Thing #5: Flickr Commons

Today I checked out Flickr Creative Commons. Back when I was at the Oro Valley Public Library I used Flickr a lot for generic pictures to put on the web. I was always careful to choose photos from groups that specifically allowed free use. Flickr Creative Commons is fabulous because it collects the free use photos and allows you to look for photos that fit your needs, including copyright compliance. I am especially fond of photos that use color and texture, because I like to use them for backgrounds on websites for headers and different things. I have a Flickr photo stream that allows some of my pics to be viewable by the public, but protects personal and family photos. It's a lot of fun and allows me access to my pictures anywhere.

Thing #4: Registering with CML Learning 2.0

Well, I think I am registered officially with the CML Learning 2.0 23 Things project. I'm super excited and so far it's been a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to what comes next.

Thing #3: Blogging

Blogging is one of those things that I get better at with practice. I have read blogs for many years and I have even had my own blog somewhat sporadically over the last few years. Usually I get prompted to write a blog when something momentous is going on and I want to share the progress with family and friends. Unfortunately only about two people ever ended up reading my posts and I still had to email the rest of my family with the details individually. While at the public library in Arizona I started blogging for work, specifically as part of a NEH We The People grant I received. The blog covered a variety of news items, curriculum ideas for parents and teachers and other tidbits that related to the materials we got in the grant. It was a lot of fun and the amazing thing was that people were actually finding it and reading it. Comments were very slim, but thanks to the wonderful stats collected by Feedburner and Wordpress I knew people were looking at the blog. I am not an active commenter myself, but every once in a while I am inspired to share something. Mostly I enjoy reading the comments of others. One of my favorite blogs is written by mystery author J.A. Jance. She posts every couple of weeks and she is always a riot. Generally she just writes about what is going on in her life but with her very dry sense of humor. Blogs are formal, informal, personal, general or specific. It's a very entertaining way to stay connected to my favorite topics and interests, including my profession.

Thing #1: 23 Things

I first heard about 23 Things about 3 years ago when I was still working in Chicago. I was a recent graduate of library school and despite my recent departure from the world of education I felt I was falling rapidly behind when it came to Web 2.0 technologies. Some things I was very comfortable with, like RSS feeds, and others were still a bit of a mystery, like wikis. 43 Things came out and I tried it, but the idea that I could come up with goals that other people would find at all interesting seemed fairly far fetched. I came to realize later that the goals are only important or interesting to me. 43 Things is more of a support and advice network. The content of my goals was pretty much irrelevant. On the other hand a 23 Things program came along at just the right time for me. I didn't formally participate, but I followed the blog and tried a lot of the technologies they covered. Web 2.0 becomes a lot less intimidating if you actually get some hands on experience in an environment where everyone is learning together. I'm looking forward to actively participating in this program. I hope I will learn a lot from other participants and discover new applications for these technologies.

Thing #2: Lifelong Learning

I am posting Thing #2 in response to the CML Librarian's suggestion to view and comment on the 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners tutorial from the Public Library of Charlotte and Meklenberg County. In following the tutorial I decided the easiest part of the process for me is accepting personal responsibility for my learning. I'm a bit obsessive about planning when it comes to goals so I take the responsibility piece very seriously. Unfortunately that also might explain why the most difficult part of the process is seeing problems as challenges. When my plan veers off my carefully laid out path I tend to get a little negative. Exercising a little flexibility and creativity when I encounter a challenge would certainly save me a lot of headaches.

I recently made a goal for myself to run a half marathon. I succeeded by finding a training schedule, choosing a race and then following the plan. I had lots of help and support and eventually I ran the race in a very respectable time. It was really interesting to see how many of the habits listed in the tutorial related directly to the experience of training for and running in a half marathon. Now that I've accomplished that milestone I have more confidence in my ability to tackle other goals.