Web Personalization: Powerful Information Tool or Filter Bubble?

Join us this Thursday, April 18, 2013 from 12:00 to 1:00PM in WML 305!

Like. Share. +1. Subscribe. Unsubscribe. These are just some of the actions we perform on the Web as we interact with information. Generally speaking, we do these things to make sense of the vast amount of information available to us. What is less widely known is that the information we see on the Web is shaped by more than just these deliberate actions we take. For instance, your search engine may know in what country you are located, and it may use this information to deliver search results it deems relevant to your interests based on this information. This process is called Web personalization. In this presentation by Donna Witek, attendees will receive a basic overview of Web personalization, how it is different from customization, and the role it plays in determining what information we encounter on the Web. Common examples of how we participate in Web personalization (knowingly and unknowingly) will be demonstrated, and critiques of this technology will be presented. A light lunch will be provided.

Sessions are open to all University faculty and staff, but seats are limited, so please let us know you are coming. You can register at www.scranton.edu/ctleregistration – under Technology on Your OwnTerms.

Technology on Your Own Terms

TOYOT_logo4a small

On behalf of the Weinberg Memorial Library and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, we invite University of Scranton faculty and staff to our Spring 2013 Technology On Your Own Terms (TOYOT) workshops. Here’s what we’ve got planned for this semester:

Web Personalization: Powerful Information Tool or Filter Bubble?

Donna Witek (Public Services Librarian)
Thursday, April 18, 2013 – 12:00-1:00PM in WML 305

Like. Share. +1. Subscribe. Unsubscribe. These are just some of the actions we perform on the Web as we interact with information. Generally speaking, we do these things to make sense of the vast amount of information available to us. What is less widely known is that the information we see on the Web is shaped by more than just these deliberate actions we take. For instance, your search engine may know in what country you are located, and it may use this information to deliver search results it deems relevant to your interests based on this information. This process is called Web personalization. In this presentation, attendees will receive a basic overview of Web personalization, how it is different from customization, and the role it plays in determining what information we encounter on the Web. Common examples of how we participate in Web personalization (knowingly and unknowingly) will be demonstrated, and critiques of this technology will be presented. A light lunch will be provided.

Sessions are open to all University faculty and staff, but seats are limited, so please let us know you are coming. You can register at www.scranton.edu/ctleregistration – under Technology on Your OwnTerms.

Get in the Game!

Xbox KinectAnyone can play! Especially with Xbox Kinect, the new gaming system that doesn’t require a controller. Your physical gestures are the remote control so if you are playing volleyball, you would reach up and hit the ball!  Join us on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 any time between 11:30 am and 2:00 pm to try it out. Event will be held in the Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library. We will also have Wii and Playstation with various games. Feel free to ask questions about the different consoles, and experience the games firsthand. Stop up, learn some new tools, and play some games!

Pizza, soda, and snacks will be provided just like at the Game Nights we hold every semester for students.

Any University faculty or staff member can drop-in, but please let us know you are coming so that we order enough pizza. You can register at www.scranton.edu/ctleregistration – under Technology on Your Own Terms.

Get in the Game! (a Technology On Your Own Terms workshop)

Join us on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 for a drop-in game day style TOYOT! Event will be held in the Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library. We will have Wii, Playstation, and Xbox with various games like Rock Band 3, Just Dance 4, and Mario Kart. Feel free to stop by at any time from 11:30AM-2:00PM to test out our new gaming systems, ask questions on the various consoles, and experience the games firsthand. We will also feature the Kinect which is a motion sensor gaming system that uses physical gestures as the remote control. Gesture based computing is huge in the gaming industry and growing with televisions and home entertainment, but may also have implications in education for students to engage in virtual exercises.

Pizza, soda, and snacks will be provided just like at the Game Nights we hold every semester for students. Stop up, learn some new tools, and play some games!

Sessions are open to all University faculty and staff, but seats are limited, so please let us know you are coming. You can register at www.scranton.edu/ctleregistration – under Technology on Your Own Terms.

