Collaboration

How can we share information through wikis, shared documents, shared bookmarks?
May 7, 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM TMC

The gentle introduction to Web2.0 - looking at some ways to collaborate online with others to accomplish a task.


 * Old school:** A notebook or log where multiple people may write an entry. To make a change a user would have to manually erase the information.


 * Network-based @ IISD:** Staff shared directory allows us to save docs to a space where others can view but not edit. Generally, others must "save as" to edit, creating another version of the document.


 * Web2.0:** A web-based place where multiple users can read, write and edit. The level of privacy (who can see the information, who can read, who can edit) is variable depending on the website and users.

Regardless of which computer the user is accessing, the information you are creating can be accessed, edited, written, and shared. It is very easy to see who edited the document when, and what changes were made.
 * [[image:http://www.gerryriskin.com/Question%20Mark.jpg width="28" height="36"]]Why would we want to use these environments?**

Each of the services we look at today will require the user to have an ID - this ID is created by registering at their website. You may be required to confirm your registration by email.
 * Access**


 * Today's three services**



Wikispaces offers free, advertisement-free [|wikis for K-12 educators]. Create your ID by completing the //Join// form on the main page. Multiple levels of access are available. Editing a wiki is as easy as word processing! Check out this high school U.S. History project What Does Vietnam Mean? and [|Literary Allusion in Popular Music] written by English teachers. There is even a wiki that lists many educational wikis which may be a useful place to explore how teachers and students are using wikis in the classroom. [|Wikipedia] is the most well-known wiki - many students start here when researching. How reliable is the information? Actually quite reliable, research has shown. Should it be quoted as a source in projects and research? No, as the information can change too quickly and is not necessarily going to be there should another person look for the same information. Anyone can create an ID and then become a writer and editor on Wikipedia. Try it!



[|Google Docs & Spreadsheets] is a private authoring environment - only you and the other users you designate will be able to see your documents. On the main Google page, in the upper right corner click on the Sign in link, where you will see a sign in box or the option to create a new Google account.



[|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. If you set up a del.icio.us account, let me know! Interested in finding out more? Read [|7 Things You Should Know About Social Bookmarking (PDF).]


 * Checking for understanding.** Today's three services are an introduction to the idea of online collaboration.


 * These sessions are at the exposure level and will answer the questions:**
 * What is it? Could you describe these services to others?
 * How do 21st century learners use this? How do people use these services
 * How could I use this?


 * Outcomes of each session:**
 * Improved understanding of our students' world.
 * Identify one aspect of that day's featured web2.0 applications which could be useful to you as a learner and 21st century educator/parent/grandparent.

Post them on the discussion page (click on the discussion tab at the top of this page). You must be a registered wikispaces user and a member of this group to post!
 * Questions? Comments?**