Since the trailors for the movie Twilight (based on the book by Stephenie Meyer) have started airing, our checkouts and requests for the books in this series are on the rise. It will be interesting to see if this continues after the movie debuts on November 21st. I wonder if there are three more movies in the works since the four-book series is so closely tied together. Stephenie Meyer has been heralded as the next J.K. Rowlings - and I have to agree. These books are so intriguing and geared to a wide range of ages.
This morning I ran across a companion book for this movie, "Twilight: The Complete Illustrated Movie Companion." I also found a soundtrack for the movie. It seems everyone is jumping on the Twilight bandwagon.
Does anyone out there have any comments or opinions about The Twilight Saga set?
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Oprah's New Favorite Gadget - The Kindle
Have you heard! The Amazon Kindle is Oprah’s new favorite gadget! Now maybe the naysayers will believe us when we say that the Kindle is here to stay. Last Friday (October 24th) Oprah Winfrey gave a Kindle to everyone in her audience. This is quite an endorsement for this e-book reader.
In the last few months, the price of the Kindle dropped from the initial $399 to $359, and now (thanks to Oprah) there is another $50 dollars off with the coupon code “OPRAHWINFREY”. http://kindle.oprahshow.tv/kindle/?crypt=c253cWdlPGNucHRYRXtv&raw_source=kindle&kw=kindle&clicktype=lpclick&se=GG-US. But this code is only good until November 1st. So you can purchase a Kindle for only $309. That’s $90 less than then just 11 months ago when the first Kindle was released.
Oprah has also posted a “how-to” video of Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos teaching her audience how to use the Kindle. You can find it at: http://www.oprah.com/media/20081024_tows_kindle. It is only about 5 ½ minutes long – but it tells you all you need to know about the Kindle to get started.
It will be interesting to see if Oprah’s endorsement increases the sales of the Kindle. And in the long run, also the number of Kindle books offered should increase. Let’s hope!
In the last few months, the price of the Kindle dropped from the initial $399 to $359, and now (thanks to Oprah) there is another $50 dollars off with the coupon code “OPRAHWINFREY”. http://kindle.oprahshow.tv/kindle/?crypt=c253cWdlPGNucHRYRXtv&raw_source=kindle&kw=kindle&clicktype=lpclick&se=GG-US. But this code is only good until November 1st. So you can purchase a Kindle for only $309. That’s $90 less than then just 11 months ago when the first Kindle was released.
Oprah has also posted a “how-to” video of Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos teaching her audience how to use the Kindle. You can find it at: http://www.oprah.com/media/20081024_tows_kindle. It is only about 5 ½ minutes long – but it tells you all you need to know about the Kindle to get started.
It will be interesting to see if Oprah’s endorsement increases the sales of the Kindle. And in the long run, also the number of Kindle books offered should increase. Let’s hope!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Library & Information Science Online Courses
The Library & Information Science courses offered at the College of Southern Idaho are completely online. Take a look at the classes we offer: http://www.csi.edu/liis/ . Offering these classes online is very beneficial to students working full-time jobs, parents with small children, students who do not live close to a college campus and many others who find studying online better suits their needs. Currently, we have students from all across Idaho and even other states enrolled in our classes.
Speaking as a student instead of an instructor, I prefer taking online classes to sitting in a classroom. You don’t have to spend the time and money (don’t get me started on the high price of gas) to drive to campus. You can work on the classes around your work schedule. You don’t have to uproot your family and move across the country to attend the college. You trade a hard, uncomfortable desk for your recliner. You can take your time to extensively study pertinent points and gain a full understanding of a concept before you move on.
Now, I have to agree that online classes aren’t for everyone. You have to be a self-starter. You have to be motivated to log in to your classes on a regular basis. You can’t be afraid of technology and you have to be willing to dive in and try. And, it helps if you prefer to learn by reading rather than by hearing. You have to want to learn and want to soak up the knowledge. Online courses are definitely not for anyone looking for that easy “do-nothing” class. How much knowledge you gain directly relates to the extent of the effort you put towards learning. But I guess this is true with any class that you attempt whether it is face-to-face or online.
With the technology today there are many different means of communication to accomplish the learning activities needed to hone your skills. Blackboard, discussion boards, chat rooms, phone calls, and email are just the beginning of communication modes available. Even though there are others that do not agree, I feel an online education is just as valuable as a face-to-face education!
Speaking as a student instead of an instructor, I prefer taking online classes to sitting in a classroom. You don’t have to spend the time and money (don’t get me started on the high price of gas) to drive to campus. You can work on the classes around your work schedule. You don’t have to uproot your family and move across the country to attend the college. You trade a hard, uncomfortable desk for your recliner. You can take your time to extensively study pertinent points and gain a full understanding of a concept before you move on.
Now, I have to agree that online classes aren’t for everyone. You have to be a self-starter. You have to be motivated to log in to your classes on a regular basis. You can’t be afraid of technology and you have to be willing to dive in and try. And, it helps if you prefer to learn by reading rather than by hearing. You have to want to learn and want to soak up the knowledge. Online courses are definitely not for anyone looking for that easy “do-nothing” class. How much knowledge you gain directly relates to the extent of the effort you put towards learning. But I guess this is true with any class that you attempt whether it is face-to-face or online.
With the technology today there are many different means of communication to accomplish the learning activities needed to hone your skills. Blackboard, discussion boards, chat rooms, phone calls, and email are just the beginning of communication modes available. Even though there are others that do not agree, I feel an online education is just as valuable as a face-to-face education!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Technology is Changing How We Live!
I have been back from vacation about a week now. I took my Amazon Kindle with me, it was so cool to have plenty of books to read that didn't take up any more room than one paperback. If I would have taken hardback versions my suitcase would have been overweight at the airline counter. The woman sitting beside me in the airplane asked me how many books the Kindle would hold. When I told her about 200 she couldn't believe it. I think I have her convinced to buy one.
My husband took his iPod Touch with him on our vacation. He really enjoyed being able to pull up Internet pages and weather forecasts/conditions of home in any hotel or coffee shop that had Wi-Fi. Technology sure played a key part of our vacation.
Well, now that I'm back to work I'm working hard to get caught up. It is mid-term time here at CSI - students are studying hard and really into the swing of writing papers and creating presentations. This is another area where technology is affecting us. A few years ago the library would create transparencies for students to use in class presentations using overhead projectors. Now students prepare PowerPoint presentations and use projectors hooked to computers. It seems like each semester at least one task (that we have always done) is changed by technology. VHS tapes are being replaced by DVDs, audiocassettes are being replaced by CDs - someday maybe textbooks will be replaced by the Kindle.
My husband took his iPod Touch with him on our vacation. He really enjoyed being able to pull up Internet pages and weather forecasts/conditions of home in any hotel or coffee shop that had Wi-Fi. Technology sure played a key part of our vacation.
Well, now that I'm back to work I'm working hard to get caught up. It is mid-term time here at CSI - students are studying hard and really into the swing of writing papers and creating presentations. This is another area where technology is affecting us. A few years ago the library would create transparencies for students to use in class presentations using overhead projectors. Now students prepare PowerPoint presentations and use projectors hooked to computers. It seems like each semester at least one task (that we have always done) is changed by technology. VHS tapes are being replaced by DVDs, audiocassettes are being replaced by CDs - someday maybe textbooks will be replaced by the Kindle.
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