week 9 thing 18

I love wikipedia. I use it to find out about any item of general knowledge, and trust it. Research compares it favourably to Encyclopedia Britannica. I like the concept of enthusiasts collaborating to create something of worth. Maybe one day I'll become a wiki volunteer.

I would like one day to explore the other areas of wikipedia(eg Help desk, reference desk, village pump) and would love to read articles in languages other than English.

Week 9 things 17

I looked at some of the case studies on the Oxford web 2.0 wiki at http://socialouls.wetpaint.com and found what didn't work as interesting as what did work. I presume common interests is as important as the right tools.

I was also interested in the web 2.0 working party contributions on using free software in the workplace and the issues it raises. I don't know whether to be delighted by the convenience or irritated at the intrusiveness of web 3.0. tools (eg Google).

Given the right browser, the easy edit tool on our library wetpaint wiki / staff manual is easy to use and a simple way for any member of staff to update procedures.

week 8 thing 16

I read all the tweets that include the hashtag #ox23 and had a really good laugh. Thank you very much konnie bunnie and jamesnfishwick.

Week 8 thing 15

Following the instructions and opening an account on Twitter was straightforward.

I wanted to follow the library where I work but could not find the address using the website on the OULS directory and a search on Twitter using its name and location was also unsuccessful.

A Twitter address on a poster in the foyer where I work used abbreviations and so I was able to find the Twitter address and become a follower.

I still wanted to become a follower of the library so I searched on the OULS Web 2.0 directory and found the address which also used abbreviations.

There is always a tension between social networking and privacy concerns but less so if an address is not easy to find. There seems to be no cross-referencing in Twitter nor sophisticated search robots. Putting the word library in my search brought up some useful addresses (eg Library of Congress, New York Public library, British Library) but nothing close to the name of the library.

On a work based course, the convenience of using free software is offset by using work emails which is a ready identifier of workplace. According to Wikipedia, which we explore next week, Twitter collects personally identifiable information about its users and shares it with third parties. The service considers that information an asset, and reserves the right to sell it if the company changes hands.

I resent ads, but accept them as part of the visual clutter of modern communication. While Twitter displays no advertising, advertisers can target users based on their history of tweets and sometimes may quote tweets in ads. Will we one day read plagiarisms of our teletweets in ads for libraries?

I am also concerned about getting drawn into the illusion of an online identity. Does a hashtag #ox23 link me to virtual bodies or colleagues with corporeity?

week 2 thing 4

I read other people's blogs and am beginning to feel that this is a shared learning experience. Some participants express my own thoughts very aptly. Others draw on their own experience of using other tools for blogging.

As a writer, I think the form lends itself very well to a diary, stream of consciousness type of writing. As a reader I appreciate touches of humour and keen observation.

week 7 thing 14

I have heard good things about LinkedIn and joined as it is part of the course.My first impression of completing a profile was that the questionnaire was like using a a template to write a CV. I would first like to see some profiles and then decide if and why I want to join the community.

Is there anyone planning to buy LinkedIn?

week 7 thing 13

I gave myself a time limit of 30 minutes to skim read the information on groups versus pages in Facebook and then to quickly browse the front pages of web 2.0 libraries with Facebook. I found a range of input - some were very chatty and buddy, some more neutral, some seemed more recently used, others rarely.

I noted that not all the libraries in the web 2.0 directory used all the web 2.0 tools and would be interested to know what informed the choices.