23. Give feedback about the program

If you have done all the 22 tasks up to now, congratulations! You have nearly finished the 23 Things. For your final 23 Things blog post, we'd like you to give us your feedback about the 23 Things program.

We're particularly interested in:

• How could you draw on what you have learned in 23 Things to help you in your work?
• How could the library use the technologies featured in 23 Things to improve its service?
• How do you think the 23 Things program could be improved in the future?
• Do you think you'll keep blogging or keep using any of the other tools you learned about?

We hope that you have enjoyed the 23 Things, and that you have found at least one useful tool that you didn't know about before.

Note: Your feedback is important to us, so please post your comments.

Your Blog

You are free to do what you wish with your blog. Those who have become keen bloggers can keep posting away merrily.

Note: If you want your blog away from our prying eyes, email the 23 things team and ask us to remove your blog from our RSS reader! (remember to provide your blog name)

Or, if you really want it out of the blogosphere, you can delete it:

• Log into Blogger
• Go to Dashboard
• Click on Settings
• Scroll right to the bottom
• Click the blue 'Delete this blog' button

Week 13: Conclusion

23. Give feedback about the program

22. Read about and explore various web based communication tools including Skype, MSN Messenger and Meeboo

Read the following Wikipedia articles about instant messaging and Voice Over IP (VOIP) communications.

• Instant Messaging
• VOIP

Your Task

Do some reading about Google Talk and launch the Google Talk client http://talkgadget.google.com/talkgadget/popout

Sign in and invite a colleague to chat with you using Google contacts. Use the 'Add' link down the bottom and type in the email address of the user you would like to invite.

NOTE: You don't have to use Google Talk, especially if you already use something else (eg: MSN Messenger, Yahoo etc) Simply blog about what you use and what you like about it.

Blog about how libraries could use these tools to communicate internally with colleagues or externally with library users.

Optional Activity

Add the Google Talk widget to your blog. The steps you need to follow can be found in this article.

OR

You can add it to your igoogle page. Click on the 'Add stuff' link and do a search for Google Talk.

Alternate Resources

Here are optional resources for those who want to learn how to use the popular tools Meebo and Skype

Using Meebo as your instant messenger


How to use Skype

Week 12: Communication

22. Read about and explore various web based communication tools including Skype, MSN Messenger and Meebo

21. Find and listen to a Podcast or two

What is a podcast?

The word "podcast" comes from joining Portable On Demand (pod, like iPod) and "cast" from broadcast. Get it? Podcast!

A podcast is a series of digital media files (eg. audio or video) that are distributed over the internet using syndication feeds (like RSS) and can be played on portable media players (eg. MP3s) or a personal computer.

Podcasting means that listeners can "time shift" their favourite programs by listening when it suits them. They give you the ability to "subscribe" to a feed using a feed aggregator (such as Google Reader), and receiving an alert when a new episode becomes available. You can then choose to listen to an episode at your convenience!

You can also download or stream programs without subscribing and listen to them on your computer. Most media providers have a direct download link somewhere on their podcasts page.

Your task

1. Find a podcast that interests you using Google, or the Podcast Directory links in the Resources section below.
2. Subscribe to it in your feed reader and listen to a media file or two.

Resources

• Podcast.com - directory of podcasts covering a variety of subjects
• PodcastAlley.com - podcasting resource and directory of podcasts
• Podcast Directory - directory of podcasts covering a variety of subjects
• PodShow.com - access to music, videos and episodes
• Aunty ABC - podcasts of shows from the national broadcaster
• The Education Podcast Network - what, why, and how of 21st century teaching & learning

Video Podcasting

You may even wish to catch up on your favourite television shows by subscribing to a video podcast. It works in the same way as an audio podcast. You shouldn't need to download any special software - most computers will have Windows Media Player installed to watch them on.

• ABC Video downloads
• SBS Podcasting
• National Geographic Video Podcasts

Optional resources (Here are optional resources for those who want to learn how to be a podcaster)

• Odeo's Studio - Create and publish a podcast
• How to podcast tutorial

Week 11: Podcasts

21. Find and listen to a Podcast or two

20. Watch YouTube videos people have made about libraries

YouTube is an online video sharing website that allows the users to share, rate, comment on, tag, and watch. It's covering just about every topic you can imagine, ranging from very amateur to professionally produced.

Watch this video that shows a future history of the media by Robin Sloan and Matt Thompson.

Your task

Have a look around YouTube and see if you can find some interesting videos about libraries or librarians, or perhaps new web technologies.

YouTube makes it easy to do a search, and then to find similar videos to one you have already watched.

You may find a funny video clip or maybe something more informative.

Blog about your experience with YouTube.

Optional Activity: Embed a YouTube video into your blog post

Blogger

• Find a video you want to post about
• Copy the 'Embed' code for the video
• Log into Blogger
• Click on New Post
• Give your post a title and some text etc
• Click on the Edit HTML tab (top right hand side of your Post toolbar)
• Paste in the embed code in the position where you'd like the video to be placed
• Click Publish Post

Wordpress

• Find a video you want to post about
• Copy the URL of the video
• Log into Wordpress
• Click on Write
• Give your post a title and some text etc
• On the post toolbar, there is an 'Add media' section.
• Click on the 'Add video' icon (looks like a strip of film)
• Paste the youtube url into the field provided
• Click 'Insert into Post'
• Publish your post

Resources

• YouTube official site