47 Things

I am using this blog to regularly comment on the development of a study project which aims to showcase my ability to research, analyse and communicate information, ideas and concepts.

The context of the project is a networking breakfast developed around historical foods from a range of past cultures. It will be hosted by Library and Museum Technology students and supported by a range of emerging technologies.

It’s all about demonstrating my understanding and ability to apply my information literacy skills.

And it’s big! Thinking about what the project will look like (including an evaluation of my work and skills, with a reflection on my information literacy skills), I counted 47 elements that make up the assessment. That means if I do one each day from today, I shouldn’t have to ask for an extension!

In order to keep on track I need to keep in mind the focus of the event: the guests! How can I best meet their information needs? Which technologies are the most useful to engage the guests before, during and after the event?

Speaking of technologies, I am embarking on a steep learning curve. Sure, I already use Delicious and Facebook, have uploaded a few photos to Flickr, share documents in the ‘cloud’, receive several RSS feeds into my email, follow blogs, watch YouTube and listen to radio podcasts, but any other Web 2.0 technology is new to me.

So…when I read this from ALIA, ‘Take the challenge to tweet once a day for a month! If you don’t think you can manage this - don’t despair – just try your best and get involved! If you haven’t used Twitter before this is your chance to give it a go and see what all the fuss is about!’ I decided to take the challenge…

Anxiety of being a digital immigrant

Immigration has its anxieties.

There is no-one you know in the new country to welcome you with open arms and a warm embrace. You don't know the language or how things work. Then there's the problem of finding a job.

It's the stuff of bad dreams. (Does anyone own the user name 'yool' with the password 'essence'? I woke up in the early hours with that one!) So much time is spent exploring the newness of things that I forget to eat - a good way to lose weight!

I get dizzy from all the connections - talk about information overload!

I hope Eric Berlow is right when he says that complexity leads to simplicity!