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

My view is that it is only the beginning, & not the end. I can honestly say that Learning 2.0 has thoroughly stimulated me. I have gained a lot of knowledge & skills that now i can independently utilse. "My resources are now the richer".

My favourite discovery exercises comsist of:

*manipulating images with Flicker
*creating my own search engine with Rollyo
*setting up my own social bookmarks with Del.icio.su
*contributing to the Favourite Leisure Time Activity Wiki
*Making full use of the Web-based Applications
*Coming up to speed with video sharing & podcasts

I must say that the challenge exercises intrigued me. I got a real buzz when i achieved the challenge exercises.

Next time round though, some instruction needs to be more methodical. Some people are struggling to complete the program as the instruction provided is not clear enough.

# 22 Browsing Audiobooks

It was a good experience to hear several Audiobooks. Titles i listened to include: King Grisly-Beard by Gebrüder Grimminc, Dedication by Kipling, Rudyard, Rumpelstiltskin by The Brothers Grimm & Alone by Edgar Allan Poe. The recording of these titles was clear & in some cases even expression was added to the plot. However, i would like to see a wider choice in the title range for viewing.

Some titles cannot be accessed without registering your membership & paying a subscription fee.

# 21 Learning English Podcasts

Given that Learning English is an area of interest of mine, i specifically did a search on Podcast.net, one of the podcast directories. At Brimbank Libraries we have put together a website catering for those wanting to learn english. My podcast search found various podcasts that could be added to our site in terms of english conversation, idioms, spelling, grammar, etc. As those learning english are taught about english conversation, idioms, spelling, & grammar, they need real life exeperiences to validate their learning. In turn, I have set up an RSS feed to learning English in one of my side bars.

I prefer Podcast.net over Yahoo Search Audio. I was not impressed with the search results gained from Yahoo Search Audio. I obtained more appropriate results from Podcast.net than Yahoo Search Audio. Furthermore, i particularly liked using the topic categories found on Podcast.net.

I encourage you to have a browse through my Learning English RSS feed located on the sidebar. Please send any feedback via the comments.

# 20 How to Roast a Xmas Turkey as per wholegourmet

As the Xmas session is approaching i thought that wholegourmet's video is appropriate for the upcomming occasion. I really enjoyed searching through the You Tube categories to discover the Howto & Style section. I have a big interest into the Do-it-yourself activities.This is why i have posted the "How to Roast a Turkey by wholegourmet.

Along with uploading author visits through You Tube or Google Videos or Yahoo Videos, libraries could use this methodology even for delivering instruction or listening to distance conferences or meeting. Libraries could also teach patrons how to create You Tube videos.

# 19 My Web 2.0 Award Votes

My votes in the category of Events in the 2007 Web 2.0 awards go to Eventful.

I really like the layout of the page, & that i obtained results for Community Events located in the Melbourne area. I did a search for Community Events around the Brimbank area but got no results. The Eventful website just does not have any listings for local enough community/neighbourhood events. I would like to see this Eventful website delve deeper into the community scene. Although Brimbank council does pick up community events listed around the Brimbank area, it would be nice to see more small scale coomunity events have a good place to show case their events. I'm sure there are many other small scale community events that are not publicly listed enough.

Has anyone found a good website that does a good job of showcasing real community/neighbourhood events? I'm wouldn't mind receiving some feedback on this issue.

# 18 The World of Web-based Applications

I have browsed at the Web based applications found at ZOHO.

I cannot believe the online possibiities avaiable at Zoho. The registrant can create a word processing document as i am doing with Zoho Writer. Zoho Projects can be used for project management. A spreadsheet can be created with Zoho Sheet. Online presentations are achievable with Zoho Show. Web conferencing can be initiated with Zoho Meeting. There is even a Zoho Wiki in the world of wikis. Zoho Notebook enables online note taking. Group decisions on a particular topic can be run through Zoho Chat. I created a database about applying for library jobs with Zoho DB & Reports. Other applications include Zoho Mail & Zoho Business. I entered my first appointment in Zoho Planner, which is the Macedonian Internet Training Session that i am running on Tuesday the 4th December. Additionally, there are Zoho Utilities, Events, Videos, & Zoho APIs. Besides these there are further applications worth testing for your self. I never thought that online applications could be so comprehensive.

Well what do you know, i have created marketing for ZOHO.

#17 Playing around with WIKIS

I have added my bog to the to the Favorite Blogs page under the BRIMBANK LIBRARY SERVICE BLOGS.

