Thing+6

=**Tagging & social bookmarking in Del.icio.us**=

[|Tagging] is an open and informal method of categorizing that allows users to associate keywords with online content (webpages, pictures & posts). Unlike library subject cataloging, which follows a strict set of guidelines (i.e.Library of Congress subject headings), tagging is completely unstructured and freeform, allowing users to create connections between data anyway they want. This week, in addition to exploring [|Technorati] tagging, we want to also take at popular social bookmarking site called Del.icio.us (typed in as [|http://del.icio.us] ). [|Del.icio.us] is a social bookmarking manager which allows you to bookmark a web page and add tags to categorize your bookmarks. Many users find that the real power of Del.icio.us is in the social network aspect, which allows you to see how other users have tagged similar links and also discover other websites that may be of interest to you. You can think of it as peering into another users’ filing cabinet, but with this powerful bookmarking tool each user's filing cabinet helps to build an expansive knowledge network. For this discovery exercise, you are asked to take a look at Del.icio.us and learn about this popular bookmarking tool. > Can you see the potential of this tool for education and lifelong learning? Or just as an easy way to create bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere? OPTIONAL: If you’re up to the challenge, create a [|Del.icio.us] account for yourself and discover how this useful bookmarking tool can replace your traditional browser bookmark list. You might even want to explore Del.icio.us’ latest addition, a [|network badge]. (Psst! see it over there at the end of the navigation sidebar) Note: If you do setup a [|Del.icio.us] account, here’s a quick word about the Del.icio.us Buttons. On PCs that have the toolbars locked down, these will install as options in your browser bookmarks. Use the “Post to my Del.icio.us” link to add the current webpage to your account (you may need to log in). Use the “My Del.icio.us” link to view your online account.
 * Discovery Resources:**
 * Common Craft Video on [|social tagging]
 * Otter Group [|Del.icio.us tutorial] (8 min video) - Highly recommended!!!
 * [|Us.ef.ul: A beginners guide to Del.icio.us]
 * Discovery Exercise:**
 * 1) View the [|Common Craft Video] and the [|8 minute Del.icio.us tutorial] to get a good overview of its features.
 * 2) Take a look around Del.icio.us using the [|SWC23] account that was created for this exercise. Note: In this account you will find lots of resources that have been highlighted or used throughout the course of the Learning 2.0 program.
 * 3) Explore the site options and try clicking on a bookmark that has also been bookmarked by a lot of other users. Can you see the comments they added about this bookmark or the tags that they used to categorize this reference?
 * 4) Create a blog post about your experience and thoughts about this tool.

1. Explore [|Furl], another social bookmarking site that lets you organize your bookmarks. Compare its features with Del.icio.us. 2. [|Pagekeeper] is a similar service aimed at teachers--it is an ad-free site that lets you create a list of Web sites for student access. Try the bookmarking features of Pagekeeper and compare them to del.icio.us and/or Furl. Pagekeeper is maintained by [|Teaching Matters], a non-profit that promotes technology integration in education. [|Tagging] is a way to categorize items, like your bookmarks, Web pages, pictures, & posts. More flexible than folders, you make up tags when you need them and you can use as many as you like. The result is a way to organize your bookmarks or blog posts or other things you want to label. Unlike traditional library subject cataloging, which follows a strict set of guidelines (e.g., Library of Congress subject headings), tagging is completely unstructured and free form, allowing users to create connections between data in any way they want. In the past few weeks, we’ve already explored one site-- [|Flickr] --that allows users to take advantage of tagging. You may have tagged some of your own photos as part of that Thing. Searching tags in Flickr or another site that allows tagging lets you find other items with those same tags. 1. You can tag (Blogger calls them labels) your Blogger posts with keywords or phrases. From the Dashboard, go to Manage Posts and choose the post you want to add tags to. Enter the words in the Labels for this post box in the lower right. Type in your tags (commas between each word or phase). Click Publish Post to re-publish the post with its labels (tags) to your blog.
 * Challenge (optional)**
 * Do some tagging:**

In addition to tagging, this Thing looks at the popular social bookmarking site Del.icio.us (typed in as [|http://del.icio.us] ). [|Del.icio.us] is a social bookmarking manager that allows you to bookmark a Web page and add tags to categorize your bookmarks. Tags can be used in Del.icio.us to organize your bookmarks--and let others know what you have bookmarked. Learn about [|tagging] on Del.icio.us. Del.icio.us lets you access your bookmarks from any computer--just log into your account and there they are. This is a great timesaver if you need to find a site, but can't remember its name. If you tag your Del.icio.us bookmarks, you can search on the tags. For students, Del.icio.us helps them use bookmarks in their research. The bookmarks are available at any computer they use in the library, the lab, or at home.