If I thought I was confused before, then just call me "Alice Through the Looking Glass." Perhaps I am congenitally uncurious, but I am not all that interested in seeing what others are saying about a particular topic. My main concern with this whole tool is that there is no authority that what's being put out there is valid. Technorati gives an authority rating, but it is just the number of others who link to a blog. That number doesn't make the information viable or useful.
I found the site somewhat confusing - perhaps the effects of antihistamines and cough syrup punctuated by hearty sneezes - or perhaps just cyber overload. I did finally manage to search by posts, tags and directories through the advanced search option. I never found that lovely drop down box in the "Technorati Tour." Using the term "School Library Learning 2.0" I found 1,857 blog posts, 13 tagged entries and 18 blog directories. I even found one of MY posts, but then couldn't find it again after I navigated from that search. (sigh)
One thing that I did like about this site was that a search returned not only text, but pictures, videos, DVDs, books, news, etc., all related to the entered term.
I do see advantages to tagging. It's nice to use "natural language" to describe a topic and not be locked into something that Sears dictates. In some ways, I've been "tagging" my subject headings in our OPAC for a long time. If you are using this tool in a school and there is a certain way that things are referred to regionally, then the tag can be used in a meaningful way for that area. (hoagie/grinder & seltzer/soda come to mind)
One of the disadvantages is one that I encounter with my less-than-sacrosanct way of entering subject headings aka "Oh darn, what did I call that last time?" I wonder too, how many people will use a perfectly innocent tag to pull users into an inappropriate site - but that is a worry for all these tools, not just Technorati.
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3 comments:
I just tried looking at the Technorati site and doing the Discovery exercise but felt completely lost. I also couldn't find anything called a Blog Directory unless I used the Advance Search. I wonder if we're missing something. Up to now I've been curious about each topic we've covered, but this one has the potential of sending me over the edge. So I decided to see if anyone else had tried this yet. I was consoled by the fact that you were confused also. I'll try again during the light of day.
I love it... congenitally uncurious. I'm beginning to feel that way as well. Perhaps it sjust information overload. I can't seem to deal with so many new things.
Kathy
Dear librarystrong & gno,
We are sisters in cyberspace! I have come to the conclusion - especially in light of our readings - that in an elementary school one can only implement so many bells and whistles. I will try to look at the new tools carefully, attempting to discern a use for my students, but if I can't find one, I'm not going to sweat it. It's all about user needs and wants - and what my computers can handle :o) Courage!
Donna
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