How Web 2.0 Tools Can Simplify Department Work Presented on Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Prof. Leonardo Flores Department of English E-mail: flores@uprm.edu Blog: http://blogs.uprm.edu/flores

Conceptual Framework

Web 1.0 Tools Web 2.0 Tools

Communication • •

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E-mail Attachments

Communication Social applications (Facebook) Social bookmarking (del.icio.us) Blogs and Feeds (RSS and Atom)

Static Web Pages • •

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Information repositories Updates require new documents

Dynamic Web Pages Stylesheets and databases Archives, feeds, customizable pages

Documents • •

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Produced on computer software Multiple copies and versions

Documents Wikis and online word processors Archived, searchable versions

Problems with current (Web 1.0) communication technology (e-mail):

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Excessive e-mail volume Unsorted information Important e-mails get overlooked due to massive amounts of e-mail Difficult to keep track of old information Commenting on e-mail by replying to one or all generates more e-mail

Advantages of Blogs (Web 2.0) as communication technology:

Classifies posting into categories Searchable contents Archives postings People can comment directly on blog posting Blog generates feeds, accessible through:

Live bookmarks Feed readers E-mail subscriptions Other blogs

Frees up e-mail for especially important and/or time-sensitive messages.

Some uses of blogs: •

o o

Information management Multiple contributors Examples:

English Department Blog (http://blogs.uprm.edu/english) •

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Course blogs Can use postings as topics for discussion Students can create their own blogs for class assignments Examples:

Topics in Film (http://blogs.uprm.edu/3345Film/) Poetry and its Contexts (http://poetrycontexts.blogspot.com/)

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Committee blogs Private blogs: username to access Administrator controls access Posting and comment tools are useful for discussion of topics posted

Personal blogs Examples:

Prof. Leonardo Flores (http://blogs.uprm.edu/flores/) Hacienda Flores (http://haciendaflores.blogspot.com)

Blog Creation and Implementation

• Create account(s) in UPRM blog server (http://blogs.uprm.edu) • • • •

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Design and create blog Orientation and campaigning Recruit and train contributors Maintain and use, constantly reminding users of its existence

Problems with current document dissemination and feedback (Web 1.0):

Documents are distributed in print or by e-mail. Multiple recipients can edit document and each create a new version of document, often with duplicate feedback. Document editor must sort through multiple versions of document to select and adopt changes. The product must be resent for further feedback to avoid feedback on old versions. Easy to lose track of document versions.

Advantages of Wikis and online word-processors (Web 2.0):

Documents are uploaded/created and stored online. Author can share document with other users, who can edit and/or comment. Author has power to accept or reject changes and/or comments. All drafts and versions of document are automatically saved and archived. Services:

Buzzword (http://www.buzzword.com) Google Documents (http://docs.google.com)