Thing 17: Prezi and Slideshare

Thing 17 is back!  After a delay from the 23 for Professional Development leadership, Thing 17 has returned.  Presentations are the topic of the day.  Both featured resources, Prezi and Slideshare, provide alternative ways to share information.  Although these resources are simple in concept and are easy to learn, creating sample content for them took far longer than I had anticipated.  Nevertheless, I successfully explored both resources through creative presentations.
 Prezi:

I had a chance to briefly play around with Prezi last spring, after another student asked if anyone had used it.  At the time, I thought the software was neat, but I did not think it was suitable for the last presentation I had to do.   I enjoyed the chance to take a deeper look at Prezi. 

My first instinct for using Prezi was to create a map of the library.  The academic library I work in has a somewhat unusual shape.  In addition, the building it is in connects to other campus buildings, but in such a way that the transition is almost imperceptible.  Prezi would allow us to address both problems, through the zoom features and the nonlinear layout.  Prezi picks up where Google Maps leaves off.

Prezi likewise could be easily used for introducing people to a new website, new software, or a particular resource.  A full-page screenshot could be used as the background and the zoom-in function could be used to explain key features of each section or tool.  Prezi would allow the user to see details without losing the wider context.

In a public library, Prezi could also be used to provide instructions on a crafting program, particularly if the project included repetitive steps.  A finished project, such as a knitted or crocheted scarf, could be shown in the background.  Zooming in on a particular section could let users read and see how to do each step.


Slideshare:

Slideshare allows users to upload their presentations with one click.  Users can then easily share their presentation with others.  Slideshare is surprisingly more social than I had expected; it integrates with Facebook and includes easy links to Twitter and other social networks for posting notices about new presentations.  The presenter reaches far more people than he or she would in a face-to-face presentation alone.  Unless users upgrade to the Pro version, the presentations automatically become public. 



The public feature makes Slideshare a treasure trove for anyone interested in learning.  I have seen slideshare used for many academic library presentations, conference presentations, and classes, but the possibilities are wide open. 

Although it is apparently possible to add sound to a Slideshare presentation, the focus is on visual content.  For this reason, I believe that users must carefully choose what to upload.  Best practices for real-time presentations emphasize that slides be highly visual and be used as a complement to the presentation, rather than as the main conveyor of information.  In contrast, Slideshare (usually) relies on the slides to convey the entire message.  A presentation that works well in person will likely not convey enough information in Slideshare, or at least not without substantial revisions.  Slideshare should be used with care.

I believe Slideshare would be useful for sharing stories, such as in a presentation to the library trustees or the college administration.  The presenter could focus on particular people, showing how each of them used the library.  Because I have not given a presentation in a while, I decided to post something a bit different.  I wrote a brief children's story, illustrated it using imaging software, and posted it.  Editing the images required a lot of time, but uploading the presentation to Slideshare was refreshingly easy.

 Thank you for reading about Prezi and Slideshare!

Thing 19: Reflection II

I have enjoyed exploring all of the different topics over the past few weeks!  Some topics were timely and others were merely interesting to consider.  I had used, at least to some extent, a fair number of the different tools mentioned in the program, but many others have been new.

I continue to use these ones heavily:

• RSS
• Google Calendar
• LinkedIn

These tools continue to prove invaluable for staying current on library-related topics, for organizing my schedule, and for connecting with others.  I see myself using them more and more in the years to come.

I have also begun to rely on these ones:

• Google Blogger: The ease with which I can add new posts makes this tool one I will use regularly. 
• Facebook:  I am using Facebook for personal connections, rather than work connections.  I have spoken to former classmates, former colleagues, friends I had lost touch with, and family members.  I was late to adopt Facebook, mostly due to concerns about privacy and about how easy I had heard it was for people to waste too much time on it.  So far, neither one of my hesitations has become true.  I use Facebook, and can find myself losing time looking through pictures or postings, but usually still only refer to it once or twice a week.
• wikis: I use these frequently at the academic library where I work.  The other staff members and I put together pages on specific topics for students.  Recently, we have begun moving away from plain text pages.  I think the new format will draw more use!

