Hmmmm….

Reading your assignments I now realize that 2 of the podcast links don’t work. I’m sorry about this, I promise they worked when I checked a couple weeks ago! Unfortunately I only have time to check assignments a couple times a week and often only after they are due. As a result I did not know these links had to be fixed or I would have corrected the issue.

I know our course is at an end now but, if you take on-line courses in the future and you notice that links are broken you should let the instructor know directly (e.g. via e-mail) so that they can try and resolve the problem before the assignment is due. This way everyone does not have to run into the same problems.

Jenny.

Graduation Party!

Now that you are all done the course, why not celebrate?

Community Development 2.0 Graduation Party

December 1

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

 Galt View Restaurant

693 Coronation Boulevard
Cambridge, ON N1R 3G5
(519) 621-5686

Here is a MAP to the location.

Wine, cheese, finger foods and soft drinks will be served. Free parking is available.

Please R.S.V.P. by November 25 to
Reva Devendran at
reva@socialplanningcouncil-cnd.org

I regret that I will not be able to join you as I was really looking forward to meeting all of you. Unfortunately I have to work that night and cannot get someone to take my shift.

Assignment #11 (final assignment)

Week #12: Nov. 24/08 – Reflection

Due: Nov. 30/08.

This is the last week of class. Thank you all so much for your participation in this course. It has been a pleasure reading all of your assignments and working with you. You have all done a great job. I know this course was a bit intensive and with such busy schedules it was not always easy for you to find time to get it all done. Now you can take a bit of a breather. I encourage you to further explore the topics and tools you have been introduced to through this course. While some of the tools may still seem overwhelming, the more you explore on your own the more comfortable you will feel. I hope you have found this course useful and that you can apply some of what you have learned here to your organizations.

All that is required for this week’s assignment is for you to fill out this course survey. Once you have submitted it, give your self a pat on the back and breathe a deep sigh of relief! You’re all done!

Thanks again for your participation!

Jenny Smith.

Assignment #10

Week #11: Nov. 17/08 – Podcasts and Videos

*This is the last “techie” thing you are going to have to learn! Next week is your reflection so enjoy.

 

Web 2.0 applications that allow users to upload and share videos have become increasingly popular over the past couple of years. With over 1 million video views a day You Tube is one of the most well known web 2.0 players. This week part of your assignment will be to explore You Tube to see what video share sites have to offer. And guess what…no passwords required!

 

The word podcast is used to refer to a non-musical audio or video broadcast that is distributed over the Internet. What differentiates a podcast from regular streaming audio or video is that the delivery method for podcasts is often done automatically through RSS. There’s a podcast out there for just about every interest area and the best part about this technology is that you don’t have to have an iPod or a MP3 player to access them. All you need is a computer with headphones or a speaker. Part of your assignment this week will be to check out some podcast directories to find one that interests you and then add it to your blog.

 

Assignment #10: Due. Nov. 23/08

1)      Explore YouTube & find a video that interests you. Cut & Past the video’s URL into your blog post so we can view your selection too!

2)      Check out these Podcast directories and try to find some podcast that might be of use to your organization.

a.       Podcast.net

b.      Podcastalley.com

c.       Yahoo Podcasts

3)      Create a blog post about your experiences with the applications you have used today. What did you like or dislike about the sites? Why did you choose the video/ podcast that you did? Can you see any features or components of these tools that might be useful to your organization’s website?

 

Additional reading:

 

For more information about podcasts check out Yahoo: What is a podcast tutorial.

Want to create some podcasts of your very own? Check out these sites:

• Yahoo: Publish a podcast
• Odeo’s Studio – online recording studio.
• Beginner’s guide to Podcasts & Creating Podcasts
• How to podcast tutorial

Assignment #9

Week #10: Nov. 10/08 – Online Applications & Tools

 

Did you know there are online tools to replace your Microsoft Word products? Well there are and what’s more, they can eliminate some of the issues you face in everyday life such as: the worry about different software versions or file types when you email documents or move from PC to PC. They also increase collaboration by allowing multiple users to edit the same file while allowing you to save and convert documents as multiple file types (including HTML and pdf). Many of these tools, such as Zoho Writer and Google Docs, allow you to write and publish posts to your blog. In this week’s assignment you will explore Zoho Writer to determine for your self if these types of products may have a place in your organization.

 

Assignment #9: Due Nov. 16/08

 

1)      Brace yourselves for another password!

2)      Create an account in Zoho Writer.

3)      Create a document in Zoho Writer that is about 1 paragraph long. It can be about anything you like, even something unrelated to Web 2.0.

4)      Play around with Zoho Writer’s features and create a blog post about your discoveries.

5)      FYI…Check out this list of Award Winning Web 2.0 Applications. This is mostly just to show you that we have only scratched the surface of what is out there in terms of Web 2.0. It is also important to remember that for every tool we have explored, there are others out there that perform similar functions so, if you liked the idea of a tool we tried but didn’t like the application its self, there’s likely another site out there for you to try. You are welcome to comment on any of these tools if you try them but it is not mandatory.

