Thing #18 Reflections on Learning 2.0 and

When I heard about this program I thought it sounded like a great idea and a fun way to learn about mysterious things like wikis, flickr and feeds. When I breezed through the process of setting up my blog and registering it I became a little smug, but then came the dark days of RSS, when I wanted to hide under the bed until it all went away. With help I finally managed to finish the program and I've now done my 18 things!

I think the course is fantastic, although I struggled at times to find time to do it. On the other hand, if there had been no schedule or deadline I would probably never have got round to exploring so many new technologies and applications. I feel I can speak a bit of digital language now and at least do the basics, and this gives me a bit more confidence on the TIC desk. I will definitely go back and have a better look at some of the things I only had time to skim through. maybe I'll even start my own real blog one day!

Thing #17 On Web 2.0 and Libraries

I've just read the articles by Kelly and Tom Storey. They discussed the same thing but I had very different reactions to the two articles. Kelly's presentation and her tutorials on how to write for the web really opened my eyes. I thought I had been writing in plain English and a fairly informal style. When I saw examples of web sites for other cultural institutions and the enewsletters SLV's Webunit has produced I cringed at how stuffy and formal my own writing seemed. I realise that if I want to communicate well with our users I need to loosen up and adopt a much simpler style. By that I don't mean tossing in the odd piece of tech-talk or using punctuation to create smiley faces, or even caring less about grammar and spelling. The point for me is that I need to be concise, friendly without being patronising and to be on my guard about using complicated words when simple ones will do the job just as well.

Tom Storey's short article scared me. It struck me that in the excitement of finding all the amazing ways we can used web-based tools to communicate we are in serious danger of forgetting that not everyone has access to these things or even wants access. I think public libraries are aware they have a role to play in providing web access to people who can't afford it at home. I do think though that as librarians become more adept at using all these things they become so excited about all these "cool tools" they run the risk of expecting the whole population to feel the same way. It is very important to remember all the people who don't like using computers, don't have access to Learning 2.0 type programs and don't have the money to pay for Broadband or even pay for a dial up service. I think it is going to be critical for us to be happy to guide those people who want or need to learn, but not marginalise or dismiss the many people who are managing their lives quite nicely without Web 2.0 or a mobile phone. In other words while we definitely need to make the best use possible of new technologies and applications, we have to make sure that access to information never becomes out of reach for people who don't have access to these things by choice or circumstances.

I was never any good at numbers

I've just gone back and re-titled my posts. I had forgotten to list the tasks I was completing. I put this down to my life-long fear and hatred of numbers. All fixed now, and it looks so much more impressive to see the list of tasks completed instead of the weeks completed!

Thing #16 Podcasts

I had a look at some of the podcast tools including Podcast Alley. Enjoyed "Common sense with Dan". Realised I had already been listening to podcasts courtesy of the Fridge.

Thing #15 You Tube

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to You Tube. It's great to know how to check out the latest scandalous or embarrassing clip that everyone is talking about. I can see myself taking a quick detour to You Tube for a bit of fun or to satisfy the curiosity that we cats are plagued with. I just wish I hadn't watched the Kevin Rudd ear wax clip.

Thing #12 Online productivity

I explored word processing using Zoho writer. I registered and created a document but will have to get a bit of help at my next tutorial about how to do editing.

Thing 14 Web 2.0 Awards

I really enjoyed Oodle, which is a retail site. It has new listings and categories covering a big range of things for sale. It includes photos. I went to the pets section and played with the listings in the "small and furry" category. I could have sugar gliders or rats ordered for an exotic dinner. You can sort the lists by best match or price, and you can also get an RSS feed. So much potential for a hungry cat except it is American. I'd have to get Mum to pay for these tasty treats to be delivered.

Thing #13 Bigcat on Technology

I've been thinking about technology. I remember seeing an interview with Joseph Campbell who wrote wonderful books about the meaning and significance of mythology and heroes. He commented that at a ripe old age he had started to use computers. The interviewer asked him how it was going and I remeber Joseph Campbell saying computers were like the old gods - if you do somehing like accidentally step on a stick they were completely unforgiving. At the time I knew just what he meant. Sometimes when I try to learn new technolgy or new software I'll do something very minor that creates devastation on the screen. This means it has been good to take part in Learning 2.0 so I can learn new technologies in a safe playground. It takes a bit of patience and a leap of faith that nothing will actually explode if I make a mistake, but the rewards have been worthwhile. I may not yet have become a wiz at anthything new, but I can do the basics and I can speak the language! This is what interests me about technology - how real people feel about it, grapple with it and then learn to love it (or not).

Thing # 11 Flickr mashups

Loved Retrievr - it allows you to search for photos by doing a sketch of the shape you are looking for. Still, my drawing will need to get better. My results are very unpredicatable given my drawing skills!

Thing #10 Flickr

I found Flickr amazing and fun. I had already learnt to upload an image to my blog, so now I'm inculding a really interseting photo I found on flicker. I searched under "tabby cat" and found this cat with attitude. Made me start to think about why people think we cats are so funny when we let our wild natures show. Probably because they know we are small and lovable most of the time, they get a shock and think it's funny when we show that we are all lions at heart.

Thing #9 Technorati & LibraryThing

The scope of Technorati was a bit overwhelmimg (2,198 results when doing my first a search of posts featuring "Learning 2.0"). After exploring, this could be a good way to find other people discussing common interests. I enjoyed LibryThing more. Seems much gentler, friendlier and altogether "nicer" than some of the other things we've looked at so far. I added 5 cat books to my Library!

Thing #8 Del.icio.us

Just had a look at Del.icio.us. I can see it being very useful for finding good reference sources. The tags would be a good way of finding things without needing to know "authority file" terms.

Things 6 and 7 RSS and Newsreaders#

Hey - I finally managed to set up my news and database feeds!!! I can see this being very useful as long as I don't subscribe to the point of being deluged. I'll see over the next few days whether this really does save a lot of time compared with clicking in to desktop shortcuts I've created for individual newspapers etc. This is the Thing I've had the most trouble with so far, but the tutorial I went to helped.

Wikis 2

Learnt more about Wikis today and have added my blog to PB Sandbox Wiki.

Thing #5 and playtime

Had a good look around the sandbox. I was a bit tired from catching up with the program and struggling with RSS so I had some playtime outside. Followed the hints from Week #6 to show you how I spent the time, heh, heh...

Thing #4 Wikis

Had a good look at wikis - not as mysterious as I thought!

# 1, 2 and 3 Oops!

Oops! Forgot to post. As the Library's only volunteer feline employee I have been helping the Customer Service Team cope with the busy period. So many customers with bristling fur and extended claws because they can't get a seat or the rooms are too noisy or the computers are too slow. I think the worst is over now and I can leave crowd control and get back to my learning 2.0. I have successfully registered my course participtaion, set up a blo and registered my blog.

Bigcat online

I did it! Even with no opposable thumbs and a brain the size of a walnut I have created my own blog. Lookout world - bigcat has joined the 21st Century.