I have been using Google Documents for quite a few years. It has allowed me to collaborate and share with fellow students. However, Zoho Writer seems to offer more to users than Google Docs. Google offers a simple approach with not many tools to for advanced editing. Zoho seems to have every tool a word processing program would offer. Both sites are easy to navigate and offer "sharing" of documents, however in my opinion, Google's all inclusive website may appeal to users.
Although other websites may offer similar features and applications as Google, needing one user name to access your book lists, your online documents, your website (as seen in the Google Sites tutorial this week), your email, etc. is, in my opinion, more appealing. I believe this all inclusiveness has aided in Google's success.
Back to the website of the hour, Zoho Writer. Zoho Writer was impressive. It offered an appealing simplistic screen with visual appeal. It gave me the option of signing in using my Google name and password, quite a nice feature. All these names and passwords are making me crazy! I've resorted to writing them down, which may not be safe, but I can't possibly remember them all. The Zoho created document describes the beneficial details of Zoho, highlighted one in particular that Google does not offer, exporting documents as pdf. Great to know!
While exploring the site, I also learned a user can edit a document offline. Once you do gain online access, the documents sync with the offline editing previously made. Another fabulous feature! With this feature in mind, students could easily create documents they can edit at home, at school, in a public library, etc. This could be especially advantageous for undeserved families not able to provide their child with a USB or disk. Students also can't use the excuse "I forgot my disc at home."
Though Zoho clearly beats out Google Docs, I will probably remain true to Google. The online documents I create do not require the advanced options Zoho provides.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
WebQuest Post
Through many fantastic web resources, I created a WebQuest intended for 6th grade students. Climbing Your Family Tree The focus is on genealogy. Although my lesson focuses primarily on social studies and history, genealogy can be tied other areas in education:
- Science: genetics and DNA
- Composition: requiring students to compose a theme or essay based on their family history
- Mathematics: comparison of past minimum wages, census records and salaries compared to those of today
In my opinion, the family history students gain through a project such as this, is more valuable than any test or grade.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Week 7, Thing 16
I have very little experience using wikis. My only experience was for a group project in one of our first MLS grad classes. I felt completely useless not understanding how wiki's work. Now I know :)
Initially I wasn't sure how libraries could use wiki's for the general publics use due to the "edit" function. I would not want my patron's editing my wiki. However after exploring the suggested wiki's I found there is a login page for editing. Problem solved! Some wiki's templates were more visually appealing than others. There are many factors to choosing the right wiki website, but the visual appeal would be important to me.
When I was hired at my current job as a children's librarian, the previous librarian created a beautiful web page for their summer reading program, a central page for patrons to get any information related to summer reading. I struggled with the decision of how to create this web page especially not knowing HTML code. Through weebly.com I was able to create this page, however, now I know wiki's are another possibility.
Initially I wasn't sure how libraries could use wiki's for the general publics use due to the "edit" function. I would not want my patron's editing my wiki. However after exploring the suggested wiki's I found there is a login page for editing. Problem solved! Some wiki's templates were more visually appealing than others. There are many factors to choosing the right wiki website, but the visual appeal would be important to me.
When I was hired at my current job as a children's librarian, the previous librarian created a beautiful web page for their summer reading program, a central page for patrons to get any information related to summer reading. I struggled with the decision of how to create this web page especially not knowing HTML code. Through weebly.com I was able to create this page, however, now I know wiki's are another possibility.
Week 6, Thing 15
The copyright law is widely known about, but seldom understood. The YouTube video of A Fair(y) Use Tale did a fantastic job of briefly explaining the ins and outs of copyright. I decided to delve further and learn about Creative Commons, an offshoot of copyright that I had no idea existed. Full Copyright laws can be restrictive not leaving room for creativity to flow. Creative Commons allows individuals to share their work and allow others to use, adapt, or reuse by others. Creative Commons makes this possible. I was surprised to learn anyone can apply for a CC or, Creative Commons simply by going online and completing a questionnaire. This form of copyright allows the creativity to continue, IF the creator deems their work appropriate for Creative Commons. Creative Commons Website
The first discovery exercise asked us to find an attribution displaying this program has been modified from it's original version. I found the 23 Things is actually an article by Stephen Abrams article Stephen Abram's article, 43 Things I (or You) might want to do this year including the website 43 Things. Thus the version of 23 Things we are currently using is an extention of 43 Things thanks to the Creative Commons copyright.
On another topic, I thought it best to highlight what Nancy Courtney, author of Library 2.0 and Beyond, believes will be the next version of an online library catalog which she dubs "Ingredients for Catalog 2.0." Many tools we have explored in this class thus far could be incorporated in this futuristic catalog. After reading chapter 2 of Courney's text and thinking about library catalogs did I realize how far behind OPAC's truely are. It is time our OPACs catch up with the rest of technology, offering more to our tech savvy patrons.
The first discovery exercise asked us to find an attribution displaying this program has been modified from it's original version. I found the 23 Things is actually an article by Stephen Abrams article Stephen Abram's article, 43 Things I (or You) might want to do this year including the website 43 Things. Thus the version of 23 Things we are currently using is an extention of 43 Things thanks to the Creative Commons copyright.
