Getting Jingy with it!

Jing is something that I have actually used in the past.  I love Jing because it is easy to use and simple to understand. You select the size of the recording and start recording.  It is a great way to create screen cast and 5 minutes is plenty of recording time.  I feel like libraries can easily incorporate Jing into their web presence and show patrons how navigate the library’s website. Jing has next to no learning curve and if there was ever a product that was intuitive, it is Jing. It is easy to share the Jing videos and to send them to friends and family.    

                Libraries are always looking for easy-to-use products and Jing allows librarians to created guided tours and teach patrons how to do research.  A single Jing video can help librarians show hundreds and potentially thousands of patrons how to perform a task online without having to explain it over and over.  Jing videos are limited in what they show the patron because it is a bit tricky to open up new pages and switch between images in a way that looks professional but anything you can do on your computer you can show someone else. Plus the audio commentary make Jing a powerful tool in the world of school media.  You could make a Jing on how to pick a research topic, how to do the research, and how to format the paper. Imagine an entire semester research paper explained in a single video!

At this point I am aware that I sound like Jing is giving me a kickback but I assure you it is simply my love the technology that is shining through. Free, easy, and eminently presentable, what more could a librarian ask for?

My JING!

Soooo...my Wikispace or yours?

Wikispaces is very easy to use and the inclusion of videos was so simple I thought it had to be some sort of trap.  Wikipedia (I am nervous even typing that word in an academic setting)…is one long stream of consciousness about a particular subject while Wikispaces allows you divide the information up by pages.  This feature is really a double-edged sword. On one hand it makes the information easier to divide, but on the other hand it requires descriptive labeling and more aforethought.

I think that libraries should avail themselves of this technology simply because it is so easy to use. You can have a video and images posted in a manner of seconds using the widgets and before you know it, your library has a web presence that is easy to update and modify.  One problem with Wikis is that many people have the perception that the information on them is somehow tainted and would discourage children from using them as sources of information.  While this is a valid concern in the academic setting, I feel for simple information such as library hours or the dates of upcoming events, a Wiki is a great tool.  The fact that this technology is simple, free, has some name recognition, and has little-to-no learning curve and allows for group design and collaboration make Wikispaces a powerful tool in the hands of a librarian with a free lunch hour.

 We had to use this Web 2.0 technology in a group context and this is where Wikispaces shines. I was able to make my edits and additions while the other members of my group were able to make theirs.  In order for libraries to stay current and have a powerful web presence they need to have more than one person using the technologies and updating the information; this is something that Wikispaces makes easy and secure.  However, I am still nervous about mentioning Wikipedia since I spent four years as an undergrad hearing about how evil it was.