Ready for SIL’s 20 for 2.0? Bravo!
To make the most of your 20 for 2.0 experience, you’ll want to keep a few thoughts in mind:
- There are no stupid questions. Really.
- Your colleagues are your best line of defense. If you get stuck on any of the 20 Things, there are people all around you who can help.
- Do not file a Technology Report if you encounter problems, or need help. For more information about where to go for help, please read the FAQs.
- You don’t have to like all of the tools presented here. Maybe you’ll come across a few that you would never want to use in your personal life. That’s okay, you won’t hurt our feelings! But try to think about how our patrons might use them, or how they might be used to provide improved library services, or even how they might help you do your work.
- Play. Experiment. Have fun.
Now, to get started, you’ll need to:
Set up a Gmail account.
You will need an email address to sign into many of the tools we’ll be using throughout the 20 for 2.0. Please do not use your work email address. Instead, sign up for a free account with Gmail, Google’s free email account. The benefit of using Gmail is that it will allow easy access to Google Talk, Blogger, Google Reader, and Google Docs– all Google-created services we’ll be using.
- Go to http://www.gmail.com/.
- On the right-hand side, click on the “Sign up for Gmail” link. Fill out the required information and accept Google’s Terms of Service.
- Google will ask you for a secondary email address, go ahead and use your Sno-Isle email address here. The secondary email address makes your account more secure. Google will use this email to send you your password if you forget it.
If Google gives you an error message.
Check the proxy settings on your computer to make sure you unfiltered access to the web. The Proxy Settings For Employees link on the Intranet will help you with configuring the settings.
- Once your Gmail account is set up, make note of your email address and password using the Account Reference Sheet under the Account Management tab.
- Notify the SIL 20 for 2.0 Team that you’re ready to go!
Email the 20 for 2.0 Team: sil20for20@gmail.com. - Locate a pair of headphones.
Many of the Things have audio and video. If you’re working in close quarters, you’ll want to have headphones. You may bring in your own or acquire them from the 20 for 2.0 Team.
Next up: Create a blog and share your thoughts.
Filed under: Getting Started, Gmail | Tagged: Getting Started, Gmail, google, Learning 2.0
Setup the Gmail account. Ready to go with that.
Problem: the earbuds have too short a cord. CPU sits on the floor of the office, you have to be an elf to sit close enough to use the buds. Will have to find another solution for that.
The video containted interesting content, however the music nearly put me to sleep. Perhaps it could be reset to a salsa beat
Isn’t that like a mash-up or something?
If you’re having problems getting a gmail acct, please notify Jim, Christa, or Terry. We can issue you an invite.
I found the video interesting but I had the same reaction to the music as Jill C. Every time it started ov er, I sighed…
Watching it, I did wonder what reaction the video’s creators were hoping to provoke. I think it was at the moment where they presented the fact that the number of commercial text messages sent and received today exceeds the population of the planet. Was I to be impressed or put off? Is that part of the conversation that we’re supposed to have?
It seemed to me like the video mainly focused on the aspect of access. While access to technology is important, it’s really only one piece of the puzzle. How is the technology being applied? What is the quality of the actual content being accessed? I feel like possibly the most important issue, actual information literacy and if/how these technologies can be used to promote it, was not addressed at all.
As we learn about the 20 things and their applications, is this something that we’ll discuss?
I found the video depressing.
All that wonderful technology, but is it actually helping our students?
I am reminded of all the students I see in the library with the assignment to put together a Powerpoint presentation on some topic.
Sure, they know how to use Powerpoint. But they create a document by cutting and pasting information from other websites.
Ask them to read an encyclopedia entry and summarize it and they are completely lost.
Is it possible all this technology is actually handicapping our children?
I have taken care of my google account. I ‘m feeling a little slow in my brain-matter.
I am delighted that we are going to be doing this.
