Grab yer harmonicas and let out a low bluesy growl. This one goes out to my crossroads buddy, Joel. (This is really better (well, that's a relative term) sung in blues style).
I woke up this mornin' (da DA da da)
at 5 am (da DA da da)
'cause I had ref sources(da DA da da)
runnin' through my brain
I got the end of semester blues
I don't get no snooze
'cause I got the end of semester blue ue ue ue ues
I went to bed (da DA da da)
way past midnight (da DA da da)
'cause databases (da DA da da)
were givin' me a fright
I got the end of semester blues
Right on down to my shoes
'cause I got the end of semester blue ue ue ue ues
My family wonders (da DA da da)
Where I been (da DA da da)
I say with my group (da DA da da)
Now, which one was that again?
I got the end of semester blues
It's got me so confused
'cause I got the end of semester blue ue ue ue ues
The end of the semester blues...
but not for much longer now (dadadadaadada).
Thank you very much.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
To blog or not to blog...
I suppose that is the question. It was interesting to notice two sides of the same coin coming through the SLIS listserv in a week's time. The first article was entitled "Bloggers Need Not Apply (http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2005/07/2005070801c.htm) and the title really rankled me. As it turns out, so did the article. Although I am firmly in the camp of being cautious with what you put out in the universe, I found the article, overall, had more than a hint of hysteria and, well, fuddidudiness. It seemed to be an old-fashioned way of thinking, in that it focused not so much on inappropriate behavior of any kind, but on scary technology that keeps things around for much longer than their natural lives warrant. Really, I felt like the article should compare the stupid things people put out there about their lives (rockin' party dude. I was like so totally wasted) to someone walking into an interview dressed in a provocative and inappropriate manner.
On the other hand, a week later, this article appeared on the listserv: http://webpages.mcgill.ca/students/ssever1/web/lavender.html This article was written by an MLIS student who decided to take up the "pen" and begin his own biblioblog after attending a conference session called "Blogging for Professional Development," presented by John Dupuis. This article's tone was much more optimistic and not full of "technology's gonna getcha" gloom and doom. I felt the author (Graham Lavender) presented a good argument for why MLIS students should blog. As a matter of fact, it was reading that article that made me jump in here.
So, I know MLIS students aren't an opinionated lot (sarcasm is _so_ hard to convey in this setting), but if you have something to say about blogging, I'd love to hear about it. Just watch your language. You never know when a prospective employer may find it.
On the other hand, a week later, this article appeared on the listserv: http://webpages.mcgill.ca/students/ssever1/web/lavender.html This article was written by an MLIS student who decided to take up the "pen" and begin his own biblioblog after attending a conference session called "Blogging for Professional Development," presented by John Dupuis. This article's tone was much more optimistic and not full of "technology's gonna getcha" gloom and doom. I felt the author (Graham Lavender) presented a good argument for why MLIS students should blog. As a matter of fact, it was reading that article that made me jump in here.
So, I know MLIS students aren't an opinionated lot (sarcasm is _so_ hard to convey in this setting), but if you have something to say about blogging, I'd love to hear about it. Just watch your language. You never know when a prospective employer may find it.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Another introduction
Hello! I wanted to drop in and introduce myself, as I'll be blogging along with "MLSing DE Style." We're in the Fantastic Fourth DE cohort together and even though we live across the country from each other, I know her voice in an instant (and she probably recognizes mine). People have asked how it's possible to feel connected to a group of 40 strangers who live all over the country (and, in some cases, the world) and my response is simple. It's not always easy, but it works because we all work at it.
Our trip together began last summer with 4 intense days of orientation. It's amazing what a lot of togetherness can do for group cohesion. We are a diverse group, not just geographically, but politically, racially, life-styley (like the made-up word?) and that makes not only the world an interesting place, but the cohort, too. Not being together, physically, can make communication difficult -- the missing physical cues, the ease of talking, looking into each eyes -- all missing. And yet, we do it. It may take more work, but we do it and I'd say we're successful at it.
MLSing talked a bit about why she decided to try out the DE lifestyle. Like I said, we're a diverse group and we all have different stories. Mine involves young children and a propensity to move quite frequently, with no real part to play in that decision-making process. To feel assured I'd live in one place long enough to start and complete a degree just wasn't in the cards for me. Along with that, I earned my undergraduate degree at a huge public university where I was a number among many others and I wanted a different experience for my graduate work.
So to have this experience, where I feel so connected to a group of classmates and I know I can complete my coursework no matter where I'm living is a true gift. As crazy as I feel in the middle of it all when it feels like things are falling all around me, I cherish every moment of it, because I know this is a special time, populated by special people and it won't last for ever.
