Thing #17: Podcasting

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You already learned about how RSS feeds automatically send web updates to your Google reader account. Podcasting takes this same idea of content delivery and applies it to digital media, including radio programs, videos, music, class lectures and more.

Just as web feeds are sent to your RSS reader, podcast feeds are automatically delivered to your podcast aggregator, or "podcatcher." Several of these are available online, and Apple's itunes (free) has a built-in podcatcher that downloads podcasts to your computer and syncs with your ipod. There are also several similar podcatchers you can install on your computer available here.

For this thing, you will explore the world of podcasting by finding and subscribing to a few 'casts of your choice.

1. Subscribe to 2 podcasts and listen to a few episodes. One of your podcasts has to be related to health or human biology (even better if it covers your topic), but the other one is entirely your choice. Give me the names of the podcasts, why you chose them, who makes them, and what the 'cast is about. Use one of the following options to complete this thing:

• If you have installed itunes, you can find podcasts by going to the itunes store and choosing "podcasts" from the store menu. From there, search for, browse and subscribe to podcasts.
• If you don't use itunes and prefer not to install third-party software, never fear--there's a free, web-based podcatcher/digital audio wonderland called Odeo. You'll need to create a user account, then browse or search through podcasts. When you find something you like, select "add to playlist" to subcribe.

2. What is your take on podcasting? Do you feel it is a useful method of information discovery and communication? Why or why not? (100 words minimum)

Resources:

NPR Podcast Directory
Podcast Alley
Podzinger

Thing #15: Explore Some Web-Based Applications

When you think of writing a paper for a class or creating a spreadsheet, normally the first thing that pops to mind is Microsoft Office applications: Word and Excel. In order to use these applications, you must buy and install a copy of them on your computer (or borrow someone else's computer - like in the library or other campus computer labs.). But there is another way. You know how del.icio.us allows you to take your bookmarks with you to any computer? And you can easily share those bookmarks with whomever you choose? Now it is possible for you to use an online word processor (or calendar or spreadsheet software) from any computer with internet access.

You can write a sonnet, prepare a budget, plan your wedding, create an organizational chart or presentation - and oh yeah - do your homework! You can create, edit, share and store documents online for free - no purchase necessary. Below is a list of commonly used online productivity web-based applications.

Word processing: Google docs, Zoho writer
Spreadsheets: Google sheets, Zoho sheet
Planners/calendars: Backpack, HipCal
Presentation/visual: Zoho show, Gliffy

Directions:

• Choose two applications from the list above (different types).
• Create accounts for each application (if you use the Google applications, you can user your Blogger account).
• Create a simple document/spreadsheet/presentation or make a few entries in a calendar - play around and check out the features of each application.
• Answer the following questions about each application:
  

1. Tell me about the application and what you found out while exploring it.
2. What might you use this application for in your school and personal life?
3. What special feature of this application do you like best? How does it work?

Blog post due: Monday, February 12th by 9pm.

Thing #13--Wikis and the Wisdom of Crowds

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A wiki is funny name for a user-edited online website/database. The most obvious example of a wiki is Wikipedia - a user-maintained online encyclopedia. Anyone can edit or create an entry in Wikipedia. Not all wikis work like this - often access to editing features is controlled. A wiki can be private or limited to certain users - sometimes this just means signing up as a user.

The defining feature of a wiki is the ease of creating and editing new entries or pages. A wiki allows people to communicate and collaborate with one another asynchronously. Wikis allow us to share information with each other, pool information and build on one another's knowledge. Check out a couple of these wikis (browse/search a few articles) and answer the questions below in your blog post.

wikiHow
Wikitravel
WikiMapia
MemoryArchive
or find a wiki about something that interests you at:
WikiIndex

1. What features do the the wikis that you looked at share in common?
2. What is the origin of the term "wiki"? Cite your source in correct APA style.
3. If you were to create a wiki, what would it be about and why?

Due: Monday, February 12th by 9pm.

Thing #14: Make an Entry in the Class Wiki

Okay, now that you've learned about how wikis work and how you might use them, go to the Class Wiki Site and answer the following questions. (The password to log into the class wiki is library):
javascript:void(0)
Publish
1. How is your research project going so far? Write a few sentences about your topic and what you've learned about it.

2. What area of information evaluation, research or citation management would you like to learn more about in this class?

Don't forget to sign your name so I know you've made your post. Feel free to respond to your classmates' comments and discuss any issues about the Final Project (or whatever else you feel like discussing).

Do this by 9 PM, Monday 2/12 at 9PM

Thing # 12: Explore Flickr

Simply put, Flickr is a website where users can store and share their photos, label them with tags and tag other member's photos. Most of you have probably seen photos that were hosted by Flickr and some of you might even have Flickr accounts.

Go to Flickr and cruise around a bit - browse through some pictures, notice the tags, do a few keyword searches. If you're feeling adventurous, create an account and upload some photos.

1. What is a tag cloud? (hint: check out the Popular Tags option on the Explore menu)
2. Check out the advanced search option. What does the term "Creative Commons" refer to?
3. Given what you have read about Web 2.0, how does Flickr exemplify Web 2.0 characteristics?
4. What is you favorite picture so far? (answer this question with it's URL)

I like this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/conza/378346357/

Blog post due: Mon, February 5th by 9pm.

Thing #11--NoodleTools

What does starchy, carb-laden goodness have to do with properly citing your sources? In reality, not much. There is, however, a growing number of online tools you can use to assist you with citations. One such utility is NoodleTools, a utility recently added by the library that allows you to created formatted bibliographies online, then export them to programs like MS Word.

For this activity, you will:

1. Set up a Noodletools user account.

Follow these instructions carefully:

• Go to Noodletools from the library web page.
  
• If you are off-campus, you'll need to login with your NetID and last name before proceeding.
  
• Select "NoodleBib"
  
• Now, create a user account by selecting "Create a New Folder" under the Personal Id and Password boxes (Ignore the ID and Password boxes for now).
• For your user account, make sure you choose something you'll remember, such as your NetID or blogger login info.
• You are ready to go! Select "Noodebib" to begin a bibliography you can store and edit online.

2. Using the 2 web resources you found in Thing #10, generate 2 APA citations using Noodletools.* Notice that you can save your list. This will come in handy later when your final project is due.

Now copy and paste your APA citations and post them as Thing #11. That's it!

Notice that when you log out of Noodletools and then log back in, all of your stuff is saved online. Very convenient for future papers and your final project for this class.

*Noodletools is helpful, but it's only as good as the data you input. Follow the input instructions carefully and use the help links to guide you in identifying the citation components.

For an online guide to APA style, see Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

Also, remember that the absolute authority for APA Style is the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (call # BF76.7 .P82 2001), available at both the reference desk and in the stacks.

Thing #10: A Few Good Sites

Chances are, you've already got a running start on this thing.

Using your web searching skills, your favorite search engine and the web site evaluation techniques we went over in class:


1. Find two sites about your topic that you feel are reliable, quality information sources.

2. Provide a link to each site and tell me why you think it's appropriate to recommend. Pay attention to whether you're recommending an entire site, such as lupus.org, or a document on a site, such as the lupus overview at mayoclinic.com (this will help you in thing #11).

Post by 9PM, Monday, Feb. 5th.