Friday, February 27, 2009

Thing 7: random-like post re: technology

Am I the only one out there who doesn't actually want to know how computer technology works? Surely not, right? I'm taking a 'computers in libraries' class right now, and while I'm subjected to technical explanations of how a hard drive operates (I had no idea), I largely ignore it and move onward. (I like to think of appliances and other electrical devices as magical. I can see it now: "Mom, how does the TV work?" Me: Shoot, I dunno, magic! Ask your father!")

Should all of us have to understand the mechanics of it all to be proficient at various technie applications and enjoy its use? I'll place myself at the middle of a spectrum, here: my mom (Hi mom! Love you lots!) at one end, who has a healthy fear of computers but now uses email...and my friend Kathy, who does web design and programming for a living. Thank heavens that programmers understand that there are people like myself that don't actually want to see the inner workings of an application, and make it friendly-appearing for us. Am I grateful for technology? Absolutely. Do I enjoy working with some of it? You bet. Will my eyes glaze over when you start to explain to me how relational databases operate? Yessssss. It is my hope with this 23 Things experience that I'll gain just enough knowledge to be dangerous about these magnificient applications. And hope that there won't be a quiz at the end of this. :)

Monday, February 23, 2009

fun with Picasa (thing 6)

Playing around with photo sharing sites really only serves to remind me just how far behind I am on uploading my own personal pictures. Sigh. I've mainly used Kodak Photo Gallery, because you can have your local drugstore or what have you print them and have them ready for pick up. Now, I let Kodak do the work and they even write stuff on the back for you. Score! So, as part of Thing 6, I thought I'd take a peek around Picasa for pictures that might interest me. Because it's Lundi Gras today, and in honor of my college hometown, I thought I'd find some New Orleans pictures.

My alma mater, Loyola University New Orleans. Notice the Touchdown Jesus. Let's see if we can find a close up view of him, shall we?


There we are.

And finally, a shot of the building that I spent 75% of my time in, the College of Music.


Thank you to the lovely photographers for those images: Picasa users Poulin, John, and repsierhea.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Lifelong learning: some thoughts

I think the desire to learn, and learn throughout your life, is ingrained within us all. (With the exception of an adult student I met once, who proudly announced to me that "She wasn't a learner anymore!". That could mean many things.) Learning is something that happens every day, and most of the time, we're not aware of it. It's when we make the conscious choice to learn something new (and often big and scary) that it starts to intimidate us - the planning! the effort! the time! Of the 7.5 successful habits of lifelong learners, I believe the easiest for me to wrap my brain around is #2 - Accept responsibility for your own learning. I've been an online student now for about a year and a half, and while the thought of self-pacing might be uncomfortable to some, I'm apparently okay at it. You get used to it. The hardest thing for me to do is definitely #3 - View problems as challenges. Problems tend to be big crises to me. I think that's a weakness in attitude that I can fix, though.

23 Thingin' It

Greetings and salutations! I realize I'm a bit late to the TCCL 23 Things Party, but I'm here! For those keeping score at home, Things 1-3 accomplished.