Technology 2

I can honestly say that I have learned more this summer than I could have imagined. It is definitely different than any "make and take" workshop I have attended. Creating my avatar has been my favorite so far. I can see so many ways that I could use it and show others how to do it too. It was so easy. Making the movie was also easier than I thought it would be. I can't wait to get back to school and show others what I have learned. It does frustrate me though that my school has very little new or updated technology while other schools have so much. I realize that when I finish this program, I will have to devote some time to write for some grants to help make my school more up-to-date. I have seen how just a few pieces of hardware can be used to really enhance instruction. I have also seen how to keep the lessons focused on the content rather than the technology. That is still very important to me. Above all, I am impressed at the way Trevecca has organized the MLIS program. I feel very much a part of a group. The way that the program is designed definitely promotes collaboration.

Hardware Review

Now that it is a few days past, I am still a little concerned about the hardware review. I am very guilty of taking advantage of my husband's knowledge. If I ever need anything fixed or done to my computer, I just ask him. He tries to explain what he is doing, but I have never had a real need to know.

I really learned a lot this weekend. It is funny to me that when something becomes important to you, then you begin to understand it. I am glad we got to do the activity in a group, but I did not like not being able to review some of it before hand. I often need a little time to let information "sink" in. Especially since some of the components take on different forms. That really concerns me. I have virtually no experience with MAC products. I have never really seen some of their components. I would have liked to have had more physical contact with them before we were tested. I think our group did a good job of working together, and we felt fairly confident about most of our answers. However, we did miss a couple. I would like to do this again, with some things added and some taken away, to see if I could even more effectively evaluate what the component was. I have learned so much already, I anxiously wonder how my brain can absorb anymore.

I am also sure that we all need to go over Chapter 4 again. There was so much basic computer information that it was hard to sort through. The group that did teach the chapter did a great job of keeping us engaged and reviewing what they covered.

Website creation

Well, as I sit here this afternoon, I cannot decide how to feel about my web page. I have now looked at it two times since class yesterday. Once last night and again a few moments ago. I am frustrated because I know how I want it to look, but I am unsure about how to make it happen. I have had some experience with creating and managing a website. I used to do it for my former school. I learned how to do some simple things using code, but was then allowed to use Front Page to actually publish it. When we had the classes this weekend, I was surprised to see how much I did not remember. There were a few things that were vaguely familar, but on the whole, not much. I can see in my mind how it all fits, but I cannot seem to translate that to creating it in Word. The things that I have created do not seem to go where I want them to. I also see why knowing code is important, but I still haven't been able to create the "alt tag" for the clip art on my page. Another thing that worries me is that I am basically plain and simple when I design or create something. I do not like a lot of pictures or a lot of fancy things; I like clean lines and little clutter. I know that this may seem good, but when I see others' creativity, I get very nervous that I am being too plain. On the whole, I do not think what I have done so far is terrible, it just is not exactly what I want it to be yet. I do look forward to seeing what everyone else creates. I know we will get a lot of good ideas from each other.

Actually, my school, and I think my county, have Web page software avaliable to us. I have actually posted for my library on our school's site. It was really nothing short of just a list of upcoming events. As we get further into this program, and we add to our own web pages, should this be something that we plan to link to our schools' sites? Or do we take what we have learned and really create nice work on the exsisting server provided by our school?

I think the best thing is a little distance from the computer for a while and some sunshine on my face. Enjoy a beautiful week!

Jenni

Technical Questions...

I am just going to blog this out because I am sure it is something I don't understand. If any of you do read this, maybe you can point me in the right direction.

First, I do not understand how to subscribe to everyone's blogs. I started to do it, but kept getting a window asking me to do something I didn't understand. Even to get to the blog spot at home I had to do something with the "cookies" on my computer. Now, I keep getting "cookie" messages, too bad they aren't chocolate chip. I don't think I would block that near as often.

Second, I also do not see how I can get a file from my CITRIX account to my home computer without copying and pasting the content. It seems I could just do a "save as" for the file on my own computer, but that didn't work. Does anyone else understand what I am saying?

I realize that no one else may read this, but in case you do, maybe you could enlighten me. I am starting to confirm my opinion that I truly know nothing about technology.

See you all on Friday...
Jenni

Without electricity?

It was a rather humbling article to read. Frankly, quite scary. I don't think I could imagine life without electricity. I have to admit, that lately a lot of things have scared me, from the rising gas prices to the questionable economy. I am most scared about what the future holds for my children.

How would a lack of electricity impact a library? I think at the onset, it would be tragic because of the immediate loss of circulation data and non print media. But in the long run, I would see the libraries as a source of valuable, necessary information for the United States. Yes, we would probably loose the books and other things checked out to patrons, but that would only be a small portion of what any library holds in its collection. Books and other printed things could still be distributed to the population in the more simple method of cards and stamps. This may seem archaic, but it worked before. I see libraries as the source for the knowledge needed to help get things rolling again. If we were forced to live without electricity, we would need to learn how to cope. Food preservation, water purification, alternative energy sources are all areas that could be studied (in daylight of course) from the library.

While I hope that this doesn't happen, I see it as a real threat and possibility that may happen in my or my children's lifetime.

Jenni

Course Reflection #1

Well, where do I begin. My fist official blog. I wonder if I will have anything interesting to say. My husband, Jeff, is excited about me taking this course. He is an engineer and such a computer geek that he thinks I will be able to talk shop with him when I am done. The jury is still out on that.

I am still a little anxious about what is in store for this class. I am concerned about keeping this blog, the e-scans, and the other assignments up-to-date. It is really a good thing that it is the summer break from school. I wonder how we would all get it done. You know what they say about busy people.

I am looking forward to the webliographies. I hope that everyone makes copies for us to keep in a file. I think that will be useful in our future work.

I hope everyone has a nice rest of the weekend.
Jenni