De-light-ful

Del.icio.us is an intriguing internet tool with huge potential to ease and track bookmarking. In a researcher's toolbox, this program would be invaluable. The new web, not the "old-fashioned" one, is exciting. Del.icio.us adds an entire new dimension to searching and bookmarking. Although I had some of its search results in my favourites already, after doing a new search del.icio.us found intriguing new information previously undetected. (For example, a "hockey coaching" search resulted in a story from Wired magazine on Gretzky's amazing peripheral vision and how it can be taught to athletes.)
I have added del.icio.us to my computer toolbars at home and at work. I am wondering, though, how I can get the del.icio.us logo on my MSN explorer. (It is visible on Internet Explorer.)

Today's Moon

CURRENT MOON

moon info

My Rollyo

I think I have Rollyo figured out. And yes, I can see this program having huge benefits to search your personal, often-visited web sites for specific searches. I started, of course, with a "hockey" searchroll, and then continued on with some work-related sites, i.e, English as a Second Language. This search engine will be designed to find designated information, or materials, available on my favourite ESL web sites. This search engine will be a valuable tool to find new learning resources on sites we often visit -- all at the same time -- customized for our use. Search results are very specific and there is minimal advertized sites to chop through in order to get to the good stuff. I look forward to hearing what my colleagues think about this new search engine.

Select...ESL sitesSearch The Web

Generators that Work

Okay, I have used a couple of generators for this "play" activity. At the bottom is a cursive font version of my first name generated at yourgen.com. The photo at right (me!) was developed through`Instant Sketch (http://www.dumpr.net/sketch.php). I was amazed at how easy and how vast these generators are. The Generator Blog features a multitude of neat and useful tools to customize blogs, web sites, etc., or to create unique features to share with friends and colleagues. I had no idea that these "generators" were available on the internet. Incredible! Not only are we able to play with the ones featured on the left, but there is a lengthy list available on the right-hand side of the blog of other previously posted generators too numerous to take the time to play with.

My LibraryThing

This is also really neat! Given that we are all involved in literacy and literary endeavours, a Library connection seems not only appropriate, but necessary. I love the virtual bookshelf and being able to post my mini-library on my blog. LibraryThing is a massive global book club in which anyone may join to discuss their mutual likes and dislikes as well as their "future reads". Book reviews are readily available from "critics" who are not necessarily under the threat of censorship or heavy editing. I will be posting my books that I have read through this site and will be further investigating its applications for my personal and professional use.

News Feeds and Search Tools

Hey, this is really cool!!! Tonight, I was focusing upon Activity 9, jumping into the various news feeds and blogs by using the Bloglines Search Tool, Feedster, Topix, Syndic8 and Technorati. I have tried them all, but couldn't decide on a preferable tool. They all have their strengths.
Through Bloglines, for example, I searched "adult literacy" and discovered two pertinent blogs. I am now a subscriber to both. One of the blogs has been set up as a homework page for adult learners in British Columbia. In the near future, we will be able to set up similar "feeds" for our students -- and for literacy practitioners in the OSNGUPL system -- to access. The other adult literacy blog is also from BC, posted by a fellow literacy practitioner.
Feedster casts a large web of feeds, blogs and podcasts. It could definitely use an "Education" channel in addition to Entertainment, Technology, et al. The search results are timely and there is a useful search tutorial under the help menu.
I found Topix to be unique in that it lists "local" news if you input your community into the title bar. News from the local media is fed into this site automatically. Some of this news, however, is really out of date. Overall, I liked Topix's layout and found it to be user-friendly.
Syndic8 couldn't match Feedster's search results, but I liked the way in which each feed, or blog, was presented with details on the web link, url, etc. There is also a useful description included for each found feed.
Technorati is a blog searcher with many fine features. One of these features is the ability to claim your blog by registering it with Technorati. (With promises from the search engine to increase your blog's profile.)
I look forward to further investigating the various search tools available for use on the internet. I found this activity to be extremely valuable.

