I think I'm done.
I checked out Skype - my partner uses it to communicate with his kids O/S and interstate but I have no need for it.
I approached Second Life expecting it to be a frustrating waste of time and so was not disappointed :(
Flickr was good, especially with CoolIris loaded, and I will probably get a bit of use from iGoogle.
Also, Library Thing and the audio downloads from YPRL will be amongst my favorites from this course, as will the ning I joined.
I subscribed to a few podcasts, but have yet to get back to them (or anything previously mentioned until I finish the course), and I wanted to investigate ways to have my flickr files come up on a google search.
All in all, when I have a look at the work I've done on this over the past 5 weeks, I'm amazed at what I've learnt, tried and achieved.
Thanks YPRL
Wallabyj
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Not a SL Newbie anymore :)
Yep - I've visited a few SL islands, mostly uninhabited, discovered how to see myself, picked up a few freebies (clothes, sounds, 500 autumn leaves I think) and I reckon I've worked out what KK is.
So here are my tips for getting around second life:
Next year it will be 20 years since I first ventured onto the internet. Before windows, before hypertext, before the mouse and before color.
When I began, the internet was a way to find and connect with people on obscure topics, a way to spread a new or important idea or message, a way to experience virtual worlds and adventure into new experiences.
My first really illuminating experience online was lurking in a newsgroup where people were sharing first hand accounts of the war in Bosnia - it became apparent that no-one wins in a war and no side has a monopoly on truth.
Nothing has changed on the internet - it is still the ultimate avenue for all of these experiences, but the underlying objective is to meet people, and it seems ultimately it is merely a vehicle by which first life connections are made.
I can see some advantages in SL, in creating communities, for all those things that communities are good for - study, discussion forums, research groups, music sharing and so on. But all these things exist, SL enhances the environment to be sure, but I cannot imagine anyone substituting SL for the real thing in first life if one had a choice.
I would much prefer Second Life if I could have virtual time as well as a virtual life :)
So here are my tips for getting around second life:
- Look up before you start flying - I've crashed into overhanging branches!
- Get to know the menus - especially inventory, gestures, appearance.
- Learn to use the map.
- Don't expect to move immediately.
- Bookmark favorite sites!
- Watch the videos from Murdoch University!
- Find a glossary - especially if you're a generation or two removed from the dominant demographic!
- Think about what you hope to achieve.
Next year it will be 20 years since I first ventured onto the internet. Before windows, before hypertext, before the mouse and before color.
When I began, the internet was a way to find and connect with people on obscure topics, a way to spread a new or important idea or message, a way to experience virtual worlds and adventure into new experiences.
My first really illuminating experience online was lurking in a newsgroup where people were sharing first hand accounts of the war in Bosnia - it became apparent that no-one wins in a war and no side has a monopoly on truth.
Nothing has changed on the internet - it is still the ultimate avenue for all of these experiences, but the underlying objective is to meet people, and it seems ultimately it is merely a vehicle by which first life connections are made.
I can see some advantages in SL, in creating communities, for all those things that communities are good for - study, discussion forums, research groups, music sharing and so on. But all these things exist, SL enhances the environment to be sure, but I cannot imagine anyone substituting SL for the real thing in first life if one had a choice.
I would much prefer Second Life if I could have virtual time as well as a virtual life :)
Saturday, August 30, 2008
No second life
My display is not compatible with second life. After all that worry, I was getting used to that idea. Decided on a name, chose an avatar and started to get excited.
Fortunately I started collecting bookmarks but I'll have to transfer them all to delicious so that I can get find them all on another machine.
Ahh Well - Ironing it is :(
Fortunately I started collecting bookmarks but I'll have to transfer them all to delicious so that I can get find them all on another machine.
Ahh Well - Ironing it is :(
Second Life
I've done some research (the tutorial from Murdoch would be good to see) and spent some time downloading, installing and even choosing and registering an avatar.
But the program won't load so I'm going to have to try restarting the computer :(
Before I do I must share something I learnt from my students during the week - COOLIRIS. It's a Mozilla add on for displaying images and from within it you can search google images, flickr, amazon and more. Just a neat way to view pages of images without pressing NEXT.
But back to second life - as if I needed one...
