Wikis are websites that are collaborative. My library website could be a Wiki if I could limit the editing privilege to one, and it might be a whole lot easier to edit than the FrontPage site I have! But there's a language to learn to set up a Wiki, so I need to invest time to learn it. I'm going back to my corporate IT dept when I've finished the 23 Things to see if there is an approved Wiki for internal use. I need to know how the Wiki fits in with our corporate security and firewalls.
Good applications within schools and libraries: lists, procedures, time-sensitive info such as assignments or handbooks, technical updates, links, etc. Really, everything on a library website can be put on a wiki with some limits of security, authorship.
The use of Wikipedia for student research is a foregone conclusion. There is no sense in banning it. Just make it one of, say, ten resources to use and maybe only four of the ten can be web resources. Students should be expected to use AND evaluate Wikipedia. Limiting information by format? Ok, to some extent...see previous sentence. Forbidding information by format? Impossible.
I edited the 23 Things on a Stick wiki which I signed (4/1/08 bjw). I had a problem trying to add an image which appeared far too big for the wiki edit page. For further exploration: Is a wiki registered as a website is? Or is the host the registrar? Initial set-up/structure of the wiki (pbwiki advertised as 30 seconds to your own wiki)...they haven't met me!
bweldon
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Thing #9: Online Collaboration Tools
It's quite unfair to judge Zoho Writer and GoogleDocs on my first go at them. After reading "How to Become a GoogleDocs Power User," I know there are those for whom collaboration tools like this are nirvana. And I think the more you use and adopt the features of one, the more dependent you become on that one.
In my cursory usage of them, I thought Zoho Writer was easier to use. It showed me a clean beginning document, was easy to alter, had more features - or they were easier to see on the template, really felt more like a word processor to me than GoogleDocs.
The document on GoogleDocs was a mess when I got it. I had no clue what the original document looked like, and I would find it very difficult to collaborate without a side-by-side comparison with the original. The advertising for both referred to easy reverting to earlier editions, but I didn't find that feature with the sample document. And it seems that if you were using GoogleDocs with a number of collaborators, you'd have to set some ground rules for revision notation.
The Founding Fathers - my vision of them is from "1776" - would love the concept. Think of the travel it would've saved, and some were in very poor health and/or elderly. But the vivid oratory would've been lost! Much of what they created in person exists in the document because of great passionate speeches and debate. Some of that you just can't do with a word processor.
bweldon
In my cursory usage of them, I thought Zoho Writer was easier to use. It showed me a clean beginning document, was easy to alter, had more features - or they were easier to see on the template, really felt more like a word processor to me than GoogleDocs.
The document on GoogleDocs was a mess when I got it. I had no clue what the original document looked like, and I would find it very difficult to collaborate without a side-by-side comparison with the original. The advertising for both referred to easy reverting to earlier editions, but I didn't find that feature with the sample document. And it seems that if you were using GoogleDocs with a number of collaborators, you'd have to set some ground rules for revision notation.
The Founding Fathers - my vision of them is from "1776" - would love the concept. Think of the travel it would've saved, and some were in very poor health and/or elderly. But the vivid oratory would've been lost! Much of what they created in person exists in the document because of great passionate speeches and debate. Some of that you just can't do with a word processor.
bweldon
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Thing #8: Share Creations
PictureTrail was easy to use and provided many creative display options. I picked one that reminded me of file drawers...old technology to new! The photos from my personal collection have a seasonal theme which have me longing for green grass days and Rainy Lake fishing.
I'd recommend PictureTrail for creative displays - library or personal. Don't be put off by the sample displays...you don't have to be a kissy-faced teen to do this!
In the past I've used Kodak Gallery, Snapfish, and Shutterfly. I'd recommend any of these for photo save/distribution.
bweldon
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Thing #7- Web 2.0 Communication Tools
Email is the preferred method of reference and document retrieval and delivery here. I still have many walk-ins during the day, but they're usually verifying something from hard-copy sources or escaping for a bit from offices/cubes/phones to scan the newest science mags or trade lit or WSJ. Customers prefer email to send requests and I respond by email (with attachments) as often as possible. Email has SO improved productivity here with great time savings. I liked the email productivity reminders esp. the tip to be honest..."guilt will not make you more responsive two months from now."
IM and SMS are tools I've used outside the library. IM isn't currently allowed in our resident email system, but if a business use can be proven, it might be. It would be a real time saver in linking staff. Using email for customer correspondence keeps the communication more formal - and traceable - which I appreciate. Is there a danger of IM in a solo situation with users expecting instant answers? Maybe. The use of acronyms make IM/texting a whole new language! If my company paid for my texting, I'd be glad to use it if a user preferred that mode of notification.
I "attended" these Minitex' archived training sessions: Web 2.0 Tools - Del.icio.us and Wikis - both presented by Carla Steinberg Pfahl. What a great Minitex service! I've attended many webinars presented by SLA and vendors. The concept is great for quick learning...just don't make me sit at the screen too long or I'll be asleep on the keyboard!
bweldon
IM and SMS are tools I've used outside the library. IM isn't currently allowed in our resident email system, but if a business use can be proven, it might be. It would be a real time saver in linking staff. Using email for customer correspondence keeps the communication more formal - and traceable - which I appreciate. Is there a danger of IM in a solo situation with users expecting instant answers? Maybe. The use of acronyms make IM/texting a whole new language! If my company paid for my texting, I'd be glad to use it if a user preferred that mode of notification.
I "attended" these Minitex' archived training sessions: Web 2.0 Tools - Del.icio.us and Wikis - both presented by Carla Steinberg Pfahl. What a great Minitex service! I've attended many webinars presented by SLA and vendors. The concept is great for quick learning...just don't make me sit at the screen too long or I'll be asleep on the keyboard!
bweldon
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Thing #6: Image (Trading Card)
I still haven't figured out how to alter a previous post, so this is Thing #6, Part 2, Trading Card.
I love the Carleton College trading cards...what a clever way to (super) humanize yourself while touting your specialties. Many applicable ideas here for enhancing my brown-bag-seminar to employees.
I need more photos in my Flickr account. Anyone who has followed this blog is sick to death of me with the cake! Sorry!!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Thing 5: More Flickr Fun
I hope this is considered a mash-up. I'm certainly getting a lot of mileage from that darned picture! I used Big Huge Labs to create the magazine cover. This would be a good application for the Library. I can imagine the design of creative covers to advertise online and print subscriptions. And how great it would be to produce my own posters.
I'm looking forward to our Library 2.0/23Things info-sharing meeting on Wed. night at Donaldson Co. It's the pits to be a solo librarian - and, dare I say - over the age of 55, without younger, computer-savvy co-workers with whom to share these assignments. Those of you in that situation are VERY lucky. Hug your staff members now!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)