Technology on Your Own Terms

TOYOT_logo4a small

On behalf of the Weinberg Memorial Library and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, we invite University of Scranton faculty and staff to the first of our Spring 2013 Technology On Your Own Terms (TOYOT) workshops.

 

 

Password Security

Adam Edwards (Director of Information Security)
February 20, 2013 – 12:00-1:00PM in WML 305

This session will teach you some techniques for creating memorable passwords, give you some tools that can be used to improve password security, and tell you some ways that you can keep your password safe.  This session will give you some tips on how to recognize if you are being targeted as a social engineering victim. This is when someone attempts to get your password by tricking you into thinking that he is someone else.
A light lunch will be provided.

Sessions are open to all University faculty and staff, but seats are limited, so please let us know you are coming. You can register at www.scranton.edu/ctleregistration – under Technology on Your OwnTerms.

Technology on Your Own Terms – Spring 2013 Workshops

 

TOYOT_logo4a small

On behalf of the Weinberg Memorial Library and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, we invite University of Scranton faculty and staff to our Spring 2013 Technology On Your Own Terms (TOYOT) workshops. Here’s what we’ve got planned for this semester:

Password Security

Adam Edwards (Director of Information Security)
February 20, 2013 – 12:00-1:00PM in WML 305

This session will teach you some techniques for creating memorable passwords, give you some tools that can be used to improve password security, and tell you some ways that you can keep your password safe.  This session will give you some tips on how to recognize if you are being targeted as a social engineering victim. This is when someone attempts to get your password by tricking you into thinking that he is someone else. A light lunch will be provided.

Get in the Game!
Sheli McHugh (Cataloging & Metadata Librarian) &
George Aulisio (Public Services Librarian)
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 – 11:30AM-2:00PM in the Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library

Join us on March 26, 2013 for a drop-in game day style TOYOT! Event will be held in the Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library. We will have Wii, Playstation, and Xbox with various games like Rock Band 3, Just Dance 4, and Mario Kart. Feel free to stop by at any time from 11:30AM-2:00PM to test out our new gaming systems, ask questions on the various consoles, and experience the games firsthand. We will also feature the Kinect which is a motion sensor gaming system that uses physical gestures as the remote control. Gesture based computing is huge in the gaming industry and growing with televisions and home entertainment, but may also have implications in education for students to engage in virtual exercises.

Pizza, soda, and snacks will be provided just like at the Game Nights we hold every semester for students. Stop up, learn some new tools, and play some games!

Web Personalization: Powerful Information Tool or Filter Bubble?

Donna Witek (Public Services Librarian)
Thursday, April 18, 2013 – 12:00-1:00PM in WML 305

Like. Share. +1. Subscribe. Unsubscribe. These are just some of the actions we perform on the Web as we interact with information. Generally speaking, we do these things to make sense of the vast amount of information available to us. What is less widely known is that the information we see on the Web is shaped by more than just these deliberate actions we take. For instance, your search engine may know in what country you are located, and it may use this information to deliver search results it deems relevant to your interests based on this information. This process is called Web personalization. In this presentation, attendees will receive a basic overview of Web personalization, how it is different from customization, and the role it plays in determining what information we encounter on the Web. Common examples of how we participate in Web personalization (knowingly and unknowingly) will be demonstrated, and critiques of this technology will be presented. A light lunch will be provided.

Sessions are open to all University faculty and staff, but seats are limited, so please let us know you are coming. You can register at www.scranton.edu/ctleregistration – under Technology on Your OwnTerms.

Technology on Your Own Terms

On behalf of the Weinberg Memorial Library and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, we invite University of Scranton faculty and staff to Part II our Fall 2012 Technology On Your Own Terms (TOYOT) Photography themed workshops.

Sheli McHugh (Cataloging and Metadata Librarian)
Wednesday, November 14, 2012 – 12PM-1PM in WML305

Traditional photo-sharing sites, like Flickr and Picassa, have been studied in previous Technology on Your Own Terms sessions. In this session, we will explore the next generation of digital photo sharing with apps like Instagram and Hipstamatic; the photo blogging site Tumblr; and the virtual/visual bulletin board, Pinterest. Sheli McHugh, Cataloging and Metadata Librarian, will provide an overview and introduction to these sites, while demonstrating their various features and functions. A light lunch will be provided.