I use these ones sporadically:

• Twitter: Twitter can be useful for finding out current opinions, for sharing topics with the wider world, and for having real-time conversations with others.  I find the sheer amount of information a bit overwhelming.  Needing to log into the website also discourages regular use.  If I ever buy a smart phone, I may pick Twitter up again.
• LISNPN: I checked this page frequently at first, but when my schedule became busy, I stopped visiting it.  I have replaced it with listservs from other groups, such as YALSA.
• GoogleDocs

I have yet to tackle these topics more in-depth:

• Personal branding: Although I have attempted to unify my social media username, I have made little progress.  If I find a fitting open name in one tool, I find that someone is already using it in another.  This topic has been tabled for the time being.
• Mentoring: I found a mentor, but have yet to ask a question.  Since it has been roughly a month since I made initial contact, I have been thinking about asking a question.  I have yet to decide what to ask.  I connected with a person who has experience in a position I would like to transition into and am not yet sure what would be most useful to know.  Without being in the position, I lack the context to know what topics are most pressing.  I am still brainstorming.
• Real-life networking:  A few months ago, I planned to attend a library strategic-planning community discussion event going on in my area a few weeks ago, but had an unexpected conflict arise.  I was sad to have missed it!  I am keeping my eyes open for other events that fit my schedule.

At this time, I am not using these tools regularly and have no plans to use them in the foreseeable future:

• Pushnote
• Evernote: I loved this tool when we first explored it!  I could save just the bits that were interesting to me.  Any time I found something I wanted to remember, I added it to my Evernote account.  Unfortunately, my preferred browser has a tenuous relationship with Evernote.  During one of the last upgrades, I lost the ability to use Evernote.  On the plus side, I discovered a similar tool that I might be able to use instead: Pinterest.  It is on my list of things to explore.
• DropBox:  Dropbox is most useful for sharing information in a group.  I have yet to find a group with whom I would be regularly exchanging documents.  In addition, I did not figure out how to get the drag-n-drop feature to work on my computer.
• Zotero: When I am not writing papers regularly, Zotero seems unnecessary. 
• Mendeley
• CiteULike:  Aside from reading the overview of CiteULike, I did not explore it at all.  I understood the concept, but did not see an immediate application for it.
• Jing: I appreciate Jing, but have found alternative tools that work better for me.  
• Lightshot

I have not yet had a chance to actually use these tools:

• Screencast-o-matic
• Audacity

Another site that has introduced me to online resources is the Free Technology for Teachers blog.  I discovered this blog either through another cpd23 participant or through one of my Google alerts.  I immediately added it to my RSS feed and have been enjoying reading about other free online resources.  With cpd23 and Free Technology for Teachers, I am discovering so much about the many useful tools out there!

Thing 18: Screen capturing, Screencasting, and Podcasting

Sharing information visually or aurally simplifies communication.  Pictures convey large chunks of information at once and often transcend language barriers.  With the rise of mp3 players, audio recordings have risen in popularity.  Both options allow the creator to share information in alternate formats, reaching more users.  When text overwhelms, images, videos, and audio recordings engage readers while saving time.

Screen capturing: Images

Until a few years ago, I vaguely knew that it was possible to take a picture of what was on a computer screen, but I had no idea how to do it.  I had seen these images in tutorials and in a computer science textbook put together by a few of the professors at my college.  Then, when I began the library program, the program's technology staff put together workshops on tools that would be useful throughout the program.  These workshops included instructions for how to take screenshots.  I was pleased to learn that with a few quick key strokes, I could capture the image on my screen.  I quickly memorized the strategy that worked with my Windows-based computer.  I now also remember how to take screenshots on a Mac.  Every time I wanted to take a screenshot on one of the college's Dual-boot computers, however, I had to either ask for help or track down the online guide that accompanied the technology workshops.  I still do not remember the trick. 

Since that time, I have been introduced to other ways to capture images.  Through one of my professsors, I discovered Jing, which allows users to quickly capture just a portion of the screen.  Figuring out how to use the target lines to select part of my screen took a few minutes, but soon became routine.  I appreciate the simple annotation tools Jing provides as well.  I have turned to Jing a few times for putting together projects for class, for showing others where a particular link  or button is, and for creating a step-by-step guide for using the "Mail Merge" feature in Microsoft Word.  My go-to resource, however, is now the Snipping Tool that is installed in newer Windows machines.  As with Jing, I can use this tool to capture part of a page and to annotate it.  I can choose to capture the entire screen, a rectangular portion of it, or a free-form section of it.  I can do all of this without needing a pesky icon on my desktop.  (I often accidentally clicked on the Jing sun or had to move it elsewhere so I could use a button or link on another screen).  I am fond of Jing, but prefer the Snipping Tool.

