Most of us live on the internet. From mobile phones to wi-fi to all our services in the cloud, we need a stable internet connection! But what if that connection goes down? PC Mag to the rescue with a list of 10 tips for troubleshooting your internet connection.
First they help you look at your modem and router with practical tips for determining if they are working. Next they show you how you can examine your firmware and device configurations. Last, they help you make sure your PC is healthy too.
No doubt, a number of you received a new iPhone or iPad recently. And, you may be building your skill set in using your device in order to be a rockstar in the upcoming Minnesota 23 Mobile Things Program. Experts at BuzzFeed share 19 tips and tricks to help you bond with your new device, and show off a bit too! Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/mnaqth5
Image by bibigeek. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Commons’ licensing.
In an earlier post, I mentioned a thread of programming at the fall MLA Conference about mindfulness and reflective thinking, as it relates to librarians. This idea keeps coming back to me. From a review of the literature, and from conversations with librarians embracing mindfulness, I believe it has value to our practice. Professional and personal growth can increase if we slow down and take the time to understand mindfulness. A few key things to consider about this concept include:
If we embrace a state of being aware, focused and present in the moment, we can reduce job-related stress and improve the quality of library services.
Multitasking is finally being questioned, and not necessarily valued as it was in the past.
“Monkey-mind syndrome” describes a state of being where thoughts continually flit in and out of our minds. This is often caused by too much multitasking or by continually shifting gears or changing priorities without tools to manage it.
In MLA president Kristen Mastel’s article about mindful librarianship (see end of post), she talks about “beginner’s mind” and the challenges of achieving beginners mind. As you may guess, it is harder to achieve this state when you have been in positions for long periods of time.
Mindfulness can be used anywhere or anytime, making it the ultimate mobile device!
As we embark on the 23 Mobile Things program in mid-January, CMLE staff will inject a mindfulness thread in the program, to help participants manage their focus and enhance their learning outcomes.
Mastel ends her article by saying, “Mindful librarianship—practiced with awareness, intention, and open mind, and a spirit of compassion—could make the difference in the success of our students, our profession, and ourselves. Read the full article: Insights and Practical Tips on Practicing Mindful Librarianship to Manage Stress
Image by swanksalot. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Commons licensing. Some rights reserved.
In a recent ACRL TechConnect post, Eric Phetteplace provides advice for library technologists that may feel as if they are going solo and unequipped to address pending tasks. He generalizes common issues into the following four areas:
Colleagues lacking similar skill sets
Too broad of responsibilities and limited technology time
Creating endurable and maintainable projects
Determining appropriate projects given the available resources
Tip: Although this article is directed to Academic Libraries and their respective staff, the advice is very applicable to all technology users in any library type.
Image by anieto2k. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Commons licensing. Some rights reserved.
This month marks the beginning of a new school/academic year. With that comes a list of items and ideas for your work plan. In terms of technology, Edudemic created a top ten list of the most popular tools used by teachers to-date. Many of them have been discussed in previous posts by CMLE. However, if last year you weren’t quite ready to try out a new tool-you might want to reconsider it for this year. If you have already invested time in learning/training others to use these tools, then this post can serve as an affirmation that they should remain on your favorites list. Click here to view Edudemic’s list and compare notes.
Tip: As a library professional you interact with other teachers on a routine basis. Here is secondary post by Edudemic, 5 Goals Teachers Should Shoot For This Year. You might want to take a moment to compare your goals to this list. It could also serve as a great starting place to assist teachers, you work with, as they come to you for advice throughout the year.
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Most of us live on the internet. From mobile phones to wi-fi to all our services in the cloud, we need a stable internet connection! But what if that connection goes down? PC Mag to the rescue with a list of 10 tips for troubleshooting your internet connection.
