Thing 23 - Give feedback about the program

I have to say I have thoroughly enjoyed the 23Things Program, it has been very rewarding and educational. Now I know what my children are rattling on about I can converse with them instead of saying WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!! I'm sad to say I have come to the end.

It has been a wonderful experience and fun. I loved doing the blog, reading the comments and seeing how others were going along the way.

A big THANK YOU to the EIS team who did a temendous job in answering my many questions. A special big THANK YOU to Dianna, where does she get the patience!

I have learnt quite a deal about Web 2.0 along the way. Some things I had used previously but alot I had not. I had a great deal of trouble with Flickr, finally conquered it with EIS Support.

In answer to your questions:

How could you draw on what you have learned in 23 Things to help you in your work?
I said below I probably wouldn't keep blogging but blogging is a great way forward to keep communication open with staff and students open for specific subject areas. RSS feeds great for keeping up with the latest information or over abundance of it, and so much more that I use, not only to help me in my work but to help students along their way to understanding Web 2.0 technology.

How could the library use the technologies featured in 23 Things to improve its service?
One example the library could use to improve its services is online instant messaging. MSN, YAHOO, etc. to answer ready reference questions during an allotted time of the day. Blogs are a great interaction tool and students seem to make great use of - Let's do a library Blog accessible on the Web Opac? Probably already there.

How do you think the 23 Things Program could be improved in the future?
In future, I think a Train the trainer or buddy scheme would be great. I have learnt from trial and error and the wonderful help of the EIS group. When I initially started, I thought it would be great to have someone on site that I could turn to and ask questions. Someone face to face, show me in person where I was going wrong. I have now completed the 23 Things Program and for staff I work with who have not, I can now, hopefully, help them along the way as they ask me how did I do this, or that. Great feeling knowing I now can and be confident in doing so.

Do you think you'll keep blogging or keep using any of the other tools you learned about?
I have to be upfront and honest and say no, I would love to but I won't keep blogging. Blogging was fun and a great experience but I joined a group that had a mission to complete 23 Things. That mission is now over and who would I blog with and about what?? I boring aren't I. Don't answer that.
I will definitely keep using a number of the tools I have learned about by participating in the 23 Things Program. MSN and Yahoo I already use at home, where would we be without You Tube, I have already used as an educational tool with teaching staff. Wikipedia a must for definitions and the Igoogle Home Page, I'm keeping mine, fantastic.
I hope as technology advances, and it will, that library staff are kept informed by using some of the Things we have learnt about in the 23 Program - Blogs - Online instant messaging - etc.

Thing 22. Read about and explore various web based communication tools including Skype, MSN Messenger and Meeboo

Believe it or not, I already subscribe to both MSN Messenger and Yahoo from home.

I have added the Google Talk gadget to my blog (without a problem - learnt in Thing 16, I had to control my desire to ad more gadgets). When I clicked on the instructions to read the article about Google Talk there was no article present. Isn't it amazing how quickly a web page is updated. Did my own searching and read the Wikipedia definition, etc. Google Talk in appearance, doesn't appear to be as advanced as MSN, Yahoo etc, but then I didn't invite and add anyone to chat (I really can't comment) as I have both a MSN and Yahoo account and certainly didn't want to create another.

I use MSN and Yahoo infrequently at home but I find both a great tool for communication. Like Skype, using MSN and Yahoo, I can have a telephone conversation over the internet, video conference, I even have a web cam which I rarely use but there if needed. My two eldest children use MSN on a regular basis to communicate with their friends they see every day mind you. My 12 year old has subscribed to Beedo which I figure is similar to Meebo. Great names!

I have a niece who attended Ballarat University and use to communicate with her lecturers using MSN to help brainstorm any issues students may have had with subjects within the course they were undertaking. A certain time during the day or the evening was set aside by the lecturers for this communication, great idea. She loved it as she was able to communicate with lecturers, which, at times, was near impossible. It was a great opportunity to ask questions and gain knowledge and understanding where it was lacking. Not sure if lecturers already use at VU as a communicating tool with students, but if not, why not? Has potential for the library also, is the library using MSN, Yahoo or Google Talk as well as InfoQuest? Has great potential.

Thing 21. Find and Listen to a Podcast or two

Seeking assistance from EIS.

Thanks to the EIS team, I have now subscribed to a number of ABC podcasts.

