You are currently browsing the monthly archive for June 2008.
Finished at last! On the whole I’ve enjoyed my journey and I’ve learned a lot along the way.
My Favourite Things
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Del.icio.us is fantastic, even though my first impression wasn’t that good. It’s very useful for keeping track of all those links and sharing them with others.
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Flickr – online storage of images is a good idea. It’s better not to keep too many images on my PC and in email inbox. The blog this option is good, very easy. Flickr toys have lots of potential and are fun tools.
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Image generating tools in general. There is potential for use in Library e-newsletters etc
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Wikis – I think it would be a great learning exercise for Library staff to set one up and collaborate on it.
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Podcasts – potential for our website, blog, newsletters, information literacy tutorials etc
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Videos – potential for all of above. I would like to create some or get existing videos hosted. There is a need for good quality online videos that are relevant to TAFE. Many existing, commercially available videos don’t suit our needs.
Least liked
I found something of interest in pretty much all the tools and activities covered in the course, but got frustrated with the technology (and my lack of understanding/expertise) on a number of occasions. Sometimes technology was slow, activities were excessively time consuming, or tools didn’t work the way they were supposed to etc.
By far the worst aspect of doing the course was CENSORSHIP i.e. the blocks on internet sites that we have to deal with. I know there is the option of viewing things somewhere else, e.g., at home, or at a public library, but if you want to use a Web 2.0 tool for work purposes and you can’t access it at work it is just so frustrating!!!!! For me it kills the impulse to be innovative and put the effort in. Even since starting the course, a slide show I put into my blog is now hosted on a blocked site, so can’t be viewed on campus. I worry that this is going to make us look unprofessional if we use a tool to communicate with students, and then can’t open it a few weeks (or days) later!!
The other problem with not being able to guarantee reliable access on campus is that some students don’t have access off campus. It creates equity issues. Not everyone has broadband or a high enough speed internet connection to watch online video for example. If something is hosted by teachers, or libraries, and the site is then blocked for some reason, some students may miss out on useful resources.
I do understand the need to block sites with inappropriate content, but some of the sites being blocked just don’t appear to warrant it. I would like to know more about the decision making process in regards to censorship, i.e. how are websites evaluated?
The HI Libraries (and TAFE NSW LIbraries) subscribe to eBooks, so I’ve had a look at some of these. Some are useful, others not as good (same as print versions really!). Personally, I find it hard to read large volumes of text on screen, but good for brief readings, definitions etc. I think some text books are suited to an electronic format, but I’d find it hard to read a novel or detailed study this way. The convenience factor is significant though. 24×7 access from your home computer is a time saver.
The British Library’s Online Gallery is wonderful. The Turning the Pages tool is incredible. The quality of these digitised books is far superior to any that I’ve used previously. http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/ttp/ttpbooks.html
I had never heard of audio ebooks, but I like the idea. I’ve had a brief look at LibriVox and will try putting something on my MP3 player. Audio ebooks would be great for listening to while travelling…This might also be an option for students who catch public transport and want to get some work done on the way.
Podcasts are great! I think they have lots of potential for libraries. Perhaps for information literacy tutorials on our website, library news and announcements, interviews….
Stephen Abram’s podcast 25 Technologies to Watch discusses emerging technologies and how they can be used in the Library field. It’s an hour long, but interesting to see what is happening in America.
