Thing 14: What's new with search engines

What I found on my dashboard are:--

1) My account info

2) Me on the Web

3) Alerts 2

4) Blogger

5) Buzz

6) Contacts

7) 1 Document own by me

8) iGoogle

9) Reader

10) Talk

11) Voice

12) Webhistory

13) Youtube

I can see that all that I have done is hereby represented with a comprehensive details from alerts to blogger profile. This is wonderful.

Thing 13: Document sharing

How might you use Google Docs as an alternative to the standard document creation tools in Microsoft Office?:- Google Doc as far as I am concern is the best way to share documents because of it is a wave based application that allows you not only to create documents, but you can share, allow multiple editor's and even discuss about it. This feature will enable share program notification in earnest to my contacts for thier imput or suggestions.

What drawbacks did you notice in Google Docs, if any?:- In my opinion, there are almost no draw backs except for I notice it does not automatically change capital letters like "I" but for a frequent user of Office suit, this is just perfect.

Describe your experience of collaborating on a single document with multiple users

Well, I most say that such mediums leave very small room for mistake for if you dont see it, somebody will.

Thing 12 Podcast

Selected Podcast:-

1) Leaving Kids in Hot Cars; foul or forgiveable
2) Clinton on the Importance of Democracy for Human Rights

http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=137790387&m=137790380



http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/audio/2011/06/20110606145030enilorac0.1301647.html#axzz1S7cTqLMH



Though I have heard of Podcast, I have never had the oppurtunity to try or use it. But with 14 things, I have learn a lot on way to harness this technology to reach my audience. As I made mention about flicker, the same will be applied since they are all in the same medium only that flicker is visual while podcast is audio.

This will be most useful during programs like World Aids Day, Black History Month, MLK Day and most importantly the advocacy for volunteerism and reading habit for my community. In my years of experience at the corner, I have come to understand that due to some unforsein circumtances, some of my contacts find it difficult to attend the program and this is not because they dont want to, but the time constrain. And so by recording all the activities be it video or audio, the medium will be shared for those who are interested in watching or listening in the case of podcasting.

Photo and Vidoe Sharing

What Makes a "viral video" go viral? A viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email. Viral videos often contain humorous content.

How do you discover new videos on you tube? New videos on you tube are usually made known to the visitor by automatically using your search terms or related video, and as an evolving dynamics, streams of videos begin to pop up.

Youtube engaging audience: As more and more people are getting used to social media, you tube has become a household name amongst the youth and so posting a video of my program or activity and linking it to my FB, Twitter or my list serve will inform them about recent activity at the corner. This is possible because many youth now own GSM that are fully multi-media.

Flicker

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65215108@N04/?saved=1

Thing 6: Books 2.0

·         Is Google making us Stupid?: Well to me its easier said than done but the truth is google innovations over the years has made a lot of us not wanting to read or should I say make us pay less attention to details thinking that we can always google ourselves back to the same information at any time and thus diminishing our urge to read. While in another perspective, it has enable us learn how to read, write and communicate effectively with its awesome features. In a nutshell, the article is trying to make us imbibe the spirit of reading.

·         Litlovers: is a community site for the well read where one can learn how to read, know about the most popular book club or how to create one, book discussion, reviews, reading guides and much more.
·         Netlibrary: an eContent site with an array of free books online, the site supports the most content from leading publishers  to provide a flexible and stable eContent platform that is positioned for continual rapid content growth

·         Open Culture: is an educational/cultural media on the web, though I have used EBSCO HOST before, I found that the site offers online course as well as language lessons with an audio books available for the visually impaired.

·         World Cat: is a social media on FB page that allows users to search for books all around the world using library name or location to read or borrow books. With an education category, it has 1,251 monthly active users.

Thing 5 Online Book Catalogs

bit.ly/acbauchi

Thing 2 Searching for blogs

http://charmingff.wordpress.com/

http://naijaruns.blogspot.com/


http://www.nigerianbestforum.com/generaltopics

Books 2.0

Visual Bookshelve: to me is it works like the librarything only that on this plat form, it allows people to review and share their favorite novel, while the weread site enable you to read books while making your choice of books, it more like a book club where people share ideas on books or latest finding. Another interesting feature is the worldcat which from my understanding, it is a catalogue of the world libraries in which you can search for materials by library, name or location, it is more like a feature that allows you to borrow or view books from source around the world.

Usefulness of these features can not be quantified, and the most exciting thing is it's availablility on FB. I will harness this features to anhance the quality of my work.

