other social softwary sites

Check out these other 'web 2.0' sites. You can find many more through google; try searching "web 2.0"

Be sure to open a new browser window for each one, that way you can flick between each. To do this, just 'CNTL-N', or FILE-NEW-WINDOW. When you have a new window, simply copy the link below and paste it in the address bar near the top of the browser window, the hit ENTER. (sorry, I can't be bothered putting the links in for everything)

have fun

wikipedia
youtube
www.43things.com
del.icio.us
www.evoca.com
www.yackpack.com
www.diaryproject.com/
wikibooks
www.writely.com/BasePage.aspx
www.fabrica.it/flipbook/index.php

flickr

OK, the second series of exercises relate to the photo sharing website flickr.

But first we invite you to have a look around the flickr site. It's huge. So many cool photos and bits and peices. Check out the following bits after getting to the flickr main page. I've included some links for you, see if you can find the others yourself:

• explore
• tags
• sets
• groups
• comments
• notes and tags

You might also want to have a look at these flickr tools that make the experience even more interesting:

• services
• tools
• magazine cover tool

OK when you've done all that, then take some time to have a go at some of the activities on the blogs below:

• edugadget flickr stuff


• dr joolz flickr stuff

Activity 4: Blogs and/in the media

Many people have begun to see blogs as an alternative to traditional media news. Blogs, unlike traditional media, are not edited, and this is what makes blogs unique news sources. The use of blogs is an example of how new media developments can reconfigure politics and culture, and the way people communicate and interact with each other.

This suggests some interesting possibilities for English teachers exploring a media issue with their students. One interesting activity might be to compare the style/format/content/position of media coverage presented by huge media outlets compared to bloggers. Take, for example, the coverage of Hurricane Katrina

Here are some interesting links to explore:

Blogs
Hurricane Katrina, The voice of hurricane recovery (blogging since the storm first hit)
Stories of Hurricane Katrina (a community blog with multiple authors)
Au 'audio blog' of a driver heading towards the storm
The Invisible Coast (a blog showcasing a student created documentary)
Operation Eden (the blog of a survivor with incredibly powerful images)

'Mainstream' Media
Rising from Ruin (MSNBC)
Hurricane Katrina special (CNN)
See the wikipedia entry on Hurricane Katrina for a huge selection of media coverage

The media coverage of the Beaconsfield mine rescue is raising some interesting questions (see below). This could also be a way to explore the changing face of media and its impact on people's lives (especially the people of Beaconsfield).

The transcript of Media Watch's analysis of the media coverage

Can you see the possibilities of blogging in activities like these?

Activity 3: Collaborative Writing

Blogs can also be used for collaborative writing activities in the classroom. You can set up a blog with numerous 'owners', so that a whole group can contribute to the same blog. Have a look at 'Femme Tales': a group of students and teachers at a Victorian school who are writing a 'chicklit' novel together.

Have a think (or chat with your neighbours) about some ideas for using blogs as part of students' writing processes in the classroom. If you come up with some good ideas, post them below this post by clicking on the 'comments' function and follow the steps.

Activity 2: Using Blogs for structured learning activities

Below is a series of tasks that Scott posted on his classroom blog a couple of years back. Have a play. Having a classblog is another place to give students direction and free up your time to work/talk with them individually.

writing task 5 - corporate and political subversion

OK, it's time to get on your soapbox ... time to get political and angry about all those mean, greedy and cold hearted people in the world who tread upon us 'bleeding hearts'.There have been a couple of interesting issues in the media lately that you will research and form your own views about. These issues relate to politics, media manipulation, and the ideal of free speech. Make sure you take the time to read critically and try to understand how the presentation of the issue might be biased.

1. Michael Moore and his latest film Fahernheit 9/11
Research the controversy over Moore's new film. What groups are involved? What are people saying about it? Why has there been this reaction to the film? What were Moore's reasons for making the film? What are his critics saying? What award did the film recently win?(approx. 150 words)
Michael Moore's website
Moore's mission: get Bush (the age)

2. Super Size Me! - overweight culture and the fast-food lifestyle.
Morgan Spurlock ate McDonalds every meal for a month. WHY? Find out what the deal is and why he did it. What point is he trying to make? What happended to Spurlock during the filming? What is being said about the film by critics? How has McDonalds responded? What other problems/controversey has McDonalds been involved in the past? (approx 150 words)

Check out these links to get you started on this one:
Mac attack (the age)
Eyes on the fries (the age)
The good burghers of Macca's (the age)
Super Size Me website

3. Culturejamming and the art of the sniggle
What other kinds of subversive political or anit-commercial activity can you find online? There are thousands of websites, blogs, ezines, games, etc. that satirise (poke fun at) politicans and corporations. This kind of social comment is often called sniggling or culture jamming, and has become a popular way of getting an 'alternative' message across in the media. See what you can find.

What kinds of subversive activities could you become involved in? What needs changing in your local area? At school? How would you go about conducting a campaign to comment on and change whatever the problem might be? How successful do you think you would likey be? (150 words)

Begin with the following links, but you may also want to try searching for relevant terms:
Adbusters Culturejammers
Subvertise.org
Sniggle.net - the culture jammer's encyclopedia
Corporate Watch
CORPwatch

When you have finished the above tasks, have a look at this example of satire

There are plenty of other examples available all over the web. Try a google search for 'class blogs' or something like that. You can have a look at another (rather shortlived!) example here. Natalie used this blog when she was working with a Foundation English class on the 'Communication and the workplace' area of study.

Other examples:
Jo's class blog
11e's class blog
Miss Cleine's class blog
ap english juniors

Activity 1: Joining the conversation

Here is a link to a class of year 8 students blogging for the most time this year. This blog is the 'class blog', the centre of the hive, if you like. Have a read, and see how the teacher has set this experience up for her students. On the sidebar, you will see a list of blogs that the students maintain themselves and post their own writing to. Have a read of some of them, and perhaps post a comment or two (the students really enjoy receiving thoughtful and positive feedback from readers). You can do this by clicking on the word 'comment' under any blog entry, and following the directions.

Start here...

This blog contains some activities that might be interesting ways to explore the blogosphere with your students. It also provides some links to some wonderful examples of teachers blogging with students from around the world. Start exploring and see what you think...