DIY Certificate

For your printing pleasure, here's the official NB23 training certificate. 

(Since it's hosted on Google Drive, you'll likely have to use a non-networked computer to access the file. We couldn't help sneaking in one last Thing!)


Certificate:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Byy5eWB_ehfVTlk5TmxUc1VwMVU/edit?usp=sharing

Week 11: Never stop learning!

Team23 has been your guide on the side through these 23 Things, but now we’re setting you free and hope you continue to explore new web tools at your own pace.

There are many tools to help you stumble upon new and interesting web content that suit your interests. Guess what our final web tool is called: StumbleUpon!

THING # 23 – Sign up for StumbleUpon and share a website.

Register for StumbleUpon at www.stumbleupon.com. For now just choose the Books interest. You can add more interests later by going to Recommended à Edit Interests. At this point you may want to adjust your Settings so that you don’t receive a lot of notifications from the site.

To start stumbling, simply click on Stumble and you will be presented with a random website based on your interests. Keep clicking Stumble until you find a website that makes you smile, and then share it on Twitter or Scoop.it. J

*DRUM ROLL*

You’ve done it! 10 weeks, 23 Things, 1 digital learning superstar! (That’s you). Celebrate with a dance party at your desk.

(option 1) Ron Swanson dance video
(option 2) Snoopy happy dance
(option 3) Carlton happy dance

Once your dance party is over, channel any leftover energy into your final blog post. Use some of the questions from last week’s post as a guide. We want to know about your overall experience of 23NB.

When you’re done, register your completion by emailing Team23. We’ll send your training certificate.

(option 1) Queen – Don’t stop me now
(option 2) Unique II - Break My Stride
(option 3) Jefferson Starship - Nothing's gonna stop us now



 

Cool Extra Things

Did you find any other cool Things while working through this program? Share them with all 23NB participants in the comment section below.

Week 10: Catch Up and Reflection

Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel? Only one more Thing to go! Use this week to catch up and to reflect on all the tools you tried out and the new things you’ve learned. Here are some questions to ponder in preparation for your final blog post next week:

·         What was your favourite Thing?

·         What was the most useful Thing?

·         What were you surprised to discover?

·         How will you use the Things in your work or personal life?

·         How did you feel after completing the 23NB program?

·         What did you learn about yourself?

Week 9: Apps

Phones aren’t just for making calls anymore! People expect their phones to act like multi-tools so they can share and receive information whenever, wherever. In 2014, it is expected that mobile internet usage on smartphones and tablet devices should overtake desktop internet usage.

Mobile devices rely on apps (short for applications) for games, maps, social media, eReading, etc. Apps are simple computer programs that are designed for mobile devices. There are apps for most of the social media tools we’ve talked about: Twitter, Facebook, HootSuite, TweetDeck, Goodreads and Pinterest. The average person has 41 apps on their device!

These devices use operating systems: Apple’s iOS, Android, Windows or Blackberry. The operating system determines things like what the display of a device looks like and how the touch screen operates.

Depending on your device and which operating system it uses, you have access to an app market that allows you to download new apps. Not all app markets are created equal! They each have a different number of apps available. A particular app may not be available in all markets. The four main app markets are:

New Brunswick Public Library Service uses apps, too: OverDrive Media Console and BiblioNB. Overdrive Media Console lets you search or browse the Electronic Library, checkout an audiobook or eBook, download it, and read or listen to it on your device. All in one place!  BiblioNB is the mobile version of the library catalogue, and also includes program information and library locations and hours.

THING #20 – Browse an app market and install OverDrive Media Console

The OverDrive Media Console app is available for free in all four major app markets.

You can find step-by-step instructions for installing apps by following these links:
Apple device
Android device
Blackberry device
Windows device

THING #21 – Download and return a library eBook

Use the OverDrive Media Console app to download an eBook from the Electronic Library. You can use the step-by-step instructions provided in the guide for your device. The guides are available on the NBPLS website.

If you aren’t sure whether the title you want is an audiobook or eBooks, look for the icon

Can’t find anything you want that is available for loan? Click on Browse to see all EPUB eBook titles. Then check off Available Now and Submit to see all the titles currently available to check out.

 

Return an eBook

Titles will remove themselves from your device once the lending period is over, but if you would like to check your eBook in early you can in the OverDrive Media Console app. Select the book you would like to return and press the cover for a couple of seconds to see options. Select “Return”.

