Inquiry Model

For the project, I have chosen to use the I-Search model. I have chosen this model because it seemed to be a great way to keep track of all of my research. The I-Search model encourages using a journal to record every step of research, and I plan to do just that with this blog.

I also liked that the I-search model encourages interviews and inquiry-based learning. For my project, I hope to ask several people their opinion on my topic, and I think that this model will be a great way to keep myself organized.

This approach also focuses on a student personal interests, and the topic of using gmail in schools is one that I am very interested in. As I stated in my last blog post, I utilize gmail and its other applications like googledocs and calendar quite frequently. It will be interesting to hear other people's opinions on the subject and also learn more about how it can be utilized in a school setting.

LIS 568 Inquiry blog

Hello!

I have decided to use this blog instead of my wiki page because I prefer how this site it set up, and hopefully will be an easy way to organize my thoughts and research.

My research question for the Inquiry Project will be:

Should schools make the switch to gmail?

I think that this will be a really interesting topic because I personally love gmail and have found it be a great way to keep organized and am interested to hear other people's opinion.

Should be an interesting project!

Finishing Learning 2.0

Woohoo! I am done with Learning 2.0! It was definitely an interesting experience, especially since I was a little weary at first. I am not the most technologically advanced person, but I was happy to explore new learning tools.

I think my favorite things were exploring google, listening to podcasts and finally understanding what the heck an RSS feed was! I felt really accomplished and hip after that assignment.

I can definitely see myself using a lot of these tools in the future, as a student and as a librarian.

As for ways to improve--I really liked the site and how the assignments were broken down, but it was frustrating to find broken links or be sent to pages with videos that didn't work. Other than that, I think the program is a great way to introduce students to new tools.

Woohoo!

Library 2.0

So what does Library 2.0 mean to me?

I think it means being able to evaluate technology, become aware of its use and try to apply it to your own library, making the user's experience more well rounded and give them easier access to information. The idea of librarianship is a changing one, and the knowledge about different kinds of technology is imperative. Library 2.0 is like a brand new car with all the bells and whistles. Its not just books, card catalogs and reference desks...its new, fun ways of gaining information!

What does Library 2.0 mean to other people?

Michael Stephens-- "Into a new world of Librarianship"

Stephens believes that the library is user centered, that a 2.0 librarian embraces web 2.0, doesn't "buy technology for the sake of technology" , is aware of changes in advancing technology and is a trendspotter.

I agree with Stephens! I think that the Librarian in a Library 2.0 should be on top of trends, be aware of the user needs and embraces advances in technology because it makes the user's experience even better.

I liked this task!

Exploring Other Web 2.0 tools

So I really enjoyed this exercise! I enjoyed checking out sites that were award winning, and it got me to go outside of just looking at the same pages every time I am on the internet.

Some of the sites I looked at were

Urbanspoon.com-- a site that allows readers to review restaurants and also gave price range, had a link to a menu and also included critic reviews. I can see myself using this site in the future!

Yelp.com-- I have definitely used Yelp before, especially when I was living in a new places and didn't have any idea about where to eat, what to do and where to go! Its very handy.

Pandora.com--- is a site that I have been using for years...Im pretty sure I used it before it even got popular! This is such a fantastic site that allows the user to choose a station and then also have similar artists. Its great for homework time as well as for parties, and also a great way to find out about new artists.

As for google , I have used many of these tools for school, work and for my personal life! I constantly was using the calendar this summer to see what my work schedule was, and to keep my life more organized!

I have used google docs to collaborate on projects and assignments for school and for past jobs..its really cool that different people can edit a document and its an easy way to keep organized.

I've also played with Google Sketch up before, and its a really fun way to build. It takes a little bit to get used to the program, but its a creative way to pass the time.

Goodness, I love google!

Zotero

So I think that I like Zotero, but I also was hoping for something a little more magical than what I found. I was hoping for something a little different than End Note-- the software that UB offered us, but it seems to be pretty similar.

I didn't really love that Zotero was only an option for Mozilla, which meant that I had to download a whole new internet browser to get the add on. Once I did download it all, I was able to utilize the software to organize some of the information that I was looking at for another class.

I liked that Zotero helped me organize an article, and that I can come back to my library and pull a citation right off of there. Pretty cool! I will try to get in the habit of using zotero when I am writing papers and doing projects. But if I continue to just use Google Chrome, I may choose to use Endnote. I haven't decided just yet!

My Library! https://www.zotero.org/lefevre2/items

Tagging!

Delicious reminds me alot of a site that I already use which is pinterest.com. While pinterest is a way to collect images and ideas, it also links you directly to the site that the image comes from, and you can organize into different boards, much like the stacks. (I actually found sites that people had saved onto delicious, that I myself had saved on pinterest.) I do like the idea of using these sites to collect ideas, and is a great way to organize the things that interest you.

Thinking as a librarian, which I like to do when I am doing these learning 2.0 tasks, I can see why these sites are helpful. IF you find something interesting at work, you can easily access the same site at home without having to send yourself a link or relook something up, which is such a pain in the butt. It is nice to have a place on the internet where all of your favorite sites are organized and easily accessible. As a librarian, you can use sites like delicious much like you would use an RSS feed. It is an simple way to keep your interests just a click away!

So in conclusion, I think I am going to stick with pinterest but can see why delicious is a popular choice.