Wikis | Podcasting | Furl | Mind Mapping Software | Desktop Search | Blog of interest
Wikis
You may have heard of wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit. If you have not heard of it, you might be surprised that anyone can edit it. Yet this is the essence of a wiki; they are websites which are authored and edited by a community of users.
Wikis are a useful tool for collaborative learning and building content. They are also useful for collating and organizing new areas of knowledge and research.
Here are some illuminating websites which explain all you need to know about wikis.
- Ways to use wiki in education
- Augar, N., Raitman, R. & Zhou, W. (2004). Teaching and learning online with wikis. In R. Atkinson, C. McBeath, D. Jonas-Dwyer & R. Phillips (Eds), Beyond the comfort zone: Proceedings of the 21st ASCILITE Conference (pp. 95-104). Perth, 5-8 December.
http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/perth04/procs/augar.html
Podcasting
The convergence of mp3s, iPods and RSS has resulted in one of the latest trends in instructional technology Podcasting. Pre-recorded audio clips are podcasted via RSS. This method of disseminating audio content is gaining popularity among faculty in American and Canadian universities. Recorded lectures are among the audio content that can be made available through podcasting.
The podcasting process begins with educators or other users planning and recording their audio programmes/content to mp3 format (or other compressed audio formats) on their computers. The mp3 file is then uploaded to a web server. The file is linked to a RSS feed. People who are subscribed to this feed and who have suitable RSS feed readers will receive the file on their computer, as the RSS feed reader will automatically download it. All that remains is for the user to transfer this audio file to their iPod or other media players for listening at their convenience.
- Following on from the wiki snippet, this is Wikipedias entry on Podcasting
- What is Podcasting and Why Should You Care?
Furl
Furl is a new online tool which enables people to go beyond bookmarking websites. Furl users can save entire websites remotely and access them at a later date. They can also share these websites via e-mail or RSS. Users can also make their Furl list public, enabling other Furl users to see what has caught their interest.
Faculty can use Furl to share internet resources with their students. Furl also enables students to see what websites other students using Furl have bookmarked a kind of collaborative bookmarking system.
- Furl instead of blog George Siemens, elearnspace blog
Mind Mapping Software
Those familiar with the concept of mind mapping will find the MindManager software from Mindjet Software truly revolutionary. Combining mind mapping techniques with software, MindManager is a visual solution for knowledge and information management. The Faculty of Medicine are extensive users of MindManager.
MindManager maps can be integrated with Microsoft Office products and can contain links to online resources. Used in an educational context, MindManager assists in developing course structure and organizing course content. Since the maps are visual, students and faculty can easily conceive the entire course in a glance.
A free alternative to MindManager is FreeMind. This software provides similar mind mapping functionality for different computing platforms, while not affecting users' wallets.
Desktop Search
Desktop Search tools are now being offered by several major search engines and an information management company. These tools let users search for items on their desktop instantly, as they index the contents of users computers. Beyond this basic functionality, the desktop search tools vary from company to company, both in features and deployment. For example, MSN Desktop Search part of the MSN Toolbar Suite Beta is the only desktop search tool which features integration with Microsoft Office. Some of these tools are integrated with the browser while others are standalone applications.
While desktop searching may help ease our information overload, there are possible security and privacy concerns that potential users should be aware of before deciding to use these tools. For the time being, they are recommended for home use only.
Blog of interest
PhDweblogs.net
This website brings together international PhD students and researchers blogs. PhD students can submit their PhD or research-related blogs for listing on PhDweblogs.net. Listed blogs are classified by research area, country and language for easy reference. This website is a boon for PhD students and researchers alike, enabling them to be aware of their contemporaries' interests, insights and progress.
