I’ve had a lot of fun writing this blog from the perspective of my cute little turtle, but I’d like to take over the writing for this final post to say, in all seriousness, that Learn and Play has been a very positive experience for me. One of the top benefits of the program for me was learning about GoogleDocs. As a result of what I have learned, I use GoogleDocs -- along with two others in my group of researchers at Ohio State -- to post our fieldnotes, jottings, and reflections on GoogleDocs to make our research more collaborative and more systematic. It’s been working really well for us! Another great experience was learning about delicious.com. I use this bookmarking site all the time now, and it is such an improvement over the 1000 bookmarks on my laptop that I can never seem to remember when I’m away from home. I’ve bookmarked a variety of sites, such as cheap textbook sites, websites related to my research, and great resources for taking care of my turtle! Another thing I use all the time is pbwiki. I’ve actually decided to create a wiki to write one of my final papers for the quarter. I love being able to add different pages for quotations, brainstorming an outline, rough drafts of different sections – all with the understanding that this is just a wiki and therefore always in draft (not to mention always available now for my peers to comment on). It’s less daunting than an empty screen of Microsoft Word, and I love being able to move around the various pages. Finally, I must add that I absolutely adore Zoho, which I found during the week of the Web 2.0 awards searching. I’ve created an online to-do list, which is perfect for me! In the past, I’d make tons of lists but never be able to find them. Now it’s all there for me to see with one click of the button. Slowly but surely, I’m becoming more organized.
In short, Web 2.0 has so much to offer, which I had some minimal knowledge about in the past but had never really taken the time to explore. I feel that this program has given me a chance to really put some of these new practices to use, and I’m so glad that you’ve offered us this opportunity. I would love to participate in more Web 2.0 learning opportunities in the future! Please keep them coming!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Who's allowed in the sandbox?
The idea of the library using a wiki sounds good to me. But why not draw on the expertise of the patrons? Like in AV, you could start a wiki for favorite horror films. The staff could start it, but when a patron talks about one of his favorites, why not invite him to add an entry onto the wiki? You could create a "user-generated" list of patrons' favorites and use this as one of many resources to other people who like that genre. Probably a pie-in-the-sky idea, but turtles are dreamers, baby.
I'm Full! (Feed Me, Part 2)
As I've mentioned before, RSS feeds do not exactly whet this turtle's appetite in the way that shrimp, worms, fish, crickets, bananas, and grapes do. So why are you shoving more RSS stuff down my throat? I'm full!
Peace out.
[Rocky swims away. His faithful owner, merri30, takes over the typing.]
Although I do not really intend to use RSS feeds much in the future, my approach would be to click on the feed from websites I already visit often. For example, I often read the college sports page from espn, so I might find it useful to get RSS feeds on my yahoo homepage. But I didn't really find it useful to visit the technorati or topix.net pages. I suppose I'm content to visit and linger on the websites I enjoy.
Peace out.
[Rocky swims away. His faithful owner, merri30, takes over the typing.]
Although I do not really intend to use RSS feeds much in the future, my approach would be to click on the feed from websites I already visit often. For example, I often read the college sports page from espn, so I might find it useful to get RSS feeds on my yahoo homepage. But I didn't really find it useful to visit the technorati or topix.net pages. I suppose I'm content to visit and linger on the websites I enjoy.
MOLDI
Wow, I thought MOLDI would have a collection of lots of old and cruddy (well, moldy) ebooks, but, boy, was I wrong.... "Twilight" was there, "The Audacity of Hope" was there ... of course, I might be old and gray(-green) by the time I actually get through the wait list, but still.... Finally, I settled on one of Jonathon Kozol's latest books, "The Shame of the Nation." Gotta keep up on those education books to impress my loyal owner, merri30 ....
Podcasts
Did you know that turtles don't have ears?
So I have no use for podcasts whatever.
Peace out, fools.
[turns keyboard over to loving owner, merri30]
Wow, I can't believe Rocky is such a slacker, but, sure bud, I'll write this post for ya. Let's learn and play together!
I must say, I was initially a bit skeptical about this assignment. I did browse through the podcast directories given but, quite frankly, as a busy student who spends most of her free time studying and trying to nurse her sick turtle back to health, I'm really not interested in listening to people sound off on politics or sex or movies. Nothing in the "most popular" lists really appealed to me. I was somewhat drawn to music podcasts, but not overly enthusiastic.
