a school library and can convince the school board that it's a great idea. So... maybe never, but we'll see.
Thing SIx Reprise
That was so much fun, I had to make more. Now there is a whole set of Emo Trading Cards. I don't know what's worse. The fact that I had an emo photo session a year ago, or that I just turned them into a card "game."
Thing Six
A further experiment 
with flickr and mashup applications. I like how this entire project just leads me to play around and not do homework. Now that's what I call a great learning experience! Here you will see a trading card created for the dreaded emo version of Magick cards. I posed for this one, back in early 2007 when I was pretending to be emo for a week. I was so convincing that they needed to have me for their cards. See the dedication with the hair and the skull? I'm even doubting that I'm not emo looking at this.
with flickr and mashup applications. I like how this entire project just leads me to play around and not do homework. Now that's what I call a great learning experience! Here you will see a trading card created for the dreaded emo version of Magick cards. I posed for this one, back in early 2007 when I was pretending to be emo for a week. I was so convincing that they needed to have me for their cards. See the dedication with the hair and the skull? I'm even doubting that I'm not emo looking at this.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Thing Five--Flickr
Last one for today, I promise! Okay, thing 4 didn't apply to me, so I skipped right into Flickr. I'm surprised I didn't already have an account, but it is what it is. I do now. On to the challenges, noble blog-steed!*
The first challenge was to look around people's accounts for pictures that I would like to blog about. Well, since I'm still pissed they didn't have an option to give yourself a pug dog as a pet on Yahoo!'s Avatar, I clearly searched for pugs. This led to the discovery of my hobby in five years from now when I own pug dogs: having online photo albums dedicated to my pug dog. Anyway, here is my usage of Blogger's image upload ( because I've never done that. Ever. I swear).
The second challenge was to create your very own flickr account and upload some pictures. Strictly speaking, I am being a rebel all over the place, because thing five wanted me to upload some school library shots and use one of their tags so they knew I did it. Well. About not having a school library of my own... yeah... So I uploaded Some Lives that are Aquatic from my trip to the zoo in 06.
*Mr. Blog would like it noted that he does not appreciate being treated like an animal, even if that animal is a noble steed. Silly Mr. Blog. Fine then, live without honor and see how that pays the bills. Hmph.
Also: Thank you to angiemckaig and Evan Agee for having such adorable pug dogs and for sharing them on flickr.
The first challenge was to look around people's accounts for pictures that I would like to blog about. Well, since I'm still pissed they didn't have an option to give yourself a pug dog as a pet on Yahoo!'s Avatar, I clearly searched for pugs. This led to the discovery of my hobby in five years from now when I own pug dogs: having online photo albums dedicated to my pug dog. Anyway, here is my usage of Blogger's image upload ( because I've never done that. Ever. I swear).
The second challenge was to create your very own flickr account and upload some pictures. Strictly speaking, I am being a rebel all over the place, because thing five wanted me to upload some school library shots and use one of their tags so they knew I did it. Well. About not having a school library of my own... yeah... So I uploaded Some Lives that are Aquatic from my trip to the zoo in 06.
*Mr. Blog would like it noted that he does not appreciate being treated like an animal, even if that animal is a noble steed. Silly Mr. Blog. Fine then, live without honor and see how that pays the bills. Hmph.
Also: Thank you to angiemckaig and Evan Agee for having such adorable pug dogs and for sharing them on flickr.
Thing Three--Blogging and Avatars
Again, I think I have "create a blog" down pat. Next thing. "Make an avatar and post it to your blog." They wanted me to include it in the page element section, but frankly, I don't want it there. I do, however, know how to use page elements--so that lesson is learned. As for my avatar, check out the hotness:
Look at me, chilling out at Bust Mecca (Mount Rushmore) wishing I had the bust of Thomas Jefferson with me. Or maybe the rest of my minions from my bust collection. Oh, and observe how, even though there is a polar bear RIGHT THERE under my nose, I am nonchalant and not thinking about polar bears. That's just how I roll.
Look at me, chilling out at Bust Mecca (Mount Rushmore) wishing I had the bust of Thomas Jefferson with me. Or maybe the rest of my minions from my bust collection. Oh, and observe how, even though there is a polar bear RIGHT THERE under my nose, I am nonchalant and not thinking about polar bears. That's just how I roll.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
23 Things
In preparation for February's RASL meeting, I finally read through the free School Library Media Activities Monthly I got back at NJASL in November. The very last article mentioned the School Library Learning 2.0 blog, which seemed very interesting. As it turns out, there is a 9-week challenge of 23 things that you can do to familiarize yourself with Web 2.0 and the impact it can have on your school library.
Why the hell not? It sure beats doing my actual online class. The first week is kind of boring, with an introduction to the concept of 2.0. I think I've got this concept down pat. So instead of paying attention to the lady on the 14 minute powerpoint presentation of the 7.5 Habits of Lifelong Learners, I kept wondering if proper diction should be required for podcasting. Every time her southern drawl spat out some word ending in -ing, I could barely contain myself. Learnen and offen and all those other fun words that should have consonants in them were the only reason I kept listening. Er.. listenen.
As for the 23 things, I'm probably going to skip some things (such as create a blog. I think I can manage that one. Would you like me to revert back to my livejournal/xanga days or keep going with my "professional" blogger account?). But to show my serious dedication (despite being sarcastic about podcasting ladies), I shall pledge my "lifelong learning contract" to better exhibit the 7.5 Habits of Lifelong Learners...or something.
Why the hell not? It sure beats doing my actual online class. The first week is kind of boring, with an introduction to the concept of 2.0. I think I've got this concept down pat. So instead of paying attention to the lady on the 14 minute powerpoint presentation of the 7.5 Habits of Lifelong Learners, I kept wondering if proper diction should be required for podcasting. Every time her southern drawl spat out some word ending in -ing, I could barely contain myself. Learnen and offen and all those other fun words that should have consonants in them were the only reason I kept listening. Er.. listenen.
As for the 23 things, I'm probably going to skip some things (such as create a blog. I think I can manage that one. Would you like me to revert back to my livejournal/xanga days or keep going with my "professional" blogger account?). But to show my serious dedication (despite being sarcastic about podcasting ladies), I shall pledge my "lifelong learning contract" to better exhibit the 7.5 Habits of Lifelong Learners...or something.
- Begin with the end in mind
- Accept responsibility for your own learnen
- View problems as challenges
- Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner
- Create your own learnen toolbox
- Use technology to your advantage
- Teach and mentor others
And don't forget that there habit 7.5, Playen.
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