Managed to get the Podcast to play but couldn't hear it. There seems to be a few problems with Google so I will see if the sound is there tomorrow.

Thing 20. Watch YouTube videos people have made about libraries

Now this is one Web 2.0 technology I can say I have used previously without knowing it was a Web 2.0 technology. Only one problem, I was enjoying myself too much watching all the YouTube video's on libraries that it took me longer than I anticipated to finish Thing 20. Oh well, not to worry, I pulled myself away from watching and posted my YouTube vid.

Thing 19. Put a photo of your pet on the wiki

Ooohhh, I don't have a pet, I do have 4 children being all boys, are they classed as pets? Kidding. I will have to get the digital camera out tomorrow, as on late shift tonight, and take a photo of someone else's pet, what ever their pet maybe. As arnie said, I will be back.....

I'm back, it has only taken me a week, but hey, I managed to find a stray cat sleeping in my back yard and snapped its pic.

I followed the step by step instructions for adding to the Wiki and did so without a problem. I just couldn't figure out how to add a heading like nearly everyone else.

Thing 18. Read about the Library 2.0 movement and explore new developments in Library related interfaces such as Encore and the new EBSCOhost 2.0

Having read the Wikipedia definition of Library 2.0 VU is already on track. Online services already supplied by VU library to increase the flow of information include ebooks, ejournals, OPAC Login to My Library to name but a few. Encore is there but yet to be implemented and explained to the user, I don't know why it hasn't been implemented, maybe still in production phase, however, I'm sure the VU user would grasp the idea of ENCORE without any problem. Web 2.0 is part of the VU library way of life, whether you realise it or not and is constantly being updated and re-evaluated to interact with users.

Web 2.0 is the NOW, technology constantly evoles and advances as has the VU library and libraries around the world have to provide quality customer service to their users.

Everything I have experienced through out the 23Things program is about the Web 2.0 advancements and it has taken me far, concepts I wouldn't have ever considered contemplating before doing the program (becuase I didn't know they existed and some I will hesitate to try again - Flickr, not all web 2.0 is user friendly or it is just me haha) but it is the way forward and so it should be.

Being honest, would I still be wanting to use a card catalogue NNNNOOOOOOO!!!! You know what, it is all part of learning and VU library has adapted and gone in the forward direction taking staff and users along for the journey teaching all who use the library online OPAC about Web 2.0 technologies whether they know it or not which is a +. Imagine the future and what VU Library and libraries as a whole can deliver to their users - the mind boggles.

Thing 17 - Play with delicious

I clicked on the delicious hyperlink provided and found it to be straight forward and easy. I simply typed in a topic of interest, however, depending on the topic, depended on the number of bookmarks. One bookmark 2648, another, 121362. Way too much information. Is it like Google and you have to limit to get exactly what you are looking for?

Delicious would be a great way to have easy access to my bookmarks and my bookmarks only as I can access on any computer which is a bonus. I can see the positive and negative aspects of Delicious. I'm not a big user of the internet unless I have a specific need, and when I am searching I search Yahoo or Google. Delicious is totally different to Yahoo/Google, more specific, yes, and not as many hits, yes, but still enough to drive one crazy.

I think great for one's own bookmarks list but to search for others???? Happy to stick with what I know.

Thing 16 - Create your own iGoogle home page

I really enjoyed putting my own IGoogle page together in the end. I signed into Google and there was no IGoogle button top right, so I signed out and created my page through Igoogle before signing in. At first I thought, what the, but it wasn't until I clicked go to iGoogle home page that I saw the finished product. Brillant.

However, i was asked to log in to save my page which I did and yep, you guessed it, my IGoogle creation had disappeared. However, I was now at the IGoogle page when signed in, before I didn't get the option. So, here I go, I started again creating my IGoogle page while signed in. Low and behold I found more gadgets, love gadets. And off I went......... I couldn't figure out how to save a gadget to my Blog so I will try again to discover how. Here I go.....

I'm back, ooohhhh what fun, I went to the blogger customize page and started adding gadgets!!! Featured, Most Popular, Newest, the list goes on. I had to stop myself, take control of my desire to continue to add. I'm obsessed with adding gadgets, what delerious (I can't even spell it) fun. The gadgets are mine, but as it is my blog, you can share.