I think I could make good use of this website - and recommend it to others.
http://www.librarything.com
I have been keeping a list for several years, as a Word document, of all the books I read. I can now enter them here, write a quick personal review - and check out what other people said about the book. Cool.
I found my LibraryThing Local, looked around the page - but cannot find the "save" button anywhere!! Someone tell me where it is - so I don't have to keep reloading my location. There were no member in the two location I looked up.
"Zeitgeist" (tab) is interesting. Lots of stuff to click on. I like to see what tags other people are using.
With LibraryThing (GuruLib is another) I can look at other people’s personal catalogs and interact with them based on their shared items. This type of sharing has lots of positive effects. For example, if you liked a book that someone else liked too, then you probably will like other things they have read – which you can check out.
It’s interesting how public libraries use “tagging” from LibraryThing’s social data to include in their online catalogs’ book records; i.e. Danbury CT Public Library – like searching Amazon for a book. These tags are: “folksonomies, crowd-sourcing, a populist concern for authority, and a cooperative method for constructing it.” http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6535083.html
I did make a title entry today. Added a tag and short review. I am glad to know about this library social cataloging application.
Other social networking applications include interests in music, movies. For music: Discogs, Rate Your Music. For movies: Flixster
Carrot Stick
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Thing 13: Online Productivity Tools
iGoogle
I had set up my iGoogle homepage when I set up my Google Reader a few weeks ago. Today I added some nice gadgets to the page including a daily Bible verse and a picture of somewhere in the world that your must see "before you die!"
I clicked on "Add stuff" and found lots of gadgets/widgets I would like to play with - but why tempt myself? I want to guard the time I spend in front of the computer. Many of these gadgets can serve to maximize productivity, but many, many of them will serve as distractions that will have the opposite effect.
Miscellaneous
I spent some time looking at a couple of short uTube videos with Easter themes. One was a "how-to" video on how to dye Easter eggs with naturally occurring colors (i.e. red cabbage).
I start to see how uTube can be used in the classroom. uTube can be searched for quick instructional segments for use in specific curricular areas.
I had set up my iGoogle homepage when I set up my Google Reader a few weeks ago. Today I added some nice gadgets to the page including a daily Bible verse and a picture of somewhere in the world that your must see "before you die!"
I clicked on "Add stuff" and found lots of gadgets/widgets I would like to play with - but why tempt myself? I want to guard the time I spend in front of the computer. Many of these gadgets can serve to maximize productivity, but many, many of them will serve as distractions that will have the opposite effect.
Miscellaneous
I spent some time looking at a couple of short uTube videos with Easter themes. One was a "how-to" video on how to dye Easter eggs with naturally occurring colors (i.e. red cabbage).
I start to see how uTube can be used in the classroom. uTube can be searched for quick instructional segments for use in specific curricular areas.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Thing 12: Do you Digg?
Social media sites like Digg, Reddit, Mixx and Newsvine invite users to add content as a response to what they have found on the Web. Readers are invited to vote on the content and leave comments about what others have added. Something like writing a letter to the editor that all the world can see - if anyone is interested??
It is interesting that "newpapers" like the New York Times have added credibility to this new social media by adding buttons that direct to the above websites to their Web sites. This is a new way for the newspaper to encourage people to share and promote their stories, thereby generating more readers.
A few responses to these newsy social websites
Newsvine
“Gives an instant reflection about what the world is talking about at any given moment.” So much to read, so little time. In the end, is the time spent at these sites really worth it? People are venting, but then what....?
Reddit
I had a hard time wading through the crass language on this one.
Diggit
I didn’t sign in "to Digg a story" but I did read one – paying bills online saves 24 sq. ft. of forest per person per year!
Mixx
All these news comments sites say they have the the links to the web sites that really matter. Who has time to read all this news and then make a comment? I read a quick article on swimming with dolphins to become a better swimmer.
It is interesting that "newpapers" like the New York Times have added credibility to this new social media by adding buttons that direct to the above websites to their Web sites. This is a new way for the newspaper to encourage people to share and promote their stories, thereby generating more readers.
A few responses to these newsy social websites
Newsvine
“Gives an instant reflection about what the world is talking about at any given moment.” So much to read, so little time. In the end, is the time spent at these sites really worth it? People are venting, but then what....?
I had a hard time wading through the crass language on this one.
Diggit
I didn’t sign in "to Digg a story" but I did read one – paying bills online saves 24 sq. ft. of forest per person per year!
Mixx
All these news comments sites say they have the the links to the web sites that really matter. Who has time to read all this news and then make a comment? I read a quick article on swimming with dolphins to become a better swimmer.
Thing 11: Tagging & Del.icio.us
I just set up my own Del.icio.us account - and I tagged my first bookmark.
Del.icio.us is a tool that uses tags to help me keep track of my web bookmarks. By tagging the bookmarks with terms that make sense to me, I should be able to find my bookmarks easily with a simple click on my tag list.
I will also be able to find my bookmarks on any computer via my Del.icio.us account. I do use more than one computer so this is a real perk!