I looked over the pages for Lightshot, another screen capturing tool mentioned in this week's Thing.  I like the ease of using the print screen button to start the tool.  This process is much faster than either clicking on Jing's sun and choosing the image button or going into the start menu to click on the Snipping Tool.  I am satisfied with Snipping Tool however and see no reason to switch to Lightshot. 

Screencasting: Videos
 
I was introduced to screencasting through a required technology course in my library program.  The instructor shared a brief overview of each one and recommended Jing as a free option.  She recommended Camtasia, another tool from the company that produces Jing, for those who were willing to pay for fancier features.  Inspired, I went home and immediately downloaded Jing onto my computer.  I was thrilled to be able to capture not only images, but short videos!  I quickly made a few test videos on my computer.  I smiled the rest of the day.  The one limitation I found to Jing was the 5 minute time limit.  Although I know short tutorials are ideal, I would have preferred the option of making a longer video.  As the days passed, I also grew tired of the Jing sun icon.  I uninstalled Jing a few months after I had downloaded it.

For this Thing, I explored Screencast-o-matic.  I understood the basic concept of creating a screenshot from my experience with Jing, but I wanted to see how Screencast-o-matic differed.  Creating a video was easy.  All I had to do was click on a button and set the area I wanted to record.  I could pause my recording and resize the recording area as well.  Once I had recorded, I could upload it to YouTube or screencast-o-matic or I could save it to my computer.  I liked the flexibility and that Screencast-o-matic had a 15 minute recording limit.  The best part was that I had to neither download a program nor register to use the tool.  The next time I want to record a video tutorial, I will turn to Screencast-o-matic.

Podcasting: Audio

I discovered podcasting through my library program as well.  I periodically listed to podcasts put out by my school's technology center.  I occasionally had to listed to recorded class sessions when weather or unforeseen circumstances led to cancelled classes.  I even looked over another student's introduction to Audacity, the free online recording and editing program.  I never became a diehard fan of podcasting though.

I find listening to podcasts as stressful as I find them useful.  Frequently, the speaker has poor volume control, making them hard to understand.  This problem is compounded when the listening environment is somewhat noisy.  The classes I listened to were often recorded during a live class session from a previous year, which meant that speakers referred to visual elements that I could not see.  Even for planned content that is well-prepared, I find it hard to sit still to listen to a podcast.  I do not own a portable listening device, which means that I am strapped to my laptop when I want to listen.  I feel the urge to be doing something while I listen so that I am not just sitting and staring at a blank screen while I listen.  The easiest multitasking options on a computer have the problem of also being language-based.  If I read e-mail or write something, I miss parts of the podcast and end up being unproductive.  Podcasts are wonderful -- in theory -- but I have a hard time listening to them.

As when I discovered screencasting, however, I became excited by exploring Audacity.  In spite of my fellow student's assurances that Audacity was easy to use and had only a small learning curve, I was intimidated by all of the buttons.  Downloading and using it to record a basic message was much easier than I had anticipated.  I still need to read through the quick start guide and the user's manual in order to understand the many buttons and editing features, some of which are completely mystifying to me, but I am confident that I can learn them.

Unlike screencasts, Podcasts are content-based.  An audio tutorial would be much less effective than a screencast.  Audio recordings are perfect for sharing interesting content, however.  In a library setting, podcasts could be used  for virtual storytelling, for interviews with visiting authors or presenters, or for booktalking.  They could also be used for marketing upcoming programs. 

Next Steps
 
Now that I know how to create screencasts and podcasts, I need to learn to use them well.  As I mentioned earlier, technical difficulties hamper the effectiveness of these recordings and the best ones are created intentionally for one of these formats.  Effective podcasts and screencasts begin with planning.  They also require careful execution.  Many well-planned, interesting screencasts are ruined by a speaker's poor pacing or unexcited tone.  Podcasts may suffer from these faults as well.  Editing, careful attention to detail, and a willingness to re-record as necessary  will lead to higher quality products. 

Thing 16: Advocacy

To date, most of my advocacy has been second-hand.  Rather than reaching out to policy-makers or users myself, I have supported others' efforts.  When I have seen something, such as an article about practicing driving by visiting all the branches in a library system, I have posted it on Twitter, posted it to online discussion groups, and shared it with my friends.  I have spread others' messages. 