Microblogging (Twitter)

What I found on the twitter search is quite amazing due to the simple fact that I saw how people are responding and twiiting as to what is happening in our country from security, corruption, flooding as well Nigeria's delicacy's. Twitter is the ideal way to express one's view or perspective realting to his or her community in very short form of expression. Twitter is also suitable for keeping tracks of of friends and well wishers with an upto date happening seemingly.

http://www.twitter.com/nasumar

things 4:Social Bookmarking and Tagging

http://www.delicious.com/nasumar

Google Reader

Question 1&2: I have added to my reader the following:-

* Library Stuff (to enable me learn more of library work)
* Africa (to learn, explore and get more news relating to my continent)
* Sports ( for uptodate news on Sports around the world)
* Copyright (to understand the does and donts of copyright materials)
* eBooks ( to learn more of how to access ebook for the benefit of myself as well as my contacts)

Question 3: RSS feed as per as my understanding will feed me only update related to my interest and thus saving me time to surf and sieve through the whole site for such information.

bit.ly/acbauchi

Independence Day July 4th

Dear all,

Americans over the world are celebrating the July 4th, a day history was made by America's claim of independence from Britain. The day marks a new dawn for Democracy, a legacy that the whole world is emulating while trying to practice.

The United States is truly a diverse nation made up of dynamic people. Each year on July 4, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings. Through the Internet we are learning about and communicating with people of different nations, with different languages and different races throughout the world. Bringing the world closer with understanding and knowledge can only benefit all nations. 

Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the "land of the free and the home of the brave" so they can begin their American Dream. I am oppurtuned to be there once and this is a journey that will forever be remembered by me, unfortunately, the time for me to realise my American dream is yet to come but I hope it will come soon.

I therefore on behalf of my collegues here in Nigeria use this meduim to wish all Americans around the world a Happy Independence celebration.



Drafting the Declaration of  independence, 1776

 Once again, Happy Independence America.

 

Sucessful programs at the American Corner Bauchi-Nigeria

Though all American Corners are known to execute programs that have direct impact on its community as well as provide information/test materials, the American Corner Bauchi has over the years did a number of programs that have all been suceesful, noteable amongst them are here by highlighted in colors:-

• Celebration of World Aids Day i.e. 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. these programs were celebrated so as to provide IEC materials as well as to sensitize and enlighten the community of the dangers and ways HIV/AIDS infection.
• We also celebrate with a program "International Women's Day" as the come by thus given women and enabling environment to as a matter of reflection for measuring successes made in girl child education and all other matters.
• Martin Lurther King Jr. day is also celebrated as a time of reflection of the struggle for equality and human right as as Black History Month and Traficking in persons
• Other programs we do are; Basic Internet Training for Journalist, Internet Training & Desktop Publishing capacity building training for Women, group discussions, video screening/ video shows amongst other things. We also have a children section where children come to read using the corner schorlastic/children's book collection and of course they have access to our Early Leaning Station (ELS) a specifically designed computer that aids children in learning
• The corner also has two standalone system that gives our users access to the Internet using the corners Wi-fi, and there is also the eGranary server which enables users search for materials even when there is no internet access. We do also lend books to enable our contacts read in the confort of their homes, school or working places.

As a matter of fact, the American Corner Bauchi is neutral and therefore cannot single out any program as its most sucessful but rather, we strive to provide the host community with all the programs that comes periodically. The corner works with journalist, academics, business men/women, civic organizations, teachers, students, government officials, military, clergy and traditional rulers for which I most confess has been a wonderful experience working with.

Regards

Traficking in Person

The American Corner will on the 28th May, 2011 have an interactive session on Human Traficking.

The 2010 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report marks the 10th anniversary of key milestones in the fight against modern slavery. In 2000, the United States enacted the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), and the United Nations adopted the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, also known as the Palermo Protocol. Since then, the world has made great strides in combating this ultimate exploitation – both in terms of what we know about this crime and how we respond.

The program therefore will seek to address issues bedeviling Human Traficking as well as enlightement to those who did not know.

Everyone in the community is cordially invited.

See you there.

Regards

Nasir Umaru Launi

Coord. ACB

New Blog for American Corner Bauchi

Dear All,

I have the pleasure to inform you that a new blog for the American Corner Bauchi is here by created today the 10th of May 2011. All comments and ideas to make us improve are welcomed.

The American Corner Bauchi is where you will find information about American Cociety, culture, policies, history and bussiness. You will also find information about studies on the U.S., Visa information, videos, facts and statistics, and the Internet

Reagrds
Coordinator ACB