* What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
Really, my favourites were the online image generators. I since used one to create a blog post for our intranet: http://nicola/archives/news.jpg
* How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
As a technologically inclined person, it didn't really (I have to be honest) learn TOO much, except the world of RSS feeds was something I'd not really explored that I found neat. I like the idea that we were at least introduced to what's going on around the internet these days. It's easy to get behind if you don't keep on top of it.
* Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
Not really. I have to emphasize, once again, that I really love online image generators now.
* What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
Finding more resources that we can directly link to our specific roles at the library. A lot of the time I found myself wondering...how does this help the circulation department, exactly?
* If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again choose to participate?
For sure. I'm always up for something new.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
#23 Audiobooks and eBooks
WELL, I am glad to see that Library to Go is Mac compatible now :P
I have a really poor attention span these days, so I don't think Audiobooks and eBooks are really my thing - I prefer to listen to Podcasts or surf the internet on my phone.
But for those who aren't as distracted as I am, it's a really cool way to get content from home without having to go to a library.
I have a really poor attention span these days, so I don't think Audiobooks and eBooks are really my thing - I prefer to listen to Podcasts or surf the internet on my phone.
But for those who aren't as distracted as I am, it's a really cool way to get content from home without having to go to a library.
#22 Podcasts, Smodcasts!
I need not name my other employer, but as a result of my employment I feel I get asked at least once a day what a Podcast is.
WELL - in short - it's like a radio show, or any form of broadcast, in either audio or video format - and it's meant to be played on a portable media player.
The word is a portmanteau of the words iPod and Broadcast. When I explain that, most people get it.
There's a podcast for pretty much any topic these days.
I do not recommend a relaxation podcast on your commute. You may fall asleep and miss your bus stop.
Guess what?
My boyfriend, Chris, has a podcast.
He talks about all sorts of stuff, but mainly music, movies, comics and hockey.
http://altcast.blogspot.com <--check it out :)
WELL - in short - it's like a radio show, or any form of broadcast, in either audio or video format - and it's meant to be played on a portable media player.
The word is a portmanteau of the words iPod and Broadcast. When I explain that, most people get it.
There's a podcast for pretty much any topic these days.
I do not recommend a relaxation podcast on your commute. You may fall asleep and miss your bus stop.
Guess what?
My boyfriend, Chris, has a podcast.
He talks about all sorts of stuff, but mainly music, movies, comics and hockey.
http://altcast.blogspot.com <--check it out :)
#20 AskAway
Oh.. I was just talking about this!
AskAway is a university student's dream. Sometimes I get really stuck looking for articles on SFU's databases and all I want is some PROFESSIONAL HELP!
That's when AskAway comes into the picture! I use this service at least 4-5 times each semester, when I get really stuck and I feel hopeless and the sky starts falling. Librarians always save me in the end.
The coolest part for me, is that there's an integrated browser so the librarian can show me around a web page while chatting to me. It's almost like you're speaking in person. Except in person I wouldn't wear my pyjamas.
AskAway is a university student's dream. Sometimes I get really stuck looking for articles on SFU's databases and all I want is some PROFESSIONAL HELP!
That's when AskAway comes into the picture! I use this service at least 4-5 times each semester, when I get really stuck and I feel hopeless and the sky starts falling. Librarians always save me in the end.
The coolest part for me, is that there's an integrated browser so the librarian can show me around a web page while chatting to me. It's almost like you're speaking in person. Except in person I wouldn't wear my pyjamas.
#19 Databases
Databases are a great source of information, and mostly, in my case, finding credible sources for research. Databases are especially useful when you know exactly what you're looking for. However, I often find when I'm doing research that I don't really know what I'm looking for.
My advice: Use databases in harmony with AskAway. This is why librarians will never go extinct.
ps. I think the car manual database is pretty cool. Although I would never attempt to fix any mechanical problem on a car myself.
My advice: Use databases in harmony with AskAway. This is why librarians will never go extinct.
ps. I think the car manual database is pretty cool. Although I would never attempt to fix any mechanical problem on a car myself.
#18 Office 2007
I use Microsoft Word to write my papers and assignments for university. The ribbon across the top in Word 2007 (a sort-of... contextual formatting bar) makes it a bit easier to manage your word document as you write.
In older versions, you'd have to open multiple formatting palettes to format your document. What ended up happening was you'd have about 12 boxes covering up bits and pieces of your document, and suddenly your screen was feeling very claustrophobic. Luckily, with this new ribbon formatting bar across the top, you don't have to close and reopen palettes every few minutes. Instead, you can just scroll through the different palettes at the top of the screen. WHEW.
Another change I noticed.. Maybe a not so great one..
In Excel 2007 you have to jump through hoops and hurdles to get the Solver Add-in to work. It was built-in to previous versions, but now it's not as easy to find and run. No, I'm not a math nerd, I just have to use this function for all the statistics courses SFU says I have to take to finish my degree.
In older versions, you'd have to open multiple formatting palettes to format your document. What ended up happening was you'd have about 12 boxes covering up bits and pieces of your document, and suddenly your screen was feeling very claustrophobic. Luckily, with this new ribbon formatting bar across the top, you don't have to close and reopen palettes every few minutes. Instead, you can just scroll through the different palettes at the top of the screen. WHEW.
Another change I noticed.. Maybe a not so great one..
In Excel 2007 you have to jump through hoops and hurdles to get the Solver Add-in to work. It was built-in to previous versions, but now it's not as easy to find and run. No, I'm not a math nerd, I just have to use this function for all the statistics courses SFU says I have to take to finish my degree.
#17 Shared Calendars in Microsoft Outlook
Shared calendars is really useful in a sense that, often more than one person needs access to a calendar and the ability to modify it without the fear that they're overlapping someone else's scheduling.
I do this with my boyfriend using iCal on my Mac. I have my work schedule, my school schedule, and my personal events (such as a dentist appointment, dinner with a friend) all stored in separate calendars. Then I publish them to him, he's able to import them into his iCal, and he can see all the modifications I make to my calendar.
Vice-versa.
A very handy tool for a needy, controlling, manipulative girlfriend... ;)
I do this with my boyfriend using iCal on my Mac. I have my work schedule, my school schedule, and my personal events (such as a dentist appointment, dinner with a friend) all stored in separate calendars. Then I publish them to him, he's able to import them into his iCal, and he can see all the modifications I make to my calendar.
Vice-versa.
A very handy tool for a needy, controlling, manipulative girlfriend... ;)
#16 Email best practices
Nothing makes me more crazy than a really poorly written email.
Don't tell him I said this, but I usually get these from my Dad.
By poorly written email, I mean, the subject line is really vague,
the email content is vague,
things are mispelled,
weird captilization and punctuation...
Need I go on?
I have to admit, I admire anyone who still dares to write in ALL CAPS. TO SEND AN EMAIL COMPLETELY UPPERCASE, THEY MUST BE REALLY, REALLY EMOTIONAL.
Don't tell him I said this, but I usually get these from my Dad.
By poorly written email, I mean, the subject line is really vague,
the email content is vague,
things are mispelled,
weird captilization and punctuation...
Need I go on?
I have to admit, I admire anyone who still dares to write in ALL CAPS. TO SEND AN EMAIL COMPLETELY UPPERCASE, THEY MUST BE REALLY, REALLY EMOTIONAL.
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