lascils598f08

If I were Steve...

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:11:00 +0000

If I were Steve, I would keep this class pretty much the same. I might consider moving the Boyd readings to earlier in the course because to someone with no understanding of terms like friends and forums and networks, it might be a good introduction to these terms and the readings might set the tone for the rest of what would be covered in the semester which is that the most important part of social software is that it is social.

As many of us have expressed before, I would pass on Brown & DuGuid and Anderson or shorten the number of required readings from those books.

Other than that, I wouldn't change anything. The course is well planned, well designed and structured in such a way as to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of social software. It provides the hands on experience necessary to give students the confidence to use these tools on their own outside of class even if they have no prior technological experience.

Amazing job and thanks, Steve!!!

I Got Thrown Off the Island...

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:17:00 +0000

So I was a little bit nervous about trying out second life and with good reason. I am a failure in my second life. Here is the sad story.

I created my avatar (really, they could give you more choices of avatars). I was quite perturbed to arrive on the Island to find that there were no less than four people exactly the same as me; I mean total clones. I was trying to adjust when I was accosted by someone called "My Brazilian"... great.... then a weirdo in a cape wanted to be my friend. Not a very encouraging start.

I couldn't figure out how to change my clothes, which was really annoying me. People kept flying in and out, which was unnerving and distracting and not helping me to figure out my wardrobe dilema. I asked if anyone knew how to change clothes. They answered me in Spanish. I asked for help in English.

Finally, a nice woman in thigh high boots and a belly top (Felicity) told me she was the help desk. This was a far cry from the uniforms at the travel desk at AAA, but what the heck, I needed new clothes, didn't I? So, off we went to a private chat, in which she set me up with some new duds -- all of which looked like they came from the set of a 70s TV show. But at least I was not dressed like everyone else.

Unfortunately this process took nearly an hour. Meanwhile, I used the time to figure out how to move around in this world. Finally Felicity told me to trasport some free clothes from what I thought was a website. It didn't work, so I told her this. Next thing I knew, Felicity was not happy and she told me to "get off the island." Seriously. Not that I blame her, by this point she had been helping me for an hour and I was still only half dressed. Well, I was dressed, it was just that nothing really matched or anything, I looked pathetic and I was obviously incapable of helping myself.

Next thing I knew there was a message on the right hand side of my screen telling me that Felicity wanted to transport me somewhere. Sounded interesting, so I clicked ok. When I ended up in a warehouse district, I started to think my safety might be in jeopardy and maybe it wasn't a good idea to piss Felicity off. But everything was fine and Felicity said that this was the place where you could get the clothes. Of course, I walked into the place and totally could not figure out how you are supposed to get clothes from the boxes. Felicity had disappeared, probably to help some other loser. So I left the warehouse, still dressed like a loser and quit the game.

Really, if second life is this frustrating, I will just stick with my first life, which is plenty frustrating on its own. Although I have to admit, with time, it did seem like it could be a little bit fun...

Here's an update ... I went back and there must have been some kind of problem with the software when I was playing the first time. The warehouse was full of items this time and it was easy to figure out how to purchase them. When you clicked on them, they immediately populated your inventory and I was finally able to get some jeans. I didn't change the top though. It still screams Starsky and Hutch.

Here is a screenshot of my second life character, Casey Blaisdale (??) in Free Dungeon shopping

If Everthing Bad is Good For You, then Libraries Need to be Willing to Take a Walk on the Wild Side

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:01:00 +0000

One thing libraries, librarians and educators can learn from Johnson's book, and from history, for that matter, is not to judge the educational merits of new media too quickly. It takes time to see how the industry develops new media and for a response to new technologies to be fully understood. From children's response to a new media, we can learn more about their learning styles and how best to teach them. By being open-minded to new technolgies, however frivolous they may seem to us at first blush, we can provide more authentic learning opportunities for children and at the same time ressusitate young patrons' interest in our libraries.

Playing Games

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:36:00 +0000

This screencast records my son and I playing "Let's Get Cookin'" a game we found on shockwave.com. We are both playing, although I guess I am the only one talking (what a surprise!) One player uses the mouse while the other uses the space bar. The players have to work together to prepare a healthy meal.