I used this week's Thing as a prompt to write my own advocacy piece.  I believe self-advocacy is important, but I believe recommendations from other users is more effective.  For that reason, I chose to focus on a library where my only role has been being a patron.  I contacted my college's student newspaper and asked about submitting an opinion/letter to the editor piece.  One of the staff members responded almost immediately.  He answered my questions and shared a few loose guidelines.

Writing the article was much less difficult than I had imagined.  I was not sure what to say or how to say it.  When I sat down to write it, however, I had plenty to say.  I began with a short story of how the librarians caught me just as I was about to give up and showed me resources targeted to my topic.  I then mentioned other ways the librarians had helped me.  I encouraged current students to take advantage of the libraries' services.  The entire piece took at most half an hour to write.  Submitting was also a breeze.  Now, I will wait to hear if it will be accepted.

I debated whether I should add a note about sending feedback to the libraries.  I know that the library where I work welcomes feedback and uses it to plan future services.  I imagine that these libraries would react similarly, but I did not want to promise anything without checking with the librarians first.  I decided to leave this section out.  Next time, I will plan ahead and ask before I write. 

In writing the article, I also explored the libraries' website.  Much has changed in those few short years!  I enjoyed seeing some new features, such as video tutorials and a chat service.  I mentally compared their website to the site for the academic library where I work.  I have a few suggestions now for my own library. 

Advocacy of all sorts promotes the library's existence.  Resources, such as space and funding, are in high demand.  Advocacy helps libraries show decision makers that the library deserves these resources.  Advocacy allows libraries to reach out to new users and encourage current users to continue to use library services.  As I discovered, advocacy can also be a way to become inspired.  All of this energy serves strengthens the library, allowing it to continue to be a vital part of the community.

Thing 15: Conferences and Workshops

Conferences and other career or topic-oriented events form one of the backbones of professional development.  I have attended only one official in-person library conference, but I have also participated in several less-formal events.  I have watched archived versions of Web Conferences and have another from YALSA waiting in my inbox.  Whether or not the event is live, conferences introduce valuable new topics and provide opportunities for making connections.  Such benefits come with some cost, however.

Here are the lessons I have learned:

For in-person events:

Plan ahead.  A true conference has an abundance of events going on simultaneously.  Choosing the ones that appeal to you takes work; depending on the size of the conference, weeding through the offerings can be overwhelming.  It is better to take the time to look through all the options beforehand than to waste valuable time trying to find things the day of the event.  Inevitably, more than one event that appeals to you will happen at once.  You must choose to either attend part of each one or to skip some altogether.  Knowing this ahead of time helps you coordinate with others to share notes.

Be flexible and open to serendipity.  In spite of all your planning, you may discover an event you did not know about or which suddenly interests you.  You may meet someone you want to converse with further.  Last minute changes to times or venues might interrupt your plans.  You may simply need a break to let yourself think. 

Schedule a few breaks.  Although conferences are exciting and stimulating, you need some time to reflect on the experience and to catch your breath.

Bring extra bags.  Conference programs, presentation handouts, business cards, vendor information, and swag can add up quickly.  An extra bag helps you manage all of the items you acquire throughout the day.

Speak up.  Conferences are as much about meeting people as they are about learning new things.  Participate in discussions at the events you attend.  Introduce yourself to the other attendees and strike up a conversation.  If nothing else, stop and ask someone for directions or offer to help someone else find their destination.  You will meet interesting and helpful people. 

For on-line events:

Plan ahead.  Oftentimes, you need to register for these events.  You may also need to have certain software or hardware capabilities to participate.

Check to see if the events will be archived.  If the event will be archived, you can relax a bit more and focus on enjoying the experience rather than on taking notes.  You can visit and revisit the archive later to brush up on anything you forget.  Also, if something suddenly comes up and interferes with your attendance, you will still be able to get something out of the event.

Find a quiet space.  If you are in an area that is too public, outside noise might drown out your conference or you may become distracted by other people and events.

For both:

Check to see if there are social media conversations related to the events.  Twitter discussions, blog posts, and other sources add context to the conference.




I desire to continue attending library events.  The next big event I wish to attend is the Public Library Association conference for 2012.  I am open to attending other events before then, but PLA is the event that has drawn my interest most in the past.  This year, I will not have to work around classes to attend either!  I also hope to be able to attend a YALSA or webjunction event synchronously.  I have enjoyed archived versions, but would like the added interactive piece.

Conferences here I come!