TOYOT is open to all University faculty and staff, but seats are limited, so please let us know you are coming You can register at www.scranton.edu/ctleregistration – under Technology on Your Own Terms.

Technology on Your Own Terms – Fall 2012 Workshops

On behalf of the Weinberg Memorial Library and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, we invite University of Scranton faculty and staff to our Fall 2012 Technology On Your Own Terms (TOYOT) workshops. Here’s what we’ve got planned for this semester:

Digital Photography: Part 1
Thomas Leong (CTLE Math Specialist) &
Brian Snapp (Associate Director of CTLE, Instructional Designer)
Tuesday, October 16, 2012 – 12PM-1PM in WML305

How serious are you about your digital photography? Which device or camera fits your needs?
Brian Snapp and Tom Leong from the CTLE will provide an overview to help you make these decisions. In this workshop there will be a short review of current digital devices and common uses; best practices for taking digital pictures including subject, lighting, composition and shutter speed; and creative uses in digital photography. A light lunch will be provided.

Digital Photography: Part 2
Sheli McHugh (Cataloging and Metadata Librarian)
Wednesday, November 14, 2012 – 12PM-1PM in WML305

Traditional photo-sharing sites, like Flickr and Picassa, have been studied in previous Technology on Your Own Terms sessions. In this session, we will explore the next generation of digital photo sharing with apps like Instagram and Hipstamatic; the photo blogging site Tumblr; and the virtual/visual bulletin board, Pinterest. Sheli McHugh, Cataloging and Metadata Librarian, will provide an overview and introduction to these sites, while demonstrating their various features and functions. A light lunch will be provided.

Both sessions are open to all University faculty and staff, but seats are limited, so please let us know you are coming You can register at www.scranton.edu/ctleregistration – under Technology on Your Own Terms.

Preserving Your Family Memories – Workshop

There’s still time to register for our last Technology on Your Own Terms workshop of the semester! All faculty and staff members are welcome, but please let us know you’re coming by signing up at www.scranton.edu/ctleregistration (under Technology On Your Own Terms).

Preserving Your Family Memories: Part II  (Digital)
Thursday, April 5 from 12:00pm – 1:00pm in WML305

Increasingly, we capture moments to remember in digital rather than physical format: we document our lives in digital photographs, videos, social media, email, and websites.  In this workshop, Digital Services Librarian Kristen Yarmey will introduce you to the concept of digital preservation.  We’ll talk about common misconceptions (for example, why digitizing your photos is not the same as preserving them), some of the major challenges involved in maintaining digital files over time, and some basic strategies you can take to help make your digital memories last.  A light lunch will be provided. (Taught by Kristen Yarmey, Weinberg Memorial Library)

(Image courtesy of Flickr user ehpien, under a Creative Commons license)

Preserving Your Family Memories – Workshop

Next week is our spring break, and even though our students will be gone, the rest of the University will still be open and working. This year, we decided to take advantage of the  break as a good time to host one of our Technology on Your Own Terms series workshops.  While we usually focus on forward-looking emerging technologies and how we can create and explore new information, we thought it would be interesting to take a different view this time and learn about how we can preserve existing information.   In a two-part workshop, we’ll examine how to preserve physical records (Part I) and digital records (Part II) of your personal and family history.

Preserving Your Family Memories: Part I (Physical)
Tuesday, March 13 from 12:00pm – 1:00pm in WML305

Special Collections Librarian Michael Knies will discuss the basic preservation problems relating to personal collections of books, photographs, negatives, personal papers, audio/visual recordings, and other paper-based collectibles.  Limited attention will be paid to three dimensional objects. Proper storage and handling will be emphasized. A light lunch will be provided. (Taught by Michael Knies, Weinberg Memorial Library)

All faculty and staff members are welcome, but seats are limited, so please register for sessions you plan to attend at www.scranton.edu/ctleregistration (under Technology On Your Own Terms).