I have added the De.li.cious buttons to my browser which will make tagging and accessing my account simpler.
Del.icio.us is a tool that uses tags to help me keep track of my web bookmarks. By tagging the bookmarks with terms that make sense to me, I should be able to find my bookmarks easily with a simple click on my tag list.
I will also be able to find my bookmarks on any computer via my Del.icio.us account. I do use more than one computer so this is a real perk!
I have added the De.li.cious buttons to my browser which will make tagging and accessing my account simpler.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Thing 9 and Thing 10: Online Collaboration Tools
Before I started on Thing 9 I accepted the fact that I needed to set up a Flickr account. So I did. I added two photos.
Then I proceeded to "play" at Big Huge Labs and made a "trading card." I emailed it to my husband. Too bad it wasn't the usual sports trading card he would have loved - it was a flower trading card with the picture of a pretty orchid on it :-)
Thing 9: Google Docs
After spending almost an hour reading through the links and pdf crib sheets offered in the Stick #9 email lesson, I think I have a good idea how Google Docs work. It is simply Web word processing! I can see the usefulness of them when people/students want to work together on the same project anytime and from anywhere - in real time. I like this feature quoted from one of the links, "The system may facilitate collaboration at a distance, but it supercharges collaboration in person." http://future.iftf.org/2006/10/the_experience_.html
I can see that using this tool would be fun and exciting for kids who can learn to write together and revise their writing together. The peer review process will help create higher quality products in the end. Like a wiki, everyone can pull up the "edit history" to know when and what and by who things were revised.
Teachers, when included as part of the writing team, can monitor student work from anywhere - including while class is happening, identifying and intervening with students who are having problems.
It is cool to be easily able to publish the collaborative writing straight to the web (i.e. website, blog) - to a real audience!
Thing 10: Wikis
Wikis are are great collaboration tools! I know first hand. Last year my library media classes used a wiki from wikispaces.com as a "research notebook" where we collected our notes on different areas of Ancient Egyptian culture.
Students in grades 2-5 were given the same username and password to gain access to the wiki and there was a lot of participation from students (and their parents!) from home.
Then I proceeded to "play" at Big Huge Labs and made a "trading card." I emailed it to my husband. Too bad it wasn't the usual sports trading card he would have loved - it was a flower trading card with the picture of a pretty orchid on it :-)
Thing 9: Google Docs
After spending almost an hour reading through the links and pdf crib sheets offered in the Stick #9 email lesson, I think I have a good idea how Google Docs work. It is simply Web word processing! I can see the usefulness of them when people/students want to work together on the same project anytime and from anywhere - in real time. I like this feature quoted from one of the links, "The system may facilitate collaboration at a distance, but it supercharges collaboration in person." http://future.iftf.org/2006/10/the_experience_.html
I can see that using this tool would be fun and exciting for kids who can learn to write together and revise their writing together. The peer review process will help create higher quality products in the end. Like a wiki, everyone can pull up the "edit history" to know when and what and by who things were revised.
Teachers, when included as part of the writing team, can monitor student work from anywhere - including while class is happening, identifying and intervening with students who are having problems.
It is cool to be easily able to publish the collaborative writing straight to the web (i.e. website, blog) - to a real audience!
Thing 10: Wikis
Wikis are are great collaboration tools! I know first hand. Last year my library media classes used a wiki from wikispaces.com as a "research notebook" where we collected our notes on different areas of Ancient Egyptian culture.
Students in grades 2-5 were given the same username and password to gain access to the wiki and there was a lot of participation from students (and their parents!) from home.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Thing 8: Share Your Creations
Slide.com
The “23 Things Mosaic” by Ann Walker on her blog is cool, but for me it seems like a waste of time. Graphics arts professionals – not me - can do stuff on slide.com – it’s a cool tool. I have so many other things I want to do and need to do – than play, create and share my creations on the Internet.
Picturetrail.com
According to their website, PictureTrail says they offer "several services that enable you to express yourself." They say they offer the biggest selection of slide shows on the web.
Ugh! I guess all this photo sharing to "enhance your online community experience" is really starting to get to me. I feel sorry for our kids/students who are learning to spend so much time on things that are "all about me" (the whole social networking scene) versus spending time serving others - which is the ultimate way of enhancing one's community's experience.
The “23 Things Mosaic” by Ann Walker on her blog is cool, but for me it seems like a waste of time. Graphics arts professionals – not me - can do stuff on slide.com – it’s a cool tool. I have so many other things I want to do and need to do – than play, create and share my creations on the Internet.
Picturetrail.com
According to their website, PictureTrail says they offer "several services that enable you to express yourself." They say they offer the biggest selection of slide shows on the web.
Ugh! I guess all this photo sharing to "enhance your online community experience" is really starting to get to me. I feel sorry for our kids/students who are learning to spend so much time on things that are "all about me" (the whole social networking scene) versus spending time serving others - which is the ultimate way of enhancing one's community's experience.
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