Beyond Method #5

I liked Goodreads so much that I signed up and have become a member. I am considering creating a Facebook page for the school library (although our school blocks such sites on our campus). With a Facebook page I know I can come in contact with students and hopefully further encourage them to read by sharing my reading list and inviting them to comment on books they have enjoyed. The never ending book quiz section will also be a fun area for students to explore and use. I do like the tag search feature on LibraryThing and can see how searching for topics related to books library staff has read would be fun and helpful. I also plan on exploring the talk feature which from what I could tell contained book talks that could be useful in helping students select books. I have played around on Shelfari and have never been fond of the site. It is visually appealing, but I always had problems using the site.

Beyond Method #4

In order to find a job listing on the computer in today's time, it is essential to have good computer skills and experience with typing. Otherwise, I think all you would get is frustrated and not find a job at all using online sites. There is so much information on the different pages that it is necessary to be able to zero in on the basic information you actually need on the site and not get lost in the text all over the page. I have used indeed.com and usajobs.gov while helping my son search for jobs in his area. There are often so many jobs listed that it takes a long time to read through all of the details to determine if you are qualified or suitable for the position. I really like the Goodwill Community Foundation's Computer Basics page. Students and adults alike can benefit from this site. I also liked a lot of what I saw on the New Jersey State Library site, like the Online Typing Tutor.

Beyond Method #3

I created a simple map of some places I enjoy visiting in San Antonio. The directions made it look so easy, I was a bit confused when my screen sequence did not follow the one in the video. Once I worked with the directions for a few minutes, I was able to create the map. I could not get the link to work in this blog. When I tried embedding the code, my computer froze. Eventually, I gave up. I'm sure I was doing something wrong, but I tried several different things and it never added the correct link to my map. I will keep trying. I do not think I will post a map on my library site since the school has a map on the main page. However, I can think of times I would like to create a map for personal reasons, such as planning a vacation or showing our friends places we enjoy complete with pictures. I am going to explore MapQuest and see if I like it even more.....

Beyond Method #6

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1400/1400-h/1400-h.htm I found Project Gutenberg very easy to use. Students in our high school would have several reasons for using this service, especially for assigned classroom reading. Many of the books on the required reading lists for each grade level are in the collection, such as Frankenstein, Heart of Darkness, and War of the Worlds. Popular classics are there as well, such as books by Jane Austen. This service could be helpful to students if the books were not available in the library or they could not afford to buy them for class use. If they owned the appropriate devices, the books would be available to them just about anywhere. I think I would be capable of helping students put titles from Project Gutenberg on an eReader. I have spent a lot of time reading many of the articles concerning eBooks in libraries this evening and hope to read many more soon. All of the high schools in our district are meeting in the morning to discuss purchasing eBooks as a group for use by our students, if that is even possible through the vendor we are meeting with tomorrow. We have many questions!

Beyond Method #2

Our school district purchased a service which provides for a library web page, as well as individual staff and student pages which we are all required to use and maintain. The library page is not user friendly since it is difficult and time consuming to do anything original other than update the calendar. In addition to this situation, our district has blocked so many sites, including iGoogle and Netvibes, Flicker, Twitter, and Facebook. I plan on creating a Netvibes page and see if I can create a link that the students can access from home computers. I would like to have an attractive page with a section for Library Programs and Events, Book Lists, and especially an ongoing, updated list of new books with pictures and book trailers. I can think of dozens of fun things to attract high school students to the page.

Method 12

This adventure with Web 2.0 technologies has been a true learning experience for me. It has made me sit down and take the time to learn about numerous technologies that I have heard about and seen but never personally experienced first hand. The program has given me more confidence in dealing with the teenagers in my library who are so fluent in all things computer driven. I have even felt confident enough to share some of what I have learned with other teachers. In time with more exposure and experience I hope to continue to learn on my own and incorporate much of what I have learned about into my daily life in the library. If another discovery program of this nature is offered again in the future I will gladly sign up.
I especially like the "In Plain English" videos - they made perfect sense everytime - the took away all of the fear factor of learning something new. I will refer back to them I am sure. I hope the "A Dozen Ways to Two Step" page is available for a while. There are a multitude of sites, videos, and suggestions I want to visit again.
In my case, it is hard to say exactly what my most favorite thing about the discovery tour is.... I knew so little about so much. Each of the eleven steps/methods were important to me. I learned a great deal in each section of the course. Thank you for giving me this opportunity in the comfort of my own library and home. I have never experienced such a satisfying tutorial until now. Congratulations on your hard work - it was well worth your effort.

Method 11

There were not any directions to post to Method 11 but I wanted to comment on "Librarian Live". I listened to several podcasts and have already found information on several library issues that were most helpful. I listened to a podcast on the "Importance of Having a Library Wireless Usage Policy" - which is an issue that has just come up in our library. Most helpful! I will be back for more of these....