#23 Summarize your thoughts about this program and learn more about where to go from here

What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
I liked the podcast the best. I thought it could have been explored more with a podcast exercise or vodcast.

How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
It helped me finish some CEUs. I like that:)

Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
A lot of the links didn't work.

What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?And last but not least…
I think I needs to be updated now. Maybe do something with iGoogle.

If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again chose to participate?
How would you describe your learning experience in a few words or a few sentences, so we can share our successes and promote this program?

What I think about 23 things?

23 things were good but mostly bad. A lot of the links were old and did not work. It was very frustrating most of the time. I had to do a lot of investigating on my own to come up with link and other websites that worked the same. I do like blogging but I didn’t really learn anything new. I wish that it was updated or maybe we did 23 things with iGoogle.

#22 Learn about Audiobooks

We have the e-books and e-audio books through the Maryland Digital Library. I really want to multi task and listen to audio books while I do my off desk duties. I just have trouble doing this because we are so busy and I get asked so many questions when I’m sitting at my desk.

I have an account with our digital library. I have download audio books to my home PC so I can listen to them when I clean my house. Other than that I really don’t like to listen to audio books. In the car I like music or NPR and when I go on walks I like to pay attention to my surroundings and not walk deep in though.

I would like to get a Sony reader; hopefully my husband will get me one for my birthday. Hint, hint if he is reading this.

#21 Discover some useful tools for locating podcasts

Hooray for Podcasting!

I download the Chris Moyles morning show from BBC 1 radio. I had Sirius radio for free when I bought my car and started to listen to that morning show. I don’t have it any more. I download the old shows and listen to them through out the day on my iPod. I also download the Prairie Home Companion on Saturdays and listenfrom NPR. Sometimes I download the Folk music show on NPR as well.

I think the library should pod cast children’s librarians read children’s books weekly. It would help promote literacy and would be cheap and easy.

I would love to do a podcast on things going on around DC. I’m really interested in food, art and music. Maybe this summer I could start something. Maybe just talk about my life with my husband for my family members to hear back in Ohio. We could see where it goes.

I really hate radio because it is always the same thing over and over. Podcast really does let you listen to whatever you want. It gives you a chance to create great things.

#20 Discover YouTube and a few sites that allow you to upload video

I love YouTube!

You can find almost anything on YouTube. There are instructional videos, speeches, old commercials and so much more. The best part about YouTube is the creativity that people from around the world can collaborate together and share information. Here is my good friend Rick DelVecchio. With is joke about head On but it is dream on.

#18 Take a look at some online productivity tools

23 things now wants it participants to make an account with Google Docs. Finally I'm one step ahead. I have an iGoogle account and with it has Google Docs. Last year when I planed our wedding I used google docs and spreadsheet to create: guest lists, seating charts, programs and invitations. I could share them with my mom in Ohio. It was very easy.

I think that 23 things needs to be update at least once a year. They should update this section with how to do iGoogle.

#16 Learn about wikis and discover some innovative ways that libraries are using them and 17 Add an entry into the Sandbox Wiki created with PB Wiki

Wiki and the Sandbox.

First I’m writing on blog for both entries because the sandbox doesn’t work. I’m going to write just a little about the sandbox. When sandbox didn’t work I searched for it on Google. Just a quick search and I came up with “litter box.” Ha!

Wikipedia, well I’m a fan. I do use Wikipedia on the reference desk from time to time. I only use it if I haven’t heard of a subject or I need to know spelling of name. It can be helpful. I would never give a Wikipedia entry to a patron because you really can’t trust the info.

MCPL is currently trying to develop a program Wiki for the children’s librarian, where children’s staff can plug in programming ideas for other staff to use. I can see where a wiki could be helpful but also I think it would take a lot of time to edit.

#15 Read a few perspectives on Web 2.0, Library 2.0 & the future of libraries

The Web 2.0 articles all have positive approach to Libraries using the services provided to them. The world changes everyday. Ideas are pulled together thorough blogs, facebook twitter etc.

To a temporary place in time… Dr. Wendy Schultz

“There are SecondLife3 subscribers who spend more than forty hours a week online, immersed in its virtual graphic world’ This statement made me feel ill. Are there really people out there that spend this much time on the internet in a second life? Where’s your real life?

In her library world: Library 3.0 and Library 4.0 a user would never have to leave the house. Again what’s the point? I think learning is a great thing. Library 2.0 will help an individual learn and keep organized. How much is really too much? When and where do you get all this time to spend day after day logging into your computer?

The University of Maryland found recently that students who are addicted to social networking sites had same symptoms of that of a drug or alcohol abuser if they didn’t get their daily fix. I don't know what to think.

#14 Discover Technorati and learn how tags work with blogs

The site would be great for a serious/professional blogger. I think for 23 things I’m not going to add my blog but could see adding one for children’s books I review or maybe programs ideas. I liked in the tutorial they gave hints and a guide to getting your blog noticed. I felt it was helpful. The “favorite’s” link didn’t work. Not surprised by that. They do have a top 100. Maybe it is the same idea?

The claiming your blog instructions on the site were very helpful. When looking up “learning 2.0” The first tag to come up was about ownership and authorship in 2.0. again useful for a serious blogger. I without doubt would use this later.

#13 Tagging and Discover Del.icio.us

1. Take a look around Del.icio.us using the PLCMCL2 account that was created for the original program exercise at the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County. Note: In this account you will find lots of resources that have been highlighted or used throughout the course of the Learning 2.0 program.

I find Del.icio.us cumbersome. I found the tags to be old. They were still referring to MySpace, which is passé. I don’t like the look of it. We have Del.icio. us tag on the children’s website for MCPL and I find that they are very confusing for patrons. I feel that it is because of how they look. Especially to children, the tags are hard to read.

2. Explore the site options and try clicking on a bookmark that has also been bookmarked by a lot of other users. Can you see the comments they added about this bookmark or the tags that they used to categorize this reference?

Did this still most are out of date or two years old.

3. Create a blog post about your experience and thoughts about this tool. Can you see the potential of this tool for research assistance? Or just as an easy way to create bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere

I don’t like Del.icio.us but we use it here at MCPL