Thing #8: Try Out Either Google Documents or Zoho

Description:

Google Documents and Zoho are online wordprocessors. Well, actually, they are suites of productivity software, including spreadsheets, presentation software and the like. I even showed you a demo earlier on that described why these products are important. Now, I just want you to try it out. Create a document. Write out a brief letter, or fill in some blanks in the spreadsheet. That's all.

Hints:

• Common theme -- you will have to sign up with the service, and that may require an email. The good news is if you've signed up with Blogger to get your blog, you can use your Google ID to use Google documents.
• Another Common theme -- Both Google Documents and Zoho use a WYSIWYG, just like your blog and just like the wikis before it. This may seem just like repetition of your blog!
• There are alot of features available, including the ability to share your document with others and publish it to the Web. How far you go is up to you, but I only expect you to play around with a few things on the page.

Resources:

• Google Docs Tour
• Type and travel: Web-based word processors
  

Web 2.0 Screencasting!

So I discovered a neat online tool called screencast-o-matic via Amanda Etches-Johnson who I met at a Computers In Libraries conference and again at a Canadian Libraries Association preconference last year. So, I created a small tutorial on how to install an RSS feed in Google Reader (using Firefox 2.0).

It is unedited and has maybe about 300 too many "uhs" in it, but it does go to show how easy it is to do cool things with these technologies. Oh -- and I should warn that a news article title spells out "B.S." during the tutorial. Don't view this if you do not want to see the "S" word.



And that is one of the neat things about the Web 2.0 movement. I get information from people that have information I need, neato tools to help me do my work better, and then I get to share with you!

Why I Love the World Wide Web

Here is a very common sense explanation of why Google docs is a useful product. It is quite amazing, actually. And (hint hint) might get you a headstart on a few of the "things."

Learning 2.0 Program Launched!

On Friday, September 21st a training session launched the introduction of the Learning 2.0 program. I facilitated the session using Google Presentations. Jessamyn West was the guest speaker, and she presented on "Tiny Technologies for Tiny Libraries."
















The goal of the training session was to introduce the library/web 2.0 concept, spread the word about the "23 Things" program, and pique curiosity about new technologies.

A big thank you to my helpers, Kelli Wooshue, Mohammed Amin, Emmanuel Chimbo, Andrew Curran and anyone else who laid out a hand when any little glitch happened.