Then I decided to go outside of these directories to Google. I'd recently read a fascinating book on the virtual world of "Second Life" and so I googled "Second Life" with "podcast." This took me to a really interesting recent podcast about the potential uses of Second Life by educators. I'm finding this really useful to my research.
Check it out:
http://blog.secondlife.com/2008/06/02/inside-the-lab-podcast-a-discussion-on-education-in-second-life/
So perhaps podcasts are more useful than I'd originally imagined!
So I have no use for podcasts whatever.
Peace out, fools.
[turns keyboard over to loving owner, merri30]
Wow, I can't believe Rocky is such a slacker, but, sure bud, I'll write this post for ya. Let's learn and play together!
I must say, I was initially a bit skeptical about this assignment. I did browse through the podcast directories given but, quite frankly, as a busy student who spends most of her free time studying and trying to nurse her sick turtle back to health, I'm really not interested in listening to people sound off on politics or sex or movies. Nothing in the "most popular" lists really appealed to me. I was somewhat drawn to music podcasts, but not overly enthusiastic.
Then I decided to go outside of these directories to Google. I'd recently read a fascinating book on the virtual world of "Second Life" and so I googled "Second Life" with "podcast." This took me to a really interesting recent podcast about the potential uses of Second Life by educators. I'm finding this really useful to my research.
Check it out:
http://blog.secondlife.com/2008/06/02/inside-the-lab-podcast-a-discussion-on-education-in-second-life/
So perhaps podcasts are more useful than I'd originally imagined!
I can watch this again and again ...
God bless youtube.
It wasn't enough to just watch the Buckeyes annihilate Michigan one time.
Not even close.
Best play of the game?
By far, Ray Small's punt return.
Thanks to youtube I can watch it again and again ...
If your patrons at the library have short attention spans like me or if they already know just what they're looking for, why go through an entire 2 hours of a game, video, etc.? With youtube you can get just the clip you need. And if you want to keep going, all you need to do is click on some of the related videos.... Easy as pie, even for this pea-sized brain!
O-H-I-O, baby!
It wasn't enough to just watch the Buckeyes annihilate Michigan one time.
Not even close.
Best play of the game?
By far, Ray Small's punt return.
Thanks to youtube I can watch it again and again ...
If your patrons at the library have short attention spans like me or if they already know just what they're looking for, why go through an entire 2 hours of a game, video, etc.? With youtube you can get just the clip you need. And if you want to keep going, all you need to do is click on some of the related videos.... Easy as pie, even for this pea-sized brain!
O-H-I-O, baby!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Turtle@gmail.com
You might not think of turtles as the emailing type. I may have mentioned elsewhere that I'm not particularly social. However, this doesn't mean that I don't have an adoring group of devotees who find me cute, adorable, and extremely extremely emailable. Yes, my inbox gets stuffed! Thank goodness for gmail! I can "star" the emails from those adoring fans most worthy of my time. I can hit "search" to find emails most pertinent to my life -- for example, those that feature the word, "yummies," "treats," "worms," or "shrimp." And I've got enough room in my inbox to rest the last of my life -- at least 30 more years! Gmail ... be kind to your public and check it out!
Zoho ... So-so?
It won a Web 2.0 award for best organization website, so you just know I had to go tell my recovering-scatterbrain owner merri30 all about it ... http://www.zoho.com/.
I think she's already posted about 20 to-do lists on it.
Zoho planner, that's where to go, baby.
Not only do I not have to see all her research papers (see last blog) scattered all over my room, but now I don't have to see any more of those scrap papers with zillions of things to do that never seem to get crossed off. (It would probably help the old gal if she remembered where she put those scrap papers. Going paperless was a good move for her, methinks!)
I heard some groaning about it at first, but I think she figured out how to title her lists and add new lists. She seems to like setting due dates for herself and creating lists with different themes (e.g., Research, EdP&L 800 class, Cleaning). I hope she can start being as productive as I am. Not many folks can accomplish 10 hours of sunbathing and 8 hours of swimming a day, as I can.
I just hope she creates a to-do list called, "Rocky."
Things to do for Rocky:
I think she's already posted about 20 to-do lists on it.
Zoho planner, that's where to go, baby.