Really Simple.... A few words about RSS

I wouldn't say Really Simple Syndication. How about, MSS (Mildly Simple), or FSS (Fairly Simple)? Honestly, reading about RSS and then adding feeds to the Bloglines site was pretty straightforward, or PSS. I seem to keep racking up the number of my personal feeds through this method. I also installed RSS software on both home and work computers and immediately connected to the CBC TV news feed. Oh, and the sports feed as well. Interestingly, a "doorbell" sound occurs when the CBC has fresh news on the wire. Very neat.

I like RSS and newsreaders because they are constantly being updated and refreshed for subscribers. Why go to numerous web sites when there's nothing new on any of them? Why go to someone's blog if he, or she, hasn't added a new post for a while?

For both our work and personal lives, RSS is a time-saver. We are able to instantly access pertinent sites related to the field of adult literacy without flipping through pages and pages of outdated materials. For hobbyists, RSS allows a direct connection to items of specific interest from many sources at the same time.

I fully intend on exploring the feeding frenzy available on the world wide web.

Bloglines

Visual Technology

Flickr, Flickrsldr, mashups .... words that I didn't even know existed until we started this unique learning program. Now, those words that aren't even in a mainstream dictionary are part of my regular vocabulary. Wow! This is a watershed time to be involved in education and to have the internet at our fingertips. There are oceans of programs and mountains of images bouncing through cyberspace waiting to be explored. I look forward to helping our adult learners navigate these waters. (A number of my learners are already internet savvy -- they have their Facebook accounts, and of course, their MSN identities.)

Learning new things through the world wide web isn't without its mild frustrations. Flickrsldr took a number of attempts to get it right. Or to get it operating satisfactorily. I would have preferred a slideshow with smaller images but each time I altered the embedded code it (the slideshow) disappeared. I would also like to have more pics to add to the sidneycrosby tag. I think I have one additional digital photo I could add to my blog slideshow. And to prove that I am trying to branch out and away from hockey on my blog, I did try to embed the code for a "sunset" slideshow from photos from Flickr. It didn't work.

But, I will keep trying. These minor problems I now consider as learning challenges -- Habit #3 -- and good things happen when we are learning.

Flickrsldr

My Experience With Flickr

IMG_0496, originally uploaded by canadianliteracyguy.

You're right, I have a hockey obsession. Flickr helped me feed it. If I can relate something back to hockey (our national game), then that's a good thing. I was amazed at the number of photos of hockey on Flickr, not only ice hockey, but field hockey as well. So many creative photos and ideas from the imaginary minds of countless "shooters". The digital age is indeed incredible. Since embarking on this learning journey through 2.0, I have been telling my close friends about Flickr and its endless possibilities. By the way, I took these photos during the pre-game warm-up in Buffalo. Pittsburgh -- and Sidney -- were in town to play the Sabres. My son and I watched in awe, with our noses pressed against the glass, during the pre-game skate. The Penguins won the game much to the dismay of hometown fans filling HSBC arena.

It's Week Two!

Well, it's week two of this exciting new Library 2 initiative. As you can probably see, this is actually my third post on the "Ourworld" blog. I jumped the gun early on and set up this "blog", then for my second entry I responded to the week one assignment concerning the 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners. I outlined my strongest of the seven-plus habits and also indicated the one that needs some fine tuning. I apologize for making you tread through the various posts.
I am very new to the "blogging" scene and prior to learning about it through this project felt is was sort of an online diary. But it's much more than that. I think of it as my own personal "newspaper", where I can publish stories, photos, captions, etc., etc. As a former journalist, I fully understand the excitement of having your own words, thoughts and photos being read (and hopefully appreciated) by others. You have the right to agree, or disagree with anything that is being written by the author. Your comments are certainly welcome. We are all writers, editors and publishers.
I hope everyone is enjoying this experience. I know I certainly am. I can't help but look to the weeks ahead to see what's in store in the wired world of online learning. It beats watching summer re-runs on television. We are learning new skills that will help us in our personal and professional lives.