Assignment #8

Week #9: Nov. 3/08 – Wikis.

A wiki is a website that allows users to easily add, remove and edit content. Probably the most popular and well known example is Wikipedia, an online open-community encyclopaedia.

What’s so great about wikis?

1. Anyone (registered or unregistered, if unrestricted) can add, edit or delete content.
2. Tracking tools within wikis allow you to easily keep up on what has been changed and by whom.
3. Earlier versions of a page can be viewed and reinstated when needed.
4. And users do not need to know HTML in order to apply styles to text or add and edit content. In most cases simple syntax structure is used.

Over the past few years wikis have gained a lot of popularity within the business realm as a way to collaborate and share knowledge. For example, businesses have created best practices wikis, FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) wikis, meeting or conference wikis etc. For the librarians among us, many libraries have created pathfinder or subject guide wikis, book review wikis and Reference desk wikis. This week’s assignment will have you explore some wikis to see what they have to offer; and, to think about how wikis could be used in your organization to share information.

 

 

Assignment #8: Due Nov. 9/08.

1)      Read this helpful article to learn more about wikis: Wiki, wiki, wiki.

2)      Explore at least 3 of the wikis listed here and consider what aspects of each might be useful for your organization.

a.       SJCPL Subject Guides – a pathfinder wiki developed by the St. Joseph County Public Library system

b.      Library Success: A best practices wiki

c.       ALA 2006 New Orleans wiki – an example of a wiki created to support a specific event

d.      Front Page – a community wiki about general interests.

e.       The Waterloo Way Wiki – stories of entrepreneurship in the Waterloo Region.

f.       WATSTART – information on “start-up” tech business in the Waterloo Region

g.      Mfagan wiki – a list of data sources surrounding Waterloo that have a geographic component.

3)      Create a blog post about your opinions of wikis. Do you think they are useful tools? How would you use them in your organization and what kind of wikis would you create? What are some of the negative issues associated with wikis.

This Sunday

Unfortunately I cannot be online to answer you questions this Sunday as something personal has come up. In replace I will be on IM Chat Tuesday. 4th. between 7 and 10pm.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Assignment # 7

Week 8: Oct. 27/08 – Web 2.0 & You.

The overarching philosophy of Web 2.0 is to capture the collective intelligence of all stakeholders in order to provide a more user-friendly, comprehensive, efficient service. No matter what type of organization you are apart of, the implementation of Web 2.0 tools helps foster a sense of trust and openness with your community by: allowing them direct input into designing and implementing services; providing an opportunity for feedback and; by demonstrating a eagerness to listen and respond to their needs.

 

The principles of Web 2.0 can challenge the current organizational structure our society has become so comfortable with by moving from the top-down management approach to a more collaborative approach; encompassing the opinions of anyone and everyone from top management, to front-line staff, to the community we serve. But with this challenge comes great opportunities for fun, creativity, exploration and collaboration. As Web 2.0 continues to infiltrate different aspects of society there is no doubt that it will change the way organizations operate, communicate with clients and develop there services.

Assignment #7: Due Nov. 2/08

1. Read this article by Meredith Farkas. The essence of Library 2.0? Blog about your feelings on this debate? What’s your perspective?
2. Read three of the articles listed below. They are all about differing perspectives on Web 2.0 and the possibilities for community organizations.
   1. Power from the People: Assessing the New Online Participatory Tools for Your    Organization
   2. What Does Web 2.0 Mean For Your Non-Profit?
   3. Away from Icebergs
   4. Into a new world of librarianship
   5. To more powerful ways to cooperate
   6. To better bibliographic services
   7. To a temporary place in time
3. Create a blog post about your thoughts on the articles you read. Web 2.0 – It’s many things to many people; what does it mean to you?

Further Reading:

2008 CACUL Great Debate (CACUL = Canadian Association of College and University Libraries) This is a longer article and slightly more in depth but for those of you looking to delve further into web 2.0 you may find this article interesting.

Change in “IM Chat” hours

Howdy all,

Tonight I will be on “IM Chat” a little later than normal, I have a personal engagement.  I will be online between 9 and 11pm.

Sorry for the time shift.

Jenny.

Break Week!

Week 7: Oct. 20/08 – Take a Break!

You’ve worked so hard throughout this course I think it’s time you all took a well deserved break. Take this week to complete any of the previous assignments you have not yet submitted.

I know this has been a heavy course load but you have all impressed me with your assignments. Give yourselves credit for all the hard work you have put in so far and keep up the good work; you’re approaching the finish line!

I encourage you to contact me if you are struggling with any of the assignments. I am here to help! There’s no sense in getting frustrated and feeling like you are going in circles if I can help you solve the problem.