We did get Evernote installed on two of our library's computers and Patty and I spent our Tech Thursday experimenting. The website itself walked us through the basic steps, but we found that any deviation was by no means intuitive.
I spent a frustrationg half hour attempting to download a desktop picture until Patty unleashed the right click button. We had both assumed that the picture would automatically appear. Same with Patty's camera. She took a cell phone picture of me, sent it to her special evernote email and it took a long while for us to track down where it actually landed. Something a computer geek would just "know."
Every spring we hatch chicks in the Children's section and this year we got high tech with a webcam. Parents and kids soon became addicted and were losing sleep. We even went international with visitors from England--perhaps some were other CPD students. With the seamless way Evernote can integrate notes, photos and webcams and link onto facebook and twitter, we are hoping to put it to use next spring to enhance our chick viewing.
The sync capabilities are truly amazing--the hare's answer to the tortoise's little scraps of paper. Now I can see how Evernote can afford to offer limited free access. Limited will soon become just that--too restrictive for what you are tempted to do.
laura
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
CPD23: THING 8, Google Calendar
I had no idea Google had an online calendar and was thrilled to discover this neat organizational tool. I set mine with just one event to start which was a good thing as the learning curve, for me at any rate, was by no means intuitive. Although I saved my date, it took 6 tries and my co-worker's help to figure out that to get the item to appear on the calendar I had to click my name. So when I sent my calendar to her she received 6 copies of the same item! Good thing we like each other.
I am looking forward to using this calendar to replace the little scraps of paper I stuff in my pocket. Which works out failry well except when I am wearing an outfit with no pockets. This happens a lot with summer sundresses.
I am also looking forward to emailing my calendar to my husband so he will know what is going on. I know this is optimistic of me, but I'm willing to give it a go!
laura
I am looking forward to using this calendar to replace the little scraps of paper I stuff in my pocket. Which works out failry well except when I am wearing an outfit with no pockets. This happens a lot with summer sundresses.
I am also looking forward to emailing my calendar to my husband so he will know what is going on. I know this is optimistic of me, but I'm willing to give it a go!
laura
Thursday, July 21, 2011
CPD23: THING 7 Professional Organizations
You can aleady tell what side of the pond I am from by the way I spell organizations!
As soon as I returned Stateside from my stint as a public librarian in the Marshall Islands, I joined ALA, hoping to enhance my job search potential. Bear in mind that this was in 1993 when internet was in its infancy and folks still had card catalog (note spelling) withdrawal. Luckily, I found a job in my new hometown and so never needed the credentials. But I retained my membership. I tend to get overwhelmed by Largeness, so I have mostly stuck with PLA, a branch of ALA, which is more specific to my needs. I have been fortunate enough to have benefitted from several PLA conferences, enhancing my outlook on what is possible.
Locally, I have joined the Youth Services Group of the New York State Library Association and have enjoyed meeting some of the same folks at various events. Even more locally, I participate in workshops offered by Southern Adirondack Association and have even give brief presentations at some. I tend to favor those with a practical, hands-on flavor. Lately, however, I have become interested in ebook publishing and am trying to learn all I can, realizing, of course, that whatever knowledge I glean will soon be out of date. Emailing my techie colleagues has certainly helped!
Ok--Who can resist the extra credit carrot? I investigated SLA, which seems to be the British equivalent of our American School Library Association. Looking at the various book awards I was surprised at how few of the titles I recognized. And we speak the same language! When I got to the book about "maths," however, I got it. In America we would say "math."
Mostly, though, I related to Jo Alcock's blog. I am definitely and introvert who has taught college level courses and could never figure out exactly how I could do it when I am a total wallflower at social occasions. Now I know!
As soon as I returned Stateside from my stint as a public librarian in the Marshall Islands, I joined ALA, hoping to enhance my job search potential. Bear in mind that this was in 1993 when internet was in its infancy and folks still had card catalog (note spelling) withdrawal. Luckily, I found a job in my new hometown and so never needed the credentials. But I retained my membership. I tend to get overwhelmed by Largeness, so I have mostly stuck with PLA, a branch of ALA, which is more specific to my needs. I have been fortunate enough to have benefitted from several PLA conferences, enhancing my outlook on what is possible.
Locally, I have joined the Youth Services Group of the New York State Library Association and have enjoyed meeting some of the same folks at various events. Even more locally, I participate in workshops offered by Southern Adirondack Association and have even give brief presentations at some. I tend to favor those with a practical, hands-on flavor. Lately, however, I have become interested in ebook publishing and am trying to learn all I can, realizing, of course, that whatever knowledge I glean will soon be out of date. Emailing my techie colleagues has certainly helped!
Ok--Who can resist the extra credit carrot? I investigated SLA, which seems to be the British equivalent of our American School Library Association. Looking at the various book awards I was surprised at how few of the titles I recognized. And we speak the same language! When I got to the book about "maths," however, I got it. In America we would say "math."
Mostly, though, I related to Jo Alcock's blog. I am definitely and introvert who has taught college level courses and could never figure out exactly how I could do it when I am a total wallflower at social occasions. Now I know!
CPD23: THING 6
As a disgruntled member of Facebook, I have been looking for a new social networking site. Originally, I joined Facebook since our running club was looking for a quick message center, but soon got overwhelmed by the random friends knocking on my screen. Plus, there are the security issues. When my screen became compromised and I was asked to select a new password, I decided it was time to jump ship. However, I learned that you never truly avoid the sharks, since I am still on the roll call and occasionally get notifications. Live and learn, I guess.
Happily ever after, our club has since joined wordpress where there is more control and a limited, content managed audience.