Not only do I not have to see all her research papers (see last blog) scattered all over my room, but now I don't have to see any more of those scrap papers with zillions of things to do that never seem to get crossed off. (It would probably help the old gal if she remembered where she put those scrap papers. Going paperless was a good move for her, methinks!)
I heard some groaning about it at first, but I think she figured out how to title her lists and add new lists. She seems to like setting due dates for herself and creating lists with different themes (e.g., Research, EdP&L 800 class, Cleaning). I hope she can start being as productive as I am. Not many folks can accomplish 10 hours of sunbathing and 8 hours of swimming a day, as I can.
I just hope she creates a to-do list called, "Rocky."
Things to do for Rocky:
- Give Rocky yummy treats.
- Give Rocky more yummy treats.
- Give Rocky even more yummy treats.
When the Rocky lists start coming out, then and only then will Zoho be more than so-so, as far as I'm concerned!
How Google Docs Changed My Life
Once upon a time, my human owner, merri 30, was a very disorganized and scatterbrained person. From what I've heard, I guess that's just the way that Ph.D. students are. (You should meet those other dodos on her research team.) But, wow, this girl was a mess. Forever, buried in paperwork. She'd be done with one 30-page draft of an article, and then another draft would arrive the next day. Her research notes were scattered from the floor to the ceiling. Her email box was always filled to the brim. I thought I was doomed to 4 years of being awakened from my afternoon naps by the sounds of her cursing the world when she couldn't find her papers. 4 long years of my beautiful, impeccably clean tank being surrounded by mounds of paper all over the floor. 4 years of neglect as she gave her life away to paperwork (instead of little ole me). That's no way for a turtle to live, trust me.
The day my human owner discovered Google Docs was one of the greatest days of my life.
Finally, less disorganization and stress.
(Translation: more turtle zen moments for me)
Now that she and those bozos on her team have worked out this system for posting their fieldnotes each week and responding to each other online, there's no more mass printing. She's no longer glued to her email or in a panic to move things out of her inbox. She knows where to find all her papers. No more cursing. No more scatterbrainedness. Which means she can now focus on the more important things in life. Such as:
The day my human owner discovered Google Docs was one of the greatest days of my life.
Finally, less disorganization and stress.
(Translation: more turtle zen moments for me)
Now that she and those bozos on her team have worked out this system for posting their fieldnotes each week and responding to each other online, there's no more mass printing. She's no longer glued to her email or in a panic to move things out of her inbox. She knows where to find all her papers. No more cursing. No more scatterbrainedness. Which means she can now focus on the more important things in life. Such as:
- Taking time to tickle my neck.
- Finding me the yummiest crickets and treats at the pet store
- Giving me my shots, cream, and betadine soaks as I recover from my latest illness
- Keeping my tank in pristine condition
So, thank you, Google! You rock!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Turtles Heart Wikis
When you have a pea-sized brain (literally) like me, wikis are a good thing.
A very good thing.
My pea-sized brain connecting with one cabbage-sized (human) brain is AWESOME enough ...
but getting the chance to connect with many, many cabbage-sized brains?
Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
Usually, I'll admit, I'm a go-it-alone, solitary creature.
But why go it alone when you don't have to?
As you've read in previous posts, I may be small and apathetic, but I know a good thing when I see it. Wikipedia is a great thing. Collaborative. Shared expertise. Everyone knows something. Knowledge is always partial. We can always learn more....
A very good thing.
My pea-sized brain connecting with one cabbage-sized (human) brain is AWESOME enough ...
but getting the chance to connect with many, many cabbage-sized brains?
Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
Usually, I'll admit, I'm a go-it-alone, solitary creature.
But why go it alone when you don't have to?
As you've read in previous posts, I may be small and apathetic, but I know a good thing when I see it. Wikipedia is a great thing. Collaborative. Shared expertise. Everyone knows something. Knowledge is always partial. We can always learn more....
Friday, October 31, 2008
Shift happens.
If you have been waiting for Rocky to post a profoundly intellectual and thought-provoking bloggish entry, here it comes. The wait is finally over. Brace yourself. You want to hear my opinion on Library 2.0? Well, here it comes ....
