Storytelling Guild Accreditation Sept 2008

You would think that telling stories in front of a room full of storytellers would be easy wouldn't you? Sympathetic listeners, kindred spirits, all of that. But going for Accreditation with the Storytelling Guild was one of the hardest things I've ever done - storytelling-wise.
Sure, they're great listeners, and of course they are a fantastic responsive audience, but they are also very experienced in the art of storytelling, and know all the tricks in the book.
Anyway, I stood in the usual room at the Hughenden Hotel that we have our Teller's teas in, took a deep breath and plowed right in with asking the Riverside riddle question, and while they were thinking of that, the Guild president Vivienne very kindly agreed to be my volunteer as the lion in the story of the Dancing Lion. She did a great job, and telling a story that I've told for over twenty years allows you to relax into it, and play around with it as necessary.
The audience were then asked if anyone had solved the riddle. A few suggestions were made, but none really answered it, so then I told the story of The Riverside Riddle.
Eve Hoff and Stephen Martin also told for Accreditation.
We were then each called out individually to the dining area of the hotel to get feedback. How nerve-wracking - 3 professional storytellers doing a written critique of your telling. The feedback was great! One of the panel said she didn't have much written down because she was so engaged in the stories that she forgot to write! Music to a storytellers ears.
So, after telling stories for well over 25 years, I know am an Accredited Teller with the Australian Storytelling Guild (NSW)

PBwiki

I had a look at the PBwiki site, but our computer at home didn't wnat to play the sound, so I couldn't access the tutorials.
I managed to register, but the methods of editing were beyond me, so I'll move on to other things until I can look at it later.
Very frustrating, as I think this would have a lot of applications.

Wikis

I had heard of wikis before, but didn't completely understand the concept, so I was really interested in this module.
I think the most relevant point for me, having worked through the different sites, was the one made by Meredith Farkas on the site
http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=11264
to ensure that a wiki is really the most appropriate type of software for the purpose.
I have a lecturer who is interested in setting up an interactive journal club for her students, and we have been talking about the possibility of a wiki, which I now think would be really useful.
I think we could certainly look at the idea of a wiki for the Info Services Team, to keep each other up to date on assignments that we're helping with, databases issues etc.
Perhaps its time we looked at inquiring if the Uni has purchased a sitewide wiki licence, and how we go about that if it hasn't happened yet.
Using a wiki for our subject pages is also something I think would be possible.

Library 2.0

The OCLC pages were very interesting and obviously techno-savvy.
The intention to incorporate Web2.0 into library services is a sensible and inevitable progession for libraries if they are to remain relevant to the majority of their users.
I can't help but worry though about the clients that we see on a daily basis who struggle with the most elementary aspects of technology. I'm thinking of those students who even at this stage of the semester, when we have spent hours in training classes, tours and individual help, are still struggling with using Blackboard, studentmail, catalogue searching and literally tremble at the thought of database searching.
How do they even begin to cope with blogs, wikis, online training and the like?
Yes, we as a profession absolutely must get on top of the Library 2.0 technologies, and develop our own services to incorporate them. It is an exciting development in our careers, and we need to allow time for staff to pursue, create and understand.
But we also need to ensure that we also always have staff and services available to assist those students who are in real danger of being left totally behind.

Technorati

I think this is the site I have enjoyed least. I can see it might have a purpose, but I don't find it very user friendly at all.
I have claimed my own stoytelling blog
http://ttt-thetaleteller.blogspot.com
but wasn't able to add the html link to my blog for people to add it as a favourite on Technorati.
Still, only one disappointment out of all the sites looked at so far isn't shabby.

If only I could schpell

Yep, I know, I know.
It's del.icio.us with a "c", not an "s"

del.isio.us

I have been using del.isio.us for several months; ever since all of my favourites were inadvertantly wiped on our home computer (twice).
It's so easy to use and is really useful when you use several computers like we do. I use it for work, study and personal use.
It's much easier to keep track of one set of favourites than several, and trying to update in different places.
Being able to add your own set of tags is an advantage over just using the favourites folders also.
Quite often, things fit into more than one category.
I'm sure I'm only using the basics of the software, but like a lot of other things on this course, it's useful to know there are more applications of it that I can get around to when time allows.