 

THING #22 – Explore the BiblioNB app

Now that you’re app happy, try downloading another! NBPLS launched its very own app in August called BiblioNB. The app acts like a shortcut to the library website, but with style. Find the app in either the Apple or Google Play app markets, download it, and then try and do these 3 things:

1.       Browse new releases.

2.       Log in to your library account.

3.       Scan an ISBN (hint – go into search).

Pretty handy, right?

Cool extra thing - Try one of the other eBook apps and download a free classic

There are many other apps available for reading eBooks: Amazon’s Kindle app, Apple’s iBooks, Kobo, Sony’s Reader, and more…Each of these connects to a store where you can buy eBooks. There are also apps with access to free eBooks.

The Top 5 Best eReader apps for Android Tablets
Top 5 eBook Reader Apps for Android Phones/Tablets
5 Fantastic Free iPhone E-book Reader Apps
Best e-Reader Apps for the iPad
Top Ereader Apps for Windows Phone 7

Don’t forget to let us know what you thought of the Electronic Library experience on your blog. We’d love to know your favourite app for eBooks, too.

 

Week 8: Sharing

Image via Flickr user Will Lyon

Information Curation

The Internet can be a maze of information. The good news is that there are lots of people sorting through that maze and organizing it by topic, highlighting the useful or interesting information. All you have to do is find these people, Internet curators, and keep track of them.

There are many content curation tools. You’ve already used one! With Pinterest, you sort images according to the topics of your boards. When you choose to follow someone else’s board, you are following the content they have curated.

Another content curation tool is Scoop.it. Scoop.it users “scoop,” or collect, web content. Each scoop can contain an image from the source website along with a short excerpt. Scoop.it pages are organized by topic. For example, the LibraryLinks_LiensBiblio page is all about library news. Instead of printing out articles to read later, you can save an article to a Scoop.it page and go back to read it later. This will help other people discover the article, too. You can also write comments on stories to spark discussion. While the interface in Scoop.it is in English only, the content that is curated can be in French.

Using content curation tools is a great way to keep up-to-date with current trends around your selected topics. The key is to find good curators to follow.

THING 18 – Join Scoop.it to discover library stories.

Go to www.scoop.it and search for or browse a Topic at the top of the screen. 

Click on Recommended Topics to see popular topics. 

Once you’ve found a Topic that interests you, click on Follow. You can sign up by using the Twitter account you created in Week Two. This makes it easier to share articles on Twitter. If you prefer to use your email you can click on I don’t have a Facebook, a Twitter or a LinkedIn account. Followers receive a daily email highlighting the top stories from their followed topics.  

THING 19 – Share a Scoop.it story on Twitter.

Find an interesting story in one of your followed Topics and click on the share button. (Hint: the button only appears if you hover your cursor over top of the story). Share the story on Twitter. You’ll have to connect your Twitter account to Scoop.it if you haven’t already. Just click on the Twitter icon and follow the prompts.

There. Doesn’t sharing feel good?

Cool Extra Thing - Start curating a Topic.

Create your own online magazine by going to My Topics, Create a Topic.

Explore Scoop.it community http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ityFe8pdD88

To making “scooping” stories easier, install the Scoop.it bookmarklet in your Internet browser. (Just like the “Pin It” button for Pinterest!). 

Week 7: Multimedia

Videos – YouTube, Vimeo, DailyMotion

The Internet is now an interactive, visual space (also known as Web 2.0, new and improved!). YouTube is one of the most popular social networks. Video is great for storytelling, library promotion, instruction or for a comedy sketch. People spread videos online through social media sites. When a video receives thousands of views in a short time, it’s called going “viral.” This video is a great example of using video to tell a story:



 

The tools for making videos are available to nearly everyone. A smartphone, digital camera or iPad can all make videos that can be posted on YouTube. Lots of tips and tools for creating videos can be found online too. Here’s a helpful list:

Windows Movie Maker

5 free tools for creating a screencast 

Top 5 Movie Maker Apps

 

Videos can also liven up a blog post (you see where this is going, don’t you?).

 

THING #16 – Embed a YouTube video in your blog.

Most blogging software has a video component that lets you embed (like “insert”) a video that has been uploaded to a site such as YouTube. When you are in the “create a new post” screen, select the video icon to open a search box.



