Really excited about trying this one out, as I like the idea of a calendar which can be shared / accessed by multiple people.
I love the fact that it is so easy add events, and that you can colour-code them easily into various categories.
I'm going to give Google calendar a go as a temporary replacement to my usual 'paperback' social life diary for the next week or so. I'm particularly looking forward to the fact that it can be accessed anywhere with a web connection - useful if you need to check your diary in work, but have left it at home.
Great - this could easily be my favourite Thing so far!
Monday, 25 July 2011
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Thing 6 - Online networks
'Making invisible connections visible'.
I feel that I am reticent by nature and my natural inclination is to keep invisible connections invisible, rather than share information about myself with the general internet public. This doesn't sit too comfortably with the concept of online social networks.
However, in keeping with the spirit of cpd23, I have investigated LinkedIn. Looking at the suggested people profiles from the cpd23 blog was helpful. I can see how creating a profile is a good way to promote yourself and your professional skills.
I have taken the first steps and signed up, creating a very basic profile. I may add to this in future months.
I feel that I am reticent by nature and my natural inclination is to keep invisible connections invisible, rather than share information about myself with the general internet public. This doesn't sit too comfortably with the concept of online social networks.
However, in keeping with the spirit of cpd23, I have investigated LinkedIn. Looking at the suggested people profiles from the cpd23 blog was helpful. I can see how creating a profile is a good way to promote yourself and your professional skills.
I have taken the first steps and signed up, creating a very basic profile. I may add to this in future months.
Monday, 18 July 2011
Thing 5 - Reflective Practice
My first experience of reflective practice was whilst completing my Chartership application.
Looking back through my notes, I can see that I used the following structures to help me 'be reflective':
I also used some tools or techniques from the world of Managment to help me analyse my actions, particularly when I was discussing a situation which involved team work and negotiation:
The biggest point which I take away from my reflective experience during Chartership is that reflection is a discipline. It takes time. I have found it hard to continue to be reflective without the impetus of a Chartership application. Perhaps I need to build a specific time into each working week to reflect?
Looking back through my notes, I can see that I used the following structures to help me 'be reflective':
- SWOOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Opportunities, Threats)
- Facts / Problems / Solutions / Alternative approaches / Consequences
- Description of event / My actions or involvement / Impact of my actions / Learning points for future development
I also used some tools or techniques from the world of Managment to help me analyse my actions, particularly when I was discussing a situation which involved team work and negotiation:
- LIM (Likes / Intends / Musts)
- WIIFM ('What's in it for me?')
The biggest point which I take away from my reflective experience during Chartership is that reflection is a discipline. It takes time. I have found it hard to continue to be reflective without the impetus of a Chartership application. Perhaps I need to build a specific time into each working week to reflect?
Thursday, 14 July 2011
Thing 4: Current Awareness, Twitter, RSS, Pushnote
Twitter
June 2009 - Dec 2009: I create a Twitter account whilst I'm working on my Chartership application. I hope it will become a record of my activities and reflective practice. I use it on and off to track my daily work-tasks. I use it to ask one or two questions about Web 2.0. My involvement tails off.
June 2011: I decide to revive my Twitter account. I add a photo (of a stuffed dog from IKEA, rather than me!) and change my name (@shhhsharn - this is meant to combine both my name and my Library-interest.)
Today: I struggle to fully engage with Twitter, because I feel I haven't got enough time during the day at work to devote to it and to build up relationships with other Twitter users by posting interesting things. This might be because I'm the kind of person who likes to think things through deeply before committing myself to making a 'public' comment, which perhaps isn't best suited to the fast-flowing Twitter stream.
RSS
I am an active and happy user of Google Reader. I love the fact that it stores blog post up for you to read at a time which suits you, and that you can mark things as unread to save for later.
Pushnote
I have never used Pushnote before, so will give it a go in Firefox. I have signed up for an account, and given a 5 * rating to the website http://awfullibrarybooks.net/ . However, I've tried to download the tool bar and it seems that this isn't compatible with my version of Firefox, which is something of a shame.
June 2009 - Dec 2009: I create a Twitter account whilst I'm working on my Chartership application. I hope it will become a record of my activities and reflective practice. I use it on and off to track my daily work-tasks. I use it to ask one or two questions about Web 2.0. My involvement tails off.
