You are currently browsing the monthly archive for April 2007.
Today I worked with browser tools, beginning with Firefox add-ons. Firefox resides on my system already so I just needed some extensions. These are the ones I added: del.icio.us; adblock plus; 123 travel search; and, all-in-one search. I particularly wanted access to my del.icio.us account since I work at different computer stations on various workdays.
All went well except for the all-in-one search. According to my extension menu, it has been installed but I can’t find an icon, search box or whatever else residing anywhere.
Later I went to the MORRIS bookmarklets page and installed a subject keyword search to my Internet Explorer favorites. I was impressed by how this worked. When doing a subject search in Classification Web of “animal feeding”, I highlighted the phrase, clicked my bookmarklet, and was taken to a total of 9 search results within the library catalogue. That’s good. I may add more to my favorites.
This past week the Learning 2.0 programme focused on gaming. I’d been exposed to electronic gaming through my children with Nintendo 64 and Gamecube (e.g. Mario Kart, Mario Kart Double Dash, and Tony Hawk), and more recently with Webkinz. I never sought out anything beyond this.
I began this week’s assignment by attending one of the sessions offered by the ETG group which was quite good –thank you, Kelly. From there I tried Internet Solitaire, Pop Cap Games (Bejeweled Zuma) and wrapped up the week with IMVU. The first two were fun. The few short minutes I planned to spend with Bejeweled Zuma turned into a much longer stint.
I had some difficulty with IMVU. I joined the membership, created an avatar, but was unable to download when required. Regardless, I did receive 4 messages: 2 standard messages from IMVU Inc. and 2 from members, Charm and Lucky. These last 2 messages seemed staged to help me move along and circulate with others. When I clicked on Charm and Lucky’s “visit me” invitations, I saw their friends, etc. It was interesting to momentarily explore, but this type of social networking isn’t for me.
I like playing board games or card games like scrabble or euchre. So much of my time is spent on a computer at work that I seek out alternative environments when I’m not working. Now that spring is here, I just want to get outside.
This week I’ve explored online social networks such as Facebook and MySpace. Both are easy to join and very user friendly. I’d heard positive comments about Facebook in particular, relating to how you can reconnect with long lost friends. Everyone in this Learning 2.0 programme is there, but I couldn’t find any old friends. I belong to the blank generation, not generation x or later. Then I began ”searching” for my nephews, and children of friends or relatives (these would be teenagers and 20 somethings) and hit the jackpot –they’re all there and pictured. I contacted my nephew and asked for his recommendation on which to explore next: MySpace, LinkedIn or Bebo. Three minutes later, he recommended MySpace.
What can I say? The kids are definitely connected and I must admit that Facebook has been fun. I’ve fooled around with workmates, added an avatar to my low profile, admired and laughed at the avatars of some friends, and joined the Learning 2.0 group. I was hoping to see some action in the group but it’s been quiet.
I was less impressed by MySpace and I think this is only because, after exploring all these online tools these last few weeks, I’ve become more critical of what they have to offer in relation to my needs and interests. I don’t mean this in a negative way. I must credit Learning 2.0 for fostering, within me, a comfort level with 2.0 technologies that I never had before. Some online tools interest me and some don’t, but more recently I find myself engaging (or disengaging) from them as an informed participant.
Besides LibraryThing, another online tool I tried was RedKid.net which allows you to create signs, avatars, etc. I used this to add a banner to my “projects” page. Check it out.
It’s a user friendly tool, but I did have a bit of trouble when sizing the image to fit the page. Although if I had to do it again, I think I’d do better. I haven’t attempted to create an avatar…. Honestly, whenever I’ve seen anyone’s avatar, I feel like I should be saying “awesome.”
I set up a free account in LibraryThing which allows me to create a library catalogue of up to 200 books. I first learned about this service through one of my favourite blogs, Internet-Roots. This was so easy to set up I can barely believe it. One interesting feature, but relatively common in the virtual world now, is its ability to generate lists of related reading material based upon the contents of your personal library. Although if you like to do this sort of investigative work yourself (as my husband does), then this will be of little interest to you.