Unfortunately, since Jing cuts off after 5 mins, you miss the plating of the final product, so I am adding a screen capture of the pasta primavera dinner we created.

Here is the screencapture of the final plated meal:

You view the screencast by clicking on this link:

2008-12-07_1819

Mistakes teach valuable lessons about screencasting

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:58:00 +0000

The most valuable thing that I learned through the mistakes I made in screencasting is the importance of planning in advance. Since I felt that I knew the subject area of my screencast, it seemed at first like a waste of time to write a script... that is until I made three or four recording attempts with no success. After that,the time writing the script seemed well spent.

I also realized that I needed to plan in advance where I was going to move the cursor, what items I was going to highlight or whether I was going to open another window or not. Leaving these things to be decided on an impromptu basis inevitably led to dead air on the video, a cursor that just zipped around the page aimlessly and a product that with which I was unhappy.

With some forethought and planning, screencasting can be a valuable tool to use for all kinds of tutorials and teaching aids and even for simple day to day among individuals with questions requiring explanations relating to forms, maps, catalogs, indexes, or any other documentation that can be found online.

Choosing a Gaming System

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:16:00 +0000

If I were choosing a gaming system for our elementary school library, I would probably choose a computer based system, not a console system, since there are already 12 computers in the media center and it would be less expensive to use them than to buy consoles. In choosing software, I would ask students what kinds of games they enjoy playing. I would also read reviews of games. I would talk to teachers about where they think games might be a useful addition to the curriculum and how they could be implemented. I would want to be sure that the games I chose were in an appropriate area and that they reinforced skills that would be valuable and so that they would be actually used by the teachers. I might also talk to the IT person to see what information he had about games and the best way to set them up for students in a classroom/library setting. I would talk to librarians I knew to see if they were using games and if so, which ones, and ask about the benefits and disadvantages and try to find out which games were well received.

I would probably start small. That is, I would probably find one teacher or group of teachers who was willing to try working on a project including gaming. Once the project was successful, I would then approach other teachers about incorporating games into their curriculum (or hopefully, they would approach me) and then, I would purchase more games with their assistance.

Do games "sophisticatedly deliver stupidity?"

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:21:00 +0000

It's probably no surprise that I am not a gamer. Never have been, not even as a kid. I find electronic games confusing and even a little stressful, really. So, I never quite understand why my kids and husband find it relaxing to play games that make lots of noise, go so fast and require so much concentration!

I probably did think that games were a form of sophisticated stupidity. Until I read more about them. Now, I would have to say that I value the learning benefits that games have to offer. I agree with Johnson that "it is not what you are thinking about when you are playing a game, it's the way you are thinking that matters." Games allow for collateral learning to take place because the player must make strategic decisions througout the game. Playing the game involves evaluating an objective, analyzing circumstances, weighing evidence, determining goals and making judgments. Any activity that requires all of these functions is fairly sophisticated in my book.

Add video to your Facebook page

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:39:00 +0000

For a simple explanation of how to add video to your Face book page, see my screencast which can be found at
2008-11-17_1126

Ning: Advantages and Disadvantages

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:13:00 +0000

Ning can be a great service if you have a blog that has a following. Imagine the opportunity to create your own social network for your own interests and ideas! It is easy to use and free. However, Ning only gives you a limited amount of bandwith free. If your readership grows, the likelihood is that your blog with consume a greater amount of bandwith. Once your usage reaches a certain level, Ning requires you to purchase more bandwith incrementally. This can become a costly.

See the article below for more information on this.

http://cutewriting.blogspot.com/2008/10/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-nings.html

In terms of using Ning in a work environment, you could use it as a way of increasing the business contacts of your readers since your readers would have access to one another through the network.

Libraries can learn from Boyd

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:37:00 +0000

SNS can tell us a lot about our patrons. Patrons profiles tell us what their preferences are in terms of movies, books, entertainement and activities. This can help libraries in selection of materials and in organizing functions that will draw patrons into the library.

Because SNS are a way of communication for patrons, libraries can use them as a means of improving communication with their patrons on the patrons' own "turf," so to speak. Libraries can make themselves available to patrons, especially the young, in the place where they are most often found: on social networking sites. By having a presence on SNS, libraries can provide reference services by IM, post screencasts or educational videos or simply provide information about the kind of services they provide. Using SNS in this way can work as a valuable marketing tool to a generation that may be viewing libraries as obsolete.