June 2011: I decide to revive my Twitter account. I add a photo (of a stuffed dog from IKEA, rather than me!) and change my name (@shhhsharn - this is meant to combine both my name and my Library-interest.)
Today: I struggle to fully engage with Twitter, because I feel I haven't got enough time during the day at work to devote to it and to build up relationships with other Twitter users by posting interesting things. This might be because I'm the kind of person who likes to think things through deeply before committing myself to making a 'public' comment, which perhaps isn't best suited to the fast-flowing Twitter stream.
RSS
I am an active and happy user of Google Reader. I love the fact that it stores blog post up for you to read at a time which suits you, and that you can mark things as unread to save for later.
Pushnote
I have never used Pushnote before, so will give it a go in Firefox. I have signed up for an account, and given a 5 * rating to the website http://awfullibrarybooks.net/ . However, I've tried to download the tool bar and it seems that this isn't compatible with my version of Firefox, which is something of a shame.
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Catching up!
After a week away on holiday, I'll be catching up on Thing 4 this week (& maybe also Thing 5 if I work hard!)
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Thing 3: consider your personal brand
This is definately not something I've ever considered as being relevant to me before!
I've seen it as something that people who are more active in Social Media then me might want to think about - design features of their blog, or whether they make sure to use the same names for Twitter and blog accounts. I've only thought of personal brand / reputation in terms of applying for jobs - and when I've done this in the past I've always relied on my CV, qualifications, experience and references to speak on my behalf and explain who I am.
It was good to read through the linked blog posts on the cpd23 page for Thing 3. What particularly stood out for me was the concept that you already have an online brand / presence by default, just by using the internet in various ways. The important thing is to purposefully create the online brand which you want to have, explaining your professional skills and interests and showing you at your best.
This seems to me a good attitude to have, to actively create something, rather than passively letting your electronic paper trail stack up with negligable (or embarrasing?) activity. Hopefully cpd23 can be the start of this.
I've seen it as something that people who are more active in Social Media then me might want to think about - design features of their blog, or whether they make sure to use the same names for Twitter and blog accounts. I've only thought of personal brand / reputation in terms of applying for jobs - and when I've done this in the past I've always relied on my CV, qualifications, experience and references to speak on my behalf and explain who I am.
It was good to read through the linked blog posts on the cpd23 page for Thing 3. What particularly stood out for me was the concept that you already have an online brand / presence by default, just by using the internet in various ways. The important thing is to purposefully create the online brand which you want to have, explaining your professional skills and interests and showing you at your best.
This seems to me a good attitude to have, to actively create something, rather than passively letting your electronic paper trail stack up with negligable (or embarrasing?) activity. Hopefully cpd23 can be the start of this.
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Thing 2: Investigate some other blogs
I've just had a look through some other cpd23 blogs (from the Delicious bookmarks). It was great to see so many others, from a range of Library sectors. I was encouraged to see a fair few in a similar position to me, setting up a blog for the first time to take part in cpd23.
Breaking through the pain barrier of reserve to actually comment on someone else's blog was another matter! I think my primary fear was that I would breach some unknown 'blog etiquette' and accidently cause offence.
I did take the plunge in the end and left a brief comment on another blog. This was partly motivated by the thought that if I failed to complete Thing 2 then the prospects for completing the other 21 didn't look too good. Also by reminding myself that the whole point of joining cpd23 is to give me the opportunity and motivation to try out new things, so it would make sense to actually try them!
So, Thing 2 complete, along with a little step outside my comfort zone.
Breaking through the pain barrier of reserve to actually comment on someone else's blog was another matter! I think my primary fear was that I would breach some unknown 'blog etiquette' and accidently cause offence.
I did take the plunge in the end and left a brief comment on another blog. This was partly motivated by the thought that if I failed to complete Thing 2 then the prospects for completing the other 21 didn't look too good. Also by reminding myself that the whole point of joining cpd23 is to give me the opportunity and motivation to try out new things, so it would make sense to actually try them!
So, Thing 2 complete, along with a little step outside my comfort zone.
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