LIBR 246-12: Web 2.0 and Social Networking Tools (Fall 2008)

Last Reflections

1. How has your view of social software changed since starting the course?

I do not know if my view of social software has changed. However, I have gotten a lot of new insight into these programs and I am now starting to use them. I now have a Facebook page, and I did not have that before this class. Delicious is an awesome tool as well.

Well maybe now that I think about it, I have changed. Before I thought these were mainly things done for recreationary purposes. However, know I can see how things like Delicious and even Twitter can be used in a professional setting.

2. What technology did you find most interesting for your personal use? What technology did you think would be most useful professionally?

I think blogging personally because I am not a person who is that gifted at writing (yes as you all know from the typos, I am grammatically impaired), but I thought the whole process was interesting in that there is this active community of people out there giving great insight to a lot of features.

Professionally I have to say RSS and Feeds. I have just been able to set some other colleagues up with feeds that they are interested in, and think tools like Pipes really is going to change how the academic and library world works. I think it is going to empower many people and give information (maybe too much) into the user.

I also loved that you offered PDF transcripts, It made following along so much easier.

3. What surprised you during the course?

The quality of the class. I never thought so much could be covered in so little time. And it was covered well. I am also surprised how much I liked the class. Also how hard it is to do things like podcasting and screencasting. I have a new found respect for people who do that.

4. What suggestions do you have for improving the learning activities (exercises, assignments, blog posts, readings, examples, etc.)?

Allow Wise students some more features. It seems San Jose is not setup to deal with Wise students, and there were a few problems (I am sure I would have been able to access this class if it was on the San Jose Black

Also this is just me being from the East Coast, but the 6:30 start time (LA time) is very tough. Maybe have weekend Elluminate session. At least then you can do it say 3 LA time.

These are only minor quibbles because over I thought the class was well done. Throughly organized and presented in a really fresh and interesting manner.

5. How did your experience using Drupal differ from your experience in Blackboard classes (or classes using other traditional course management systems)?

Blackboard is a mess. It tried to be to many things (Webct features are just tacked on), and in the end it is a muddle.

If Drupal could fix its editor to allow Word copy and pasting from Word on a PC (It works fine from a Mac) I would have no complaints.

I have used Moodle before and while Moodle does some things better, I would say Drupal is as good as Moodle. I love the Drupal cup that was posted, by the way.

6. Looking back, how would you sum up your experience?

I learned much and had a great time. Really great class, and if there was 2.0 part two I would take it (though next semester is my last.

Best of luck to everyone.