Blogs,+Podcasts+&+Tagging


 * Blogs, podcasts, tagging**: What are they and how can they help me?


 * Tagging.** You know how to use key words to do a search on Google? Well, think of tags as keywords that can be assigned to any content. Let's look at some examples. Go to [|Flickr] (a website where anyone may upload photos online), and on the left side you can enter a keyword in the search or //browse popular tags//. Click on //popular tags//. Now you will see a tag cloud - the bigger and bolder the text, the more frequently this keyword, or tag, has been used for content. Click on a tag and see the photos that use this tag.


 * Where are tags used?** Many websites use tags to classify content. Now that you know what they are, you will begin to notice them! [|Del.icio.us] enables you to store your bookmarks in a web-based environment so you may access them from any computer. But what makes del.icio.us special is you can add //tags// (or key words) to describe your bookmarks. This will allow you to sort and categorize your bookmarks, and it will allow you do to the same in other people's bookmarks. You can also search the Del.icio.us website by tag and see what websites others have identified with that tag. You can create a network of users whose bookmarks or tags you find useful. My del.icio.us account name is ckendall. Visit [|my del.icio.us account] to see how I have bundled (grouped) my websites so you may see what websites I have tagged as potentially being useful.

You will see tags used by bloggers to describe the content of a blog post to make the post easy to find. And readers can tag content through their RSS aggregators to make it easy to find content. This last sentence will make more sense in a bit!


 * Blogs.** Blogs are a way we share ideas, information, and communicate in the 21st century.

//A **blog** (short for **web log**) is a website where entries are written in// [|chronological order] //and displayed in reverse chronological order.// //Blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal// [|online diaries]//. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual, although some focus on// [|photographs] //(//[|photoblog]//),// [|sketchblog]//,// [|videos] //(//[|vlog]//),// [|music] //(//[|MP3 blog]//), or// [|audio] //(//[|podcasting]//), and are part of a wider network of// [|social media]//.//
 * What is a blog?** According to [|Wikipedia] (as of 5/21/2007):


 * How many blogs are there?** According to [|Technorati] (think of Technorati as the blog-searching equivalent of Google for the web), as of May 2007 there are 71 million blogs.


 * How can I find interesting blogs?** Start by searching at [|Technorati] to find blogs on topics of interest to you. Also, another thought, is if you have a favorite columnist or author, he or she may have a blog. For example, [|Dave Barry] has an interesting column.


 * It takes too long to go to different websites to check for blogs - how can I make the blog posting come to me to save me time?** You need a software program that will gather information for you! Most blogs have a way to "push" content out - look for the RSS button or link to an RSS feed. When you click that button the website will load in a new window. You can then copy/paste the URL into your feed management program. Email programs now have RSS feed managers. I choose to use [|Google Reader], which is web-based. By having a RSS aggregator, or manager, I don't have to check the blogs - when a new posting is made I am notified automatically!


 * How can teachers use blogs?** The [|Inchinan Primary School] and [|Kathy Shield's kindergarten class], [|Carrin Shore] and [|07 All Stars]have a class blog. [|Edublogs] is a website that provides free blogs to educators.

So a blog can be a way to share your thoughts with others and/or to communicate with parents and students. Wikis are another tool that many educators are finding appealing because of the collaborative opportunities a wiki provides.


 * Podcasts**

We'll return to podcasts in a bit.