Podcasting - advantages, detractions

The advantages of podcasting (Link to response in podcast) are many, including the portability, user driven choices, minimal cost, and "ease" of use. However, I say the latter with a little trepidation since I didn't find the technology very easy to follow. Podomatic is a little difficult to navigate and find functions, but in the end it works. The pairing of podcasting with visuals is a dynamic teaching/presentation tool that can bring together audiences in vast locations. I particularly like the ability to allow live commenting when podcasting making the experience interactive and engaging for the audience.Podcasting is a tool that should be used with a purpose, not just aimless rantings or opinionating. When used as the latter, it can be a distraction, as is the case with text blogging.

Text blogging vs podcasting

Podcast : Aesops Fables

The theme of this one minute fable is "don't do too much at once". A boy puts his hand in a jar of filberts, and attempts to extract too many at once. He isn't able to get his full hand out until his mother tells him to empty his hand a little. Somehow, I felt this fable had meaning to me while trying to complete this assignment ! After much trial and error and completing little pieces at a time, my podcast was successful ! And no, it isn't my voice on the recording, although I like British accents !

Google analytics and Blogger account mpscils598s09

Google Analytics results for mpscils598s09 as of 3/24 are : for a total of 47 visits since tracking began, 47 % (22) visits were from the browser Firefox , 38% (18) from Internet Explorer, and 15% (7) from Safari. Average time on the site was 6minutes 40 seconds, with an average of 2.83 pages visited. The most used connection speed by far is cable with representing 36 of the 47 users.

SCILS educational experience

I haven't been back in the classroom for quite a while (as a student) before beginning graduate studies at SCILS. Yet I was witnessing colleague after colleague finish similar programs without much trouble. Why couldn't I ? I knew I could be a good librarian, no, a great librarian, if I had the chance, so why not? And here I am, at 50+, doing what I want to do, being what I want to be, when I grow up ! Better late than never, enjoying every minute of it (well, that may be a slight exaggeration) ! Seeking out the online program for schedule reasons, I never imagined I would be as engaged as I am, or part of an online community of students as diverse and experienced as they are. Hard to explain, but it does feel like a community and you do get to know people online without the voices, and without the faces. So, despite sitting at this lonely desk, it is nice to know all of you are out there, just a key stroke away!

The Long Tail and Libraries

Statistics show 90% of materials that circulate represent 10% of a libraries holdings. If this is accurate, following the 80/20 marketing rule the Long Tail (LT) cites, the LT really should apply to libraries. Yet how does a library or consortium of libraries "market" their holdings? Inter-library loan , displays, a user friendly OPAC, websites, social networking,word of mouth etc. are all tools used to enlighten library users to the holdings available to them. Yet according to the statistics, many items are still not being used. The library is still very much a physical world. Space and budgetary constraints are much like that of a video/DVD retailer or bookstore. Using the Internet to expand exposure of collections beyond the community a library serves, as well as to enlighten the immediate community as to what is available to them is one way libraries can make use of the long tail. Contrary to this, cataloging methods in place today using authority controlled language are often limiting as to what a user is able to discover. Expanding the population to which holdings are available should in turn increase circulation. In turn, libraries will have to make the means by which users discover materials more obvious, and in some cases, more user friendly. For example , it is no secret that searching for periodicals is still a complex exercise--one must first know databases exist for such a search, they must then know which database to use for their topic, and then must work their way through the language of the particular database. The latter is confusing since different interfaces require different elements and terminology, as well as different syntax. The process makes materials less available and more intimidating to find for the average user. Delivery of the periodical is another step in the process that may be equally confusing. In fact, there are many steps between requesting an item and final delivery that each require the user "knowing" the system. If libraries are to capitalize on the "Long Tail", some of these issues need to be ironed out or eliminated so they can get down to the business of making the 90% of unused materials in their collections active. The Internet tools are available, often at no cost to the library, for pursuing the LT. It is up to the institution to not only alot the manpower to do so, but to have on staff people current in technology that will allow this to happen.

Google docs and students...

While Google docs sounds like a really great way for students and teachers to 'go green', collaborate, write, and edit papers and projects, there are issues related to access and ease of use that may be a hindrance. Needing an e-mail address to establish an account may be a problem for younger students being introduced to the new technology for writing, editing, and submitting assignments. There is also the issue of who owns the material on Google docs ? From Google docs-
"“you give Google a worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through the Service." It is also stipulated that children be over the age of 13 to use the service as it must comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act designed to protect the privacy of minors with regard to collection of personal information . So it is imperative that when using Google docs in a classroom setting parental/guardian permission is obtained. That being said, Google docs offers a classroom a truly creative and collaborative way for students to interact in the educational process. Would the technology be welcomed by educators? As with other applications, if the educator is comfortable with technology, they are more apt to see the benefits and rewards that can result, and therefore put the applications into action.

pbwiki vs Wetpaint

And the winner is...either! Although Wetpaint had a few more options for design, both pbwiki and Wetpaint are easy to use, and both get the job done. Neither require coding or html, just wysiwyg editing convenient for anyone wanting to create a wiki. Wetpaint does offer a neat choice of templates for those of us who need more creativity, yet it was hard not to get distracted by choosing just the right look for the wiki. The biggest downside to Wetpaint was the advertisements, and although it is free the upgrades are not. I have the impression that Wetpaint is geared for visual appeal more than developing a professional looking wiki. After reviewing a comparison of the two softwares on http://www.wikimatrix.org/compare/PBwiki+Wetpaint+Wikispaces
It became apparent that the two have more in common that not, and both are very good products.

Delicious bookmarks-what do they say?

Using delicious bookmarks to find out more about people is a clever way to find out about their interests. Do the bookmarks really tell us much about the person? Not really, just some of the facets of the individual. What I really find interesting is discovering the varied interests we all have, although I have to admit I am not a very interesting person at this stage in my life.It took quite a bit of thought to decide on ten sites that 'represent' me. WYSIWYG! Yes, it is fun to share ourselves with other students, particularly since we are online. Somehow, it develops a 'connectedness'. Would I use delicious tagging to acquaint students with one another in the future? Yes.