Libraries, through a SNS page can also strengthen their roles in their communities by bringing together those with similar interests. Through library FB pages, for example, those with similar interests in books, videos, gaming, etc., could meet one another to discuss common pursuits. In this way, libraries position themselves as a social hub of their communities.

Talk about a sticky situation....

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:41:00 +0000

Facebook and Myspace really do create a sticky situation for users. Even non-techie, non-computer lover that I am, I find myself drawn to these SNS. I think what is so enveloping about them is a few things. One is that you have an opportunity to be creative and to present yourself to others. Another is that you can interact with others in many different ways. Still another is that you can see and read about what your friends are doing through their posts, comments and photos. Finally, what is interesting is that you can learn about your friends' extended social network and their interests and activities. This can quickly take over and I am finding that it takes quite a lot of discipline to shut it down!

Easy Bib

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:48:00 +0000

If you want to teach your students how to use online bibliography creation software, but haven't tried it yourself, watch the following video.

http://screencast.com/t/swF4JbouW

P.S. Note that you do have to spell check. The mistake in the url is my typing error. I didn't re-record the entire jing video because the point of this exercise is using jing, but if you are using Easy bib, make sure you proofread!

Bravo!!!

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:45:00 +0000

Congratulations on some really creative videos, everyone! I enjoyed all of the ones I had a chance to see. The Palmer video was funny, although also sad, since I never quite learned my penmanship that well! I enjoyed the clever use of music in the coffee video and the overlay of text and video in the crabby patties video. I loved the house cleaning in one minute video, but would like to know if the adorable helpers are available for hire??? I could go on and on. All of the videos were really fun. I didn't get a thing done today thanks to all of you!

To view the videos:
Crabby Patty Cookies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB9S-yubUVw

Palmer video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfiC8c-f9wk

How to make great coffee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKocsUwcZtE

How to clean your house in one minute or less
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FLYRObljBM

Rock N Roll Chorus at Veterans' Day Memorial Run

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 21:48:00 +0000

This video was taken today at the 3rd Annual Memorial Run for Lt. Dennis Zilinski II. The event was well attended by members of the armed forces, state police, West Point Academy, Rutgers, Christian Brothers Academy, as well as by members of the community. I was not running, but was merely driving my son who was singing the National Anthem, the event was inspiring. To all veterans -- thank you.

Rock N Roll Chorus at Veterans' Day Memorial Run

Click to play

View original video at:
http://blip.tv/file/get/Lascils598f08-RockNRollChorusAtVeteransDayMemorialRun801.wmv

Welcome to Ancient Rome

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:45:00 +0000

These are a few pictures taken during a recent family vacation to Italy. What an incredible place. I tried to add more pictures at first, but it was a total disaster and was much too long. I started with all of Italy, narrowed down to just Rome and finally realized in two minutes, there was really only time for ancient Rome! Hope you enjoy this small segment, anyway!

Original video:
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coPYGssfdFc

Vive La Difference

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:59:00 +0000

Looking at our Flickr posts, what stood out the most to me is that we all love our pets (of course we do; they are all so very adorable!) We also seem to love to travel and share photos of our families and friends. In the educational experience photos, many of us used humor to express the compromises we (or our families) have made as a result of having undertaken this experience and the ability to see humor in this shared experience is a commonality we share.

The photos do show myriad differences, however. We are quite a diverse bunch. We enjoy activities ranging from theater to golf, from cooking to kayaking. We like mountains of snow and beautiful, expansive lakes. We spend time in pubs and in museums. We love our kids, but we also love our cars, plants and birds. We like to read about cows that type, but we also like to play the harmonica. It would be boring if we were all the same. As the French say, "Vive la difference!"

Hope for an educational video landslide: "time makes you bolder and children get older"

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:07:00 +0000

Right now, the largest population of viewers of educational videos are those aged 18-29. As they should be, their interests right now might are focused mostly on humor and entertainment videos. As they get older and buy homes, have children etc., suddenly they will be searching the web like crazy for videos showing them how to fix a broken dishwasher and what chicken pox looks like. This is when educational videos will take precedence in their lives -- when there is no more time for fun and entertaiment.

