|
|
|
This newsletter is for participants in 23 Things On a Stick. It offers hints and tips, as well as news to encourage participants as they continue to learn.
Share any hints you have by sending them our way at minn23@gmail.com.
|
 |
Questions & Answers
|
These questions have arrived via blog postings, emails, and more. The answers may help others navigate the 23 Things On a Stick.
 Q. So, remind me again how long my blog posts have to be?A. The posts need to be long enough that the reader can get a sense of your experience with the Thing. If it was the most fun you've had on the Internet, write about that. If it was a struggle, let us know. One line posts are not considered adequate documentation of your participation. "I set up my Flickr account," is not enough of a post.Read the FAQs 6, 7, & 9 on the mother blog for more information. Q. I would like to look at 23 Things On a Stick blogs that are a Thing or two ahead of where I am. Any hints?A. Obviously you can add blogs to your RSS reader (Thing 3), but that's a lot of blogs to review. I have set up a Google Alert for 23 Things On a Stick. I get regular Alerts that include blog posts and other references to 23 Things On a Stick. It isn't a perfect solution, but it does give you some information. In the next week or so, we will be adding a section to the newsletter and mother blog that will list those who have finished. Q. When I click the "Next Blog" at the top of a Blogger blog, I go to some random blog. I want to go to the next 23 Things On a Stick blog in my region--is there a way to do this?A. Not by clicking any button--that button is part of Blogger and provides the "serendipity" of random information. If you want to look at our 23 Things blogs, set up your RSS reader and put blogs in folders by region. Then you will see all the CMLE blogs, for example, and which are recently updated. |
| |
Thing 14. LibraryThing
|
 LibraryThing
offers more than a way to catalog your personal
collection. A recently added feature is LibraryThing Local. Enter your
location and you get a map and a list of libraries, bookstores, book
events, and other places or events of interest to booklovers. Users add
events and locations. When you are logged in to LibraryThing, go to
Local and put in your location and click save. Then when you click the
Local tab, your location's info comes up. Handy.
I found it interesting to click on the links of the person who entered
the information. Profiles varied in content, but it was fun to see
local Minnesotans on LibraryThing Local. Plus, I found a link to this
online book discussion at Yahoo!Groups 4_Mystery_Addicts.
Here are 4 links to Minnesota locations on LibraryThing Local
Lovers of statistics, lists, and lots of info will enjoy grazing around
LibraryThing Zeitgeist. Scores of lists--most reviewed book, most
prolific reviewers, authors who use LibraryThing. This is a remixing LibraryThing
data and a great way to get lost in the world of books and LibraryThing on a
rainy afternoon.
LibraryThing seems to be the biggest/most well-known of these social cataloging applications, but Wikipedia lists a few more, including one
for movies, and several for music. Here's
another book version not on Wikipedia's list.
The social aspects of
LibraryThing and connecting with other readers and collectors--sharing reviews, making recommendations, joining groups
and talks
can broaden the appeal and use of
LibraryThing beyond a librarian's natural love of order and organization. And, don't forget LibraryThing for Libraries. Librarians can use LibraryThing's social data in local online catalogs for an Amazon-like search result (to see
how this works, go to Danbury (Connecticut) Public Library's online catalog, www.danburylibrary.org). And this just in--Tim Spaulding, the mind behind LibraryThing, is a Library Journal Mover and Shaker for 2008. Here is an LJ interview with him. (And congratulations to the 2 Minnesotans on the 2008 list Jennifer Nelson and Jessica Moyer.)
Posted by Ann WS
|
|
Thing 15. Online Games & Libraries
|
 We hope you have had a chance to try out the Puzzle Pirates game as an intro to online gaming. The YPPedia, a wiki of all things for Puzzle Pirates (PP), had an article about an unintended benefit of Puzzle Pirates--people who have met on PP and gotten married in real life. Let us know if you meet your soulmate on PP. That would be a measure of success for 23 Things On a Stick. Aaargh!
Another game sweeping into libraries is the Nintendo Wii. This is a console game--you purchase the game hardware and various games. Games run the range from sports to brain games. Libraries across the country are sponsoring tournaments and game days for everyone from teens to seniors--or both. Wii equipment can be hard to find, but if you have a chance to try it out, do so. It is great fun! You can watch people play and learm more about Wii at the official Wii Web site.
If you want to try Second Life
(note:requires a download, so maybe do this at home) but need a guide,
Doug Johnson offered educators a tour of
places to visit in Second Life. Doug is Director of Media and Technology for the Mankato Public Schools.
Please post comments on your gaming experience--in the library or elsewhere--on the mother blog under Thing 15. I get the feeling many of us are novices in the game realm.
Posted by Ann WS
|
| |
Thing 16. Student 2.0 Tools
|
 This YouTube video was recently shared with the Minnesota P-16
Partnership.* Called a Vision of K-12 Students Today, it is a great
intro to expectations of students as 2.0 learners. Here is another version using
statistics and reactions of college students. Watch these and react to
the call for teachers and librarians to help our students and patrons
become digital learners and digital creators. By learning the tools in
23 Things On a Stick, you are taking steps in that direction.
There are a lot of articles on the Web about Student 2.0 tools that
help students get organized, do research, take notes, and write up what
they have learned. There are many worthwhile tools in the lists. What's
missing from the recommended tools for Web 2.0 students? Their library
and
librarians as reliable sources of information and help. No mention of
asking your librarian face-to-face or via text or IM or email. Instead
some lists recommend Yahoo! Answers as a place to find help in
searching the Web, answers to questions, and book recommendations.
According to its description, "Yahoo! Answers connects people to the
information they're seeking with those who know it." Sounds like a
library. No one seems to ask the question, "Who do you trust to provide
reliable accurate information?" Some Internet stranger (called
babydoll72 or smartblonde) or your local library with its collection of
reliable resources (print, electronic, or otherwise) and the experts to
use and explain them! Looks like we need a little work on our image as
resources and experts for 2.0 learners of all ages.
To help all those Students 2.0, link the Research Project Calculator,
ELM4You, your AskaLibrarian, IM Reference, Text a Librarian, or
whatever 2.0 tools you offer in prominent places. We want students and
other library users to think LibraryAnswers! not Yahoo!Answers!
*The Minnesota P-16
Partnership, composed of officials from the education community, higher
education organizations and business and community leaders, is working
to improve the student transition to postsecondary education.
Posted by Ann WS
|
|
About a dozen people have finished all 23 things! Congratulations!
Sincerely,
The 23 Things On a Stick Team
Patricia (CMLE), Ann WS (Metronet), Linda (NCLC), Ruth (NLLN), Robin (SAMMIE), Ann H (SELS), & Nancy (SMILE)
The Minnesota Multicounty Multitype Library Systems
|
|
|