Even from the confines of my new 65-gallon tank, I know it's a changing world we live in. How do I know? Look at my species, the turtle. Turtles who haven't gotten the memo on these changing times of ours -- for example, those dopes who don't realize that highways (you know, those things with the speeding cars ready to run us over) are not the same clean, peaceful, foresty habitats of 100 years ago -- well, those fools are becoming an endangered species. Do libraries want the same thing to happen to them?
It's like the one guy says, libraries need to realize they no longer have "monopoly power in information marketplace." People have all sorts of ways to access information now. Information is everywhere. Why should we go to the library to get it? It's no longer about what libraries "have" or "own," man. With the new technology that connects us to information around the world, everyone can "have" information. No one "owns" it anymore. Knowledge moves, it circulates, it's shared. And we're the ones moving it, circulating it, and sharing it. It's not just libraries that do that. Not just published authors. We're no longer passive recipients of knowledge that stays static in books, and libraries that continue to treat us that way will become as endangered as my friends, the leatherback turtles, who still haven't learned to stay away from the motorboats and jerks with nets.
Even from the confines of my new 65-gallon tank, I know it's a changing world we live in. How do I know? Look at my species, the turtle. Turtles who haven't gotten the memo on these changing times of ours -- for example, those dopes who don't realize that highways (you know, those things with the speeding cars ready to run us over) are not the same clean, peaceful, foresty habitats of 100 years ago -- well, those fools are becoming an endangered species. Do libraries want the same thing to happen to them?
It's like the one guy says, libraries need to realize they no longer have "monopoly power in information marketplace." People have all sorts of ways to access information now. Information is everywhere. Why should we go to the library to get it? It's no longer about what libraries "have" or "own," man. With the new technology that connects us to information around the world, everyone can "have" information. No one "owns" it anymore. Knowledge moves, it circulates, it's shared. And we're the ones moving it, circulating it, and sharing it. It's not just libraries that do that. Not just published authors. We're no longer passive recipients of knowledge that stays static in books, and libraries that continue to treat us that way will become as endangered as my friends, the leatherback turtles, who still haven't learned to stay away from the motorboats and jerks with nets.
So, you heard it from Rocky, until libraries start swimming in my direction a little bit -- adapting to my needs and maybe throwing me a few floaties along the way if I need some guidance -- they'll start sinking ... and fast!
Yum, Yum
I'm so glad that merri30, my faithful owner, has discovered www.delicious.com. Now she can bookmark all the best turtle sites on the web and tag them under my name, "Rocky." I get so sick of her bugging me to find info on the latest, greatest turtle treats. And, seriously, does she need to come to me to find out every little detail about keeping my aquarium nice and neat (the way I like it)? Who appointed me the All Knowing when it comes to filters and alkalinity tests? Let her gather her own information. I'm busy. (Just check my twitter page, baby.)
Thanks, delicious, for getting her off my back.
http://delicious.com/merri23
Thanks, delicious, for getting her off my back.
http://delicious.com/merri23
Friday, October 24, 2008
Twittering turtles?
Let's get this straight, I am a turtle.
Not a social butterfly.
(In fact, I don't even like butterflies. If I see one, I will eat it. Immediately. With no remorse.)
I'm an introvert.
I have one true friend, and that's a human who takes care of my every need.
Why would I want to be in on everyone's business with this twitter thing?
Do I need to know that you're eating toast right now?
Or that you're picking your nose?
Or every little boring thing you do?
No.
Twittering turtles?
No way, man.
(But since my one true friend -- merri30 on twitter -- has an account, I might give it a shot. Just in case she wants to keep track of my busy life:
I'm basking.
Still basking.
Still basking.
Got a great stretch going right now.
Claws unfurling.
Back legs completely outstretched.
Still basking.
Front legs completely outstretched.
Will be basking for next 5 hours.
Who wouldn't be interested in that?)
Not a social butterfly.
(In fact, I don't even like butterflies. If I see one, I will eat it. Immediately. With no remorse.)
I'm an introvert.
I have one true friend, and that's a human who takes care of my every need.
Why would I want to be in on everyone's business with this twitter thing?
Do I need to know that you're eating toast right now?
Or that you're picking your nose?
Or every little boring thing you do?
No.
Twittering turtles?
No way, man.
(But since my one true friend -- merri30 on twitter -- has an account, I might give it a shot. Just in case she wants to keep track of my busy life:
I'm basking.
