Teaching a lesson

Today is the first time I am teaching a lesson in my whole library career. I’m not feeling that nervous – maybe it’s because I am super prepared, I’ve practiced and it can’t be as nerve racking as presenting a conference paper to a group of strangers. I think there will only be about 10 colleagues in the class. I also have a partner in crime, so I think it should be fun. I did a run through in front of Rod this morning and he said it sounded intresting and can he be there? Hahaha – so that is positive.

We have a few surprises install -so hopefully it all works out ok! We have to do the same session on Friday afternoon, so today is first practice really. I’m sure we will be fine. Actually I think we will be great

Here is the awesome 23 Things blog created by our wonderful Practically Perfect Programmer – Book Buster. And this is what I’m teaching….

Have a great day everyone….. I’ll post afterwards about the session.

23 Things – officially over

Well yesterday was our last session with Amy – very sad. Was great to see the whole group together. It was fun answering Amy’s questions whilst eating M and M’s and fruit lollies. Teresa handed out completion certificates to the whole group – great work everybody!!! We enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea. Then we had the raffle. Who would believe that Helen and I (half of DocDel) would win an ITunes voucher.

So this will be my 24th thing – as I thought ITunes was only for Ipods and I have an MP3 player. So I’ll need to learn about this at home and see what favourite tunes I can add to my MP3.

Thanks Amy and Erin for arranging prizes – I never thought I’d win something for doing this course. I hadn’t planned to win, I was just very happy to be part of the program. I’ll miss our weekly sessions. Maybe we can have a reunion in the New Year and see what “new things” everyone has found online.

Last session of 23 Things

It’s a shame, our “23 Things” sessions are coming to a close. I have really enjoyed being part of this program, it’s been fun and I have learnt a lot. I shall continue to use my blog, and post stuff about my life. Might be a little quiet as no trips planned for the near future

Reflecting back on the program I’ve really enjoyed learning and using Library Thing, Google Reader and RSS feeds, blogging and social networks. I’m not really a fan of Twitter, I use FB a lot and update my status there. I forget about Twitter – it’s not really me. I’ve tried podcasting but prefer to read my subscription updates in my RSS feeds via Google Reader. It’s great having a gmail account that is more private than my hotmail. I now mainly use that for online shopping when I am trying to limit the spam into my email accounts. I have my IGoogle page set up with tools I use in my daily work tasks for Doc Del along with my Gmail Inbox and Google Reader – I love it, it’s all on one page and if there is anything new on the RSS feeds I see it daily – quick and easy!

I like the idea of wikis for work, I think they are useful and easy to use. I also like the Ning social networking tool, which I will continue to use over the next 2 years for the WATEC 2011 conference. It’s easy to use, all our ideas are in one place and you can access it worldwide – not just on your desktop.

I hope all Library staff get a chance to be involved in the “23 things” program next year and into the future. The Perfect programers are well prepared and do a fantastic job! It would be a HUGE shame if “23 Things” was not offered in the future!

I now feel more educated about web-based technologies. When I started I had heard of the word – Twitter, but never knew anything about it. Even though I don’t think its for me, I am glad I have had a chance to play. We may use it as a promotional tool for our 2011 conference and now I know how to use it and tag as well.

Thank you for an awesome “23 Things” program Bookbuster – it has been lots of fun!

More things

This week is You Tube (thing 19)… I’m going to wait and try and upload a video I took from my holidays, seems more relevant to me.

Swazi Candles - I was so enthralled by this guy making these candles, it was so fun to watch. I came home with an exact replica of this elephant he made. I certainly won’t be burning it. Bought a giraffe too. Here is my video of him doing it. Not sure how to make it vertical, so you’ll have to act like a giraffe to view it - 

Still need to do the podcasting (thing 17) session and now to look at slidecasting (thing 20). I know, posting my “things” completed are not in a nice order how I normally like things, but I will get there in the end, that’s the main thing. I’m too involved with my trip and photos still Mind is not yet focused on work yet!!!!

Podcasting – Thing 17.
OK I’m listening to a pod cast now, a group of 30 people from the poorest part of Cape Town, singing about the only day they got off New Year’s Day  – Cape Town Minstrels – from ”Hear in this Place” – a podcast that gives you glimpses of what it is like to live in other parts of the world – very intresting.  Podcasts – not really my thing – prefer RSS feeds via Google Reader, prefer to read than listen – no time for listening, but I’ve tried. Through Itunes there is a lot of interesting topics you can subscribe too.

Fun Fun Fun…….

Week One – the beginning of 10 things…. and Lifelong Learning

WOW, finally I am involved in the 10things, (part of the 23 Things) project. I never thought we’d get to take part in this exciting program. I went to a LT conference in 2007 and there was so much hype about Library / Web 2.0 and I was like, “what is this thing everyone is talking about?”. I came back asking all these questions why aren’t we doing this? It’s now 2009 and finally we are getting set to take on this 10 things journey….. very exciting…..

I’m looking forward to becoming more familiar with Web 2.0 technologies. I have heard and read words such as tagging, rss feeds, blogging, delicious, but really have no experience in using and understanding them. I think this program will be lots of fun, getting to play and learn at the same time!

I’m keen to investigate how we can use these “things” in our day-to-day activities in the library and that what we learn in this program can be put to good use and not just forgotten about.

My Habits…..

Easiest habit is Habit 2 – I realise if I want to learn more, do more and have more opportunities in work and life it is my own responsibility to seek out how to do this. This may be the reason why I am busy all the time. I really do enjoy learning and experiencing new things all the time!

Hardest habit is Habit 3 – learning that problems are challenges. I tend to get bogged down with problems and always think I should know how to fix everything in life……