#23

I think the concept behind Learning 2.0 was a good one. There are so many useful sites and applications on the internet and this was a good way to introduce them to everyone. It taught everyone how beneficial the internet can really be.

I think one of the problems was the length of the project. Stretching it out over so many weeks with only one task to work on was the reason I got so far behind. A lot of the tasks didn't take too much time and I knew I had plenty of time to accomplish all of them. I think if all the tasks were available from the start (for anyone who requested it maybe), or more were available at one time, I would have kept up with it more and not rushed to get everything done at the end. I consider myself very computer savvy and this project was geared towards people who weren't. Most of the applications I already knew about and used and the ones I wasn't familiar with specifically, I used something different that was similar. I also think too many of the applications had the same idea behind them and the tasks were too similar. I found myself going through them thinking the same things and writing the same things in my blog. The internet is useful, I already knew this.

If there was another library wide project like this, I think it should be shorter with more specific tasks to accomplish, other than just writing about my experiences. I enjoyed actually going to sites and setting up accounts and actually using the applications. I realize there is no other way to keep track of who's doing what task, but I found it tedious just writing about my discoveries every time.

Like I said, I liked the idea behind the project, and I know it was fun for other people and very beneficial, but for me, I don't feel I got much out of it.

#22 Social Networking

I have had a facebook and myspace account for years. I have found people I haven't seen for years and use them as a way to keep up with what my friends are doing. I love the fact that you can customize them to suit your tastes, especially myspace. I've spent countless hours picking the proper backgrounds, font color, random html codes to make my myspace mine. I enjoy being able to send messages quickly to everyone. If I'm having a party, I create the event, invite people, and can track the RSVP's. I've done this several times.

Unfortunately, these sites are beginning to help discrimination. A potential employer may look at your profiles, and while never admit, may not hire you based on the content. Luckily, these sites have realized this and have many adjustable privacy features.

These sites are designed for bringing people together and that's the only way they can be used. In that respect they could be used in the library, but I don't think it would be work related necessarily. They are social sites...it's in the name of the applications.

#21 Podcasts

Truthfully, podcasts bore me and I never use them. I've never been one to like audiobooks, my mind tends to wander, and podcasts give the same affect. If it's just audio, I get bored. I'd rather read about "it" than listen to "it". At least that way I can skim through a boring section or skip it altogether. I played around with some of the sites and nothing really caught my ear.

I like the idea of podcasts and think they are great tools to, again, share information to a target audience.

#20 Youtube

I love youtube.com and have been using it for entertainment purposes or years. You can tell this since I've had it linked on the left side of my blog since this project was started. There have been several videos that have become infamous all over the world. I believe youtube and sites like it can benefit the library. It's a quick, easy, user friendly way to share clips with people. By embedding video directly to a site, it could be used to share information, give directions, or just show something funny, but relevant.

This video is hilarious. Not only has it been seen worldwide, but I know people who know the guy in the video. Enjoy and prepare to cringe.