Is this really the end? Or just the beginning ...

Favourite discoveries or exercises: Learning exactly what a blog is, Rss feeds, wikis, image generators have been some interesting discoveries.

Assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?: I am still totally amazed by what is available on the net and this program has certainly opened my eyes to what is actually available to have fun and to assist my learning.

Take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised me?: Some useful sites, for instance image generator, flickr, online productivity web-based applications, learning about mashups and that they are freely available to the world wide internet community.

Do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?: Having more Australian content/links would be great. Some problems with links/podcasts no longer being current/available. Although some tasks were time consuming, I have learnt about a lot of useful resources/applications which could be relevant to my work.


This whole program is a great introduction to the tip of the iceberg that is the internet and all that is available. I have become more confident in my knowledge in how these programs work, their content and their usefulness and just what is out there on the internet for work or play. It seem limitless to what can be achieved just using a computer and its applications to keep clients, staff and the general public informed in whatever their area of study, work or interests are.

Mashups

I have found some relevant sites and an interesting book with relevant applications mashups could used for developing the library. A useful application to incorporate many useful sites into one site.

Some interesting sites:
Mashup Australia - was a government competition held last year http://mashupaustralia.org/

LibWorm - Mashes up updates from 1400 RSS feeds+ from library sites. The contents of these feeds are then available for searching & search results can be output as an RSS feed that the user can subscribe to in his/her aggregator.
LibWorm is intended to be a search engine, a professional development tool, and a current awareness tool for people who work in libraries or care about libraries. http://www.libworm.com

Mashup Australia - was a government competition held last year http://mashupaustralia.org/

And my favourite : The Vine http://www.thevine.com.au/entertainment/top10/top-ten-trailer-mash_ups20100720.aspx A great mash up of favourite films ie they turned Jaws into a love story, watch the preview - you'll never the movie series again.

Book: Library mashups : exploring new ways to deliver library data / edited by Nicole C. Engard /Published by: Information Today, Inc., c2009. ISBN 978-1-57387-372-7

Podcasts, Smodcasts!

I found this activity very time consuming and at time frustrating. Clicking onto view/hear a podcast it would be time consuming to load and would often take you to another site requiring you sign up.

RSS feed for a podcast: http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.squidoo.com%2Fxml%2Fsyndicate_lens%2Ffree-podcast-resources

The most useful podcasts I found were Audio books for free: http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/free-audio-book-and-podcast-resources/

It is great to see the library using this tool, I think more podcasts could be created with useful information for library clients

YouTube

I enjoy looking at youtube now and then, some interesting videos certainly get placed online. I have attached 2 recent favourites, the first one because it is certainly interesting to watch peoples reaction and the organisation that went into setting up  this event in such a public place

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkBepgH00GM&playnext=1&list=PL9AA17914577B354F&index=30

and the second clip because everytime this life saving ad came on telly when my daughter was a baby, she would stop what she was doing and become transfixed by the music in this ad. We discovered it on youtube and it still has the same effect on her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyiZp5w9QT4

My partner especially likes to look at funny/prank videos - some are funny and some are downright cringe worthy. Just makes you wonder sometimes how people stay friends!

Some great uses for the library: How to videos - ie using the self checkout ; Videos about the university/library - facilities etc it would allow students/staff to get an overview of the Uni/library and what is available

Web 2.0 Awards

Seems a little out of date, as some of the links no longer worked, would be usful if it had Australian content.

Although not library related, the Mothersclick seemed a useful site for information  - but their are plenty Australian site that provide a similar service, with links to local services and information.

As far as useful applications for the library, having access to these sites could provide useful information for clients of the library, if for instance a collaborative website was created for the library clients could add information about books, social networking, course information etc; could be most useful for future clients of the University, especially if they were new to the area or studying at a Uni.

Online Applications & Tools

Web-based Apps

Many usefuul applications on Google docs and Zoho Writer. Would use if I didn't access to Micrsoft applications on my PC. Some great templates for whatever document you my be working on. Will be passing these websites onto a few friends.

 My Top Ten List

1) Christmas present shopping (and wrapping)
2) Shopping for ingredients for german potato salad (From Singleton for the salami and all over newcastle for the authentic gherkin)
3) Christmas cards to be written and sent out and santa photo if I can get Renee near to Santa!!
4) Pick up 12 dozen Turners Frute Ice blocks for Mother in-law (her favourite addiction)
5) Get to family get together with my brother (only time I see him and his family - thanks to a lovely sister inlaw!!) and my 2 sisters and their families on Sundaythe 12th. Thank goodness only at Pearl Beach (Central Coast) this year.
6) Catch on washing
7) Start organising a packing list with everything I have to remember to take to Canberra - from the cat (and all her bits and pieces) - to Renees, my partners and my odds and bods.
8)Remind partner about checking the car and organise all his junk to pack
9)Christmas lights drive around with Renee - hope she stays awake
10)Run away to a tropical island and enjoy a few relaxing drinks!!

 

https://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhq7rpvf_0c6x4f6gb

Playing around with PBWiki

Was unable to edit this site, requested access and never got a reply email - could be an interesting way of keeping up with work colleagues and their interests.