What is all this information sharing? Well let's look at a few!
Web 2.0!
For the most part the term web 2.0 is used to refer to a new generation of websites that are supposed to let people collaborate and share information online in ways that were not possible before. With web 1.0, most websites consisted of static HTML pages. Later on, developers began to create web pages dynamically by retrieving information from a database and using a programming language to build pages from this information on the fly. With web 2.0 websites are not only dynamic, but also highly interactive.
Social network features: users can easily share information with each other. Most web 2.0 websites allow you to build a network of other users for the purposes of sharing the resources you have stored online. (Even from a smart phone now) A good example is delicious, the social bookmarking website where you can store your bookmarks online as well as share them with other delicious users. (More information on "Delicious" to follow)
User ownership of information: users can organize and classify information to meet their own needs. Many web 2.0 websites support the use of a folksonomy, a way of using open-ended labels to categorize information. The difference between a folksonomy and a taxonomy is that the labels (also called tags) are created by the same people who contribute the content. An example of a website that supports tagging is Flickr, a website for hsoting and sharing photos online.
A rich, interactive, user-friendly interface. Some of the most interactive websites online are the map services. For an example, take a look at Google Maps
Delicious!
Delicious is essentially a social bookmarks manager, and as such it offers the ability to add metadata to collected links, such as short and extended descriptions, and "tags"--words used to classify and categorize a link. The tags are displayed on the right side of a link-blog page, with a numeric indicator of how many links include each tag word. Clicking on a tag displays links that contain that tag. Links are also filed chronologically, and an archive of each day can be accessed. Between a time-based lookup and tag-based lookup, there is some organization here, but I'd hardly call it "management," particularly when compared to how traditional Favorites/Bookmarks are managed. In my opinion using the site as an educational tool would be difficult, it lacks management and the kind of structure I would want for my students. The main page is like shooting at a target with a shotgun. Some will hit the target, some will graze it and some will miss completely. It's mostly unfiltered, and seems to be treading into overkill territory--although popular links are highlighted, and recently added URLs are filed at the top (each time a new user files it in their own collection)
As far as using it as a place for students to find current views and news?...sure. I think it needs more filtering and searchable features. It's really a link blog system, the content is primarily URLs.
Screenr!
Screenr is fantastic! It allows up to five minutes of recording that can be inserted onto a Powerpoint presentation, YouTube video, Google Presentation, etc. Students could record assignments and projects at home and instantly post them. Screenr captures and makes short videos of the action on your screen.
UPS:
It is free but requires a Twitter account to log in.
It allows the student to experiment with screen-casting and there is nothing to install. Students could use it as a communication tool or to answer questions or demo specific features of a project. As a teacher you could use it for training certain essentials of technology, which is fantastic! Plus, it works on MAC and Windows platforms.
DOWNS:
You cannot edit the screen-cast. You can only do it over and it will not always capture toolbars. You cannot add sound or change the audio in any way and it does not let you change the name or description after it is posted. No private postings as well.
For my uses the ups out weigh the downs. Looking at it purely from a music standpoint...usuing Finale? Screenr would be invaluable! Finale ins and outs are so difficult at times that if a professor had a way to show the exact steps and many features in five minute increments class time would be spared! Wait, now you can...just use Screenr! Great product.
You certainly took a deep look at the pros and cons of these two particular tools. It will add to our class discussion on Thursday. Thanks! Time permitting, it might be nice to add a few active links for those who have more interest in pursuing one of the products in more detail.
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