As this population, which is comfortable with technology, grows older and replaces the current middle-aged population which uses video less, the use of educational video may begin to close the gap with entertainment video. In addition, as more people of all ages have access to and become comfortable with using the internet for video, they will begin to turn to it for things help in normal every day how-to advice and educational needs from car repair to cooking, homework, investing advice, income tax preparation - the possibilities are endless...

The Long Tail and Social Software

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:43:00 +0000

This book seems relevant for a library management class, but what is its application to social software? I understand that the hypothesis is that the Internet has changed our economy, but how is that that relevant to our focus on the use of social software? These are questions I would ask students to consider if this book remains part of this course.

Now, for some answers. Although I had some ideas, I didn't have what I considered to be a great answer. I looked around online to see what learning there mignt be on this topic and found this blog post by Adina Levin in which she opines that "The Long Tail is social." http://alevin.com/weblog/archives/001663.html

In this post, the author discusses a comment Anderson made while criticizing those who have distorted the term the "long tail" to mean the "fringe" market. According to the author, Anderson said that for long tail business models to be successful, they need to have both popular and niche content in their inventory. The author agrees that this works for Amazon and others, but points out that combining popular and niche markets is not always necessary, particularly in the arena of social software markets.

In social software markets, purely niche markets are successful. This is because social software does not rely on content for success, but instead is fueled by its users. To support her thesis, the author point to Flickr, a network people join to share photos and to Live Journal, which draws people looking to socialize with friends and family members.

Another connection that I can see is that the introduction of social software as much as the introduction of the Internet has affected this evolution in the economy toward the long tail. As people are able to communicate easily with those with similar niche interests, the demand for easily obtainable niche products and services increases. As time goes on, social software will provide more opportunities for individuals with very specific and niche interests to meet one another and share those interests.

Podcasting vs Blogging: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:57:00 +0000

I just listened back to my podcast and there are parts of it that I am categorizing in there with the "ugly," including my voice. I was sure that I had a refined goddess thing going on and not a nasal Brooklynese thing. Oh well.

As a producer, blogging is easier for me. That is because I write easily and speak poorly (notice all the ummms in my podcast???) It would take lots of practice for me to improve or lots of editing. To create a successful podcast requires a well-written, well-planned script, whereas blogging is more spontaneous. Since blogs can be edited more quickly as you go, they require less planning in advance. I think that this is part of what makes blogging so attractive for personal use. It is an easy and convenient way of social interaction on the web. I am not saying podcasting is hard, only that it requires more effort and planning.

As a consumer, though, I love podcasts. I love the fact that they are portable - that I can listen to things that interest me in my car while I am driving or walking or doing just about anything. I also like the feeling of connection it gives you to the individual speaker. It is much more personalized than a written posting. A voice creates a more vivid image of the person who has created the work. Podcasts also hold my attention better than reading certain subject areas. It helps to have a podcast to listen to in following instructions, for example. For all these reasons, podcasts have great applications in education, business and in the public sector.

It's all in the Sauce: How to Make a Great Pot of Spaghetti Sauce

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:45:00 +0000

http://www.switchpod.com/users/lascils598f08/SaucePodcast.mp3

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:17:00 +0000

For my first, wildly anticipated podcast, I am going to explain to you the art of making the perfect spaghetti sauce. Italian cooking is especially meaningful to me since it brings back memories of times spent on Sundays and holidays in crowded kitchens with boisterous, funny women making simple dishes with aromas that could knock you out. I hope you enjoy the recipe and the side explanations that go with it.

It's Been an Experience

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:39:00 +0000

Well, there are experiences and then there are experiences. It all began in the Summer of 2006 with one class in Young Adult Literature. I hadn't formally applied to the SCILS program yet, but I was testing the waters to see whether this "librarian thing" was as interesting as I thought it would be. It was love at first sight. Since I had zero computer skills, the online learning experience was a small adjustment, but the course itself was great. The next class, Children's Literature was just as enjoyable, so I decided to apply to the SCILS program.