Your timing is amazing. I just had coffee with a friend who participated in a program like this through King County Library system, it was excellent exposure for their staff and I thought to myself we should do something like it and the next day SIL20for20 showed up in my mailbox.
I tried issuing invites from my personal gmail account to myself and Kathy, and that didn’t work either. I keep getting denied! *sob*
If you already have a gmail account you don’t need to create another one. It may help to clean out cookies on your pc and try activating your invite again.
A couple of us are having problems seeing the video on Youtube. It must be computer settings. Any advice? We checked proxy settings, signed up for a Youtube account, checked Java settings and Flashplayer. What are we missings as it plays on some pcs but not others.
I’m with ya, Nate. I want to know how the rapid increase in technology will better our human condition – students, included.
Sometimes I think we are just in another era of tool development – the silicon age – but essentially still neanderthals with bigger, faster, quieter weapons.
The video says we are in exponential times – but what else is increasing? Compassion? Wisdom? Curiosity? Access to health care? Clean water? Biodiversity? Are the rates of violent crime decreasing at the same rate that we are getting *connected*?
The technology is a tool – an extension of our will. My question is: What are we aiming at?
i’m with nate & sarah on this one…i have reservations about the increading technocentricity in our culture; so often it’s taken as a given that all this technology can only ultimately lead to a more literate, engaged, and informed public. if anything, after 10+ years of the internet culture, the opposite seems to be the case…the quantity of information flowing through the culture has undoubtedly increased exponentially. i’m not as sure about the quality.
Several people commented that they didn’t like the music in the introductory youtube video, so I’d like to recommend another – http://youtube.com/watch?v=NLlGopyXT_g
An applicant (you know who you are) showed us that one about Web 2.0 in an interview and we really liked it! The music is quite peppy!
I, too, agree with Nate, Sarah & Rob. The internet is a tool, but can never replace human to human contact. There is much information out there, but certainly not always correct, or even close. We lose our ability to communicate effectively, if we just rely on a keyboard. It is much more pleasant to see, or give, a smile of appreciation in person, rather than a “smily face” delivered via e-mail. And hopefully, a monitor will never replace snuggling with a child to read a goodnight story.
Caution: Rants Happen
I used to have email way back when. It seemed all I would get were forwarded chain emails. It bothered me that my friends and family used email that way. I wanted to hear about how things were going in their lives (well not really, but better than chain e-mails, well, not really…I digress). So I told them I don’t have email anymore. Then I got one I could use for online business–to get my online e-statements and such.
Instead I call mom once a week. We are making tamales this weekend. You cannot have any Nate.
I’ve seen the youtube movie before….my mom sent it to me a couple months ago. Granted, my mom is a geek.
I’m late in starting this. Guess my brain wasn’t firing fast enough….now it’s catch up time.
I’m also a little late in getting started–felt super guilty after receiving Brina’s reminder! ;^) So here I am.
As a mom of young children, I agree with the comments that human to human contact is still necessary and I certainly encourage my children to read books.
However, advances in technology and electronic access to information have saved us on more than one occasion when it comes to getting school projects completed. My son had a huge research project at the start of the school year. Thankfully, I was able to steer him to the database resources on SIL. We also did not have to worry about getting to the library building before closing time or figuring out what to do if the book he wanted was already checked out. And there were several nights when we were burning the midnight oil. He’s only in 6th grade so I can imagine what high school will be like.
My 9-year-old constantly amazes me with his ability to find information on the Internet and his familiarity with a keyboard. (Don’t worry, we keep an eye on the information he’s finding.) His favorite subject is looking for talking pets on YouTube. Some of them are pretty funny!
Great comment! Reminds me that my youngest son was having major problems with his high school math work–spending hours each night working on it–not really understanding it–getting down about the whole thing. He tried tutor.com through the Sno-Isle website and it really helped him. The tutors were great, his confidence was greatly improved, and his grades got better also. It’s just wonderful to have access to this kind of help at the flick of a switch.
[...] is a link to the Getting Started class. [...]