But the program won't load so I'm going to have to try restarting the computer :(
Before I do I must share something I learnt from my students during the week - COOLIRIS. It's a Mozilla add on for displaying images and from within it you can search google images, flickr, amazon and more. Just a neat way to view pages of images without pressing NEXT.
But back to second life - as if I needed one...
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
More online books
Well I added another book to the library thing, trying to select some of the more obscure titles in my collection, and discovered that it was far more exciting to discover others enjoying my favorites than it was to be the only one listing a particular title, especially when I discovered more exciting titles by the same author. And then of course checking their lists, realizing they were reading the same books, and wondering if I knew them :)
Today I discovered Google Books, while following some research links. In particular "The Discovery and Settlement of Port Phillip; being a history of the country now called Victoria ... up to 1836" by James Bontwick. This title is complete and searchable! Who knows what other full text titles are available on this site...
This evening's session is on Second Life - my last excursion in this course. I'm so apprehensive - I can't imagine what I'm going to find there, and how I'm going to find anything there.
I'm really excited about joining the NING though. Sadly it is blocked at work and I'll have to do something about that before I can utilize it properly as I feel that it will be a great meeting point at a time when librarians and especially TLs need to get together to promote ourselves in schools and in the wider community. When I first began the GDIM, my sister said, What's information management? Is that just a fancy name for librarian? And what do librarians do anyway - read books?!
The real joke is that I wanted out of IT because I'd had enough of learning new software - little did I know! ;)
Today I discovered Google Books, while following some research links. In particular "The Discovery and Settlement of Port Phillip; being a history of the country now called Victoria ... up to 1836" by James Bontwick. This title is complete and searchable! Who knows what other full text titles are available on this site...
This evening's session is on Second Life - my last excursion in this course. I'm so apprehensive - I can't imagine what I'm going to find there, and how I'm going to find anything there.
I'm really excited about joining the NING though. Sadly it is blocked at work and I'll have to do something about that before I can utilize it properly as I feel that it will be a great meeting point at a time when librarians and especially TLs need to get together to promote ourselves in schools and in the wider community. When I first began the GDIM, my sister said, What's information management? Is that just a fancy name for librarian? And what do librarians do anyway - read books?!
The real joke is that I wanted out of IT because I'd had enough of learning new software - little did I know! ;)
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Ninging
I didn't find out what Facebook and Myspace had to offer if anything beyond what I already knew, BECAUSE I did know that I wanted to know more about Nings, and guess what!?! There is a Victorian Teacher Librarian Ning - who'd have guessed it? And Victoria in Australia! - my first thought was "I bet it's those Canadian Victorians again :)"
So, I joined of course, and now I'll have to convince the IT guys at work to remove the filters on the ning so I can keep up to date with it...
'Night
So, I joined of course, and now I'll have to convince the IT guys at work to remove the filters on the ning so I can keep up to date with it...
'Night
Flight of the Concords
For a new brand of comedy, have a look at the Flight of the Concords here on wikipedia or check them out on YouTube.
I've also explored another file sharing program - LimeWire. Trouble is I'm working full time and don't have the opportunity to listen to music so much anymore so I'm missing out on music news. Maybe the JJJ Podcast will remedy that.
Now that I've started blogging, it's almost as if there doesn't need to be anyone reading it - obviously since I'm still working on this blog - but the question is will I still be in cyberspace once I've completed the course? I've been investigating Moodle at work so maybe I'll blog on there instead. My privacy gene has not permitted me to sign away my real name - that's showing my age isn't it?
Maybe I'll use a few more tags and chase myself around on google or even place an entry on wikipedia linking my photos.....
Tonite it's FaceBook and MySpace. I don't see how they will differ from Flickr, but that's why I'm doing this course eh?
More on the next installment...
I've also explored another file sharing program - LimeWire. Trouble is I'm working full time and don't have the opportunity to listen to music so much anymore so I'm missing out on music news. Maybe the JJJ Podcast will remedy that.
Now that I've started blogging, it's almost as if there doesn't need to be anyone reading it - obviously since I'm still working on this blog - but the question is will I still be in cyberspace once I've completed the course? I've been investigating Moodle at work so maybe I'll blog on there instead. My privacy gene has not permitted me to sign away my real name - that's showing my age isn't it?
Maybe I'll use a few more tags and chase myself around on google or even place an entry on wikipedia linking my photos.....
