It's a Library Thing !

Library Thing is for me. I find it to be a fabulous tool for both learning and fun. I have used the Book Recommendations and Book reviews.

I have a 12 year-old boy that reads well, but it's difficult finding books he will both enjoy and be good for academic credit at his school. LT has come in quite handy. Books we never would have come up with, pop-up on the recommended lists.

Personally, I enjoy the "warm fuzzy feeling" I get when I enter LT. I feel as if I'm walking into a Barnes and Noble bookstore. What makes up for not being able to put my hand on the books though, is being able to narrow the search for my books with a click of a mouse. I can also read literary reviews and check into Amazon or someplace and order the book , just like that. LT is like a "cozy reading room." I like that!

Technorati

Just the name "Technorati" says it all for me..... too technical..... But, I continue to swim through the thick swamp of technical gobbly goop anyway! I now know that Technorati is a place to find blogs about popular people, hot news items, and just a place to discuss whatever. You can also connect with myspace, utube, dell and web 2.o. I found the best music to download or just listen. I was surprised by the variety of blogs I can now read or add my own spin on.
I'm more of a facts person. So, I was excited to suddenly have links to informative websites about politics or travel. I'm learning lots...... Thanks girls, ....
MRRL2.0

Del.icio.us

Del.icio.us is neat! What a great holding tank for stored information. I no longer have to say to myself, "where did I find that info. again." With Del.icio.us I can keep track of my favorite websites and any new websites that I enjoy. It will be a great help to me while I explore historic information (a hobby of mine) or do other research projects . I so love the tags that you can make for yourself. Tags are a great help, they remind you of where to find your stuff. Works well for the clutter bug in me.

Libraries and MySpace

MySpace accounts are a great thing for teens and parents alike.
I read blogs on myspace accounts at several libraries. Some I was impressed with, while others I felt were slow, tacky, and just plain bad!!!
I did find one Library in Orange County Florida (http://blog.ocls.info/teens) that I thought was soooo very contemporary. Their myspace pages have a blog for teens called Techno Teens. Here they can read book reviews given by librarians and learn about current library events.
One teen group and the teen librarians passed out free library stuff at an outdoor rock concert. At this same library, teen librarians keep the space up to date and promote programs with lots of enthusiasm. Teens can let staff know if they enjoy or hate an activity.
As I continued to peruse myspace accounts I found that there are resources for parents that focus on child/teen cyberspace saftey.
This has been good learnin'.

Wiki Wiki Come On...

Wikipedia, WikiNews, are just a few ways information is shared on Wikis. Teachers and students communicate about assignments, share interests, and solve problems using this tool. Employers and employees collaborate on projects together; while friends plan trips they will take together. Others share favorite recipes or books reviews. Fan clubs and hobbyists inform us about little know facts. We learn things we may never have known.

I was most amazed by a Wiki News story that took place over a year ago. It was started during the Hurricane Katrina disaster. It began as a storm indicator and later became a locater for missing family members; a map of flooded and blocked streets. This Wiki became THE, on the ground eyes /ears for people all over the world.

What an awesome form of expression a Wiki can take!

Tiffany the Blogger !!!

Thank goodness I have 16 weeks to complete this 11-week course. I am no computer person. So, I was in no hurry to get started...
I'm good with the stuff I use everyday like Millenium, Google, Amazon etc. But new stuff can be like a tough math problem. Math is hard for me... I'm a good student: but lots of tutorials will be needed!
I read blogs on AOL all the time. I enjoy the up to the minute opinions about goings-on in the world. However creating my own blog has taken a few hours-between customer service here in Childrens. I am looking forward to learning about different uses of the web. If I get a head start, I'll know what my soon to be teenage son is talking about.

Thanks girls for making this opportunity available.
Tiffany