Google Calendar - Thing 29

I set up a Google calendar last year during 23 Things. I use it everyday and have an iCalendar gadget on my iGoogle homepage. I had already included the US Holidays and Weather Calendars into my own calendar. Before looking at this "Thing," I thought I knew quite a bit about Google calendars.

In reading about Google calendar in this "Thing," I was disappointed to find that you need a g-mail account in order to use Twittercal. I thought that would be a useful tool. I have a Google account, but do not use g-mail, so I won't be able to add items to my Google calendar from Twitter.

I was successful in setting up a calendar for the Minnesota Mineral Club and adding it to the wiki I set up for the Club's field trips. Tonight, I'm going to talk to the Club's webmaster to see if he wants to include the Google calendar on the Club's website. I like that I will only have to update the Google calendar and it will automatically update on the wiki and website. I did struggle a little with getting the calendar into the pbwiki. Instead of inserting a Google gadget plug-in, I was only successful in adding the calendar by selecting the "Source" button and pasting the HTML code onto the wiki page. Other than that, the process was pretty smooth. Let me know if you want to try embedding a Google calendar into a wiki or web-site, I would be happy to try and help!

Thing 10 - Wiki Challenge

I'm having some difficulty with the wiki I created. I had to list the e-mails or my family, friends and co-workers in the wiki in order for them to be able to leave a comment on the wiki. I would like to have my wiki open to anyone who reads my blog, especially my fellow "23 Thingers", but am unsure how to do this. If anyone has a suggestion, please let me know. Thanks!

Thing 10 - Wiki Challenge

I took the challenge for Thing 10 and created a wiki using pbwiki.com. Check it out and post a message! It's not very sophisticated, but at least I tried! Here's the link to my wiki:

http://signsofspring.pbwiki.com

I created this wiki, added a logo and edited the layout. The only thing I couldn't figure out was how to insert a picture into my comment. I was able to format the font and add a picture on the "23 Things" wiki, but couldn't figure out how to make these options available on my wiki. I wonder if this is an "upgrade" feature. I also plan on e-mailing the link to my wiki to some friends and family tonight. We'll see if anyone actually visits my wiki!

Thing 10 - Wikis and Conclusion

What did I find interesting about the wiki concept?

The collaborative capabilities of wikis are astronomical. This is just another useful tool in our ever increasing, technology filled world. Wikis seem to be very easy to use. My only concern would be vandalism and the validity of information posted.

What types of applications within libraries and schools might work well with a wiki?

As stated in a previous post, some good ideas for wikis in a library setting are pathfinders, subject guides, book reviews, and recommendations for book purchasing, to name a few. Also, in a school setting, a media center could look at being the "hub" of information and host wikis for student groups, i.e.: anime club, speech team, writer's group, etc.

Many teachers/faculty "ban" Wikipedia as a source for student research. What do you think of the practice of limiting information by format?

Here at Elk River High School, we don't ban the use of Wikipedia, but caution our students about the content and also encourage the use of other sources along with Wikipedia. This helps the students to evaluate each source. To that extent, we try to steer our students toward all of our on-line databases for research because they are proven, reviewed and legitimate sources. I don't think we should limit information, but I also don't want to encourage "Google"-only research.

Which wiki did you edit?

I successfully edited the "23 Things on a Stick" wiki (refer to previous post).

Thing 10 - 23 Things On a Stick Wiki

I was able to easily log-in and add a comment on the "23 Things On a Stick" wiki. I even added a picture in honor of our current Spring snowstorm! Stay warm and drive safe!

Thing 10 - Minnesota Wikis

I checked out the Minnesota wikis and they were interesting. I can see how wide-open the possibilities are for wikis, from book reviews, to bee-keeping, to trip planning. To quote a famous Minnesotan, "Uff da!"

Thing 10 - Library Wikis

I explored each of the library wiki sites. Some of the great ideas that I could see our Media Center using are wikis for pathfinders, subject guides, book reviews, and blogs. I noticed that some of the wikis require you to submit your e-mail and/or register with the site before editing or adding to the wiki. I think we would definitely need to do this to avoid the pranksters out there!

Thing 10 - Common Craft Video on Wikis

I am a "newbie" to Wikis. Sure, I have used Wikipedia and have heard others speak of wikis, but I am basically oblivious as to what a wiki is, so Thing 10 will be very interesting to me. I just finished watching the "Common Craft Video on Wikis" and it did a nice job of explaining how wikis operate. Personally, this has got me thinking of how I can coordinate an upcoming bike trip to Cannon Falls with my girlfriends from high school. Also, I'm thinking about how I could use this tool to enhance the field trips my husband and I coordinate for the Minnesota Mineral Club. My brain is ticking away at how I can implement this tool. I'm sure more ideas will form as I keep going on this Thing.