Olives Ocean booktalk

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Course review:

Thank you Anselm and Steve for yet another great course. What would I change? I would make the course longer! There is so much to cover it creates an "I want to learn more" outlook. (At least for me!) The technology courses I've taken with SCILS have been the most engaging and useful courses, and I have already put much of it to practice.

Second Life

So here I am, Re Hazelnut in some Darkwood castle. Don't know how I got there, and I can't get out. That about sums up my Second Life experience. I am not fan (don't hold this against me!) but I can see where people can get hooked. Maybe when I am not so preoccupied with getting final projects completed, I might re-visit Second Life just to be fair. I think the Sims is more my speed! Oh yeah, you can't see me because I am behind the foliage in the middle of the screen! Click on the image to make it larger, it will open in a new screen. There I am!

If "everything bad is good for you"....

Part of the frustration I have developed while attending SCILS is the realization that the academia is way ahead of practice. I'll be finishing the program in the fall of 09, and am very anxious to become part of the library world, whether public or education. However, the mentality and resources in place right now, particularly in the educational area, are somewhat prohibitive with respect to advancing with Web 2.0 and Library 2.0. That being said, I do believe libraries know what their role will be in enticing future generations to benefit from their services. Yet the ability to keep pace with the necessary technology is hampered by resources, budgets, and personnel and we must also take in to account the digital divide. Anyone exposed to online gaming, video games and the like can't deny there is an intelligence required to participate, and gives new meaning to becoming social.The complexity of entertainment as a medium has reached new heights and requires a new level of intelligence and engagement on our part. Young audiences are experiencing this from birth, older audiences often don't realize what is happening and retreat to the comfort of simpler methods. The wave of the generations immersed in today's pop culture is at the library now, and is so large it can't be ignored. Not just because it is there, but because "pop culture is getting more mentally challenging as the medium evolves." Libraries will need to quickly evolve to meet this challenge.

Library gaming system

Task: develop a library gaming system for a public library
To begin this task, I would need to do some basic research on gaming since my knowledge in this area is limited. After getting a general sense of the terminology, systems, games and the like, I would go to my target audience - tweens and teens-- for input. Finding out what gaming platforms they prefer and which games they would like to play would be helpful in determining what technology would be needed. Next step, consult with the technology coordinator at the library. He has the expertise to assist with setting up a LAN if needed, or any other issues involved in online or console gaming. With this information in hand, the director --keeper of the budget-- would be consulted next to determine what the budget would be for this project (or wouldn't be). Since we do have game stores in close proximity to the library, they would be approached for advice on what games are selling locally, and possibly donations of games or equipment. Partnering with a neighbor library might also be a possibility.
Depending on the budget, it is likely that I would focus on the more popular systems such as a WII, XBox or Playstation 3. As our library is already equipped with projectors, TV access is not necesary. I am sure there are high schol students who are very savvy with gaming technology and would be happy to fulfill required volunteer hours helping us set up our gaming program.