Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Finding Information - Week #3

Watch these VideosEpisode 2 Episode 3
Listen to this podcast: Week 3

Learning Styles - Just as each of us are unique individuals, we also have unique ways in which we prefer to receive information. Scientists call these preferences our learning styles. Have you ever thought about how you like to learn? Some (like me) are visual learners. We like to learn from reading or watching something. Other folks are auditory learners. They learn best by listening, or hearing. Do you know someone that can play a song after hearing it a few times? Another learning style is tactile - involving the hands. These are the folks that like to grab a hold of their learning (bad pun, I couldn't resist!!) Tactile learners use their hands to help them learn. Many Tactile learners make great mechanics. The last group is the kinesthetic learners. One of my daughters has a preference for kinesthetic styled learning. She is constantly on the move; she wants to learn by doing something or being physically involved in the learning process. Think about your learning style as we look at some technology.

RSS - Real Simple Syndication. You may have heard the term before, but did you know what the letters stood for? RSS is a powerful tool that can help bring information to you. Take a look at Alan November's article on RSS.

Wikis – Wikis are much like blogs except that all visitors have the ability to add, edit or delete information. Seems sort of weird doesn’t it? The goal is to use a wiki to create a collaborative piece of knowledge. If all of mankind is separated by 6 degrees, well then, all of man’s knowledge is only 6 separations away. Not so silly is it? Take a look at Wikipedia and search for your own piece of profound wisdom.

How do these topics connect? As an alternative to just googling information, you can search information or have information come to you in formats that cater to your preferred learning style. Try the following activities to see.


eXplorers - Go to Bloglines and create a free account. Once your account is created, add at least 5 RSS feeds to your account. Make sure that one of them is from OCLS. (Hint: Mary Anne Hodel has a monthly blog as well as the Southwest Branch, Orange Slices and Techno Teens Live) Need help? Review Alan November’s article on RSS, he takes you through the process step by step.
Two more tasks - search Grokker for the topic of your choice. Once your results are displayed, click the Map View tab. (visual learners will rejoice!)


Share - In your blog, create an entry that reflects on what you searched for and what you found. If you are stuck, you can use these questions to help start you out: Did Grokker’s grouping of search results help you? What sites did you select for your RSS reader? What is your learning style preference? Is Learn 2.0 working with or against your learning preference? Remember to take a moment and share your thoughts and comments on someone else’s blog.


Adventures - (remember this is an OPTIONAL activity) Follow the tutorial on Yahoo Pipes and create a Pipe and share it. This is a difficult challenge and may take an additional 20-30 minutes of time.

13 comments:

Unforgettable JM said...

Yahoo Pipes will be a great opportunity for coworkers to understand a lot more the RSS Feed concept. See you later!!!

Unfor

Greyjoy said...

I love the guy playing the 'IT Professional'

Greyjoy said...

P.S.

Really want to love Bloglines...but I don't know...check out my blog for more thoughts on that.

bobbie's cat said...

Check out the Youth Services RSS feeds for up to date info about happenings in the dept. I also really think grokker is very cool.

bobbie's cat said...

I really think that Grokker is very cool. Also take a look at the Youth Services RSS feeds they really keep you up to date on what's happenig in the department.

Todd said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Todd said...

Do we submit the yahoo pipes task here? If so I have a feed mashup via pipes on my blog.

If you're lazy, here is a direct RSS link to it :P

sexysixty said...

Following written instructions is very difficult. Without the help of my computer tech I would have chucked the whole thing in frustration!

Anonymous said...

this task is very difficult for someone who does not have any previous computer experince

Andie said...

I really learn a lot about the rss feeds and wikis, what a fun way to learn?

Anonymous said...

This lesson felt as if I had opened a door which leads to another world.

Jenn Baker said...

Ummm...this was a little confusing at first...the site really isn't easy to navigate but once I got it things became more simple. I think that this service may be very helpful if you truly understand how to use it.

Miss Mary said...

I don't know much a Grokker's. Maybe one day I will.