On another topic, I thought it best to highlight what Nancy Courtney, author of Library 2.0 and Beyond, believes will be the next version of an online library catalog which she dubs "Ingredients for Catalog 2.0." Many tools we have explored in this class thus far could be incorporated in this futuristic catalog. After reading chapter 2 of Courney's text and thinking about library catalogs did I realize how far behind OPAC's truely are. It is time our OPACs catch up with the rest of technology, offering more to our tech savvy patrons.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Week 6, Thing 14
Prior to this graduate course, I used Google's blog search tool. Although Google's Blog Search is effective, I believe Technorati is more advanced. Through the discovery exercises, I discovered the Blog Directory. It offered a wide range of categories and subcategories. It was great to see so many web 2.0 blogs reach the top 100 popular blog list! While exploring the top 100 blogs, I discovered the user can choose either to search for popular blogs either by authority or by the number of fans. Pretty neat!
It was asked of us to compare the advantages and disadvantages of tagging. While I love organization and order, what I consider an appropriate tag, may not be the tag another would think of. I expect tagging also sets limitations when searching for results, whether on Flickr, Del.icio.us, or blogs.
Overall I believe tagging is helpful, especially if there is an overwhelming amount of information. For the purpose of this blog, the information is easily accessed through the blog archive, thus I do not feel it is necessary to tag/label each posting.
It was asked of us to compare the advantages and disadvantages of tagging. While I love organization and order, what I consider an appropriate tag, may not be the tag another would think of. I expect tagging also sets limitations when searching for results, whether on Flickr, Del.icio.us, or blogs.
Overall I believe tagging is helpful, especially if there is an overwhelming amount of information. For the purpose of this blog, the information is easily accessed through the blog archive, thus I do not feel it is necessary to tag/label each posting.
Week 6, Thing 13
No wonder they call it "Delicious," it's amazing! I have heard the name of the website, never fully understanding what it was. And now, I am addicted. Last week I began exploring the website in order to try and work ahead for class, except I have become addicted to delicious.com and can't pull myself away!
Much to my surprise, I was able to import all of my Internet Explorer bookmarks at work. As a children's librarian, I am constantly saving websites and blogs for craft ideas, book lists, resources for ordering materials, and programming ideas. I spent hours organizing and tagging these websites on delicious.com.
The searching feature is wonderful. Google has been my go-to for quite some time, however, Delicious.com offers something different. Searching other people's bookmarks allowed me to see websites that others felt were important enough to save. Through searching, I must have imported over 20 new websites on my account.
My goal is to posting more comments on my classmates blogs, thus I created a tag through delicious.com so I can easily access them.
Thanks to delicious.com, I can now access important websites for work through my home computer. In the future I'm hoping to work from home for ordering materials and planning storytimes and programs when I have children. Delicious.com makes this concept feasible.
All types of libraries can benefit from utilizing delicious.com. Through tagging important websites, time will be saved in the research process if the first few steps have already been taken.
Much to my surprise, I was able to import all of my Internet Explorer bookmarks at work. As a children's librarian, I am constantly saving websites and blogs for craft ideas, book lists, resources for ordering materials, and programming ideas. I spent hours organizing and tagging these websites on delicious.com.
The searching feature is wonderful. Google has been my go-to for quite some time, however, Delicious.com offers something different. Searching other people's bookmarks allowed me to see websites that others felt were important enough to save. Through searching, I must have imported over 20 new websites on my account.
My goal is to posting more comments on my classmates blogs, thus I created a tag through delicious.com so I can easily access them.
Thanks to delicious.com, I can now access important websites for work through my home computer. In the future I'm hoping to work from home for ordering materials and planning storytimes and programs when I have children. Delicious.com makes this concept feasible.
All types of libraries can benefit from utilizing delicious.com. Through tagging important websites, time will be saved in the research process if the first few steps have already been taken.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Week 5, Thing 12
Rollyo has amazing possibilities for schools and libraries, IF the website can speed up. The concept of creating your own search tool is genius. The process took much longer simply due to the loading speed. Based on the comments I read from other classmates, they too shared the frustration of Rollyo's extreme pokiness.
I decided to continue using the topic of genealogy to complete the Rollyo task, and for the upcoming lesson plan assignment. Copying and pasting websites into Rollyo to create my Rollyo wasn't difficult. However, I was unsure how high the authority should be for each website. Multiple graduate classes have emphasized the importance of website accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency, and coverage.
Please click on the link for my Rollyo search tool for genealogy resources. Genealogy Resources (Rollyo)
I decided to continue using the topic of genealogy to complete the Rollyo task, and for the upcoming lesson plan assignment. Copying and pasting websites into Rollyo to create my Rollyo wasn't difficult. However, I was unsure how high the authority should be for each website. Multiple graduate classes have emphasized the importance of website accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency, and coverage.
Please click on the link for my Rollyo search tool for genealogy resources. Genealogy Resources (Rollyo)
Week 5, Thing 11
I was thrilled to discover all the fantastic websites reviewed by SEOmoz.org. The variety of websites they review is impressive, ranging from the top sites for widgets to philanthropy.
One of my hobbies (which has unfortunately taken a back seat) is genealogy. Thus I was thrilled at the opportunity to explore the 1st place winner for genealogy websites, My Heritage. Below are a few of their impressive offerings:
- Facial recognition
- Free download to Family Tree Builder 4.0
- Genealogy Blog (I subscribed to it right away using the RSS feed!)
The website is a combination of a blog and social network. The initial set up is free, offering the user 250 MB of web space, or approximately 250 in the family tree. For $6.25 per month, users can upgrade to Premium status and receive 500 MB. Or for the serious genealogist, $9.95 per month can upgrade the user to unlimited MB and people in their family tree.
Libraries have been a crucial resource for the field of genealogy (see MyHeritage.com's blog on September 24, Genealogy Blog). Thus there is most certainly a use for these web resources in the library community, especially in public libraries.
As for the Travel IQ suggested by 23 Things, lets just say geography is NOT my forte.
