What was the most important thing you learned in the Betty Blogger summer school? Why?
I guess the most important thing I learned is that not only is there such a great variety of tools that are available to everyone, but all they require is the confidence to just try things and the belief that I really can't 'break' the Internet by learning it!
What was most challenging part of Betty Blogger? Why?
The most challenging part for me was being aware of just how much time I could spend playing around with each of these new tools.
How successful was the “self-directed” learning model?
This was quite succesful for me. I was a little nervous at the outset because I was afraid I might not 'get it' on my own. But, with others taking the same course at the same time it was very easy to get assistance when I needed it. Ultimately, the self-directed model worked very well within my work and vacation schedules - and did not result in any high stress and deadline related anxieties.
Looking back at your reasons for participating in the Betty Blogger summer school (see your blog entry for Task #1), did the program fulfill your expectations?
Yes, this program has more than filled my expectations. I definitely have learned many ways that I can be using the Internet to my advantage.
If we ran this program again, would you recommend us to a friend?
I absolutely would recommend this program - in fact, I have already spoken about it with a couple of friends.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Task #9: Cataloguing
My LibraryThing Catalogue
http://www.librarything.com/profile/onemary1
What did you think of LibraryThing?
Despite a few complaints that I have about the lack of advanced searching options, I quite like LibraryThing.
I can see value in using this as a tool to help me to remember books that I have read - especially if I choose to add my own reviews/synopses that will help me to keep storylines with the correct titles.
I also think I may make use of some of the lists that come up under "LibraryThing recommends" that seem to group certain types of stories together.
http://www.librarything.com/profile/onemary1
What did you think of LibraryThing?
Despite a few complaints that I have about the lack of advanced searching options, I quite like LibraryThing.
I can see value in using this as a tool to help me to remember books that I have read - especially if I choose to add my own reviews/synopses that will help me to keep storylines with the correct titles.
I also think I may make use of some of the lists that come up under "LibraryThing recommends" that seem to group certain types of stories together.
Is this a tool you'll use again?
Yes, given the comments I have listed above, I think this is something I could quite appreciate using.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Task #8: RSS Feeds
What RSS feeds have you subscribed to?
I subscribed to "Cricut Bloggers". Maybe this will help to keep me motivated and creative with my scrapbooking attempts!
Did you find Google Reader easy to use?
I did find Google Reader easy to use in that it seemed willing to take whatever kind of keyword search I typed and tried to find something for me.
I think the challenge for me will be thinking to check it my feeds. I really haven't ever followed any specific sites, so I'm not sure if an RSS feed will be all that useful for me.
Will you continue to use the aggregator, Google Reader?
Now that I know it's there and have some idea of how to use it, there is a chance I may see a use for it in my life. I just haven't imagined that use yet.
I subscribed to "Cricut Bloggers". Maybe this will help to keep me motivated and creative with my scrapbooking attempts!
Did you find Google Reader easy to use?
I did find Google Reader easy to use in that it seemed willing to take whatever kind of keyword search I typed and tried to find something for me.
I think the challenge for me will be thinking to check it my feeds. I really haven't ever followed any specific sites, so I'm not sure if an RSS feed will be all that useful for me.
Will you continue to use the aggregator, Google Reader?
Now that I know it's there and have some idea of how to use it, there is a chance I may see a use for it in my life. I just haven't imagined that use yet.
Task #7: Wikis
What dish will you be bringing to our family meal?
For the Wiki Picnic I said I would bring a cooler full of frozen freezies.
How was your PBWorks experience? Was it easy to use?
PBWorks was nice and easy to use! I like that the edit feature uses all of the familiar buttons and options that I am already used to using in documents.
Do you have any need for your own wiki?
This may definitely be something to introduce my extended family to! I can definitely see how organizing family birthday parties, camping trips, etc. would be MUCH easier than using the old email system we've all grumbled about!
For the Wiki Picnic I said I would bring a cooler full of frozen freezies.
How was your PBWorks experience? Was it easy to use?
PBWorks was nice and easy to use! I like that the edit feature uses all of the familiar buttons and options that I am already used to using in documents.
Do you have any need for your own wiki?
This may definitely be something to introduce my extended family to! I can definitely see how organizing family birthday parties, camping trips, etc. would be MUCH easier than using the old email system we've all grumbled about!
Task #6: Productivity Tools
Roast Beef - sometimes it pays to know the secrets behind the preparation
When Suzie was newly married she decided she wanted to invite her in-laws over and make a fancy roast dinner for them. So, she called her mother to ask how to cook a roast of beef.
Her mom's directions were simple: cut the narrow end off of the roast, place the roast in the roast pan and bake it in the oven.
Suzy dutifully cut and cooked the roast as her mom had instructed and the dinner turned out great. But, feeling bad about wasting the end of the roast she called her mom the next day to ask why she had to cut the end off. Her mom's answer left a little to be desired; "I don't know. That's just how my mom always did it."
Not one to just give in when it comes to being frugal, Suzy phoned her grandmother and asked her why she would cut off the end of a roast prior to cooking.
Grama's answer was a very sensible one - "Because my roasting pan was quite small and that's the only way most roasts would fit!"
:)
When Suzie was newly married she decided she wanted to invite her in-laws over and make a fancy roast dinner for them. So, she called her mother to ask how to cook a roast of beef.
