Sharing is Caring: Welcome to the Curation Nation

*In the left corner we have the old fashion librarian and in the right corner we have the new digital age...are you ready to CURATE* 

Borchuk, L. (CC) 2014.

Curator meets the digital age. Curation is no longer a boring outdated strategy used in libraries but has decided to join the rest of the world and diverse itself within the digital realm. One of the most interesting things about this course is learning how the digital sphere has brought everything back to life. “Out with the old, in with the new” nope not necessarily. How about a…fashion makeover? Or an upgrade? The digital realm has not invented new ways of living, but rather modified the old outdated versions. The Internet, and its many tools, have added value to content and made it immediately accessible. Much like curating.

Now what is this magical world otherwise known as curating? Before I get into the technicality of it all, let me provide you with a visual. It is about adding to the conversation, as well as helping others see your point of view. By curation you are able to access to your content no matter where you are, or which device you are using. With there being so much content out there, it is hard to find QUALITY information. Through curating you are able to weed through the bad and pick out the good. Curating can be broken down into three steps:

1. Finding the best content: good at filtering out the good and bad. 

2. Adding Value: educates the reader and ads context to each element.

3. Credit: provides links to additional sources.

Looking at it as a scrapbook, you FIND a document or article you find interesting. Once you find it you ADD value but cutting and pasting your thoughts around the topic. By adding your comments you are giving CREDIT to the author, and providing a new insight. Just like a scrapbook, you end with a masterpiece, a masterpiece of knowledge.

With another tool added to my belt, my P.L.E. continues to grow (if only it would pass the message along to my wallet). However, I would categorize this under both scholarly and social. 

Scholarly: Group assignments. When needing to share articles or websites, instead of having to send a separate document it can all be sent and accessed as one. 

Spark, David. (2011). "Sharing" (animation)
Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/1kut5PS

Social: The latest “gossip” or current events that me and my friends are interested in. 

Recently I was able to share articles, from my RSS reader, BOOKMARK them, comment and share them with my friends! One of the main events happening right now, are the Olympics games. Like everyone else in the country, me and my friends love to chat about the recent winners and events. With my RSS reader and by curating, I am able to keep all of 'my' Olympic events in one area as well as organize all of my thoughts surrounding them. Through Diigo, I was able to curate my "digital life" to connect with fellow Internet users, my friends and family WHILE expanding my contribution within the digital realm.

Now its your turn- embrace the digital age and update that resume of yours: Full Time Student, Part Time Curator. 

XOXO