INF506- Introduction

Well the modules are online so it looks as if the semester has now started.

Introduction

According to my notes there are a few definitions that I should refer to for the sake of continuity throughout the course. They are:

Social networks in a Web 2.0 world are “designed to allow multiple users to publish content themselves… The published information may be on any subject and may be for consumption by a select number of friends, employers, employees, etc., or for general consumption by anyone on the Web…. Social networks include commercially published content or editorial content, or may be entirely user driven. Content is text, images, video or any other media. (p.2-1) 

Social networking sites are websites “primarily designed to facilitate interaction between users who share interests, attitudes and activities, such as Facebook and MySpace”, and “typically allow users to create ... ‘profile[s]’ describing themselves and to exchange public or private messages and list users or groups they are connected to in some way.” (p.2-2) 

Social media sites refer to websites “that allow individuals to share content they have created, such as YouTube (video sharing) and Flickr (photo sharing). While interaction occurs on social media sites, the primary purpose of the site is to publish and share content.” (p.2-2) 

Social software refers to “software that supports the ability to collaborate online” (also known as collaborative software) (p.B-12) 

Social computing refers to “The use of social software.” (p.B-12)

These definitions were taken from the OCLC report, Sharing, Privacy and Trust in our networked world: A Report to the OCLC Membership. (2007).

I may need to rework my definition of social networking that I submitted for the first assessment item of the subject.

Facebook, and what next?

Now what do I do?
I have set up my facebook account and have joined the group for my uni subject this year, so what comes next???
My kids tell me I have to get lots of friends, so I have 2, my husband and a good friend who I went to school with, but what next?
So far I fail to see the attraction of this new social networking tool and I really have no desire to increase my friend base. They say that I could look up friends that I went to school with, but really if I wanted to stay in contact with them I already would be so I don't think I will be doing that. also I stay in contact with the people I care about by phone and even in person so I can't see facebook taking the place of that.
I guess it's early days yet though so I may change my mind.
Setting up my account was fairly easy, I didn't even need my 16 year old son's help which was impressive.
The next pressing thing though is to find a half way decent photo to put on my profile. The other day the computer had a hissy fit and now I have lost most of my photos. I have no idea where they have gone and either does my husband or techno whiz friend. Oh well I keep hoping they will turn up one day when I turn the computer on.

The beginning of a new semester- INF506 assessment 1

What is Social Networking?

I really have no idea so I guess this is a great place to start for this subject.
I guess I would define social networking as being a method to stay in contact with friends, groups or organisations. As the name implies it is a fairly social activity done online.

I am a huge fan of networking whenever I go to an event because you never know when a person you have met may be helpful to you, so I guess that social networking can be used in the same way, just online instead of in person.

It is also a relative new concept and is growing in popularity is the web2.0 era of communication.
I found this cute diagram to help explain what social networking is and so I thought I would include it.

Social technology I already use
I use a blog for the purposes of my study because it is a course requirement.
I had to create a pathfinder on a wiki for a subject but I haven't used a wiki since.
I have used Youtube a few times if the kids tell me about a funny clip.
I don't have a facebook account.
I don't have a twitter account.

Actually, looking at this I really am not up to date in the technology age of social networking at all.

What I expect to learn in this subject

I will be happy to learn how to use facebook and know a bit more about all of the other social networking sites.
I would love to gain in confidence and knowledge when using these tools and develop ways to implement this in my teaching because there is huge pressure in the workplace to be on top of all of this technology.
As I know absolutely nothing anything I gain from this course will be a huge step forward.

First day back at school....

Well today all of my kids have gone back to school after the Christmas holidays......yay.

I don't start back until Wednesday so I am just going to enjoy today and tomorrow before I have to get back into everything.
It is so nice being in a quiet house using the computer without any interruptions.
The exercise regime is going to start today as well....despite it being sooo hot already.

I have just been online checking out one of my subjects for this semester.
It's all about social networking and I am not really looking forward to it as this is the only social networking thing I do.
Looks like I may be using facebook after all despite all of my protesting.

Oh well off to hang out a load of washing which will probably be dry before I finish hanging it out because it is so hot.

What a day!

Well Australia Day has come and gone for another year.
Apparently it was the hottest Australia Day in 20years so it was a perfect day to go for a jet boat ride on the Harbour.

If you ever go on this ride don't be fooled into thinking that the raincoat will keep you dry.

Marissa sat in the front without a raincoat and we were just as wet as her and we wore a raincoat.
It was such a lot of fun and the kids are already asking if we can do it again next year.
A huge tip though, if you ever have a ride take your shoes off and leave them behind as they will be soaked through and there is nothing worse than wearing wet socks and wet shoes home from the city. Also take a change of clothes because we were still wringing out our clothes as we walked to the train to come home.
We also wandered through the activities in Hyde Park and looked at the vintage cars lining College street and Maquarie Street and just had a really lovely family day out in the city.

It was a fabulous way to celebrate the completion of my ETL507 and ETL503 assignments.

Happy Australia Day

Happy Australia Day everyone.
I absolutely love the celebrations for today.
Every year we venture into the city, we start at Hyde Park and then weave our way down to Circular Quay looking at all of the vintage cars along the way.
The boys love it, and as my 16year old informed me last night "it is our tradition".
I tried to veto the whole thing last night because today it is going to be the hottest Australia day in 31 years and we have experienced some hot ones!
Anyway it wasn't to be and we are going to head in after everyone wakes up.
We have added an extra bit of excitement this year as we are going to go on a jet boat ride in the Harbour and out through the heads which should be fun. Every year we are nagged to go for a ride so this year I pre purchased tickets at half price as a surprise, except that I am hopeless at keeping secrets and told them during the week. Needless to say they are really excited. Hopefully we will get our ride in before it storms.

I am so excited that I can enjoy today because very late last night I finished my ETL507 portfolio which was very exciting.
Denise now has my two assignments and is busy formatting them and spacing them out beautifully for me so that I can hand both of them in on the weekend.
It is such a relief.
I now have about 2 weeks of freedom before I start the last 2 subjects of my course...(assuming that I pass these)
Oh well off to the city for the day....

Happy Australia Day.

Collection development policy

I am really happy to say that I have completed the second assignment for ETL503. It was to develop a collection management policy for my school.
I think that I have done a really good job of it and I am really happy with the finished product.
Now I guess it will be up to the markers, and the truth is no-one ever really knows what they are looking for despite there being a marking criteria supplied.
I am going to let it sit for a few days and then will venture back to it to make modifications before I hand it in on the weekend.
Today I have started to write my portfolio for ETL 507. I have a week to complete it, although I think that it probably needs a bit longer. Oh well it's lucky that I work best under pressure, because there sure is a lot of pressure at the moment.
We are now in the last week of the school holidays and on the way to buy bread for lunch I bought a pair of school shoes for Marissa. Yay a good job done in less than 5 minutes.....quickest ever and that included getting a car park.
Oh well moving on to my portfolio.