Our trip together began last summer with 4 intense days of orientation. It's amazing what a lot of togetherness can do for group cohesion. We are a diverse group, not just geographically, but politically, racially, life-styley (like the made-up word?) and that makes not only the world an interesting place, but the cohort, too. Not being together, physically, can make communication difficult -- the missing physical cues, the ease of talking, looking into each eyes -- all missing. And yet, we do it. It may take more work, but we do it and I'd say we're successful at it.
MLSing talked a bit about why she decided to try out the DE lifestyle. Like I said, we're a diverse group and we all have different stories. Mine involves young children and a propensity to move quite frequently, with no real part to play in that decision-making process. To feel assured I'd live in one place long enough to start and complete a degree just wasn't in the cards for me. Along with that, I earned my undergraduate degree at a huge public university where I was a number among many others and I wanted a different experience for my graduate work.
So to have this experience, where I feel so connected to a group of classmates and I know I can complete my coursework no matter where I'm living is a true gift. As crazy as I feel in the middle of it all when it feels like things are falling all around me, I cherish every moment of it, because I know this is a special time, populated by special people and it won't last for ever.
Thanks!
As the DE representative to the ALA chapter at UA I want to thank Dr. Elizabeth Aversa, Denise Wetzel, and Dr. Jeff Weddle for taking into consideration several proposals suggested by my DE cohort (the Fantastic Fourth) for ways to improve communication and cooperation between the on-campus MLIS students and those in the DE section. One of those was to create a mentoring program where on- and off-campus MLIS students who are further along in the program can team up with newer students and help shepherd them through the program. Another is to find a way where DE students can participate in ALA meetings.
We appreciate very much SLIS's efforts to make the DE experience more complete. They will make the DE program that much stronger and that much more appealing to prospective students.
We appreciate very much SLIS's efforts to make the DE experience more complete. They will make the DE program that much stronger and that much more appealing to prospective students.
Whew! It's Done
Today is W-Day. It's the day when our hand coded web sites must be turned in. I turned mine in this past weekend, however. (Okay, I'm somewhat of an over-achiever as I like to get things in early. What can I say, it's one of my quirks. I start to panic if I think I'm going to be late.)
All in all it was a great experience and a very useful skill to have in today's world. That's one of the things I appreciate most about UA's DE MLIS program: the ability to become familiar with today's technology.
My fellow classmates are the other thing I really appreciate about the program. Invariably, if you have a problem, there is someone there to help you, to lend a hand, to make an important suggestion. We are all supportive of each other. And that's another vital talent needed for today and the future, the ability to work as a member of a team -- something we are getting quite a bit of training in this semester, in both the Information Technology and Reference Services class.
Now, to be sure, working in a group can be a frustrating experience. If only everyone would simply listen to me, it would all go much smoother. Being able to tamp down my sometimes overbearing self is something that doesn't come easily to me but something I hope to be able to better achieve by the time May rolls around.
All in all it was a great experience and a very useful skill to have in today's world. That's one of the things I appreciate most about UA's DE MLIS program: the ability to become familiar with today's technology.
My fellow classmates are the other thing I really appreciate about the program. Invariably, if you have a problem, there is someone there to help you, to lend a hand, to make an important suggestion. We are all supportive of each other. And that's another vital talent needed for today and the future, the ability to work as a member of a team -- something we are getting quite a bit of training in this semester, in both the Information Technology and Reference Services class.
Now, to be sure, working in a group can be a frustrating experience. If only everyone would simply listen to me, it would all go much smoother. Being able to tamp down my sometimes overbearing self is something that doesn't come easily to me but something I hope to be able to better achieve by the time May rolls around.
Monday, February 9, 2009
An Interesting Difference
I can't speak for the rest of my DE cohort but I am not finding it as easy to navigate through the eLearning environment this semester as I did last semester. Our professors last semester had everything neatly organized by class meeting. You simply clicked on the date and everything was there -- powerpoint slides, list of readings, assignments and what they were. I'm having to do a little more work this semester to keep track of what needs to be read, downloaded, or done. This means I have to invest a bit more time in order to feel that I've got the "what," "when," and "why" down, but the way I look at it, I'm learning new things.
Our web site assignments are due next week. Boy, has that ever been a learning experience! Designing and hand coding a web site, I've discovered, is much like being a parent: the most awfully wonderful thing in the world! It is so frustrating trying to figure out why something doesn't work the way you want. But then when you do -- and you post it -- and look at it -- and it all . . . well, looks good -- SHAZZAM! You feel like a million bucks. I don't know if the rest of my classmates feel that way or not. I suspect some of them will be glad when the dreaded task is done but I'm learning so much and I find it very fulfilling.
More later . . .