Her mom's directions were simple: cut the narrow end off of the roast, place the roast in the roast pan and bake it in the oven.
Suzy dutifully cut and cooked the roast as her mom had instructed and the dinner turned out great. But, feeling bad about wasting the end of the roast she called her mom the next day to ask why she had to cut the end off. Her mom's answer left a little to be desired; "I don't know. That's just how my mom always did it."
Not one to just give in when it comes to being frugal, Suzy phoned her grandmother and asked her why she would cut off the end of a roast prior to cooking.
Grama's answer was a very sensible one - "Because my roasting pan was quite small and that's the only way most roasts would fit!"
:)
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Task #5: Photo Sharing
What tags were assigned to the picture I selected?
There were no tags assigned to the picture. In fact most of the pictures I looked at did not have any tags. This led me to think that I must be looking in the wrong place for the tags. (I kept clicking on 'Tags' on the right side of the screen.) I eventually did an entirely different search and sure enough found other pictures that had numerous tags.
What did I think of Picasa?
This seems like it might be a useful tool for someone wanting to create a "digital photo album" that can be shared. I especially imagine that the editing tools could be very useful.
Will I continue to use this application?
This does not seem like something that I will spend much time on - in the immediate future anyways. I don't currently feel a need to share photo albums on-line, and, must confess to still having some reservations about what I really want to be accessible to anyone using the Internet.
I know it is stated that you can "choose to make your pictures public or private", but have a hard time believing there's not someone out there with the ability to access whatever they are determined to access. It's not that I feel I have anything to hide, rather that I don't like the idea of possibly not having full control over what my pictures (or anything else) might be used for.
Other Comments
1. I was rather surprised when I first signed up for my Picasa account that there were already pictures in my 'Album' . Upon inspection I discovered that these were all pictures that I had looked at (from my own computer) while I was choosing something to put on my blog. Even pictures that I had never added to my blog - ones I had merely enlarged to get a better look at while I was strolling through my pics - these were also in my Picasa Album!? I think this realization has added to my concerns about what I might inadvertantly make public domain.
2. I did not find the Search function in Picasa to be all that helpful. There are so many pictures that can come up with any basic search that 'flipping through them' is very time consuming. I tried using multiple search terms, quotations, etc. but still didn't find it as helpful as it might be with an advanced search function that would allow me to rule out things that I don't want. For example, I was looking for a picture of some bluejays - but wanted the birds not the baseball team.
3. I found it frustrating that once I clicked away from a picture I liked (or did another search) there was no easy way to re-visit the previous picture. Using the Help feature I learned that I could add a tag to a picture by "clicking on the 'add tag' icon on the right side of the page", but that option doesn't seem to be there. Help also referred to the ability to "star" photos and then call up your list of starred photos, as well as the use of a "Photo Tray located in the lower-left corner of Picasa" - I couldn't find either of these tools either. Obviously I am missing a step somewhere - but, these challenges have certainly affected my opinion about the usefullness of this website for me.
There were no tags assigned to the picture. In fact most of the pictures I looked at did not have any tags. This led me to think that I must be looking in the wrong place for the tags. (I kept clicking on 'Tags' on the right side of the screen.) I eventually did an entirely different search and sure enough found other pictures that had numerous tags.
What did I think of Picasa?
This seems like it might be a useful tool for someone wanting to create a "digital photo album" that can be shared. I especially imagine that the editing tools could be very useful.
Will I continue to use this application?
This does not seem like something that I will spend much time on - in the immediate future anyways. I don't currently feel a need to share photo albums on-line, and, must confess to still having some reservations about what I really want to be accessible to anyone using the Internet.
I know it is stated that you can "choose to make your pictures public or private", but have a hard time believing there's not someone out there with the ability to access whatever they are determined to access. It's not that I feel I have anything to hide, rather that I don't like the idea of possibly not having full control over what my pictures (or anything else) might be used for.
Other Comments
1. I was rather surprised when I first signed up for my Picasa account that there were already pictures in my 'Album' . Upon inspection I discovered that these were all pictures that I had looked at (from my own computer) while I was choosing something to put on my blog. Even pictures that I had never added to my blog - ones I had merely enlarged to get a better look at while I was strolling through my pics - these were also in my Picasa Album!? I think this realization has added to my concerns about what I might inadvertantly make public domain.
2. I did not find the Search function in Picasa to be all that helpful. There are so many pictures that can come up with any basic search that 'flipping through them' is very time consuming. I tried using multiple search terms, quotations, etc. but still didn't find it as helpful as it might be with an advanced search function that would allow me to rule out things that I don't want. For example, I was looking for a picture of some bluejays - but wanted the birds not the baseball team.
3. I found it frustrating that once I clicked away from a picture I liked (or did another search) there was no easy way to re-visit the previous picture. Using the Help feature I learned that I could add a tag to a picture by "clicking on the 'add tag' icon on the right side of the page", but that option doesn't seem to be there. Help also referred to the ability to "star" photos and then call up your list of starred photos, as well as the use of a "Photo Tray located in the lower-left corner of Picasa" - I couldn't find either of these tools either. Obviously I am missing a step somewhere - but, these challenges have certainly affected my opinion about the usefullness of this website for me.
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