Tag: Libraries

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Play Activity – Gamification – Week 10

 

What is Gamification?

I found the following definitions from [Gamification Wiki]

“The Gamification Wiki defines Gamification as the infusion of game design techniques, game mechanics, and/or game style into anything. This definition is purposely broad to support the many uses of the word outside of the context of business.”

A few other definitions of Gamification are:

  • Gamification is the use of game design techniques and game mechanics to solve problems and engage audiences
  • Simply put, the term refers to incorporating game elements and mechanics into non-gaming websites and software

[Marketing]  Way for educational institutions and libraries to engage with their users on a deeper level.

Gamification to me would be a great way for educational institutions and libraries to interact with children and young adults and bring back the love of libraries and learning. Gamification would be a great tool for information literacy for kids if it is done correctly otherwise parents would be in an uproar!

 

Reference

Huotari, K., & Hamari, J. (2012). “Defining Gamification – A Service Marketing Perspective”. Proceedings of the 16th International Academic MindTrek Conference 2012, Tampere, Finland, October 3–5.

 

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QR Codes – Play Activity – Week 9

When week 9 began I thought to myself I am lucky that the rules were changed for play activities because I have no way of participating this week.  However, I am here to learn so I started to search the Internet to see if there is any way for me to play with QR codes. Following information I found surfing the Internet:

QR Codes

[Jeff Korhan] QR codes are like barcodes but they hold more information and they originate in Japan by [Denso Wave]

[Terrence O’Brien] QR codes are used to link information onto a smartphone. To read them you need to install an [App] that allows you to read the code. There are number of [App] available but the most common one is the QR Reader from iPhone App store.

I also asked a question on [Inn333 Group Blog]

  • jennifer – I do not have a smart phone! Can I add a QR Code Widget from WordPress so that I can play with QR Codes? http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/qr-code-widget/
  • sarah Hi there, if all you want to do is read the QR code then there are other options, for example if you download Google Chrome (it’s a browser like Firefox or IE) you can add the QReader extension. There are also free online tools to create QR codes – if you do a basic web search you’ll see hundreds of services! 

I  downloaded Google Chrome and I found the following sites. They are both very easy to use but I like the second one because you can use colour.  Yeah!  I can now play with QR Codes.

http://www.the-qrcode-generator.com/
http://www.beautifulqrcodes.com/

 

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Play Activity – Flickr – Week 7

 

Before today I never really realised what Flickr is all about and what the benefit it has for libraries and educational institutions.  So I decided to write a short post on the benefits of Flickr.

[Chia, M., Mislove, A., & Gummadi, K. P.] Flickr is a photo sharing site that allows you to link your photos to your Facebook and Twitter accounts.  It also allows you to find friends, join groups and share your photos with family. Privacy issues on Flickr concerning photos are covered very well and allow you go create links and tags to each photo. If you want to investigate Flickr, further click on the link [FAQ]

 

The main benefits that I can see Flickr has are:

  • Access to historical photos collections from National and State Libraries
  • Provide archival service for State and National collections
  • A cheaper way for family and friends to share their photo collections
  • Family history resources
  • Provide access for Teachers and Librarians to a large photo resource

MY FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

http://www.flickr.com//photos/86524564@N05/show/

 

 

My Flickr Groups:

 

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Reflection – Social Network Presences – WEEK 6

techextremity.com

I decided to reflect on the following:

                      BEST PRACTICE FOR LIBRARY SOCIAL NETWORK PRESENCES
 WHAT ARE THEY?

 

At the beginning of the week, I did not understand or know what “Best Practice for Libraries Social Network Presences” is so I started to do same research on the topic. Using  Google, I found a number of good sites that talk about “Best Practice” so I formulated them into a Bundlr.  (See bottom of the page)

BEST PRACTICES

[Michael Stephens]

  • ACCURATE – Information that is place on your social media sites must be accurate and with no spelling errors.
  • CONFIDENTIALITY – Make sure all personal information that is place on your social media sites is safe.
  • COPYRIGHT – Follow copyright laws.
  • FEED BACK – Allow your users and staff to give you feedback on any issues that affect your social media sites.
  • MARKETING – For people to use your social media sites you must promote them on your web site.
  • MONITORING – Your social media sites should be monitored every day to make sure that the conversations on your sites are appropriate to your brand.
  • PLANNING – Understand the needs of your users, before setting up any social media site.  As Zaana Howard stated in her interview with Kate Davis that is not worth setting up social media site for example “Second Life” if your users will not use it.
  • UPTO DATE – Do not set up any social media sites if you are not prepared to keep them up to date.
  • UNDERSTANDING – Make sure everyone who is involved understands your brand.
  • WELCOMING – Have the layout of your social media sites friendly and welcoming and always write in the first person. Make sure your social media sites  have personality.

Social Media is great way to get your community to interact with each other but do not forget to promoted your brand face to face with your users also.

 
“Social Media best practice for Libraries” on Bundlr

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