 

Choose to select a file From YouTube and find a video. Team23 has a particular fondness for Mr. Rogers and auto tuning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFzXaFbxDcM

You may need to adjust for formatting of the video within your blog post. It moves around like a photo, so you can reposition it quite easily.

Note: There is another way to insert a video from YouTube, Vimeo or other sources without using the video icon. On video sites there is usually a Share feature that provides code for embedding the video. All you need to do is copy and paste. 

 

Podcasts 

Another multimedia feature of Web 2.0 is podcasts. Podcasting is like amateur radio. All you need is a microphone and sound recording software and you can create a podcast. People often join together to record their discussions on various topics, from technology news to Harry Potter. They upload their recorded conversations (audio files) to a website or to Apple’s iTunes, and then fans of the show can download the files to their own devices (if you don’t have a device you can just listen through computer speakers).

Team 23 is a big fan of the CBC podcasts available on their website and listened along with Canada Reads.

 

 

DIY Professional Development

Podcasts and videos can be great tools for professional development, whether an author interview, book review, instruction video like we’ve used in our 23 Things posts or debates about library issues (like CBC Radio Q’s debate on the future of libraries which you can hear by clicking on the Listen button).

Many online trainings are archived and made available so you can watch or listen at a time convenient for you.

• The Booklist Webinar Archive – includes hour-long sessions for Graphic Novels, Reluctant Readers, Non-Fiction, Audiobooks and more…
• School Library Journal Archive – includes session on new YA and picture book releases…

Try one of the many thought provoking TED talks available on their website. TED is a nonprofit that brings people from Technology, Entertainment and Design together at conferences to share ideas.

 THING #17 – Find a video or podcast to watch or listen to that relates to libraries (aka DIY Professional Development) using the sites mentioned above.

Summarize some of the key points from the podcast or video on your blog. If you’ve watched a video and you’re really keen, you can even try embedding it in your post!

Cool Extra Thing: Video conferencing

Video conferencing is a great way to feel like you are “there” with anyone, anywhere while saving the money that would be involved in traveling. There are even free video conferencing tools available so you could save the money of having a long-distance call. All you need is a computer or device with a webcam. You can conduct meetings or interviews. Some authors will even do author readings with libraries and classrooms through video chat.

Explore some of the online tools or apps available for video conferencing. Remember that many tools will not work on your work computer.  If this happens, try to use a public access workstation or a device that is not connected to the GNB network.  For example, a laptop that connects to the Internet via the library’s wi-fi service.

Facetime (iOS)

Skype

Week 6: Catch Up

This week is for you to catch up if you’ve missed any of the Things or need to write your blog posts. Team23 would like to congratulate you on making it halfway through the program! Now’s the time to reflect on your experience so far and to ask Team23 if you have any questions.

Hang in there! You’ve done some great work so far and learned some amazing new skills.



Image from Mobarrett.net

If you’re already caught up, you get a well deserved break.

If taking breaks aren’t your cup of tea, go back and further explore some of the tools you learned about in previous weeks.

Week 5: Images, Part 2 - Pinterest

Pinterest is an image sharing website that allows you to “pin” images – either images you created or that you found elsewhere online —to virtual bulletin boards (called “pinboards”). Pinboards are usually themed so that you can easily organize your pins and so other people can discover them!

Pinning an image from a website will create a link to the image’s source. This is a fun, attractive way to bookmark useful sites for future use because you can look at a picture to easily remember why you thought it was interesting in the first place.

Follow other Pinterest users to see their pins show up on your homepage. You can find new ideas, “re-pin” onto your own pinboards or “like” photos.

Thing #13 – Register for a Pinterest account

Go to www.pinterest.com and Join Pinterest. Register using your email or use your Facebook or Twitter account.

 

Using your Facebook or Twitter account is a good way to build a following because it is easy for your friends and followers from those accounts to find you. You can customize your setting so your Pinterest activity is posted in those accounts as well. 

 

Next you’ll want to add the Pin it button to your web browser to be able to pin photos to your Pinterest account from websites.  For instructions on how to add the Pin it button go to https://pinterest.com/about/goodies/

Thing #14 – Create a Pinterest board

When you create your account, you will start off with a few preset boards. To create your own boards hover over your name in the top-right to see the menu and select Boards. Then click on Create a Board

 

Name your board and select a category to make it easier for others to find. Then Create Board.

Thing #15 – Find library related Pinterest boards to follow

Library related Pinterest boards generally fall into one of two categories: marketing or inspiration.

