This week has certainly been another steep learning curve. I am comfortable enough with being a facilitator as I enjoy encouraging others to try things and challenge themselves. The principle challenge is the use of LAMS. Getting to grips with what to me is not a intuitive software has been as challenging for me as what some of those I mentor in my group have faced in their modules! But it has an invaluable purpose. Exploring and familiarising myself with something new so that I can get the job done and blaze a trail which I can help others to follow.
I also have a minor phobia of setting up electornic hardware in front of a group of people. I recall my school teachers in the 1970's and 80's saying, as they set up overhead projectors and video recorders in font of the class, "these things always work fine when you practice setting them up, then they don't work when you have a whole class watching you". My experience backs me up as I always find connecting laptops with data-shows is never the same with each machine. Oh well, I'll have to swallow my pride and accept I'm going to have a few more red-faced moments along the way.
As far as my group goes (and all the other groups), I admire their adventurous spirit in undertaking this programme especially when some readily admit it takes them out of their comfort zone and they fear failure. However my belief is that all will achieve significant goals, learn a great amount and be so much more confident, skilled and positive to face the digital future.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Welcome to Ug's blog
Hi to all my fellow CCLlearners!
You may have guessed it from the banner... this blog had humble origins. At first I felt out of my depth a little, hence the name 'The Stone Age Geek' (i.e. my stone-age knowledge was a serious handicap). 'Ug' was a suitable pseudonym as it was anonymous (should my efforts turn to custard I could hide my shame behind my anonymity) and when it came to my knowledge of Web 2.0 "Ug" was about the only word in my vocabulary! It was also short enough that I wouldn't easily forget it. I'm glad to say now however that I have since by-passed the Dark Ages and skipped on towards the Renaissance as far as my confidence and skill goes. I'm actually loving blogging now and I won't be closing this thing down in shame after all!
It was great to see you all getting your blogs set up quickly. You may have had similar apprehensions as I did about whether or not you could tackle it. But you did and you succeded. Now for the fun bit... In the weeks ahead you will get to be creative and add interesting stuff to your blogs. Don't worry if you end up hashing something or you don't like what you've added. You can easily remove bits and try something else. Experiment and play. Good luck! I'll be waiting for you in the Renaissance!
You may have guessed it from the banner... this blog had humble origins. At first I felt out of my depth a little, hence the name 'The Stone Age Geek' (i.e. my stone-age knowledge was a serious handicap). 'Ug' was a suitable pseudonym as it was anonymous (should my efforts turn to custard I could hide my shame behind my anonymity) and when it came to my knowledge of Web 2.0 "Ug" was about the only word in my vocabulary! It was also short enough that I wouldn't easily forget it. I'm glad to say now however that I have since by-passed the Dark Ages and skipped on towards the Renaissance as far as my confidence and skill goes. I'm actually loving blogging now and I won't be closing this thing down in shame after all!
It was great to see you all getting your blogs set up quickly. You may have had similar apprehensions as I did about whether or not you could tackle it. But you did and you succeded. Now for the fun bit... In the weeks ahead you will get to be creative and add interesting stuff to your blogs. Don't worry if you end up hashing something or you don't like what you've added. You can easily remove bits and try something else. Experiment and play. Good luck! I'll be waiting for you in the Renaissance!
Passing it on (not the Swine Flu!)
Last week I finally did my two sharing exercises and they both went off fairly well I thought. My first was the group 'caffeine break' session (without caffeine I'm afraid to say!) looking at http://www.librarything.com/ and comparing this web 2.0 catalogue with CCL's own public catalogue. The idea was to try to see the advantages of a web 2.0 interface from our library users' perspective as opposed to their experiences with using our current catalogue. To further illustrate this I got them to have a wee play with Wellington City Library's AquaBrowser which makes finding a Haydn string trio a piece of cake (try that on OPAC!!).
My next exercise was a one to one sharing of Google docs. It's easy to use and accesible from anywhere. My 'student' was pleasntly impressed by the accessibility and the ability to collaborate with multiple users anywhere any time.
My next exercise was a one to one sharing of Google docs. It's easy to use and accesible from anywhere. My 'student' was pleasntly impressed by the accessibility and the ability to collaborate with multiple users anywhere any time.
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