Week 14: Evalution

I decided to keep the the Week 13 element of evaluation for this week, since my thoughts on the evaluation of this course, Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and my own use of social software all connected together rather conveniently.

As I mentioned last week, I came into the course thinking that I was Web 2.0 savvy and am leaving realizing just how much I'd missed out on.  Certainly, I've done the blogging, social bookmarking/tagging, social networking and media sharing things prior, but had honestly never thought about all of the little ways in which I could use them to their full extents.  Having taken this course has really breathed new life into my own interest in using these tools more fully.

I've also gotten quite interested in eventually broadening my horizons.  Although I have yet to edit a Wikipedia article or convert my news input to RSS feeds, I certainly think I will do so when I have more free time on my hands.  Since I'm interested in library outreach, I'm also very interested in creating a professional blog.  I'm not sure I'll do that now, but when I have more leisure time (read: am finished at FIMS), setting up my own library-related blog would be a place I'd like to go to.  The concept of folksonomies is something I plan to follow in the future as well, reaching out to people on "their level" is a particular interest of mine, and I think folksonomies are one of the most useful Web 2.0 tools for connecting to your users.

I've not had much interest in gaming, and I don't think that will change.  Although I find the technology interesting and useful, it's not something I'm interested in today.  Having been a hardcore gamer for many years, then falling out the hobby, and trying many times (unsuccessfully!) to rejoin the gaming community, I can definitely say that that passion is gone.  I am also quite ashamed about the lack of posting I've done on del.icio.us this semester.  I guess it's a combination of not reading too many Web 2.0 specific materials and simply forgetting to be opportunistic and posting them when I do see such materials.  I'm not so sure I'd ever be able to remember to post things to del.icio.us, mostly due to my own poor memory, so it would definitely be a tool that would require conscious effort for me to continue using.  Luckilly, conscious effort doesn't bother me, so I'll keep giving it my best!

Although I may have often given the impression that I am a skeptic of Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 throughtout this semester, this is mosly due to my nature as a Devil's Advocate, so to speak, and also practicing the voice of the aspiring manager/administrator.  Most, if not all, of the tools we have studied this semester have a great deal of merit in a library setting, but it is, as I have mentioned, always wise to know your audience and to assure that what you do is reflective of what they want.  Simpler and less expensive tools can be experimented with more freely of course, but it is always best to understand the user and reflect her or his needs.  My personal favourites include folksonomies, media sharing and blogs, simply because, to me, the connect on the deepest level with both casual and frequent users and also allow the library to provide some level of outreach to the community that they serve.

Finally, I'd like to talk briefly about the course.  This course has been humbling in many ways and educational in even more ways.  I have learned that I really didn't know Web 2.0 as well as I thought I did, and I learned quite a bit about the tools we've used.  This course has also instilled in me that I do place great value on client service and outreach, and has helped in my planning my career direction a lot (current plan: to get involved in instructional/information literacy training at either a public or an academic library and eventually get a management position in the same area where I can further work toward offering community outreach in information literacy).  Although the work load in the course was pretty steady, the course was enjoyable and didn't cause me too much stress while working full-time. :D

One of the greatest benefits of a distance course taught in this manner (online, via blogs) is that the course can maintain the collaborative and  debate-filled nature of academia while we are all geographically dispersed.  I'd like to thank everyone for their comments and countpoints to my opinions this semester.  As I mentioned previously, I love playing the role of the Devil's Advocate, and I really appreciate it when people take on my ideas and challenge them.  Since I feel more confident when writing than speaking, I felt more able to express myself properly in this medium than in a classroom debate, so this has been a lot of fun.  Similarly, I loved the blogging aspect of this course.  I've always loved writing blogs and offering my opinions on subjects, and the blog offered me a great opportunity to deliver my thoughts and opinions.

In closing, thanks to everyone for making this an enjoyable and informative class and I hope you've enjoyed reading my (often longwinded) blogs as much as I've enjoyed writing them and as much as I've enjoyed reading yours this summer.  Enjoy the last weeks of summer and try not to work or think too when the term's done! :)