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Community
Beyond Discussion Boards: Building Community
Social Bookmarking Tools
Links:
Ideas for use:
- tag resources for your courses by course id, then provide the URL for students in that course. URL will be formed as del.icio.us.com/YOUR_USER_NAME/COURSE_ID.
- students can use a common tag when researching sources for a group project. This gives them access to the resources other students locate.
- notice pink highlight on delicious that show how many other users have linked the same resource. These links are all clickable. Find other delicious users with similar interests and explore their links.
Photo Sharing Tools
Links:
Ideas for use:
- students upload photos. Instructors, other students, and general public can post comments.
- instructor uploads photos for class discussion. Information about the photo (and the topic) can be provided in the description field. Students (and general public) can post comments.
- instructor locates photos on flickr that other users have uploaded. Links to these photos can spark discussion among class members.
Blogging
Links for Hosted Blogging (free accounts):
Ideas for use:
- individual student blogs. These are particularly useful as reflective tools and journals. Instructor, other students, and general public can post comments. The ability to customize by using templates affords students some self-expression and ownership. The responsibility of publishing in a public location increases student attention to good writing practices.
- group blog for class. In this case, the instructor creates the blog and sends an electronic invitation to students in the class. When students respond to the invitation, blogger gives them access to post to the blog as a group member. This can be used as a class web site, with announcements, resources, links of interest, and group discussion. The format is more organic than a threaded discussion.
Good Resource Books:
Wiki
Links for Free Software (must be loaded on your server):
Ideas for use:
- class web site that can be edited by all class members
- students post their questions for the course and keep notes about what they’re learning
- students and instructor share links to resources
- students create a glossary of terms, with definitions, that are useful to other students in the course
- excellent for collaborative writing and group projects
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