Monday, April 28, 2008
Are we there yet?
Thank you to the Learning 2.0 team for your hard work in putting this together. A week ago I wouldn't have dreamt I could catch up, but I've enjoyed learning some new things as a result of this program and will have fun continuing to explore some of the more appealing tools.
Week 15 - Games and Virtual Worlds
Thank goodness for 2 choices this week. The "virtual worlds" component of this week's exercise would make my head implode if I had to experiment with it. We had to mess around in Second Life when I was in a "libraries and distance education" course at library school. I found it boring and pointless and for better or worse, still do (no offense intended to those who enjoy it.)
So I leaned toward the other games and experimented with Zuma, Bejewelled and Sudoku. I was pretty bad at Bejewelled and more less sat back while my daughter did it (as my able assistant). I did Zuma, though, and that was kind of fun once I figured it out, though I still can't fathom making a special point of going to this website and playing the game just for the fun of it. Maybe if I was waiting for someone and had time on my hands, then I might be inclined to play a video game (just as a time waster while waiting for something better to happen). Sudoku is a game we play as a board game and I also keep a sudoku book handy in the car for more "waiting moments." I'm a product of the 80s and I distinctly recall as a high school student hovering around at the arcade waiting for friends (mainly boys) to be done with the daily dose so as to get on with other things. I had hoped it was just a passing fad....
How to use games in libraries? Personally, I don't really know, beyond perhaps drawing kids to educational games on that part of our website. Opening up the computers to gamers is sufficient, to my mind. I don't really see the point in dragging libraries into Second Life, as though somehow they'll be more relevant to people there than they would be or are in the real world. I actually think we have a big enough problem making people aware of libraries as it is, in the here and now, without dedicating time and resources in putting libraries into fantasy games.
It's too bad this is the last exercise because as I write all this, I feel very, very old and crotchety...
So I leaned toward the other games and experimented with Zuma, Bejewelled and Sudoku. I was pretty bad at Bejewelled and more less sat back while my daughter did it (as my able assistant). I did Zuma, though, and that was kind of fun once I figured it out, though I still can't fathom making a special point of going to this website and playing the game just for the fun of it. Maybe if I was waiting for someone and had time on my hands, then I might be inclined to play a video game (just as a time waster while waiting for something better to happen). Sudoku is a game we play as a board game and I also keep a sudoku book handy in the car for more "waiting moments." I'm a product of the 80s and I distinctly recall as a high school student hovering around at the arcade waiting for friends (mainly boys) to be done with the daily dose so as to get on with other things. I had hoped it was just a passing fad....
How to use games in libraries? Personally, I don't really know, beyond perhaps drawing kids to educational games on that part of our website. Opening up the computers to gamers is sufficient, to my mind. I don't really see the point in dragging libraries into Second Life, as though somehow they'll be more relevant to people there than they would be or are in the real world. I actually think we have a big enough problem making people aware of libraries as it is, in the here and now, without dedicating time and resources in putting libraries into fantasy games.
It's too bad this is the last exercise because as I write all this, I feel very, very old and crotchety...
Podcasts continued
OK, I managed to post a playlist from LastFM by following the instructions in Blogger Help. Woo hoo!
Week 14 - Google Docs
Have been messing around in Google Docs. This is something totally new to me. Will need to do some further exploration. I'm a bit hazey on the "share" feature. Here is the document I developed and saved.
Week 13 - Blogs & podcasts
I am presently downloading a great program from CBC Radio One's program IDEAS. I love listening to these in the car and am gratified that the CBC is finally putting increasing amounts of material online for downloading. I only wish I could find more comedy, but hopefully those days are coming.
I'm not actually sure how to link directly to the podcast as opposed to the webpage on which it resides. In the case of the CBC, many different podcasts are listed here. I'm downloading The Dog Ate My Homework. I've checked on Help how to embed a podcast onto the site (and I have listened to embedded podcasts on other people's blogs in the past), but I think I'll experiment with this from one of the computers at work, as the connection time is faster than here at home.
I enjoyed Darcy's video on YouTube, but also the one with the young guy dancing at the Locke Library. Again, I'm on high speed lite at home, so You Tube starts and stops in spurts. Better at work!
I'm not actually sure how to link directly to the podcast as opposed to the webpage on which it resides. In the case of the CBC, many different podcasts are listed here. I'm downloading The Dog Ate My Homework. I've checked on Help how to embed a podcast onto the site (and I have listened to embedded podcasts on other people's blogs in the past), but I think I'll experiment with this from one of the computers at work, as the connection time is faster than here at home.
I enjoyed Darcy's video on YouTube, but also the one with the young guy dancing at the Locke Library. Again, I'm on high speed lite at home, so You Tube starts and stops in spurts. Better at work!
More E-audio
Had to update the security on Windows Media for my Overdrive account. Decided to download There are No Shortcuts instead of the Meditation for Beginners, but it was taking forever and I have about another 3 parts yet to download.
I have copied onto a CD in the past and it seems to me that I could play the CD even after the check-in time. I'll have to see about this again.
One of the drawbacks of e-audio is the mindshift from regular audio that is required. I feel resentful that I can't listen to it whenever I want, but only in the limited time period. I don't think of it as a book, but rather as a CD.
But a fabulous addition to our collection, especially for us commuters!
I have copied onto a CD in the past and it seems to me that I could play the CD even after the check-in time. I'll have to see about this again.
One of the drawbacks of e-audio is the mindshift from regular audio that is required. I feel resentful that I can't listen to it whenever I want, but only in the limited time period. I don't think of it as a book, but rather as a CD.
But a fabulous addition to our collection, especially for us commuters!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Week 12 - E-Books & E-audio Books
First of all, I didn't know you could download books through Netlibrary. Their selection is limited, but still, the process is easier than with the Overdrive books. I am presently 40% through a download of 101 Dalmatians and I will likely download some of the other kids books for use in the car.
I have used the Overdrive books many times and have the software set up in my computer already. The selection continues to improve.
Once I'm through with the Dalmatians, I will try to reactivate a book that I've downloaded in the past, Meditation for Beginners. (I'm going to need it if I manage to get through all these Learning 2.0 tutorials.)
I don't have a sense that one source of e-audio books is easier to to search than the other. Netlibrary has fewer choices. I like the fact that netlibrary tells you up front how many titles are available in each genre.
Update tomorrow if I succeed with both downloads (or not).
I have used the Overdrive books many times and have the software set up in my computer already. The selection continues to improve.
Once I'm through with the Dalmatians, I will try to reactivate a book that I've downloaded in the past, Meditation for Beginners. (I'm going to need it if I manage to get through all these Learning 2.0 tutorials.)
I don't have a sense that one source of e-audio books is easier to to search than the other. Netlibrary has fewer choices. I like the fact that netlibrary tells you up front how many titles are available in each genre.
Update tomorrow if I succeed with both downloads (or not).
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