I must say that the current instructions to do this task need further amendments. Some task instructions need a step by step format including visual style inclusions to complement the text. I can see that people will get lost in doing this rather simple task unless they are really IT savvy.

Nonetheless i enjoyed adding an entry to the Favourite Leisure Time Activity Wiki. Read my entry titled: The Love of Creating Personal Jewellery.

# 16 The Wiki of Collaboration

The word that stays in my mind about Wikis is COLLABORATION. Wikis foster collaborative work amongst groups whether that be the community, amongst libraries, amongst patrons & other groups. Wikis combine interaction amongst multiple groups or can be specific to a designated group.

The downside of the Wiki is that spammers or malicious people can vandalise entries where control is too loose.

According to Meredith Farkas, Wikis can be "used for intranets, research spaces, collaborative projects, creating documentation & editing text".

It would be useful to create subject guides for the library from the Wikis. Librarian can use the wiki to add useful resources to the collection. Simultaneouly, this environment encourages the prunning away of dead links. There is use for annotating the catalog with a wikis. As long as wikis functionality is immersed into the catalog, then patrons can submit reviews for the books read. In turn, when other patrons are not sure whether they will like a book, the review can provide them some insight. Interestingly there is potential for a Community Wiki on an area of interest decided by its community members. This kind of wiki can supply community information to the local community whereby its members are inclusive of its entire process. Librarians too will benefit from a wiki. Amongst its many uses, we can use it to develop ideas for the next library project. As per Farkas, "it's a better way of organising the group's efforts & keeping track of where everyone is in the process". The wiki aids to keep track of the flow of conversation in emails. In this case, the effect is that the wiki stops librarians from reinventing the wheel.

I am excited to see Brimbank Libraries institute their first WIKI soon.

# 15 It's many things to many people

It seems applicable that Library 2.0 is many things to many people. There is use for instant messaging to meet end users in their space online. Riemer advances federated searching of all the separate silos, that are currently local catalogs, union catalogs, e-resource management systems, abstracting & indexing databases, institutional repositories, & local digital library collections. Many libraries have invested in the expansion of metadata to the WorldCat. An increasing sum of money is being allocated to e-resources than print formats. For those yet to implement, libraries can take advantage of incorporating RSS feeds for patron selected e-journals. There are opportunities for setting up internal library wikis. Even the creation of a blog to inform of upcoming library events. Of course, user education will be critical to pass on the emerging services to patrons. The possibilities are endless if libraries are not constricted by cash flows. Even then there are other barriers that must be factored into the equation concerning our demographics. Nevertheless i will make the best outcome of the given situation.

But i can say that i will not stop dreaming for the opportunities to come my librarie's way!

# 14 Discovering Technorati

I gained some realisations out of my Technorati experience. In a keyword search one can designate searching blogs containg the following options: any authority, a little authority, some authority, a lot of authority. Different search results eventuated when the same search (Learning 2.0) was carried out with the former options. For example, 5,970 results eventuated when some authority was applied to this keyword search. On the other hand, the result changed to 5,198 when a lot of authority altered the search in blog posts.

Additionally, there is a visual representation of the above results in graph format which consolidates its numerical figures.

As opposed to blog posts, there are 830 blogs about Learning 2.0. Interestingly, Technorati records the number of fans a blog has gained. Currently, 2¢ Worth holds 95 fans. Even video & photo results can come up for designated search.

In an equivalent tag search, 967 posts were tagged with Learning 2.0. While no photos came up in a keyword search containing Learning 2.0, the same tag search did produce photos.

Under a directory search, 830 blogs containing Learning 2.0 were recorded. The same results were gained from a keyword search of blogs containinig Learning 2.0.

These are my discoveries!
blog

#13 Del.icio.su about bookmarks

So far i have created 65 bookmarks on my Del.icio.su account. I must say that i have not even reached half way yet on this bookmarking task.

I have a new URL for all my bookmarks, that is, http://del.icio.us/mariaf
This is rather cool as now i can access my bookmarks from anywhere, not just from home or work.

Not only can i access my own bookmarks, i can also check out what others have bookmarked. It is also great to view the popular and recent bookmarks as well.

Additionally, Del.icio.su enable end users to see the comments & tags made by others on the same bookmarked site.

Now i will continue to bookmark my other favourites toward the Del.icio.su. I better keep going as i have a fair bit to bookmark.

# 11 I'm on about LibraryThing

The sidebar contains my LibraryThink catalogue. I invite you to do a search. Find an interesting resource.