Tonite it's FaceBook and MySpace. I don't see how they will differ from Flickr, but that's why I'm doing this course eh?
More on the next installment...
Monday, August 25, 2008
Google Maps and iGoogle
I found a map of the earthquakes happening around the world, and I've explored the gadgets in iGoogle. Never really thought of creating and iGoogle page but there are things I would like to have on hand every day without thinking too much and this seems to be the way to do it. From Sunrise and Moonrise time, a quote from LaoTse and Confucius, to the latest from Crikey. Now all I have to do is log into one page and they're there on hand!
But how do I save it?
But how do I save it?
Free Books
The best free books are at the local library of course, but I love the idea of the Book Crossing, so I thought I'd go hunting. The trouble is that I'm rarely in a public place - parks and beaches with no-one else around being my favorites. Still, with 85 books in Victoria, maybe I can pass this info on to someone else. Mallacoota looks busy - great place for reading too.
And thanks to YPRL's Overdrive Downloadable Media now I can choose some books to listen to on the drive there.
And thanks to YPRL's Overdrive Downloadable Media now I can choose some books to listen to on the drive there.
Podcasts
Well it's still cold, but I'm investigating podcasts, at least I'm investigating how to subscribe to a podcast feed, because I know what a podcast is. It turns out that the most difficult part is choosing which feed to subscribe to - and I'm just looking through the ABC (loyal fan that I am). I've chosen Street Stories but I haven't checked out the Triple J Site yet...
The iTunes tutorial was very useful so I've also subscribed to New Music and Dr Karl from JJJ.
Now I'm going to have to find the time to listen ;)
The iTunes tutorial was very useful so I've also subscribed to New Music and Dr Karl from JJJ.
Now I'm going to have to find the time to listen ;)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
You Tube
There's so much available on youtube it's difficult to select something in particular so I've chosen two - the first is of an amazing dog and trainer duo, here seen performing on Britain's Got Talent... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kKnNyJvRAY
And this next one is a performance of Swan Lake by a Chinese troupe performing in Europe somewhere - watch it and you will see why I've included it... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOqxSaW05p4
Finally I've included a link to Crikey's video of the day... http://www.crikey.com.au/video.html Check out the archives for David Attenborough's interview with a Lyrebird.
I've also put my delicious link on my blog today - podcasts will have to wait until I'm warmer :)
And this next one is a performance of Swan Lake by a Chinese troupe performing in Europe somewhere - watch it and you will see why I've included it... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOqxSaW05p4
Finally I've included a link to Crikey's video of the day... http://www.crikey.com.au/video.html Check out the archives for David Attenborough's interview with a Lyrebird.
I've also put my delicious link on my blog today - podcasts will have to wait until I'm warmer :)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Library Thing
It was a difficult task, but I have chosen 5 books from my shelves and entered them on My Library Thing. I've put a photo on my profile, scanned a cover into my library and even put a widget on my blog. (Not to mention checking out other people's libraries!) I've had heaps of reading at work - trying to grasp the enormity of being a librarian in the Information Age. And just to make that task so much greater, I joined the Librarians on Library Thing group. But the nice thing about librarians is that they're all about sharing knowledge - why did it take me 30 years to discover librarianship as a career? No-one else was surprised when I announced I was going back to uni (for the third time)!
That's enough for tonite ;)
Cheers
That's enough for tonite ;)
Cheers
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
East Gippsland Tall Timbers
Second tutorial - Flickr (see at right) - second post...
It's impossible not to take photos if there's a camera close by. There have been times that I've left it behind on purpose. And then there are always those photos I didn't take - and aren't those the ones that stay in my head forever?
But Flickr is for those I have taken, and so here is a sample of my favorites, and not so favorites, from East Gippsland - one of the last remaining areas of temperate rainforest in Victoria.
North and west of Orbost are three national parks - the Alpine, the Errinundra Plateau and the Snowy River. In select areas bordering these parks are logging coups.
In these photos I hope to show both the beauty and the desecration of these areas. Some of these areas have not been affected by natural fires in living memory.
In some you will see the indicators and aftermaths of "tree harvesting" - so-called refuge trees left by loggers for the benefit of wildlife and the blackened clean up - which continues unabated almost two years after a promise to restrict logging in these areas. Finally I have included the signage used to warn you of the dangers traveling in these areas.
