Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Secret to success





Our director shared this videolink at one of our BMT sessions. One of the secrets to success is passion. Without passion, everything you do is just a chore, and this applies to ones studies too. At first the ICT applications course seemed like one big mountain to climb. But as I read more, apply more, I want to know more. I saw Gilbert's project on QR codes, and I'm royally impressed. I feel like I would also like to try a QR code application. (but first I need a smartphone). Two months ago, I would have said that I'll never understand anything IT related and now I'm taking small steps. I know i'm slow on the uptake, but as the Afrikaans saying goes; agteros kom ook in die kraal. So after watching this video, with every new challenge I will apply some passion to it and see if it changes my attitude to the challenge, especially the difficult ones
 http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_st_john_s_8_secrets_of_success.html

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Smartphones

I found this article on my RSS Feed. As you need a Smartphone to read your QR code, it just makes more sense to acquire one. And as the article indicate it is so much cheaper & mobile, so it becomes much more accessible...makes you think
http://www.boredonthe.net/mobile/smartphone-dominance/
Obviously you use your smartphone for much more than that and as the demand is there to stay 'connected', what more could you want than to have internet access at your fingertips.
http://www.internetservice.net/mobile-internet/




Monday, May 6, 2013

Due Date..............8 May 2013

...and now my friend, the end is near...no...no...no...I have soooooooo much I still want to say, to add, to learn. What did I learn. The short answer is...A LOT...
I believe in continuous education. I believe in life-long learning. I believe one is never too old to learn - you can teach an old dog new tricks.
I started this course with great trepidation. I'm glad for the fire cracker, because it gave me a wake-up call. As a public librarian one becomes so comfortable and complacent. You are exposed to a number of things each day, but sticking your neck out further than necessary is a BIG risk
http://readwrite.com/2012/09/18/the-social-library-how-public-libraries-are-using-social-media
I would like to encourage public librarians to take up the challenge to familiarise themselves with social media and the benefits it offers for promoting their libraries.

It might be the end of PGDipl.LIS: ICT Applications for now, but it is just the beginning  of continuing with blogging, tweeting and whatever present itself in the near future.
My favourite part of the course was the assignment on mobile technologies and the accompanying powerpoint presentations   

Twitter Daily Planner




Twitter is one of the most interesting applications, but it can also be very addictive. the following link are steps to follow to manage your twitter account:http://www.socialmediatorch.com/daily-twitter-plan/


Saturday, April 27, 2013

Wiki update

A Wiki can be very informative and also quite simplistic, concise and to the point. I checked out these two sites on special interest groups in libraries to 'see' whats happening at other libraries. Its amazing though distance separate us, we share the same concerns and similar challenges.
http://www.socallibraries.org/committee/children
http://www.esrl.lib.md.us/community/sig.php

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Digital divide


 The Digital divide is so great in our country. We have an ample amount of 'have nots' in our communities. While to some communities ipads and tablets in the classroom is the norm, in most other communities it is unheard of. Something some children only see in catalogues. It would be great if all children could be exposed to different technology developments at a young age, that by the time they are grey haired, they do not search for the 'any' button on the keyboard.
This link to this article is really inspiring

Blogging in the 21st-Century Classroom | Edutopia


 

How to cite Social Media

I always seem to experience problems with correctly citing a document.

A Great Guide on How to Cite Social Media Using Both MLA and APA styles ~ Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

Sunday, April 7, 2013

WIKI


Next activity: creating a Wiki

6 Steps to creating a WIKI


http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Free-Wiki-with-Wikia
Create a Free Wiki with Wikia


Wikia is a community destination supporting the creation and development of wiki communities (or wiki farm) on any topic people are passionate about. Creating your very own wiki is a fun and free, yet challenging

http://www.wikispaces.com/


http://www.myandroidmusicapps.com/content/tunewiki-lyrics-music-review-0 an example of a music wiki site









Friday, April 5, 2013

Powerpoint presentations

5 minutes is such a short time to condense an essay into a powerpoint presentation, but wow...by prioritising and just mentioning the essence, powerpoint presentations are powerful. From the Wednesday evening class, i've learnt such a lot from the different presentations and the different perspectives and focus points. http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/skills/presentations.aspx#fbid=fyAe9Ko_Nxy