I formally began in January 2007 and that's when it hit me... this is serious work. Suddenly, I found the classes intense and demanding. I found myself writing 40 page research papers and reading many times late into the evening. More challenging than learning theory and searching principles, were struggles with new concepts like excel, access, html, CSS which all should be, as far as I am concerned, four-letter words.

Over time, the strain has become evident -- I have begun to let things go, nothing important, just things like housework, health and personal hygiene. Takeout has been a dietary staple. My brain has lost its ability to keep everything all in one place and speaking coherently is impossible. Thank goodness my children are older and don't need much attention, because they wouldn't be getting it from me. My husband, God bless his Swedish roots, is stoic, but my dog, already a separation anxiety sufferer, is crippled with loneliness.

Do I regret my decision? Not for a minute. Really. I have learned so much and met so many interesting people through these classes. I would never trade this experience and I am going to be sorry to see it end in the Spring.

Go to my Flickr page to see my educational experience up close and personal. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lascils598f08/
See my classmates photos and learn about their experience
http://www.flickr.com/groups/scils598f08-edexperience/

Librarians: new producers, new markets, new taste makers

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:39:00 +0000

Chris Anderson has some interesting ideas about how our culture and economy are changing. Specifically, he opines that the economy is moving away from a small number of mainstream products and markets to a large number of niches. He identifies three forces that are creating new business opportunities in these new niche-driven markets:

Democratization of production;
Democratization of distribution; and
Connection of supply and demand.

Democratization of production facilitates production because it extends the ability to create to individuals. An example of this is the personal computer, which has provided individuals with the opportunity to self-publish materials. For librarians, opportunities to be new producers also exist, although many libraries may not yet be capitalizing on them. Libraries and Friends groups can now publish their own Patron Bill of Rights, Strategic Plan, Fair Use and other Policies, Bylaws, Minutes of Meetings, etc. and publish these documents on their websites or wikis. Libraries can also encourage businesses and individuals to publish their work by hosting workshops in Word, Excel and Microsoft Publisher or on how to use social software. They can also teach individuals about self-publishing programs available on-line through software like LibraryThing or Greatreads.

Democratization of distribution opens up new markets by cutting costs. Libraries have already done this by creating consortia for the sharing of some resources. However, libraries should also consider resource sharing for items like DVDs, music and computer games to enlarge selection at less cost.

Librarians can be vital in providing the last function cited by Anderson, that is, connecting supply and demand. They are constantly asked for recommendations by patrons. From working with other patrons, they develop a sense of what books are sought after by patrons. In this way, it is not really the librarians, but the patrons, that become the taste makers. In addition to informal methods, librarians can use surveys, either on-line or in the library. They can ask patrons to write reviews of books and post them on-line. They can also provide rankings of books based upon the data they receive.

All in all, librarians can make changes in the library based upon Anderson's insights that can benefit patrons and improve their experience with their library.

Analyzing You with Google Analytics

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:36:00 +0000

So here is the Google Analytics analysis of the traffic on this "oh-so-exciting" blog. Try to calm yourself...

Most of you are using Internet Explorer as your browser. In fact, 67.68% of visits used IE when visiting this site. Firefox was used for 27.94% of the visits. Here's a "shout-out" to those using a browser that I have personally never heard of (although that is not saying all that much, since we all know that I am a tech-spazz). For 4.41% of the visits a browser, named Chrome, was used.

In accessing this blog, the most used connection speed is T1, followed by cable. Although this statistic can be somewhat misleading because there is a higher percentage of new viewers using cable than using T1. Dialup and DSL use are approximately equal.

Now wake up and go back to whatever it is you were doing.... :-)

The Libraries' Long Tale

lascils598f08@gmail.com (Laura A) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:52:00 +0000

Libraries have always understood the concept presented in Anderson's book. In developing collections, libraries choose both best sellers and books in specialized areas that fill out their collections. They seek to provide a well rounded and varied collection that meets the needs of a diverse group of readers. Even if books rarely circulate, if there is no other book in the library on that topic, the library will maintain that book in its collection.

One of the ways that the changing economy may affect libraries is that the public will expect a greater amount of information to be available at their library digitally. This will be costly for libraries not only in the cost of the online services, but also in hardware and staff training expenses. It will cause libraries to have to rethink and reorganize their space, staffing needs and budget allocation.