Where to begin...whoa, this has been a wonderful programme. I've learned so much and it's been great discussing various things along the way with other library staff. I have even had discussions with other UCOL staff who started 23 things after HR session. It's a crack-up when you find yourself discussing blogs, widgets, skype, del.icio.us, library thing and the rest with other staff outside of the Library.


What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey? Oh, there was so much I discovered along the way I'm hesitant to pick favorites but here is a few thoughts - Firstly - simply creating this blog! Some of the (girly) bits associated with it - choosing the picture to use to represent myself, the look, the colour the background BUT I must admit I did find it a tad daunting making it "public"! Having got over the initial trepidation I have enjoyed reading other participants blogs and got a buzz when people read mine! I enjoyed playing with some of the "toys" and gadgets such as generating magazine covers. Skyping & IM is pretty cool! So clever & so easy!
How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
The program has boosted my lifelong learning goals - oh, we all know we need to keep current and aware but this program helped us get in amongst it! Already the library has or is implementing Web 2.0 initiatives so it is extremely important for us all to have the opportunity to know how & why these things are being done. My own lifelong goals have been affected for the good and I am planning on extending my knowledge in this area with participation in the Moodle@ UCOL project and working with lecturers to see how Web 2.0 can be incorporated in to teaching & learning.


Were there any unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
As I have stated throughout the programme - I have been stunned and amazed at the myriad of "stuff" out there. I know 23 things touches on a small amount of the greater collection of Web2.0. What amazes me most is the capability of Joe or Josephine Bloggs (excuse the pun) to devise this things! They must have wonderful imaginations!
What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
Umm.. can't say there is anything too much to alter - the only thing I found was the time. Maybe I'm just slow but the 9 week time frame is very tight! Some weeks took a lot of time to work on the discovery exercises.

If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again chose to participate?

YES PLEASE! Hand up high in the air!


I would like to thank Donna for all her work and patience and Doreen & the UCOL Library for providing the opportunity and encouragement to allow staff to discover the wonders of 23 things! Woohoo!

Audiobooks & FreeDigital content

Had a bit a a squiz round these - once again I am blown away by the huge range of stuff available. I could even download Borats bits!!! Mind boggles! You could spend your whole life investigating and learning and discovering... I think I am going to grieve when 23 things is finished!

YouTube and Libraries

Can you see any features or components of the site that might be interesting if they were applied to library websites? This is a perplexing question as the immediate response is to say YES but then I began to wonder if libraries, businesses, advertisers etc. start infiltrating YouTube then won't the "younger" ones find some where else to go? So maybe to have an effect/presence on YouTube you have to do something quirky or radical or find a way to get a "library" message across in an amusing way. One way is to show how librarians are not like the "stereotypical" type many people think we are! Show some of the technologies libraries are utilising. 23 things is helping many librarians! 23 things rocks!

Google Docs

This was interesting to discover - I had heard of Writely (Google Docs) but had never logged in! It also fascinates me how they are all interlated - Google Docs log in was the same as for many of the other services within 23 Things. It continues to fascinate me the people that must be working away in a semi-dark IT lab (think our IT department)or just in their front room at home - thinking of all these cool applications, devices, services etc.

Just an observation...

I've been thinking... over the past few weeks as I travel on this exciting (sometimes scary) technology journey I have started to use lots of new words, or found new uses for old words, in my conversation with colleagues, family and friends... here's a few "fellow 23 thingers" may recognise - I've blogged, I am blogger and I have been blogging, I've skyped, pinged, nudged, winked and submitted so many times I am quite dizzy sometimes! I have engaged with widgets, applied tags and can be called a tagger! I use words like blogosphere, technorati and del.icio.us! The latter I always have to spell and clarify for friends and family! I have googled for years but now I also check out netvibes and more recently I have dabbled in moodle! I still have lots to look forward to as I continue to traverse through 23 things! I can't wait to see what words/concepts/technology I'll encounter...wooohoooo

More on Technorati

Just been doing more of the discovery exercises associated with Technorati and it is interesting to see the differenct results when searching for Learning 2.0 in Blog posts, in tags and in the Blog Directory! Even found a blog associated with Second life I thought Angela might be interested in but she possibly already knows about it.
Hmmm.. amazing how the time flys by when one is engrossed in 23 things...

Play time!

Friday morning held promise of plenty of time to "play" with the online

toys in week 5... Murphy's law... lots of "hard to plan for" things cropped up! I did get a chance to look at FD Toys mag cover and Comic Strip generator as is evidenced by the accompanying material!! I could see lots of time could be spent generating all sorts of cool stuff for friends and family or simply just for the hell of it!

Flickr & Mashups

Uhoh... It's been a while since my last foray in to the wonderful world of 23 things! I've missed it! Finally found some time to concentrate on it again and have been reacquainting myself with Flickr and mashups! Whoa, there are some clever people about there developing all sorts of clever tools (sounds a bit like a Telecom ad - I'm resisting saying Clever Toys! Telecom and the big payout to former leader is hot news this week!). I had a play with a few of the tools and as you can see I did a very artistic (in my mind) rendition of a Warhol-ish schnauzer!