Thursday, March 28, 2013

i didn't see

To view or not to view? Thats the question. Does internet filtering create more awareness or does it arouse curiosity? http://www.microsoft.com/security/resources/internetfilters-whatis.aspx




   

Please correct me if im wrong, but i get the feeling that internet filtering is mainly directed at childrens' viewing. As a parent, i know, if you tell a child 'no', they then ask 'why? and 'why', and 'why?...or they do just that that you ask them not to do. Not because they are naughty, but because children are curious and adventurous.
Today, almost every child has a cellphone. We as parents see it these days as a necessity and quite within reason. Children have access to the internet without supervision. Is it possible to block all 'unsavoury & inappropriate content'. Secondly, beside pornography, what else should parents pay attention to?... ...home-made bombs, home-made drugs, religous rituals, animal sacrificing...? Where does the list end, when are you overblocking or underblocking and how reliable or reputable is the information? Does internet filtering really offer parents peace of mind or is it just one big gamble?. 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Try & try again!

One of my pet hates is continuous whining. Get a grip and move on I would say, but that is exactly how I feel today. I have been trying to subscribe to RSS Feeds, but it just doesn't work. I don't know what im doing wrong, hence the heading. Im frustrated especially as I don't have the mental ability to try new things straight after class and when i do try a couple of days later, i've forgotten how.
So....im going to try my own advice: ' if at first you do not succeed, try and try and try again'.
I hope by the time I succeed, I will still have some black hair left.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Blogging blues

Im so glad for this holiday. When we started blogging i was quite excited. I felt like im going on an adventure by just using my fingers, but a rude awakening awaited. Not so much the content, but the waiting for the blog to open and trying to add widgets and and it just doesn't work. The unending frustration waiting for technology to respond or for it to do what you want. I just somehow wish  for more time. By the time we start classes we already have an 8 hour work shift, travelling to campus in 'rush hour' traffic and then being introduced to new things and the mind and body are both tired. But then I suppose that is the joy of studying part-time.

I read an interesting qoute yesterday; "Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. " I do not want to be a turtle. I do not want to be left behind. I want to be relevant. So forget tiredness, forget frustrations. Im trying and i'll continue till i succeed

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

QR codes


view the website of libraries and technology and how technology is developing in libraries.
Interesting hey!!!. I think QR codes are fantastic. It has endless possibilities, because it uses so little space. BUT you need a smartphone to read them. My project on mobile technologies really opened my eyes to the advantages of QR codes. I've generated a QR code, but I cant read it, because, I do not have a smartphone. Im still deciding between a tablet or a smartphone and the price difference is a major decision maker. A Samsung Galaxy S3 is currently going for R7500 and a tablet for far less. So whats the difference; to have an ordinary phone for phone calls & text messages + a tablet for access to apps and sundry OR to have a smartphone, which can practically do everything, but cook the evening meal...decisions...decisions 

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Educampus Corporate (A division of Educampus SA), brings you “The Digital & Mobile Apps Marketing Conference” that will be held at the Apartheid Museum in Ormonde, Johannesburg, 17-19 April 2013. This event will explore a range of Digital Media Marketing methods to most efficiently connect with your target market. Web: www.educampus.co.za

Monday, February 25, 2013

A few years ago, we, a couple of librarians, attended a workshop on e-mails. How to send & receive e-mails, especially e-mails with attachments. Nowadays we send e-mails with our eyes closed, well almost, and cannot imagine a time we did'nt know how.
I've called my blog, CLOG. Class + Blog = CLOG. According to the dictionary a clog is an obstruction or a hindrance. Well i sure know my blog isn't an obstruction, but rather an effective tool if used correctly.
I somehow feel i should have named my blog; 'a diary of a wimp' . Im so scared to try new things. Im amazed at the young children at computer outlets and how they try to use and play with the equipment.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Wow!!! WoW!!! Im a blogger. Im entering into a whole new adventure. imagine, all this by sitting in an ICT application class.