Unit 8 Muddiest Points

I do not have any muddy points about the readings.

Unit 8 Readings

W3schools HTML Tutorial

The HTML tutorial was an easy way to relearn HTML and how to make websites.  In the computer class I took in my undergrad we were taught HTML and created our own websites.  I did not fully understand it at the time, but this tutorial has helped me understand it better.  I think that understanding HTML and creating websites only comes through doing and use.

HTML Cheatsheet

This cheatsheet helps keep all the different HTML codes in order. The codes are easy but because there are so many of them it can get confusing as to which does which.  Having the cheatsheet will keep them all in order and be there for easy accessibility.

W3 School Cascading Style Sheet Tutorial

CSS was not covered in the computer class I took in undergrad so this tutorial helped me understand what CSS is and how it works.  It will also be useful to come back to this to refresh my memory when I get confused or forget what the difference is between HTML and CSS.

Beyond HTML: Developing and re-imagining library web guides in a content management system

It is good to see how other institutions are handling technology and the transition from one technology to another.  Georgia State University set up a system and timeline to transfer their existing web-page creator to another one.  It was done in a timely manner, which seems haphazard for those departments with large database systems.  I think that more time should have been given to them to convert their materials so they did not have to copy-paste their existing materials.   This makes it seem like they will not learn the new features of the new system, although I know that they will once the system is in place.  It is up to the department, though, to go back and update their page once this has happened, which may or may not occur.  Things at GSU seem to be moving in a good direction and the way they went about converting their system is one that could be followed by other institutions. The way that different departments worked together to make this happen shows how working together can get something done quickly and easily. 

Jing Project: About

For the movie portion of my project, I did it silently.  In the movie, I am showing you about Twitter.  I show where to create an account and where to sign in if you already have an account. I also go through the basics: how to post a tweet, retweet, check various things, like messages and mentions.  This service is a simple one but one that allows you to quickly see what everyone is doing. Unlike Facebook, you can see what everyone is doing but without seeing their Farmville updates.  I personally enjoy Twitter because it allows me to see what various authors are doing, what businesses are advertising, and getting daily jokes from people like Stewie Griffen and Michael Ian Black.

I try to show those who do not have a Twitter account what can be done in the system.  Although it is not a service like Blackboard, it does allow users to know what people and things are doing.  Yes, this is a little stalker-ish, but it is entertaining to see what some people are saying. Also, some businesses are using Twitter to put out sales.  For instance, a local restaurant in my home town uses Twitter to put out a secret code word.  When this word is said at the restaurant, or bar, the sayer gets the sale. This may be a free pint of the new beer on tap or half priced nachos.  This video allows those who are not Tweeters to see how to sign up and what the service allows once they do this.

Unit 6 Comment

Comment

Jing Project

Movie

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Unit 6 Muddiest Points

I have no muddy point for this week.

Unit 6 Readings

Local Area Network

            This article helped explain what the Local Area Network was.  I learned this in a computer science class I took in my undergrad, but revisiting it is good.

Computer network and Common types of computer networks

            Both of these articles helped remind me of what all of these networks are. The video did a good job of explaining these networks in layman’s terms. The article had nice diagrams to explain what they are.  Revisiting them has helped me understand them better.  I also began to thing about how libraries could be set up in different network types.  A small, local library would be a PAN, but a college library would be a WAN. 

Management of RFID in libraries

            This author of this article poses some good suggestions and reasons why RFID tags should and shouldn’t be used in the library.  All of her points I agree with.  I think that the technology is a good one and that it would be a good thing for libraries to have, but I am still on the fence about actually implementing the technology into libraries.  Since, some patron information can be placed into the tag, I’m scared that this will give patrons a “big brother” feeling.  Although, this technology would be a good one for library workers, it may scare patrons off.  More research is required before I am 100% behind this technology and the implementation of it in libraries.