Our web site assignments are due next week. Boy, has that ever been a learning experience! Designing and hand coding a web site, I've discovered, is much like being a parent: the most awfully wonderful thing in the world! It is so frustrating trying to figure out why something doesn't work the way you want. But then when you do -- and you post it -- and look at it -- and it all . . . well, looks good -- SHAZZAM! You feel like a million bucks. I don't know if the rest of my classmates feel that way or not. I suspect some of them will be glad when the dreaded task is done but I'm learning so much and I find it very fulfilling.
More later . . .
Monday, February 2, 2009
An Introduction
Hi there.
As the distance education representative to UA's American Library Association student chapter, I've been asked to contribute to this blog. A simple enough request, I suppose. The only problem is, I'm what is known as a "digital immigrant" (DI). What is that, you may ask? A digital immigrant is someone who did not spend their formative years surrounded by the technology of today, who did not grow up surfing the World Wide Web. The degree to which one is a digital immigrant correlates pretty well to one's age. For argument's sake, let's put the rise of the Internet and the World Wide Web at 1995. Then, let's say that a distance of one mile equals one year's distance from 1995. So, if you were born anytime after about 1988, you are a digital native. In DI years, I'm about forty.
So, what, you may again be asking yourself, does that have to do with my beginning this blog (ha! I just typed that as "blob"!)? Well, my being a digital immigrant means that this kind of technology doesn't come easily to me. I'm neither very familiar with social networking tools nor do I have the slightest idea what anyone likely to intentionally or serendipitously come across this blog would like to read. But I'll give it the good ole college try (pardon the pun) and you can let me know if I break an unwritten blogging rule or not.
So this is a blog about library school for library school students. It makes the most sense, then, to confine myself to writing about library school from the perspective of a library school student (see how nicely that ties together?). I'm currently in the second semester at UA, where I'm getting my degree online. Before last semester I had never taken an online class. Now here I am getting the entire degree that way. What a wacky, crazy, kind of world it is, huh? And how grateful I am for it.
You see, I work full time. So there is no way I could have taken the time off to attend a two-year program the traditional way. The DE alternative is a God-send. Now I can get the degree (hopefully) while sitting in my jammies in the comfort of my own home and munching on cheesecake. What could be better than that?
It's been an interesting experience, not exactly what I expected. The professors have been very understanding about technological problems, and patient in answering the myriad questions that students like myself have. I'd recommend the program to others. In fact, I have.
Well, I don't want to overwhelm you with my first post. So I think I'll close for now. (Plus, if you're like me, you can't stand reading more than a few paragraphs online anyway.) Keep checking back. I'm sure sooner or later I'll have something interesting to say.
As the distance education representative to UA's American Library Association student chapter, I've been asked to contribute to this blog. A simple enough request, I suppose. The only problem is, I'm what is known as a "digital immigrant" (DI). What is that, you may ask? A digital immigrant is someone who did not spend their formative years surrounded by the technology of today, who did not grow up surfing the World Wide Web. The degree to which one is a digital immigrant correlates pretty well to one's age. For argument's sake, let's put the rise of the Internet and the World Wide Web at 1995. Then, let's say that a distance of one mile equals one year's distance from 1995. So, if you were born anytime after about 1988, you are a digital native. In DI years, I'm about forty.
So, what, you may again be asking yourself, does that have to do with my beginning this blog (ha! I just typed that as "blob"!)? Well, my being a digital immigrant means that this kind of technology doesn't come easily to me. I'm neither very familiar with social networking tools nor do I have the slightest idea what anyone likely to intentionally or serendipitously come across this blog would like to read. But I'll give it the good ole college try (pardon the pun) and you can let me know if I break an unwritten blogging rule or not.
So this is a blog about library school for library school students. It makes the most sense, then, to confine myself to writing about library school from the perspective of a library school student (see how nicely that ties together?). I'm currently in the second semester at UA, where I'm getting my degree online. Before last semester I had never taken an online class. Now here I am getting the entire degree that way. What a wacky, crazy, kind of world it is, huh? And how grateful I am for it.
You see, I work full time. So there is no way I could have taken the time off to attend a two-year program the traditional way. The DE alternative is a God-send. Now I can get the degree (hopefully) while sitting in my jammies in the comfort of my own home and munching on cheesecake. What could be better than that?
It's been an interesting experience, not exactly what I expected. The professors have been very understanding about technological problems, and patient in answering the myriad questions that students like myself have. I'd recommend the program to others. In fact, I have.
Well, I don't want to overwhelm you with my first post. So I think I'll close for now. (Plus, if you're like me, you can't stand reading more than a few paragraphs online anyway.) Keep checking back. I'm sure sooner or later I'll have something interesting to say.
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