Still basking.
Still basking.
Got a great stretch going right now.
Claws unfurling.
Back legs completely outstretched.
Still basking.
Front legs completely outstretched.
Will be basking for next 5 hours.
Who wouldn't be interested in that?)
Friday, October 17, 2008
Turtle stories
Sadly, you will not find many turtles when you visit your local library. Yes, many turtles such as myself might enjoy the library environment. For instance, as you might know, we do enjoy the quiet ("shhhhh" is my favorite word). We also like to take our time and slow down in order to enjoy life's simple pleasures. And we certainly love to hear a good story about foolish hares every now and then. But, let's face it, we're just too cool to spend our time at the library. So the only way to find us in libraries is to find some great turtle books.
Luckily, you can find some great turtle/reptile books right here:
Friday, October 10, 2008
I'm the man!
http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/deck.php Check out my new card, everyone, put out by the CAAL (Cutest Animals Alive League). I may not be a sports star or a Yu-gi-oh character. But I can swim like the wind. And, let's face it, I'm a cutey. So, heck yeah, I deserve the love.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Feed Me
I like to be fed many things. News is not one of them. Banana, oh yes. Give me slimy, juicy worms. I'll gobble up shrimp and chicken. Even the occasional turtle pellet. But I can live without the NY Times. When these RSS things and newsreaders start feeding me the good stuff -- banana, worms, shrimp, and chicken (if you'd missed this before) -- then I'll throw my support behind them.
Here's what I can live without:
http://www.bloglines.com/public/merri23
Here's what I can live without:
http://www.bloglines.com/public/merri23
Friday, September 19, 2008
Sharing is a good thing
Dsc_0220
Originally uploaded by elsiejenkins63
Who says you need to go it alone? Turtles may enjoy their solitude, but occasionally we enjoy having some company, too. As a turtle resigned to a life lived in captivity, I must say that I don't know what I'd do without my pal and caretaker! Tickles on the neck, shrimp-treats, and walks together in the sun are what I live for, baby!
Turtle are not techies
In my day-to-day life, technology does not seem to be particularly relevant. Let's face it, I swim. I bask. I eat. I poop. I sleep. That's pretty much it. I'm a turtle, man. And everyone knows that turtles are just not techies.
Still, on closer examination, when one looks at the House of Rocky, they might be surprised to find:
Still, on closer examination, when one looks at the House of Rocky, they might be surprised to find:
- a submersible heater (my water's gotta be 85 degrees, duh!)
- a UVB light (alas, I wish I had the real sun, not this fake stuff)
- a basking light (luv it when it gets up to 100 degrees!)
- a high-powered water filter (yup, turtles are messy)
- 3 battery-operated thermometers strategically placed around the tank (can't be too careful about those temperatures, can we?)
So, I may not be a techie ... but it's not like I live in a bowl, OK?
I'm modern!
Green rules!
Green
Green
Green
Green
Green
Green
Green
http://www.krazydad.com/colrpickr/
It will come as no surprise to my astute readers that we turtles simply love the color green. Light green, dark green, sea green. We can't get enough of it. When you hear people talking about going green, green energy, blah blah blah ... just know the turtles were onto that, like, since forever. And, if you're in the mood for green today, just click on that link I posted for you, baby. Pics of all things green. Grass. Leaves. Money. Peas. Beans. And, of course, turtles! Get your green fix today, baby!
Green
Green
Green
Green
Green
Green
http://www.krazydad.com/colrpickr/
It will come as no surprise to my astute readers that we turtles simply love the color green. Light green, dark green, sea green. We can't get enough of it. When you hear people talking about going green, green energy, blah blah blah ... just know the turtles were onto that, like, since forever. And, if you're in the mood for green today, just click on that link I posted for you, baby. Pics of all things green. Grass. Leaves. Money. Peas. Beans. And, of course, turtles! Get your green fix today, baby!
Rocky's keys to lifelong learning
As most turtles understand, the keys to lifelong learning are quite simple:
1. Take time out to bask.
2. Sometimes you've got to stick your neck out.
3. Silence can be golden. Listen.
4. Slow and steady wins the race.
1. Take time out to bask.
2. Sometimes you've got to stick your neck out.
3. Silence can be golden. Listen.
4. Slow and steady wins the race.
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