Flickr Part A

"It's a Kodak moment." I've been using digital photography for quite a while, but this is the first time I have created a Flickr account. It was very easy to use and easy to search. I added South Dakota Libraries to my groups and created a private photostream of grandchildren photos. Personally, I will use this to share photos with family and friends across the country instead of attaching photos with e-mails. Many still want a hard copy of photos and I have found the HP Photosmart to be easy, quick and affordable. (They look great on the frig.) Professionally, this would be a fun way for students to record and share events and/or projects. For example, in my previous position I had several students attend a Paleo Camp. They could upload their photos, tag, describe, etc. so that others could see the steps they took in casting a triceratops bone and discovering a skull. (P.S. This is my 4-year-old grandchild Hayzil Yellow Fox who on some days prefers to be Hayzil Purple Fox because purple is her favorite color.)

Continuing with RSS

Becoming really simple! I now have Bloglines all set up for Personal, Professional and Web 2.0 Challenge reading. Using the Bloglines subject searching for feeds, Yahoo (yes, on my personal computer), and sites I already had in my list of favorites found more than enough information for me. My professional reading includes the standard blogs from AASL, YALSA, and SDLA as well as LibWorm: School Libraries and The Shifted Librarian. How much work time should be spent on this type of reading? It's all very relevant and often leads to useful links. I am finding that I skim the headlines in Bloglines and if I want to read further I go directly to the site (full page). And now... on to Flickr!

RSS

Really simple? Well, it took me a bit longer with this than I expected because there is so much out there to browse through. I love the "one stop shopping" aspect of RSS. I am experimenting with Bloglines and like being able to make folders and categories (I am a librarian, after all.) This might be a great way for students to journal as well as keep up on assignments. It is a much better way to keep current on library-related news. I'm not done yet...

Blogging

Blogging is not totally new to me, but I have to admit that I am just now making it a part of my daily routine. (Thanks to this challenge.) Setting up my blog was easy and I am now thinking of photos I need to take so I can customize a bit more. I love green and purple so I'm playing around with my options too. I found a blog I had created as part of a training session in 2005 and then never used! Needless to say, I deleted that one. Having a specific purpose helps me to see the uses of anything new. One of my nephews has a blog for his family and is keeping us up-to-date on his 5 month-old son's recent surgery with pictures and messages. We all get the info and he doesn't have to make tons of phone calls. High school senior projects could be created in this way, etc.

7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners

The 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Learners can be summed up in one word: attitude!

Habit 2 (Accept responsibility for your own learning.) is definitely the easiest for me. I am self-motivated and always ready to learn something new, whether it be technology-related or digging up a triceratop. I love to read and research so that I have the background information necessary and can make connections.

Habit 3 (View problems as challenges.) can be a difficult task for me at times. I like to think of the old "the glass is half-full and not half-empty" image when frustration sets in. I am good at seeing "the big picture" and like to hurry up on the steps in between. (Sherlock would not approve of this method.) I eventually get around to viewing things as "good problems" and use the challenge to find choices and solutions.