Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Tuesday, August 28, 2007: Checking In

I'm just checking in to say that I, along with my fellow district media specialists, have been focused on the back-to-school crunch: teacher workdays, district meetings, school-based meetings since my previous post of August 21 (seems like a month or more ago), and today was the first day of school for students.

I am committed to completing my "things," although the time frame will extend beyond summer. So, I will become an Autumn Web 2.0 learner in addition to a SummerLearner.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Week 6, Thing #14: Technorati

The leading Web 2.0 tool for blog-searching, Technorati currently tracks approximately 62.5 million blogs. If following blogs is your primary interest, then clearly Technorati is the way to go. It appears to be sufficiently user-friendly.

I decided to go ahead and "claim" my SummerLearner 2007 blog with Technorati, thereby creating my profile and officially adding my blog to the site. Here is my profile page:
http://www.technorati.com/people/technorati/sher51


A brief note about the term "Ping": When a blogger updates her blog, she can click on Ping to alert Technorati to the fact that the blog has been updated.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Week 6, Thing #13: Tagging, Folksonomies, & Technorati

Del.icio.us makes more sense to me than Rollyo.

I understand the utility of a web-based bookmarking tool for one's favorite web sites. Then the individual can enjoy online access to his/her Favorites from any computer connected to the Internet. In the case of Del.icio.us, I found it easier to navigate through the registration and usage procedures (as opposed to Rollyo).

Tagging, using suggested tags or creating your own, is an "open" classification system that allows users to group their favorite sites or blogs under a specific label or topic. Taking this concept a step further into the social realm ... you can access others' Favorites when you search with a particular tag in mind. Over time, you might find that you are consistently accessing, using/sharing sites posted by a particular individual with whom you share a common interest or goal. That name becomes familiar over time, and you come to know the nature of the sites associated with that name. Since Del.icio.us provides this sharing/social component within its working format, it is easily described as a "social bookmarking" web site.



Thursday, August 9, 2007

Week 5, Thing #12: Roll Your Own Search Tool with Rollyo

Unfortunately, I've had enough of playing with Rollyo. I registered and created a search tool around the topic of "The Big6." There is something I am not getting when it comes time to actually utilize the roll. Is it possible that I am missing a step?

Regardless, it's time to move on. I'm determined to complete this project before the new school year takes over, which is just about to happen.

I will address each thing, some perhaps with scant attention and those that tempt me with more deliberate focus. I want to know that I have at least made some kind of contact with each of the Web 2.0 tools that comprise this summer learning project.