Week 10: #23 Is this really the end? Or just the beginning...

What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
rss feeds, youtube, blogging, libraryThing and flickr.


How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
This advanced computer technology has given me more avenues of social networking with co-workers, friends and family. I've been sharing photos with family, but now I plan to incorporate this with my blog.


Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? No, none.


What ideas do you have for using these technologies at Harris County Public Library?
Sharing Spanish storytime favorite books, songs, fingerplays, and rhymes with staff by using a podcast or an embedded video like YouTube.

What else do you want to learn about? What other web 2.0 applications are you interested in? I'm not aware of any other applications not covered under this training, but if there are other applications available that would be useful, please share.

Week 9: #22 Downloadable Media

I have used the hcpl site several times to download ebooks. I found a christmas cookie book that will come in handy. After exploring the other free ebook sites, there was no comparison.

Week 9: #21 Podcasts, Smodcasts!

I added the rss feed for a podcast from the Denver Public Library to my bloglines. This particular podcast includes children's book reviews. I think podcast are a good resource to have and can be very useful. Plus, podcast are helpful listening tools for gathering various storytelling techniques to deliver a storyline.

Blanca Nieves y El Tao Tao

Week 9: #20 Discover YouTube and other video sharing sites

I really enjoy youtube. I share children's action songs with co-workers and friends so they are able to sing a song along with the movements. I found "A Tooty Tah" the kid's song for a co-worker who coordinates toddler programs. I can see how videos and clips can be useful for my job and social networking.

Week 8: #19 Web-based Apps: They're not just for desktops

Zoho is an awesome web-based word processor. I think this is one of the best applications I've been introduced to throughout the duration of this training.

Week 8: #18 Social Networking: Making friends in the comfort of your own home

I think social networking sites are good. I've never used one myself, but I allowed my teen to create an account on myspace, but I also monitor occasionally in fear of preditors. I learned recently through a selfdense class that some of these social networking sites can be accessed eventhough they are set as personal or invites only restricted. One that appealed to me was the ratemyspace site.

Week 7: #17 Blog About Technology

I believe technology is becoming so advanced that, at times, it's hard to maintain a level of consistancy with it's usage. However, there are many advantanges for this in the library field. Advanced technology will revolutionize a new form of networking within libraries. With this growing form of technology, the library will have a staggering amount of avenues for connecting to other professionals. Which may lead to innovative ideas for premier library programs and services that our communities will embrace.

Week 7: #16 So what's in a wiki?

The hcpl library wiki is interesting. I like the fact that the library staff could post favorites on it. This may be a good tool to use for reader's advisory as well.

Week 6: #15 On Library 2.0 & Web 2.0

All the articles provided were very insightful and informative of the future of libraries. To me, Library 2.0 means, "the virtual library". How are we as library and information professionals able to serve our communities if we are not aware of all the advanced communication technology surrounding us? The library environment must keep up with technology in order to provide quality service for our communities. Since libraries are one of the major forunners of information providers, it should strive to offer library services with Library 2.0, the premier virtual library.

Week 6: #14 Getting not-so-technical with Technorati

I found that under a keyword search for blog post about learning 2.0 resulted in 15,017 hits. Under tag field searching for the same subject the results came back with 725 hits. Under a blog directory search for learning 2.0 the search results were 862. Some hits resulted with identical blogs.

While searching under popular blogs, top blogs the search results include information about technology on the web.
Under popular blogs for top searches resulted in searches about hollywood figures and sports stars news. The information contained in Top videos discussed current events and news.

Week 6: #13 Tagging makes the web 2.0 world go round

This is one of my favorite reference tools thus far. I created an account an have bookmarked several helpful websites to my page.

Week 5: #12 The "Library" Elf will remind you!

This service is a great way to have a personal reminder that sends you updated status about all your library items.

American Indian Heritage Month

Don't forget to celebrate American Indian Heritage Month. If you present preschool or toddler programs you can alway incorporate bits and pieces of this culture into your storytime. Today during my Spanish storytime I decided to introduce the storytime using colors. I announced that this month is AIHM and since colors are significant in the dress wear of American Indians, we read books about colors. For the craft, we made an indian head dress with feathers. We also sung and danced to the song "Ten little indians" in Spanish. If you have instruments for your audience, this would be a great time to use them with your songs.

Week 5: #11 A Thing about Library Thing

This is a very impressive site that will be useful and helpful when developing library programs. This is a great way to network with others in the profession about book resources.

Week 5: #10 Play around with Image generators

I had fun creating an avatar through Yahoo. Here is my avatar on the right of the page. My favorite image and text generators were on FDToys. You can create your own personalized cd cover, movie poster or trading card.

Week 4 #9 Finding Feeds

I'm partial to Feedster when searching for newsfeeds. This search tool seems easier to use and to read.

Week 4 #8 RSS and newsreader

RSS and newsreader are good tools to use for quick up-to-date information that library professionals should readily have access to.

Week 3: Photo Editing Tool- Using Pixer.us

jelly fish
Originally uploaded by paulagonzales40

Week 3

Colr Pickr and Tripper map are two mashups that I am very impressed with so far. Since I love to travel, I plan on using Tripper map in the near future.

Traveling is fun

100_1949
Originally uploaded by paulagonzales40

This is one of the best ways to travel!

Ready for the day

Ready for the day
Originally uploaded by paulagonzales40

I'm McDuff's twin and I love to read

Storytelling Energy

When preparing for a storytelling program, how do you prepare yourself physically to entertain your audience?
Do you drink a caffinated beverage?
Do you eat chocolate?
Do you perform breathing exercises?
I personally may drink coffee or a soda right before I present my program. I feel it gives me the extra burst of energy that I need to engage the audience attention. I have also read that eating healthy and regular exercise can help you perform at an optimum level. Look for further post on articles relating to this topic.

Week 2: Online safety and sharing

I believe that online sharing can be an informative tool for many people in various walks of life. For example: Professional, Religion, Extra Curricular activities and so on. However, being safe if also a major factor that must be considered. It is vital not to disclose your personal information. There are many risk involved when using an online source to share informatio, especially photos and your personal information such as your home address, phone number and place of work.