Here is just a quick review of the program you are about to begin:
Each Monday morning for the next 10 weeks, a new Thing will be published on this blog. To finish the program (and be eligible for the Grand Prize Drawing), staff members must complete each of the 10 Things by the end of April - a little over 15 weeks. Things will remain available on this program blog beyond the time that the program officially ends in April.
Let's recap WIIFM (What's in it for me)?? There will be incentives and recognition along the way and a drawing for several prizes at the end of the program.
Aside from a chance for material gain, this program will:
- expose you to emerging technologies that you are hearing about and which many of our patrons are already using
- encourage learning through play (with the focus on ”participation”, not necessarily on doing something ”right”)
- empower and encourage you to take responsibility for your own lifelong learning
- expand your knowledge and confidence
- eliminate fear of the unknown
- discover how these technologies and tools can promote the Library’s mission
Before you get started, please take a minute to let us know how much you already know about Web 2.0. This will help us see how well the program works. Tell us what you know about 2.0! When you are finished with the survey, use your browser's Back button to return to this page.
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Welcome back! Now you are ready to get started. As mentioned in the Tips & Tricks post, it would be a good idea to print this page (and each of the upcoming posts) as a reference before you start.
This week we will just do a few preliminary steps to get started with the program:
Step 1 – Set up a new email account.
Set up a free webmail account. Each participant in Playtime 2.0 will need to use a free email account from a commercial service provider such as Yahoo Mail, MSN Hotmail or Google Gmail. You will use this account to register for the various web services required in this program. We recommend that you set up a new account specifically for this program, although you can use an existing account if you prefer. You will be creating several accounts on different websites during the program and will NOT want to use your library email account for the program.
Why is this important? Your free email account allows you to complete your explorations without introducing spam or viruses to the library network or to your personal email account.
HINT: When you create accounts with web services, be sure to write down the URL (web address), your login and password and the email you used to set up your account so that you can return and use the service at a later date, retrieve login information, and eventually, delete the account. You may want to keep a written list of passwords for the services you will use during the program.
Step 2 – Understand why you need a blog.
Next week, in Thing #1, you will be required to create a blog, but read this now to understand why you need a blog. Your blog will be the way you record your successful completion of the Things. There are several free blog sites out there, but we recommend using Blogger. (Playtime 2.0 is a Blogger blog). How you identify yourself on your blog is your choice. You can blog under your real name, or create a screen name. However, in order to receive recognition for completing the program you will need to register your blog name/URL and your real name with the Library 2.0 Team. You will submit this information in Thing #1.
IMPORTANT HINT: When you set up your blog account, write down your login and password and keep the information in a safe place. Also write down your blog address. Your blog address is the URL you will use to access your blog. For example, if you created your blog in Blogger then your blog address is http://whaticalledmyself.blogspot.com/.
Step 3 – Think PLAY!
Have you ever wondered why teenagers are so good at all this technology stuff? It’s because they spend so much time playing with it. Think about all the things you learned as a child through play; for the young - playing is learning. Unfortunately, as working adults we don’t have quite as much time to explore or experiment - or play - with things. That’s why this program encourages you to set aside a little time each day, or each week, to play with Web 2.0 tools.
Do you have any questions, so far? If so, contact us or leave a comment to this post.
Well, that's it for "Getting Started." Come back next Monday morning to learn more about Blogs in Thing #1.
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