Beginning Vermont's 23 Things

This blog begins with my attempt to complete an online course entitled Vermont's 23 Things, a Vermont Department of Libraries challenge to familiarize Librarians and Librarian Wanna Be's (like me) with emerging web-based technologies. Hopefully, as I progress, this blog will morph along with me to something not yet imagined.

First assignment is to learn the habits of successful life long learners and to discuss what I would personally consider the hardest habit for me to develop and the easiest. Here's the list:

Habit 1 – Begin with the end in mind
Habit 2 – Accept responsibility for your own learning
Habit 3 – View problems as challenges
Habit 4 – Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner
Habit 5 – Create your own learning toolbox
Habit 6 – Use technology to your advantage
Habit 7 – Teach and mentor others
Habit 7 ½ – PLAY!

Mmmmmm! Habit 1 - setting that goal, seems easy enough, but someone always moves the cheese on me! Habit 2 - check. Habit 3 through 6 - working on it. Attitude is everything. Habit 7 - that's my job and I love to do it!

But Habit 7.5 - here's the rub. This is my easiest and my most difficult challenge rolled into one (or should I say a half). I love to play with new stuff (gadgets and the like)but have difficulty with time. How do I find the time to play especially without feeling guilty - there is so much to do and someone always needs something - particularly my family! Play! How dare I, when I should be doing...

And, yet...I do play...at the end of day, when all is quiet (except for that damn cell phone). I Play. (How many gadgets can I have on my iGoogle homepage, anyway?) And time seems to stand still, until I look up from my computer and realize it is 2 a.m. and somehow hours have disappeared. And my new challenge becomes when do I sleep!