In one you can see the remains of a blockade. Bidawal Traditional Owners and local heroes have tried to bring attention to this destruction, but, although many have been arrested, little is known of their battle due to their remoteness and the reluctance of media to report either their actions or their successes.
Check out http://www.geco.org.au/ for on the spot reports and recent developments.
Time for a walk...
Cheers
wallabyj
PS - there's also a photo of a wallaby
It's impossible not to take photos if there's a camera close by. There have been times that I've left it behind on purpose. And then there are always those photos I didn't take - and aren't those the ones that stay in my head forever?
But Flickr is for those I have taken, and so here is a sample of my favorites, and not so favorites, from East Gippsland - one of the last remaining areas of temperate rainforest in Victoria.
North and west of Orbost are three national parks - the Alpine, the Errinundra Plateau and the Snowy River. In select areas bordering these parks are logging coups.
In these photos I hope to show both the beauty and the desecration of these areas. Some of these areas have not been affected by natural fires in living memory.
In some you will see the indicators and aftermaths of "tree harvesting" - so-called refuge trees left by loggers for the benefit of wildlife and the blackened clean up - which continues unabated almost two years after a promise to restrict logging in these areas. Finally I have included the signage used to warn you of the dangers traveling in these areas.
In one you can see the remains of a blockade. Bidawal Traditional Owners and local heroes have tried to bring attention to this destruction, but, although many have been arrested, little is known of their battle due to their remoteness and the reluctance of media to report either their actions or their successes.
Check out http://www.geco.org.au/ for on the spot reports and recent developments.
Time for a walk...
Cheers
wallabyj
PS - there's also a photo of a wallaby
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Signing In
Hi all.
I'm finally online after procrastinating for so long.
Still - it can't be any worse than ICQ or jumping onto a newsgroup can it? Except that here I know that I'm not talking to anyone, or at the very best, there will be a considerable time lag between uttering my words and them being 'heard.'
Even that is no difference to the words of any author...
Is that what makes an author? - that their words are as pertinent whenever they're heard?
Shall I be an author? Here goes ... (big breath ;)
I've been on the internet for almost 20 years after rejecting computer science and engineering for mathematics many years before. Now I am a librarian.
In this, my very first blog posting, I'm going to tell you, briefly, about a few significant books in my life.
Of these, the I Ching, or Book of Changes, is the one I could not do without. It is a relationship spanning 35 years and has stood by me through thick and thin, blood, sweat and tears. The same society that created the I Ching, also created the binary number system and Tai Chi.
High also on the list are The Doors to Perception by Aldous Huxley for teaching me to appreciate art, Chaos, by James Gleick for showing me the universe in a grain of sand, Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott for opening the door to other dimensions and Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards for teaching me to believe in myself.
In fiction I would choose Childhood's End (Arthur C. Clarke), The Left Hand of Darkness (Ursula Le Guin), Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Douglas Adams) and of course Alice.
If anyone's reading this I've probably said enough, and if no-one's reading this then why go on.
'night
WallabyJ
I'm finally online after procrastinating for so long.
Still - it can't be any worse than ICQ or jumping onto a newsgroup can it? Except that here I know that I'm not talking to anyone, or at the very best, there will be a considerable time lag between uttering my words and them being 'heard.'
Even that is no difference to the words of any author...
Is that what makes an author? - that their words are as pertinent whenever they're heard?
Shall I be an author? Here goes ... (big breath ;)
I've been on the internet for almost 20 years after rejecting computer science and engineering for mathematics many years before. Now I am a librarian.
In this, my very first blog posting, I'm going to tell you, briefly, about a few significant books in my life.
Of these, the I Ching, or Book of Changes, is the one I could not do without. It is a relationship spanning 35 years and has stood by me through thick and thin, blood, sweat and tears. The same society that created the I Ching, also created the binary number system and Tai Chi.
High also on the list are The Doors to Perception by Aldous Huxley for teaching me to appreciate art, Chaos, by James Gleick for showing me the universe in a grain of sand, Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott for opening the door to other dimensions and Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards for teaching me to believe in myself.
In fiction I would choose Childhood's End (Arthur C. Clarke), The Left Hand of Darkness (Ursula Le Guin), Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Douglas Adams) and of course Alice.
If anyone's reading this I've probably said enough, and if no-one's reading this then why go on.
'night
WallabyJ
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