Tweet, tweet! You can find me as kpstevens. I have some previous contact with Twitter through a neighbor/friend who uses Twitter to update her Facebook or show pictures of her family on FB. I like that you are able to access it through your phone or through the Internet. It seems very simple.
I've heard of people like Mike Eisenburg tweeting about their families instead of the things they are known for...in this case, Big6. I do know one librarian who follows several Library 2.0 gurus. I think it is cool to receive information so easily about something that you are passionate about. And she's very good about passing along helpful tips, too.
Twitter seems to be everywhere these days...school districts, TV shows, radio DJs, etc. I'm having a hard enough time keep up with my Google reader these days so I doubt that I will be a big Twitterer. Maybe one day...
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Instant Messaging
I decided to go with Meebo since I am using a district computer and it usually doesn't let me download anything. I was able to sign up with the username KristiPS. I was also able to connect with Facebook among many others that were available. I can chat with friends who are online. I see that 5 of my FB friends are online and available for chatting.
This is an interesting tool especially if you have many networks that you are a part of and wish to IM with them or you can create a chatroom and connect with family/friends/coworkers. I find this to be an extra step since I don't ordinarily IM. I do chat on FB with family and coworkers. It's faster than emailing and waiting on a response. I like the instant feedback and the ability carry on a conversation without having to be on the phone in the middle of the night.
I could see this being a useful tool in a middle school or high school library but not in an elementary setting. I don't really see the need for it. But would be up for suggestions. It could be helpful in trainings or professional developments. It would allow participants to ask questions without having to interrupt the speaker/instructor.
This is an interesting tool especially if you have many networks that you are a part of and wish to IM with them or you can create a chatroom and connect with family/friends/coworkers. I find this to be an extra step since I don't ordinarily IM. I do chat on FB with family and coworkers. It's faster than emailing and waiting on a response. I like the instant feedback and the ability carry on a conversation without having to be on the phone in the middle of the night.
I could see this being a useful tool in a middle school or high school library but not in an elementary setting. I don't really see the need for it. But would be up for suggestions. It could be helpful in trainings or professional developments. It would allow participants to ask questions without having to interrupt the speaker/instructor.
Ning
While searching for a library Ning network, I found one for Library 2.0 which seemed to be very global and Texas Woman's University's SLIS. The 2.0 Ning didn't interest me much but the one for the TWU SLIS did especially since I have just finished my course work for my master's there. Yea! (That explains the 2 month absence in my blogging.) A current or former student can find a wealth of information on their Ning site. If you are interested in selling books, finding online job resources, or just finding the latest library news, this is a good source. I like that I don't actually have to join to utilize the information on the site. I'm sure if I wanted to post something or respond to a post, it would be necessary.
I see how this could be a valuable resource for an organization but I can also see how it is similar to a wiki. The same information and restrictions to access could be handled in the same way. I know that in my school district Nings are blocked but I can access a wiki which would make one preferred over another.
I see how this could be a valuable resource for an organization but I can also see how it is similar to a wiki. The same information and restrictions to access could be handled in the same way. I know that in my school district Nings are blocked but I can access a wiki which would make one preferred over another.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Facebook, part 2
This assignment is to add friends (done) and groups (some but none professional). So I decided to add ALA and TLA to my groups. I feel kind of guilty about adding ALA because I'm not officially a member. Grad school is expensive. We can't do all of the things that we want to. There is a child that needs to go to daycare, tuition to be paid and a husband who needs guitar lessons...actually, he has improved a lot over this past year. But I am a member of TLA and have attended the last two conferences and have a room reservation in San Antonio. I digress. I am also a member of my high school's alum page. I can't think of any other groups to join. But I am a fan of several pages.
I have been surprised by some of the contacts that I've made through FB. I found someone I grew up with in church but haven't seen since high school. It was good to catch up with her on FB since she's in San Antonio. It's great to see some of the people that are on FB. My husband is not on FB but his great-aunt is. One of my mom's good friends just signed up this weekend. I wish my mom would but she's understandably afraid. I'm hoping to get her over that fear over the next few months. She might enjoy it. I guess we'll see how that goes.
I have been surprised by some of the contacts that I've made through FB. I found someone I grew up with in church but haven't seen since high school. It was good to catch up with her on FB since she's in San Antonio. It's great to see some of the people that are on FB. My husband is not on FB but his great-aunt is. One of my mom's good friends just signed up this weekend. I wish my mom would but she's understandably afraid. I'm hoping to get her over that fear over the next few months. She might enjoy it. I guess we'll see how that goes.
I had succumb to the evil that is Facebook (said jokingly) over Spring Break. I had run into a friend at a Mavs' game who asked if I was on FB so we could catch up. With that encounter and a desire to find a long, lost friend from my school years, I joined up and spent the rest of Spring Break there. At the beginning it sucks you in. But I've learned that I still check it daily but don't feel the need to post something daily. It's fun to check on friends and see how they're doing. I even found my maid-of-honor that I had lost touch with 7 years ago.
I think one very good thing about Facebook is that you can set how much others know about you. You have the opportunity to put all of your personal information on there but I would advise against that. You could inadvertently encounter a stalker from your past that you might not want to have your phone number or address. You could get calls at inappropriate times or have a crazy at your door. My brother-in-law is being Facebook stalked by an acquaintance from high school. From his FB page you would think they were really good friends but, no.
Another great thing about FB is being able to chat and keep in contact with people from all over the world. My brother-in-law is in the Navy and is currently on ship. We've been able to see and hear about his government-sponsored vacation and talk with him in a way that we've never been able to before. Usually when he's on the other side of the world, we occasionally get a phone call or an email so this has been a great experience.
I think one very good thing about Facebook is that you can set how much others know about you. You have the opportunity to put all of your personal information on there but I would advise against that. You could inadvertently encounter a stalker from your past that you might not want to have your phone number or address. You could get calls at inappropriate times or have a crazy at your door. My brother-in-law is being Facebook stalked by an acquaintance from high school. From his FB page you would think they were really good friends but, no.
Another great thing about FB is being able to chat and keep in contact with people from all over the world. My brother-in-law is in the Navy and is currently on ship. We've been able to see and hear about his government-sponsored vacation and talk with him in a way that we've never been able to before. Usually when he's on the other side of the world, we occasionally get a phone call or an email so this has been a great experience.
RSS Feeds
It continues to be easy! RSS feeds are usually as simple as clicking the RSS symbol although I did discover on the School Library Journal that you can't simply click and add to the Google reader. They are not Google-friendly. They seem to favor Yahoo. I have to stop adding things to my reader because I could spend a LOT of time continuing to add to it.
I've decided while adding subscriptions to my reader that I think that the Google reader is better than Delicious. My reason is I can see all of my information on one page without having to open a new window or losing my Delicious page and having to go back to it. Yea, Google reader!
I've decided while adding subscriptions to my reader that I think that the Google reader is better than Delicious. My reason is I can see all of my information on one page without having to open a new window or losing my Delicious page and having to go back to it. Yea, Google reader!
Google Reader
I was a little intimidated about using the reader but it was extremely easy. I guess I should know better by now. Google is our friend and shouldn't be feared. : ) When setting up my reader, I discovered that I already had 2 blogs on there that I have been following. It is so easy to add a website or blog to the reader. This might make my Delicious obsolete. We'll have to see.
Back to adding sites...
Back to adding sites...
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