Libraries use Pinterest to:

• Pin book covers. Many libraries feature the covers of new books. Read-alike lists for popular books such as the Hunger Games and Fifty Shades of Grey make great Pinterest boards. Or how about Staff Picks? “What NYPL is Reading” contains reading recommendations by librarians. Or you can showcase a collection, like Edmonton Public Libraries’ “Aboriginal Collection at EPL”.
• Show off the library. “NYPL Photos” showcases cool photos of the library.
• Share archival material. Skokie Public Library’s “Skokie History” board focuses on buildings, people and events from the history of the village.
• Advertise programs., Edmonton Public Library advertises their movie nights by posting pictures of the movie posters on their “EPL Film Series” board.

Libraries and library staff can find and share ideas for:

• Library design. For planning renovations (ex. “Library Design”, created by staff in the AWK Library Region.
• Library displays. There are thousands of photos on every topic you can imagine!
• Programs and craft projects. In the York region, staff shared ideas for the 2012 Summer Reading Club using a collaborative board, Library-SRC 2012-Superheroes.

Hint: search for the term “library” in Pinterest. Narrow the search to “Pinners” and you will see which libraries are pinning.

Cool Extra Thing – Create an image and post it to your blog or pin it on your Pinterest board

As we learned last week, images are protected by copyright law. Using images on Pinterest offers no exceptions. The Pinterest user agreement says that users should only post that which they have copyright permission to post and the company that owns Pinterest absolves itself of any liability.

Make sure you have the right to use the images you pin. Pin book covers from the library catalogue. Pin images that use the Creative Commons license. If the website or post you are pinning from has its own “Pin it” button, the creator is giving you permission to pin. Always give credit to the creator of an image and always link to the original source of the image. For more information, look at Pinterest’s section on pin etiquette.

You avoid copyright issues by posting original images. To upload and pin your own image click on Add

Then select “Upload a Pin”

 

Browse to find an image file you’ve saved on your computer, select which pinboard you would like to  post to and Pin it.

Use some of the tools you learned about last week to create your own image and post it to your blog or pin it to your Pinterest board. It could be something that promotes your library, libraries in general or reading!

 

 

Week 4: Images, Part 1

Images and Copyright
 
There are millions of digital images online. Finding them is easy. Trying to figure out whether or not you can reuse them can be challenging. Like books, images are protected by copyright law. Artists of all mediums generate income from their works and copyright helps them control how people use their works. Some artists grant people permission to use their images with Creative Commons licenses.

There are different types of Creative Commons licenses, read about them here. You should always give credit to the author when you reuse their image.

There are also image banks of copyright-free images. Some of them are free (Wikimedia Commons, morgueFile) and with others you pay per image (iStockphoto, Dreamstime). Another option, sometimes the quickest, is to create your own images! Get creative with your digital camera or mobile device. Put your design skills to work in Microsoft Word or Paint to create a custom logo.

 
This video offers a few more hints for finding digital images:
 


THING 11 – Find a Creative Commons image and add it to your next blog post.


Image by raider of gin via Wikimedia Commons

Need a hint? Search Wikimedia Commons for “animals reading.” Don’t forget to follow any Creative Commons guidelines (attribute work to the author). Staff members can review NBPLS image use guidelines here.










Image Generators 
Image generators let you easily create fun images without the extra work of tracking down copyright permissions. Why use them? To engage patrons, as marketing tools, or just to impress your friends and family! You’ve probably seen the results from image generators all over Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr and other social media sites. People love them!

Image from: http://coccinellevoyage.tumblr.com/post/15400512684

Image generators can be great tools for promoting library events and services. Studies have shown that photos on social media have more views and are shared more often than plain text.

THING 12 – Use the Wordle image generator to create a word cloud. Share the image on your blog.

Go to www.wordle.net. Click on Create and follow directions to create your world cloud image. This video has some pointers.

 

Cool Extra Thing – Get on the meme wagon and create your own hilarious image! Read about the meme movement and see some examples here. The sites below are used to generate memes. Warning! Some memes will be offensive. Just look away.

• http://memegenerator.net
• http://m.quickmeme.com/make
• http://cheezburger.com/Builder

Here’s a couple we made! These images are known as “Success Kid” and “One Does Not Simply.”

Want to learn more?

• How to create a meme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWdWXSDb0FU
• Memes as art: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9Zyswk07vg
• All about the Philosoraptor meme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucoU0c5kvZw