The widget displayed in this post will recommend some resources worth consulting.

Apart from creating a virtual library, you can share what you are reading with others.

#12 The Rollyo Potential

Rollyo gives the potential to create a customised search engine. It allows the search engine to be made out of your trusted sites. Search engines can be geared toward specific interests. For example, a search engine can be geared to search for EVENTS or JOBS, etc.

'Why don't you test out my Rollyo search engine for yourself'

#10 Check out my Slide Show!

#9 RSS Search Tools

Playing can be considered a form of learning. I have gained a working awareness of the RSS Search Tools that i now have at my disposal. These RSS Search Tools include Topix.net, Google Blog Search, Feedster & Technorati. I cannot comment on Feedster as the page is out of action given that the makers are reworking the web page. I found Topix.net particularly handy for finding news feeds relevant to journalism. Topix.net allows keyword searching. Google Blog Search enabled me to find the 23squared blog which i have been trying to locate. My commendations to the creator of 23squared in its style of instructional support offered in the Web 2.0 learning. I have referred to it for support, & found it to be most helpful in my case. Thanks to 23squared. Technorati was great in enabling me to locate a podcast i had been meaning to get my hands on, being the Steve Abrams address to the SC Technology Institute on libraries, technology, and change. The aforementioned podcast is available on:http://www.technorati.com/videos/youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DOgHY69loi6A

HAPPY LISTENING!

Thinking RSS

How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your work or personal life?

Depending upon one's interests, RSS technology enables the end user to keep track of the latest news in a given area of interest. To examplify, i like to keep track of community events rather than the big commercial events that are not short of advertising promotions. Provided that the provider of the community events website holds the technology to engage in the RSS way, i won't have to sift through old information already seen on that website in the past. Instead I will view the latest news feed. This saves time as one is not wasting time sifting through old information to locate the new.

On a work scale, there are definite advantages. To examplify, i can set up an RSS feed focusing on a researcher's subject area. In this way, i can keep abreast of the latest information on the given subject. Hence, the researcher is supplied with the latest news in his/her area without the outdated contents.

Bonuses to be had on personal & work related scales.

A Manipulated Mosaic

mosaic1392836
Originally uploaded by Moonlight_Tulip

i have been playing around with the attempt of creating a mosaic. I hope that the image is sharp enough. I would not mind if someone could give me some advice on how to better improve it.

For citation purposes, i have taken these photo from flicker on the impression that they are publicly available. I supposedly got an email by a creator (i think) not liking the use of the images. i attempted to explain to the supposed creator that they are being used solely for learning purpose, & not commercial gains. In turn, i hope that i have not offended anyone.

Woo hoo technology definitely allows you to manipulate images to create new versions. Let your expression go!

Bubbles of Freedom

Originally uploaded by b.e.n.

Although the creator titled this image, PAPERWEIGHT, i am going to give it my own interpretation. It will be an abstract image that i have titled Bubbles of Freedom.

Each bubble carries a story inside that floats off to divergent destinations. It may be caught by a child running freely in the country pastures. It may land on a couple sailing in a pond, etc. Coming in contact with the bubble will create a special moment no matter how trivial.

Blue beaded bracelet

Blue beaded bracelet
Originally uploaded by Moonlight_Tulip

My friend wanted to wear this bracelet for a formal work do. However, the bracelet needed some repair as several links were broken. My pink gadget tool box possessed similiar links alike the displayed bracelet. I was able to repair the blue beaded bracelet in time for the occasion.
I liked the look of this bracelet, & established that it could be easily made. In turn, technology has allowed me to take an image of this same bracelet in order to search for the same beads, & replicate its design.
Now the work can begin!

A WUUFF-WUUFF with an Attitude

Sending a

wuuff-wuuff

to my readers. Wuuff-Wuuff translates to GREETINGS as per the canine lingo. Jesse the border collie cross kelpie cross blue healer is your sender.

I was bred in country Victoria, Donald to be exact. My owners negotiated my transferal to the western suburbs of Melbourne. I was dropped off on board a truck full of pigs. You heard, those Oink Oinkers. Given my superiority, i rode in the front seat, and not in the back amongst all the Oinkers. Thank God for that as once those Oinkers start, nobody else can fit a word in.

I have acclimatised to the city life. The western suburbs has become my affirmed territory now. My markings on every tree in my area ensure this. Have a look and a smell around the nearby trees.

Do you see it??????????