The finishing post

Well this is the last post from me. 

It has been an interesting journey, some weeks was harder to get motivated than the other weeks. Only as other pressing work needed attention.

I really did enjoy discovering different modules, really enjoyed learning about Doodle (have since signed up and used for invitations) Google Glass just surprised me.

It's opened me up to different ideas and ways of doing things, I think I'll be less cynical about new and emerging technologies. (except Facebook)

I liked the format of the weekly emails and found the exercises and layout really easy to read and follow.

I've been spruiking the 23 Things to my colleagues from the halfway point of 23 Things. I'll be encouraging the rest of my team to undertake the next 23 Things journey.

Thank you Kate for organising this and giving us feedback every week.

Thing 22 one to go...

Today I looked at PLN's. (Personal Learning Networks)

I had never heard the term before, but had heard of LinkedIn.
I decided to take a look at LinkedIn, as I've never used it before.

I was surprised at how many people here in the library are on it, even some of my friends in different organisations.

I'm glad it's a lot less personal than Facebook, so I will join up. Not sure how much information I'll contribute though, I wouldn't like to misrepresent the University.

I was glad to see familiar library faces on the ACU profile of LinkedIn too.

At the moment, my PLN is purely email based and very small. Just my ACU colleagues and former colleagues really. I really must embrace the change and broaden my horizons!

Thing 20 -

This week I took a look at mobile sites, I must admit I'm not a huge fan using the web on my phone. Maybe it's because my phone is like a dinosaur nowadays, or the fact I'm pre-paid and it just take forever to download or view anything!

This week's task took quite some time to view the different examples, I must admit I gave up after several minutes waiting  for different things to load.
 

But for those who have better internet or phone, I can see the advantages though. If you're after quick information on the go why wouldn't you use it.

I did start to have a play with QR codes a couple of years back, (when my phone was less of a dinosaur) I saw them around the shops and in catalogs and wanted to find out what they were all about. The concept is pretty cool, scan your barcode and it will take you to a specific location or site on the web.
I've since seen them around the library here, I believe directing to different subject areas on the library page.

Google Glass, now that is something that almost took my breath away. I never knew that was in the pipeline. If it really works what an amazing bit of technology.
I since read that microsoft are now working on their version and Google Glass has been the media the last day or two with privacy related concerns when it finally gets launched.

I took a look further with the AR and found articles how they're trialling AR in vehicles, so you'll have integrated GPS and landmark descriptions as you're driving.

Technology is really on the move...

Thing 20 - MOOC

MOOC's this week...


I'm pro online learning, it allows you to go at your own pace and not be stuck in a particular fixed time for classes.

I've completed a few online courses for work and personally too, this being one of them.

Online learning seems to be developing at a rapid rate, I know it's not going to take over the world of degrees. You couldn't really become a Surgeon by doing an online course, but you could do some components.

I was amazed to see some big US colleges with an offering of MOOC's, how good would it look on a resume that you've completed such and such units through Harvard.

Overall, I'm a fan of MOOC's it will open up education for those with internet access, but perhaps not time to go to class. Maybe a stay at home parent or shift worker would see the value of these too.

Twitter

Thing 19 - Twitter

Feel like we're finally on the home stretch... thing 19.

Twitter was something I really wanted to investigate and see if it would convert me to being a user.
I have really only thought about it as a celebrity following thing, and really couldn't care what they ate for lunch.
But I was ready to be convinced otherwise.

I read through most of the links, including the twitter user guide book, how to avoid being a twanker. I took a look at the ACU and National Library tweets too.

I can really see the value of these tweets for patrons/students, they are like little bite sized chunks of information. Even for companies that people follow, new car being released on the market etc.

It hasn't yet converted me, because honestly I struggle to reply to emails and text messages some days. I don't think as yet I have anything worth tweeting besides what I ate for breakfast, or what the kids are doing.
Sending personal things out in public still bothers me a bit. I know there is DM, but isn't that what a text is for?

Overall, I can see the value of tweeting it's just not for me at the moment.

Thing 18 - Reflection week

Today is Reflection time.

I've gone over some of my earlier posts and I'm amazed at how much we have covered in what seems like a short space of time.
I didn't know there was so many tools, apps, feeds and "things" out there. I always thought myself pretty cluey with technology, but now I realise there is so much more.

I can't say that all these "things" are useful to my day to day work, but you never know when a student may come up and ask a question about something. Instead of giving them a blank stare I may be able to say "oh yes, I've seen that before..."
I can see a lot more use of some of these things in my personal life though, and share my knowledge to friends and family.

I did the VARK quiz and oddly discovered that I have a medium to strong read/write learning preference.

Thing 17 Create content and content curation

Things 17 is something I've never heard of before, there is just so much out there.

Scoop.it is really interesting. I can see how you'd put it into practice in the library/academic world, but even personally. I took a look at the sample's from the spotlight and found quite a bit of what they had "curated" quite interesting. I then tried searching for topics of personal interest and discovered a number of areas to go back and read in the near future.

Storybird is another tool I've never heard of... where have I been??
It is really a cute and quirky tool. Using it as an academic tool I'm not too certain of, unless a group project requires creating a story. I did naturally take a look at the pre-school stories and found some cute ones. Although, I'm still a fan of traditional paper books for kids.

Voki is another tool I investigated. That freaked me out a little, having those eyes follow my cursor around on the screen. After the initial reaction I played around and designed my own weird looking avatar. I can see use for online learning in the library and academic areas. I couldn't see where I'd use one personally though.

Overall, and interesting thing this week.