Saturday, November 17, 2012
Jing and Libraries
Jing is very useful and easy to use software. It is a perfect tool to use in libraries, and it can be used in a variety of ways. For example, a librarian can instruct patrons how to navigate an online library catalog from a distance by using a Jing Screencast video that provides step by step instructions to help them find what they are looking for. It is a perfect visual prompt for individuals who are new to using a specific library's catalog online. It is also a great tool for university librarians to use when instructing new students to use the university library. They can provide step by step instructions using the video to demonstrate how to search for books and articles, how to use interlibrary loan, or how to contact a librarian online when they have questions. It is a very simple, quick, effective and inexpensive tool to assist patrons in any type of library. I found it very easy to learn and use.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Wikispaces
Like many others, the majority of my exposure to wikis was through Wikipedia. Wikispaces seems to offer a much more dynamic platform - one that is both more visually pleasing and, by allowing for the creation of multiple pages, better organized. The user interface is quite easy to use, making Wikispaces quite valuable for libraries that are attempting to update their Web 2.0 presence quickly.
One of the most appealing features of wikis is the ability for groups to work on the same page without having to meet physically. Our experience, in Group Charlie, exemplified the potential for group work at a distance provided by Wikispaces. After settling on a topic, Contemporary Dystopian Fiction for Young Adults, we set to work on creating the pages and adding content. The finished project offers a very useful place for readers interested in this genre - it offers introductory information and summaries of some of classic and contemporary literature and film. It also is visually appealing and well organized, thus inviting the reader in. Of course, central to group work, especially that conducted at a distance, is clear organization of tasks, and it would help if Wikispaces provided a more useful means of communication.
Like many others, the majority of my exposure to wikis was through Wikipedia. Wikispaces seems to offer a much more dynamic platform - one that is both more visually pleasing and, by allowing for the creation of multiple pages, better organized. The user interface is quite easy to use, making Wikispaces quite valuable for libraries that are attempting to update their Web 2.0 presence quickly.
One of the most appealing features of wikis is the ability for groups to work on the same page without having to meet physically. Our experience, in Group Charlie, exemplified the potential for group work at a distance provided by Wikispaces. After settling on a topic, Contemporary Dystopian Fiction for Young Adults, we set to work on creating the pages and adding content. The finished project offers a very useful place for readers interested in this genre - it offers introductory information and summaries of some of classic and contemporary literature and film. It also is visually appealing and well organized, thus inviting the reader in. Of course, central to group work, especially that conducted at a distance, is clear organization of tasks, and it would help if Wikispaces provided a more useful means of communication.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)