Week 11

I downloaded Firefox but have not made if my default browser until I decide if I like it better than Internet Explorer. I had trouble installing the add-on of my choice (it wouldn't show up anywhere on the screen) but it turned out you had to have a U.S. address. Next one I tried worked just fine.

I installed all the bookmarklets on the MORRIS bookmarklets page (a breeze!). I highlighted Vimmy Ridge from a website on Google, clicked on the subject keyword bookmarklet and lo and behold all kinds of hits on MORRIS. This would be very handy when doing research!

Add-ons and bookmarklets are great tools for saving time and energy.

Gaming Demo

Unfortunately my knee is giving me "grief" today so I won't be able to attend the gaming demo.

Week 10

I've never been into games much but I decided to give a couple a try. I played Bookworm, a word game that links letters together to make a word and Zuma which reminded me of online pinball (both games need good hand and eye coorindation).

I read about LanbdaMoo and found the concept ineresting. It is a text based virtual community whose members create rooms and then move about them meeting and interacting with other people. If I ever find the time I might check it out.

I can see some benefits of gaming: teaches social and imagination skills, improve ones adaptability, challenges the mind and teaches creative problem solving.

I'm not sure where games and libraries come together. Perhaps for training purposes e.g. set up a virtual library, must learn how to use the libraries resourses in a social environment. Not sure if this would work. Personally I think that one on one training is still the way to go (but then again, I like my libraries to have books in them!) . Possible to locate a book in a virtual library and request it? This would be fine with me as long as we don't rely on virtual staff!

If we're not short staffed on Friday I'd like to attend the Gaming Demos drop in session.

Week 9 Online Social Networks

I signed on to Facebook and joined the Learning 2.0 mac group (I was the 30th member at the time). I wasn't comfortable putting my picture in my profile, I think it will take me some time to get used to being on "the web", I still feel exposed.

I searched for someone I knew and then asked them to be my friend (it seemed kind of sad having an empty "Friend List"). I can see Facebooks popularity - searching for old classmates, childhood friends, etc. I can see how you might decide to spend a few minutes checking things out and the next thing you know hours have gone by (especially as you get more "connected"). It's been fun checking it out but I don't think it's really me.

I didn't want to sign up to My Space so I just clicked my way around for a bit. I checked out a few blogs (Food & Restaurants had some amazing photos of restaurants in Seattle). Checked out some profiles, some were very fancy! I don't know if I'd have the time or inclination to add my favourite books, music, movies etc to a profile.

Facebook and My Space are both widely used though I have a feeling that Facebook might win out in the end.

Since I'm not a "professsional" I did'nt sign up for Linkedin. It looks like it would be quite helpful for keeping in touch with colleagues, classmates etc. and keeping abreast of new information, jobs, etc.

Well, that's it for now I think I'll sign in to Facebook for a bit.

Google Docs & Spreadsheets

Well that was cool, posting from Google Docs is a breeze.

Just trying this out - can I post this from Google Docs & Spreadsheets to my blog?

Week 8 Online Applications & Tools

I had a good look at "Google Docs & Spreadsheets" and was quite impressed. Obviously many people are using this web based tool for business, personal and work purposes. Multiple people can view and edit once signed in (I like the idea that you know who is editing unlike wikis). You can access documents from any computer, edit from anywhere .

Online storage and auto-save mean you don't have to worry about hard drive failures and power outages but you can also save files to your own computer if desired. You can publish as a web page online with just a click (don't have to learn something new) or post it to your blog (I'll try this when I get the time).

I also checked out LibraryThing. Again this seems like a great tool for people who own a lot of books (free cataloging service) or just love to read (share their books, check out people with similar tastes).

I'll check out a few other "tools" when I get the chance.