Blog 5 Conclusioning and Self Assessment

For this final blog I have been asked to look back and ask myself a few questions based upon my first blog. Have I changed my self-assessment? How do I plan to keep up with innovations in technology, and how do I plan to implement technology as a result of this course?    

After thinking for a few and pondering, I realize that social networking will always be my weakness. Not because I am weak in the applications, but I am a more private person then many of those that use Twitter, Facebook and other such sites. I have become quite involved in applications such as Second Life and blogger, but those still to my thinking allow me more degree of control over how I interact and people interact with me then with Facebook and twitter.

Innovations are going to be continuous, and to be flat out honest no one will be able to keep up with them all. When I was growing up BBS’s were amazing and the application known as Mosaic (from which internet browsers spawned) was brand new.  However, there will always be those that have seen a new application or item before me and that will be one way to keep up. Other ways will include finding new ways to do a different assignment, or encouraging students to find new ways to do the same task in order for me to learn.

                Technology applications will continually change, and there will always be new uses found for old items.  I will not use new for the sake of new, as some people seem to want to do.  However I will use new and older technologies to draw my students and teachers into a new environment so we may learn from each other.

                Thank you all.

Blog Post #4 The Job of Organizing

   There was a question recently asked by my professor. “What would be the implications for Librarians if everyone was able to organize information".She also asked if Diigo Tags would be helpful in that"

  Diigo tags are themselves useful tools in organizing information, as are many other formats and feeds. The question itself is a problematic one. Humans have always been capable of organizing information. Businessmen, artists, bureaucrats and others have organized information for many many years. In many cases they did not have “Librarians” by name but perhaps by profession.

 Information organization comprises three main tasks. First, where to place the information once you have it.  Second you must determine who will oversee the information gathering process.  Finally, how will the information be analyzed?  These concepts are the center and core of information gathering.

People can find information they want. A user can place information in various formats or with varying connections and a patron can easily analyze the information for themselves. Diigo tools for tagging information, wiki’s, RSS feeds, twitter accounts, blogs etc. are all part of this information gathering. However, the problem and solution are perhaps tied up in the word “Librarian”.

As it stands now when you say the word “Librarian” the average person thinks of a stack of library books, and few realize that those with the title “Librarian” already do more with organizations and electronic media. A “Librarian” is not only able to organize the materials, but able to set it for wider consumption.  A six year old child knows where to put their games or favorite toys, thus “organizing” but only sometimes can they find it for themselves let alone others. 

We are all librarians of a sense in organization of materials and information.  A true “Librarian” prepares it for access for all.   

  

The Web 2.0 ...The machine is using us

Recently, I was asked to view a video on web 2.0 tools at http://youtube.com/watch?v=NLlGopyXT_g

            

       Professor Wesch, the creator of the video created the title to cause us to think, and to realize our own interconnectivity with the new web.

   The concept of web 2.0 Is not really a new thing. How we relate to it and how it will affect our cultures and our world are ongoing questions. The question though is what does it mean to say “The machine is using us, is us”

                Web 2.0 is a series of tools and ideas meant to allow us to be more creative, more efficient and more interconnected in the sharing, collaboration and creation of content that is available. This global machine of virtual connectivity dominates the lives of many. As we wake up many will turn to their facebook, or an rss feed, or perhaps a personal webpage that combines many different functions. We are becoming more and more dependent on the machine of applications and interconnectivity to perform our daily routines and many cannot imagine a world where that is not the case.

                However the “machine” is also us. The content which we rely on is created by others, whether I   it is a simple application such as twitter or a site that collaborates information such as wikis that content is created by people. We create the content for others to use and thus we ourselves are the machine. It is a symbiosis of a sort, and provides for many new options but there are many questions to which we ourselves must also answer. As we progress further into digital applications and uses, and then into the next evolutions of technology we should not only continue to adapt but ask ourselves how are we affecting and being affected..

Blog #2 Quick Response Codes

When I first started this assignment, I had no clue as to what quick response codes were. One friend described them as "boxes with Alien Hieroglyphics". Having created one and having done some research the applications were far more then I thought.

Originally designed to keep track of parts in vehicle manufacturing by a Japanese company, the desire and need for easier commerce and expression of information adapted the Codes to  new applications. In public, these codes on ads or on buildings allow a user with a mobile phone to scan the image and be immediately linked to more information about it. For the Library, users can scan books to find out reviews and other data about a book, media or even video materials. They can link to the various databases to find if there are other books perhaps by that author or in that series or genre, or look to see if another location would have that material.  As the codes can include text it is also great for those mobile phone users without a data subscription.

Non-obvious applications would be to post QR signs at various points in the library for directions to various locations. Further linked to this would be to get information from a digital catalog, and then scan the QR codes for directions to find the one specific book you were looking for. Another QR code could be used to send a Text request for assistance from a Librarian on duty. 

Faster and more indepth access and data are all hallmarks of quick response codes. The fact that people can make them easily without need for special proprietary purchase of software makes them more appealing. The applications and uses are as varied as our patrons. I look forward to seeing what can happen next.

Individual Technology Assessment

I have been out of the classroom for many years due to a series of personal tragedies in my life, and so my skills have atrophied unfortunately.

Upon reflection, I am not up to date with many social networking items such as facebook and twitter. I have seen too many abuses of the technology against teachers by vengeful individuals, and too many other teachers who leave an innocent comment are taken out of context and face harsh punishment for something they thought was innocent.  Many friends and family use the technology but I have not really had a need to do so until recently.

 However, I grew up with computers and the technology and never really found them difficult to learn or update my skills with. If anything I am perhaps too hard on my technology as I expect it to be able to do more than it may have been designed for.  I have always been the type that if I see a need or area of definable weakness I sit and do the research  and skills practice to become proficient with what I need or want to do.

  I adapt to new challenges and tend to enjoy playing with new technology to see how it works. My adaptability and love of learning are what I consider to be great strengths and those will help me get past my weaknesses. Technology doesn’t intimidate me.

 Weaknesses are simply temporary to me, at least in regards to technology. To be blunt, practice, learning and asking questions are my solution to my weaknesses. You learn by doing it is true, but first you need to know where you are weak.