Week #10: MP3 Player for Summer Fun!

Considering my passion for music and the fact that my iPod decided to no longer work, the reward of a MP3 player for this course is GREAT! I'm extremely excited about being able to be rewarded in such a way for taking the time to be educated. I have many plans for my new MP3 player including setting up several different playlists to use during my work outs, studying, at the beach while basking in the sun, or just walking from the garage to work. :)

Week #9: MUSIC is my boyfriend!

Without music, life is a journey through a desert.

"I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music."

-Billy Joel-

I personally have a neutral stance when it comes to the digital rights management debate. I can reason with both the consumer as well as the artist in this argument. As a cosumer, I believe that we should have the right to download music so long as we are doing so for our own personal pleasure and entertainment and not as a form of profit. Most of the time when consumers think about downloading music its usually because 1. the cost of the album is over priced or 2. there's usually only 1 of 2 songs out of the entire album that actually sounds good. Why inconvenience your consumers when half the time the 1 or 2 singles that have been aired are the only good songs on the entire CD?

As far as the creators and artist of this music, I think they too have a valid argument only because this is their means of survivial. The production of music is their career and most of them make a living off of it. If consumers continue to download their music at no cost the artist will in the long run see a decrease in the profits made from their music. Though this may be unfortunate I think there are many ways this can be prevented by the artist, whether it be changing the content of their music or releasing more singles or demos of the albums so that consumers can be motivated to purchase the album at its cost.

I'm sure there's a happy medium somewhere out there its just a matter of time before it gets figrued out. But until then I guess the debate will continue and many consumers will continue to share music files while creators continue to be irrate about the situation.

Will it ever be a win-win scenario? Only time will tell!

Week # 8: Sharing Information

The CRC staff has completed the Flickr project as a department.Check out our pictures.

As a full time college student and part-time employee at the library, on-line learning has been the most convenient method of learning. It is amazing how many different resources are made available online at no cost. On-line learning offers the opportunity of learning at your own convenience and pace. Many prefer more of a hands-on learning experience but when working as a team projects online such as Learn 2.0 can become just that (a live hands-on learning experience). Throughout the Learn 2.0 course I have been able to help others as well as have others help me which is always a plus in the world of educating.

"The essence of intelligence is skill in extracting meaning from everyday experience."


"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you."

Week # 7: Fun Stuff

This week was a week to sit back and look at the "fun" side of Web 2.0. Some of the applications provided for exploration were fairly interesting. I took particular interest in Traineo. Traineo is a great motivational website to use when trying to keep track of your weight loss and fitness. You can select your motivators, keep track of your diet, speak to others with the same goal, and visualize your progress all at one site! Extremely convenient if you ask me! I also enjoyed Blufr and its purpose of helping visitors realizes what rumors are facts and which are myths.

Here's a few interesting facts I came across:

• Kami is a character on Takalani Sesame ("be happy Sesame" in Venda), which is the South African version of the children's television program Sesame Street. The orphan Muppet contracted HIV from a blood transfusion as an infant.

• While not called Harvey Hare, the famous cartoon was first called "Happy Rabbit" until being later changed to Bugs Bunny.

• Of the nearly 200 countries in the world, 48 use English as their primary language.

• The Smurfs, a cartoon about a village of tiny blue creatures, was nominated for several Daytime Emmy Awards. It finally won for Outstanding Children's Entertainment Series in 1982-1983.

Week # 6: Library Thing

Working at the library has created a major sense of realization for me. My first experience with OCLS was my senior year of high school, almost 3 years ago. Back then the only time I took advantage of the library was when my computer at home was "actin up",the printer was out of ink, or there was a new CD released that I couldn't afford to purchase. Other than that I never really took the time to further explore all of its benefits.

I was never aware of all the opportunities and benefits made available by the Orange County Library System until March of this year when I became a proud staff member. Working in the Computer Resource Center (CRC) I've become pretty acquainted with all the technology and technological tools the library puts to use. I must say that my favorite library technology is the computer classes.

As a teenager I would have loved to know that this service was provided. I think it is wonderful to see that as taxpayers our money is being put to great use. Being a college student, I know how vital it is to be computer savvy and how much more marketable you are by doing so. Had I known of these services I could have saved hundreds of dollars.

Cost of a Computer Class in College: $550

Cost of Computer Book for Class: $150

Computer Classes at OCLS: PRICELESS!

"TAKE KNOW FOR AN ANSWER!"

Week 5: Play Time

Though there isn't much to do this week I found great interest in exploring the MEEZ website. Check out my avatar! It's me working in my dream office in the middle of Manhattan with a view of the empire state building.

Week # 4: Web 2.0

It's amazing how far technology has gotten and to think, it's only going to expand and get more complex. During this week's lesson I was amazed to find all the different websites that have received the Web 2.0 Award. Below I have listed some of the sites that I found would be beneficial to myself and others. I have already referred some of the resources to my fellow peers. The wonders behind all the technological tools available online at no cost are just great!

www.facebook.com
Once the online hang-out of college kids, Facebook is the biggest thing to hit the social networking sphere since Friendster and MySpace. The service aims to include a "real time" feel to its site, showing users’ actions to their friends on a time-stamped "News Feed."

www.meebo.com/index-en.html

Use your favorite instant messaging service, no matter where you are or whether the computer you’re using has the right software.

www.youtube.com

The web’s most popular video sharing application lets users upload their own videos, embed videos on their own sites and search others’ content.

www.arcaplay.com

This site houses a slew of online games, presented in Flash, that you can play onsite, or embed in a personal website, social networking page or blog. The site will show you how many times you’ve played a certain game, how many times the game has been played overall and how many people have marked the game as a favorite.

Learn 2.0: Week 3

"You learn something new everyday"

During this week's lesson, I was to able to break out of the norm of using Google by exploring the new and upcoming Grokker. I personally enjoyed the organization of the search engine and how it provides the option to view the search results in an outline and map view. As a visual learner, I can find great benefit in the map view option. While exploring Grokker, I decided to search for information on sign language. For awhile now, one of my interest has been to learn the American Sign Language in order to use it as another means of communication. During my search I was able to come across several useful websites on ASL including a website that provided a free lesson plan for self-study :)

If anyone is interested in venturing out into the world of ASL, feel free to join me!(http://www.lifeprint.com/)

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Learning is FUN!

This weeks lesson also introduced me to the world of RSS Feeds. Although Bloglines was a bit tedious to work with at first, after some time I was able to get the hang of things. It wasn't until then that I actually found some interest in the websites purpose. The idea of staying informed on different topics of interest and only having to visit one website, seemed quite appealing. I am currently subscribed to the follwoing blog's:

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LEARN 2.0 is GREAT!

.:: Welcome ::.

Hello All!

This is just a little something I try to reflect back on every once in awhile especially when I feel like things are getting a little "rough". Just wanted to share! Enjoy!

The road to success is not straight.

There is a curve called FAILURE,

a loop called CONFUSION,

speed bumps called FRIENDS,

red lights called ENEMIES,

caution lights called FAMILY.

You will have flats called JOBS.

But, if you have a spare called DETERMINATION,

an engine called PERSEVERANCE,

insurance called FAITH,

a driver called Jesus,

you will make it to a place called SUCCESS.

With that , I just wanted to say that although I have only been employed here for a short period of time, I absolutely enjoy having the opportunity to work with such kind, knowledgeable and talented people. And I know one day you will all have a part in being a guide in my journey on the "road to SUCCESS! ". Therefore, thank you all in advance!

(*special dedication to the talented CRC staff*)

C-RoD