A Look Back at Week 1

Last week I signed up for a Google account and create my iGoogle start page. I've found it really useful, because as well as being able to have all the feeds that I like to check all on one handy page, I've also explored the chat function.

This is great for our team at work as we are often not physically located on in the same place. This way we can use the group chat for matters that arise throughout the day, and exchange information instantly. It's a real time alternative to email, and obviously a lot quieter than phoning each other, very useful in a reading room environment!

Taking the Plunge

Wow, my first ever blog post! This empty white space is surprisingly nerve wracking, here's hoping it gets easier as the weeks go on as the feeling of frozen wordlessness is not a pleasant one...

The 23 Things programme is exciting for me as I'm both library staff and a part-time postgraduate student. The potential possibilities in the communication and learning tools afforded by Web 2.0 are endless, and this programme looks to be a well structured way to explore them and try them out. It was quite an eye opener to see how little of the tools I use regularly - with the exception of Facebook, and the occasional dabble with YouTube and Flickr I'm pretty much a complete novice!

I've always been a bit put off using some of the Web 2.0 technologies that are on the 23 Things list purely because without a reason to get started with them, they can appear a bit overwhelming, or even pointless, and exploring them without a purpose is rather like being parachuted into a strange town with no map. So thank you, 23 Things, for providing some directions!