As a result of Thing 6, I investigated LinkedIN only to be surprised that I was already a member! I had forgotten that I had joined in 2009. But this time around I actually posted a picture and additional information. I am trying to decide now how much more info I wish to post. I have naturally joined the CPD group and am investigating others. I like to take Things gradually...As for security, my husband is a financial adviser and that is the only networking site his company allows him to join in a business capacity. So I feel as if I have turned the key and locked the door.
So I guess I have checked out of the BBQ and entered the office. So much for summer vacation!
As for the other suggestions, I was intrigued by Librarians as Teachers since we all are teachers in one capacity or another, but I am not sure I will join. At this point it seems to be way beyond the preschool/elementary developmental stage that I deal with. And, truthfully, I felt that I would rather stick with ALA than CILIP since ALA is on my side of the pond and I have enough here to deal with.
Now all I have to do is this time around remember I am a LinkedIn member and get with the program!
Happily ever after, our club has since joined wordpress where there is more control and a limited, content managed audience.
As a result of Thing 6, I investigated LinkedIN only to be surprised that I was already a member! I had forgotten that I had joined in 2009. But this time around I actually posted a picture and additional information. I am trying to decide now how much more info I wish to post. I have naturally joined the CPD group and am investigating others. I like to take Things gradually...As for security, my husband is a financial adviser and that is the only networking site his company allows him to join in a business capacity. So I feel as if I have turned the key and locked the door.
So I guess I have checked out of the BBQ and entered the office. So much for summer vacation!
As for the other suggestions, I was intrigued by Librarians as Teachers since we all are teachers in one capacity or another, but I am not sure I will join. At this point it seems to be way beyond the preschool/elementary developmental stage that I deal with. And, truthfully, I felt that I would rather stick with ALA than CILIP since ALA is on my side of the pond and I have enough here to deal with.
Now all I have to do is this time around remember I am a LinkedIn member and get with the program!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
CDP23: Thing 5 Reflection
Reflection is like a diary, but more focused. More detailed and less random than those little slips of paper that clutter your desk or your nightstand. More structured like my running log where I write date, distance, place, owls seen, tree frogs counted, or on a down day, aches and pains. Although I should argue that any time outdoors comprises a good day.
Too often I attend a conference, get all fired up, and upon returning immediately get sucked back down into the vortex of routine and business. That is why I like this CDP23 series so much. Even when it is not an official reflection time, that process is still built in as we blog about each lesson.
I am a somewhat reluctant techie, having been trained when overhead projectors and microfilm were all the rage. While I have embraced email, much of the rest, for me, is rather like a graphic novel. My eyes dart hither and yon and never seem to settle. Too much input as on Twitter and not enough content.Perhaps if I quit my day job and my after job job I would have time to deal with all this. I certainly admire folks who do and can seem to handle all this information. I am jealous, but only partially tempted.
What I really enjoy, and this may be obvious by now,is blogging and I can see that becoming a part of my life. And I am grateful. I am currently toying around with setting up a personal blog with some of my writings. Folks say "You should write a book." And I think, "Yeah, but who would want to read it?" Perhaps that would be a good way to find out! Now all I need is a catchy blog name--one that will flag down all those trail and snowshoe runners...
laura clark
Too often I attend a conference, get all fired up, and upon returning immediately get sucked back down into the vortex of routine and business. That is why I like this CDP23 series so much. Even when it is not an official reflection time, that process is still built in as we blog about each lesson.
I am a somewhat reluctant techie, having been trained when overhead projectors and microfilm were all the rage. While I have embraced email, much of the rest, for me, is rather like a graphic novel. My eyes dart hither and yon and never seem to settle. Too much input as on Twitter and not enough content.Perhaps if I quit my day job and my after job job I would have time to deal with all this. I certainly admire folks who do and can seem to handle all this information. I am jealous, but only partially tempted.
What I really enjoy, and this may be obvious by now,is blogging and I can see that becoming a part of my life. And I am grateful. I am currently toying around with setting up a personal blog with some of my writings. Folks say "You should write a book." And I think, "Yeah, but who would want to read it?" Perhaps that would be a good way to find out! Now all I need is a catchy blog name--one that will flag down all those trail and snowshoe runners...
laura clark
Saturday, July 9, 2011
CPD 23 THING 4: Current Awareness, Twitter, RSS, Pushnote
TWITTER: I found the Twitter account very easy to set up, although an instructive exercise to say something in just a few characters. I immediately became friends with another librarian who works in our system administration so that should be helpful. I was also delighted to discover ebooknoir as I am fascinated with that technology.
RSS: I already have an RSS account, but will definitely find it useful to add the entire CDP23 feed. It is amazing how many different takes there are on the same technology.
PUSHNOTE: After reading some of these feeds, I realized that I was not alone in never having heard of pushnote. Unfortunately, here at work we are not permitted to add such enhancements to our computer without special clearance, so I have decided to pass. And really, that is OK for now at least as it seems it is not all that popular. And as THING itself has suggested, such technologies are meant to be a tool and not to overwhelm. Currently, we are in our busiest time of year as all the kids are out of school and I have all I can do to keep up.
laura
RSS: I already have an RSS account, but will definitely find it useful to add the entire CDP23 feed. It is amazing how many different takes there are on the same technology.
PUSHNOTE: After reading some of these feeds, I realized that I was not alone in never having heard of pushnote. Unfortunately, here at work we are not permitted to add such enhancements to our computer without special clearance, so I have decided to pass. And really, that is OK for now at least as it seems it is not all that popular. And as THING itself has suggested, such technologies are meant to be a tool and not to overwhelm. Currently, we are in our busiest time of year as all the kids are out of school and I have all I can do to keep up.
laura
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