MLIS Experience

I am a couple of weeks in on my graduate course that focuses on social media & informatics. While I already posted something about ontologies and folksonomies, I stumbled across this interesting link: What is an ontology and why we need it (stanford.edu) I have a general idea of the definition of an ontology based on my notes from a recent lecture- a common vocabulary for users who need/want to share information in a specific domain. At first, this did not make sense to me. I tried to learn more about different ontologies saw this wonderful graphic. Wine drinkers/makers have their own language! Now this is something that I can relate to. After seeing this, things began to click- most disciplines have their own, common vocabulary. One thing I do not understand, if this is the case, why is that some ontologies are not recognized? Is it because they are not standardized? As a former musician (thank you health issues for destroying that career), there are a many common words we use to ...

Tennessee school board bans Holocaust graphic novel ‘Maus’ – author Art Spiegelman condemns the move as ‘Orwellian’ This is not necessarily completely on topic for my Social Media and Informatics class- Then again, maybe it is!!?? I am a big fan of the title Maus  by Art Spiegelman. As a former 8th-grade teacher and strong advocate in teaching Holocaust literature. This headline above has been all over the news and social media. Yes, the is horrible what the school board decided to do, but from a social media standpoint, this has resulted in a great outcome for Mr. Spiegelman. His book is sold out at many different locations and has now become one of the top sellers on Amazon. I question if the increase in sales would have happened without the power of social media. 

" TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram -- are more than just a fun way to pass the time; they've transformed how we work, communicate and learn. "  

  I never thought much about ontologies and folksonomies. I did not even think I had a clear definition of ontology until I read a recent lecture from my professor and read a few articles. Nevertheless, the new vocabulary is starting to make a little more sense.     Rewind back to my last post about the importance of civility when using social media- #dontbeadick, #bekind, #dontgiveup, or a variation #dontgiveupsigns. All these folksonomies are linked in one way or another to civility in online environments.  Yes, these hashtags also provide some other interesting reading, but when looking for information in a certain context, the tags yield results.    See:  https://www.dontgiveupsigns.com/our-story   I saw the signs before in the neighborhood, but I learned much more after typing in the hashtag.    The other term, ontologies, or the common vocabulary for users who want to share a specific domain is also related to my interest in c...

  This semester, I am enrolled in Social Media and Informatics, and one of our goals is to start the conversation about social media. In this case, the correct terminology may be to continue the conversation about social media, seeing that it pretty much impacts all of us in one way or another. As a teacher and librarian in the public school system, social media in everyday life. Certain aspects of social media are helpful, even for adolescents who probably need constant monitoring. Nevertheless, some topics about social media are concerning. One of the more concerning topics is dealing with civility or formal politeness and courtesy with behavior and speech in online environments when sharing. Yes, it is a problem in physical environments, especially since the COVID pandemic forced people to isolate themselves and live differently. However, the negative effects of social media on the population I work with are pretty apparent and damaging.  Relationships and friendships are d...

 Mac vs PC for Data Science I can't tell you how many times I have had the classic Mac vs. PC debate.  I have used a PC for most of my life.  I also had some small stints with a Mac. However, I am finding myself disliking the Windows OS on my work computer more and more lately.  Besides having updates on a daily basis, the OS is becoming slow, the battery doesn't last more than two hours, and programs freeze up all of the time. Granted, the machine is two years old, which is outdated, but I am just tired of the same old thing. I am intrigued by the new M1 Apple Macs. My wife even went out and bought me one. Two weeks later, the Mac is still sitting in the box. As I continued to research and ask everyone their opinion, I came across this great article comparing the two types of machines. Conclusion? Inconclusive. The Mac is STILL in the box. Anyone make the switch? 

  Although this is my second semester at The University of Alabama, this blog is the first record of my experiences as a MLIS student. No, not 100% by choice. I am enrolled in a class titled Social Media and Informatics, and one of our first assignments is to setup a blog as a way to reflect on the various topics that will be addressed in class. However, before we start with all of that, I feel it would be best to introduce myself.