Module 6: Reflection

I enjoyed doing this, but it's been a saga. When the first round of Learning 2.0 took place, I was working on the World of the Book, with Clare Williamson. It was impossible to find time to engage with the program. This time round has been a little better, but it did co-incide with a week at a conference followed by a couple of weeks at the Melb Film Festival. However, I've managed to engage, and have also had good support from several of my colleagues. A few random thoughts - I think it's positive for staff at SLV to at least have grasp of this language and technology, just as everyone should be familiar with iPods, and other hand held devices that are increasingly an integral part of our world. I've tended to develop expertise to the extent that a product provides me with information (and this can be visual, video etc) about my personal interests. Therefore I've previously engaged with flickr, Youtube - particularly in relation to my interest in music - more than, say, tagging or blogging. I expect this ratio to continue. For example, I went onto Facebook once it became clear that this was a key way of keeping tabs on artists and their making of books. As these things become integral to your everyday activities, it becomes in your interest to engage. Should also finally note that the general support provided for this program was appreciated, I'm aware it would have been a lot of work all round to drag us kicking and screaming into the online world. Over and Out.

Module 5: Flickr and Youtube

I've used Flickr in the past, reasonably regularly. Fantastic for pics, and allows you to access lots of cultural institutions and their collections. Can search using natural language. Generally, when I've used, I've found pretty much anything you might want. Also, some sites eg. Faber publishing site, use to display whole archives of their cover designs over the past 80 years. As for Youtube, don't get me started, utterly addictive, I use it for music all the time, who would have thought so many incredible performances would have been filmed and now are suddenly available. It is an incredible resource. The accompanying image of Charlie Parker from a totally obscure album by C Raschka, whoever the hell he is.

Module 4: Tagging and Library Things!!

Have had a browse of tagging. I think the use of natural language is useful for users who want more natural language and more detail attached to catalogue records, or want to access news stories. The average cat record will only contain 4-6 subject headings, whereas users, who might actually read the book (eg. a novel) can assign hundreds of words that might trigger other users to access the work - in other words, a shift from controlled language to digging deeper into works to uncover quirky bits and bobs. I've certainly noted more sites using it. The only proviso I have in relation to tagging is the importance of keeping authorized library cataloguing separate from what might be uninformed tagging etc. but on the whole another useful addition. As for Library Things, I spend enough time as it is - no way am I cataloguing my books at home, which sit in utterly random order.

Module 3: RSS Feeds and Podcasts

Have rummaged around in the RSS Feeds. While I've accessed podcasts regularly, I found RSS very new and interesting, and Google Reader a great resource, particularly the capacity to subscribe to favourite sites and receive regular updates. Of course, playing around and subscribing to Age and NY Times did result in a swag of instant unwanted information, but with more time this could be tailored so that I receive more targeted information relating to my specific interests. Will definitely follow up on this one. Re second part of exercise, Podcasts, these are very handy, though making time for them, particularly in the work place, can be a struggle. However, they have, in the past, been great for work-related radio interviews that I have missed, and, let's face it, they have transformed student habits - the capacity to miss lectures and catch up later, given that most Uni lectures are now recorded for podcast. In fact, this technology has become almost ubiquitous, and for some time now, most events I've attended, particularly SLV high profile lectures, have been recorded for later podcast. Thus far, I have only listened to podcasts via PC, rather than portable device, but it's only a matter of time.

Learning 2.0 - Module 2 - Zoho Writer

Have read a number of suggested readings on this, and signed up. Can see benefits, particularly for group project work, where a number of staff may need to collaboratively work up a document to completion. In particular, I felt the essential component was track changes that would allow any participant to clearly see what, if any, changes had been made to the document since they last read or drafted. Zoho does allow this. Having said that, I'm not sure how often I'd use - I"ve not tended to work on group documents a lot in the past - perhas a touch of control freak when it comes to writing. A colleague also kindly pointed out other benefits, such as students at SLV being able to use it to write documents ie. equivalent of word doc, and then access back at home via web.

Second post - Learning 2.0 - Wikis

Have checked out suggested wikis. Can see benefits of group access to regularly updated info, along with capacity for group members to update, revise etc. SLV desk wiki is incredibly handy - a place to go for up-to-date information - while others, such as 'Book Lovers", while interesting to members, consist mainly of personal and unauthorized opinion. I find one disadvantage with a group / project wiki is that you have to remember to make time to regularly go in and check. This is not such a problem when a Division such as AID is engaged in short, sharp project work (eg. Service Model), but I have been on national wikis, where posts are relatively infrequent, and it's often out of sight, out of mind. Recently, the national Rare Books group agreed to a group email list, as that way we receive updates in a form we are most likely to be using on a daily basis. The widest use of wiki - the compilation of info such as wikipedia - I think has genuine benefits, due to its ability to tap into such a vast array of experts, both professional and non. Wikipedia has been a surprise success, regularly improved, updated, and increasingly authoritative as a resource - if one knows how to read the signs of a good, versus poor, entry.

First Post - Learning 2.0

This is my first posting for Learning 2.0