Learning 2.0 Contest

From Library

Welcome to the Social Networking Contest page for the employees of Savage Library!

This Wiki has been set up as a part of the library’s effort to encourage staff to experiment and learn about the new and emerging technologies that the public is using or may be asking us about. I have called these technologies "Social Networking" but you will find many different names for them such as: Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and Social Software. Social Networking is a way for people to collaborate and share information online.

"Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 may seem like just the latest technology catch phrase, but what is most important about Library 2.0 is its emphasis on service. As librarians we are all striving to provide the best possible service to our users, employing new technologies to help us achieve that goal. For Library 2.0 to be more than just a catch phrase, it must result in a Library that's responsive to the needs of its users." eLearning About Library 2.0 by Janet Balas, Computers in Libraries, January 2007

One thing that all the technologies that will be introduced here have in common is that they are all available free and through the Internet. Once you have set up the technology you will be able to access it from any computer anywhere that has Internet access.

The Learning 2.0 contest started out from a blog post by Helene Blowers. You can access the original website at http://plcmcl2-things.blogspot.com/.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE CONTEST

This is a self-discovery program which encourages you to take control of your own learning and to utilize lifelong learning skills through exploration and PLAY. There will be no classes or workshops offered to support this program. Instead, staff are encouraged to work together and share with each other their discoveries, techniques and "how to's". We will put aside a few minutes at every staff meeting to share Ah-Ha moments. Jeremy will also be available to assist you with the contest.

If you spend only 15 minutes a day going through the steps of this contest, in less than two months you will have an excellent understanding of Social Networking. You will have built for yourself a collection of tools that will help you to be more effective and knowledgeable. AND you will have had fun!

You may do the assignments in any order but they are set up in a logical sequence. Some assignments build upon or use a technology that you will have learned in a previous assignment.

Each assignment contains instructions on how to notify Jeremy that you have completed it. Jeremy will track your progress. After you notify Jeremy of your completion of an assignment he will e-mail you notification that you have earned the points for that assignment. If you would like to see your progress you can visit the Google Spreadsheet and view the Contestant Progress document. This may not work until you have completed setting up your gmail account which you will see on the next page.

I suggest you begin by watching the video prepared by Lori Reed, Training Specialist for the PLCMC Library called 7-1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners. This will give you many tips and ideas for getting started and preparing for this adventure.

Assignments

1. Protopage Web 2.0 Personal Start Pages
2. Gmail Gmail Account (Google Mail) is a free e-mail service from Google that is often used as an example of a Web 2.0 application.
3. Blogs and Blogger Blogs are online web diaries. Blogger is one of the most popular blogging software. You'll be able to create your own blog with your Google Gmail account. Other notable blogging platforms include Myspace and Facebook.
4. RSS - Bloglines RSS are XML technology formats for publishing information to blogs, web browsers, and other applications. Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 support RSS. Bloglines is another way to organize RSS feeds.
5. Pandora - Pandora is an Internet Radio website that suggests music based on your listening habits and preferences.
6. Wiki Exercise are collaborative web environment where content can be easily added and edited. The most famous wiki is Wikipedia, a collaborative encyclopedia. The Savage Library also has two wikis: http://wiki.western.edu/library/ and http://wiki.western.edu/libdoc/.
7. Flickr - Flickr is a photo sharing site where users can upload photos
8. Overdrive - Overdrive A Marmot service that allows users to download audio books.
9. Library Thing - Library Thing A collaborative book sharing and cataloging service
10. del.icio.us - del.icio.us A social bookmarking site that aggregates links to tags websites, blogs, and other electronic resources. Similar sites include reddit.com, Digg, and Slashdot.
11. YouTube - YouTube and Metacafe Video sharing sites
12. Google Docs - Google Docs and Spreadsheets Using your Google account that you have already set-up, you can log and use a functional online word processor and spreadsheet that runs in your web browser.
13. IM or Instant Messaging is one of a number of online chat services such as AIM or AOL instant messaging, Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger, and MSN Messenger. AskColorado also uses a variant of IM to provide chat reference.
14. Facebook - Facebook A social networking website focusing on educational institutions. Many of Western's students use Facebook. Facebook also contains a blog portion as well.
15. Podcasts
16. Firefox Extentions - Firefox extentions are small pieces of software that can add new features or tiny tweaks to the Firefox web browser.
17. Search Engines - Top 25 Web 2.0 Search Engines
18. Library Elf - Library Elf Service allows you to receive notices of material that is overdue from all of your library accounts.
19. Second Life - Second Life
20. Reflect on your experiences