Dishin' on Delicious and Classroom Discourse

I am really big on bookmarking sites. Whenever I find a site that I think is something I would use again, I mark it in my "Favorites" in some folder like "Medical" or "Statistics" or "Used Daily" depending on what information the site provides.  I guess, you could call that "tagging" the site ;-)  Anyway, I was thrilled to learn that there is such a thing as social bookmarking - where one can post their bookmarks on the web rather than on the computer, and one can actually access other's bookmarks.  This is totally new to me - and I jumped at the chance to set up an account with Delicious to try it out.  Setting the account up via my Google account was not very user friendly for this techno newbie.  It seeemed like every other click I had to "re log in" again and again.  I never did figure out what my user name was....but I'm hoping what I gave you in the Discussion section will get you there!  Once on Delicious I found it quite fun to hunt for subjects unrelated to the library but very fun for me, such as beekeeping or winemaking.    Then when I hunkered down to search for library web 2.0 bookmarks, I found myself getting a bit confused and lost.  Would I really use this in my professional life?  Hmmmm.  Not sure.  However, it may be exceedingly helpful within my reference department to be able to have access to websites other Reference personnel have deemed to be useful.  This is something to consider.

Oh, and I have taken a look at the two blogs I selected for Technology information.  I'm big on the bottom line, and so the Seven Things You Should Know...on Educause.edu seemed to me to cut right to the chase.  It had a very interesting article today (1/24/2011)  on the technology of open-ended student response during class lectures, which I could see as being of value in larger classes.  Students could text on their cell-phones, IPads or Ipods questions, comments pertinent to the lecture.  For larger classes, this seems practical.  For smaller classes, I'd say it would be faster and more efficient to raise your hand and ask the question!  And seriously, are we really supposed to think that students who bring their cellphones, IPads or IPods to class are intending to use them to "enhance" their learning experience?  Yeah, right.  I think they would be more of a temptation to NOT pay attention in class.  Just my opinion.

Quickie Wiki, part 2

OK, so in my last post, I didn't quite fulfill the assignment of summarizing what I have learned this week.  Yes, I learned that "wiki" means "fast," but I also learned that they are also webpages, and that they are very easy to use.    I enjoyed posting my contributions to our class "wiki" - and felt that there was great potential for creativity in future posts, if I put my mind to it!  As for the practical value of a wiki, I do believe that it would be an excellent means of getting my department at work literally "on the same page."  There are lots of emails that go out from one person in the department to the other - and they get lost amongst all the spam and library-wide emails that fill up our mailbox.  I can see that department announcements or information would be easily followed on a wiki - and having the history behind each post would be helpful.  Next time I go in to work I plan to ask our IT head if we can set up a wiki on our Intranet for our department.  I'll keep you posted on whether or not my idea is even feasible - and if it is, how successful it is! 

I really enjoyed the orientation which introduced us to wikis.  I learn best by actually doing the work, but next to that I prefer visual lessons.  They stick with me longer. 

Before I close this blog, I must say that the most surprising thing I learned this week, was that Wikipedia, the most visible wiki which acts as a type of encyclopedia, could be considered a valid source.  The professor in a previous class who gave me a "zero" for citing Wikipedia in a paper, and my boss at work who does not allow us to cite Wikipedia when we answer reference questions would differ with that conclusion.  Perhaps some day, but I do not feel comfortable using it as a reliable source. 

Quickie Wiki

My mother has a knack for twisting her words and creating some interesting malaprops without even being aware of it.   Whenever anyone in our family unintentionally misspeaks, we all roll our eyes and give credit to our being related to grandma.  One of her curious phrases which she has used when trying to get the kids and grandkids to bed, or out the door is "quickie wiki."  I always assumed it was just rhyming gibberish, so imagine my surprise when I learned this week that "wiki" means fast!  I have a new appreciation and respect for my mother's verbal recitations, and I am now curious to see if any of the others happen to actually mean something.  Could there really be a Dizzyland?  Is it possible to grow liberries?  Is that doctor edible AND credible at the same time?  Hmmm.   I think my mom has earned the benefit of the doubt!  And now, quickie wiki, I must get off this blog and make some meatboys and spaghetti!

Self-Assessment of my Technology Knowledge & Skills

Ok, so technology is not my strong point.  That's ok, because that gives me some room to grow and improve during this course.   My results are as follows:

1. Basic Computer Knowledge and Skills - 92 %
2. Word Processing - 99%
3. Spreadsheet  - 97%
4. Database - 65 %
5. Presentation - 82%
6. Internet - 82%
7. Web Development  64 %

I did take the test three times, because the first time I was a little hard on myself and tended to put "basic" when I should have put "intermediate" or "mastery."   The first time through I was thinking "could I explain how this works to a class of students?" and that pretty much meant mastery was out of the question.  By the third time I took the test, I think I was more fair about my abilities, and cut myself a little slack.   I definitely need more work on my database  and web development skills.   To be fair, I do neither in my job, so I haven't had the occasion to practice.  I believe this class will help me improve in the web development category.  I took the test for the final time after I had published my blog, and was pleased to notice I had already advanced in a couple areas.  My goals for this class are simply to become familiar with the technology that is out there.  I don't have to be proficient in each area.  I would be thrilled to enlarge my vocabulary with techno terms, and thereby reduce the "deer in the headlight" occasions when I haven't got a clue!   Let the learning begin!

Inital Introductions

Greetings!! I am a 52 year-old female who is working online to FINALLY get her bachelor's degree in General Studies.  I have been married to a Mechanical Engineer named Dave for 32+ years, and have three grown children:  Ryan (Purdue Communications  grad, age 29 - married to Kristen and living in China running an orphanage); Julie (Ball State Elementary education grad, age 27 - married to Daniel, living and teaching in northern Kentucky); and Brianna (Purdue Communications grad age 23 - newly married to David and living and looking for a job in Ohio.) Ryan has two daughters, Ellie (4 1/2) and Annie (2 1/2) whom I adore and enjoy Skyping with every Friday night!  They came out for the wedding last August, and I made sure we had lots of cuddle and reading time!  The one with the hairy arm is my son! :-)


We moved to small-town Kokomo, Indiana from crowded, smog-filled southern California sixteen years ago, and have absolutely no regrets.  (Okay, there was that time our old California house tripled in price after we  sold it, but I digress...)  Check out these links to see our old neighborhood and our current neighborhood.  I much prefer living farther apart from my neighbors.  In our old house, we would look out our window and wave at our neighbors in their home!  Ugh.  I invested heavily in drapes! ;-)

Once two out of my three kids entered college, I returned to work to put THEM through college.  I work in the Reference Department in our local public library (http:www.khcpl.org) , and enjoy learning new things everyday as I assist patrons with their questions.  Now that my kids are grown and graduated, I have returned to my scholastic endeavors and am working towards my Bachelor's degree, with a possible interest in one day getting an MLS.   IF I make it through the required Math class.  I have serious doubts about that! 

 

When I am not involved in the big  3 S's - studying, skyping or shopping,  I am usually taste testing my husband's newest wine creation, (hiccup) or running from my bees.  Yes, I have 50,000 bees...or rather, I had.  They tend to die off in the winter.  Hopefully, I'll have some left over and can continue my odd yet delicious hobby in the spring.  Here I am with both my honeys!

Here is a link to my Wordle creation, which lists my likes:  www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/2965718/Melanie%27s_Favorite_Things

Just to be fair, I've made a second Wordle creation with my dislikes:

www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/2966482/Melanie%27s_List_of_Dislikes

This has been my first experience with blogging.  I hope it works!