Week 7: Social Networking

Read

7 Things You Should Know About Facebook (PDF), by Educause Learning Initiative

7 Things You Should Know About Facebook II (PDF)), by Educause Learning Initiative

View
Social Networking in Plain English, by Common Craft



Do

1. Use your browser to go to facebook.com. Either Internet Explorer or Firefox will work


2. Create an account by filling out the 'Sign Up for Facebook' box


3. Confirm your email address by clicking on the link in the confirmation email


4. If you want to you can then:
   
   
   
   • See which of your email friends are already on Facebook
   
   
   • Start filling out your profile information with education and work
   
   
   • Join the Chicago, IL network
   
   
   
   


5. Upload a profile photo


6. Post your first status update


7. Become a fan of the Ronald Williams Library


8. Add the NEIU LibGuides application

Please note that you have the option of setting your privacy levels on Facebook for different types of friends. Just click the 'Privacy' link across the top of the page once you're logged in.

Explore

Facebook offers loads and loads of Applications -- some of which may be useful; many of which are simple time wasters. Try some of these to get started:

• Cities I've Visited


• Visual Bookshelf


• NY Times News Quiz

What about MySpace? Well, yes, Facebook is only one of many social networking sites. Perhaps more of your family and/or friends are on one of these:

• MySpace


• Bebo


• Friendster

...and more. New ones are being created all the time.

Let's Catch Up

Since we have a few weeks of padding built into our series of lessons, I thought it might be helpful for all of us to take a break from new "toys" this week and review what we've done so far.

We're a little more than halfway through the lessons. I'd like to hear from you. Of the six things we've covered so far...

1. Which tool (if any) has been completely new to you?


2. Which tool do you see being the most useful in your work? your personal life?


3. Which tool do you think is the most fun? Why?

Having a good time with these lessons? Spread the word. Now would be a good time to encourage your co-workers to jump in and catch up.

Questions so far? Drop me a line this week at l-wallis@neiu.edu. I'll try to respond by the end of the week so we can all get back to learning new things on June 30.

Week 6: Instant Messaging

Read

7 Things You Should Know About Instant Messaging (PDF), by Educause Learning Initiative

View

Common Craft has not yet produced a video on Instant Messaging. This week's video is:
Instant Messaging with Meebo, by PCMechTV



Do

1. Use your browser to go to meebo.com. Either Internet Explorer or Firefox will work.
   
2. Create a Meebo account by clicking on 'Sign up now'


3. When you get to the screen that asks you to add your IM account information, put in your AIM, Yahoo!, Google Talk, and/or MSN account name and password. If you do not have one of those sign up here:
   
   
   
   • AIM
   
   
   • Yahoo!
   
   
   • Google
   
   
   • MSN
   
   
   
   


4. Send a chat to neiulibrary (available on all systems). You'll reach the reference desk. Say hi! Or drop me a note at lisacwallis (available on all systems).

That's all there is to it. The real benefit of meebo is that you can sign in in one place and access all of your different IM accounts. I'd recommend you at least sign up for two of the above services. After all, they're free. Plus, your family and friends are probably scattered among all of them. With meebo, you can chat with all of them at once.

Explore

IM has already been popular for several years. However, Meebo makes it so much more convenient. Explore the Meebo features including:

• Changing your page colors and/or design


• Adding a photo to your Meebo account


• Putting a Meebo Me widget on your blog. Just follow these instructions.

Week 5: Online Photo Sharing

Read
7 Things You Should Know About Flickr (PDF), by Educause Learning Initiative

View
Online Photo Sharing in Plain English, by Common Craft



Do

1. Use your browser to go to flickr.com. Either Internet Explorer or Firefox will work.


2. Choose the 'Create Your Account' button. If you already have a Yahoo! account, you can log in with that.


3. Try browsing through the Flickr tour. Note the:
   
   
   
   • Different ways you can upload your photos
   
   
   • Types of privacy levels you can assign each photo
   
   
   
   


4. Add the neiulibrary profile as a contact by clicking 'Add neiulibrary as a contact'.


5. Join the Libraries and Librarians group by clicking 'Join this group'.


6. Upload a photo to your account and give it a few tags. You can use the basic upload page or try one of the tools they offer.


7. Click on one of the tags you gave your photo. On the resulting page, click the link that reads 'See all public content tagged with ____'. Click on one you really like, and add it as a favorite.


8. Share your flickr profile URL in a post on your blog.
   
   example: http://flickr.com/people/lisacwallis

Please note that you have the option of making each photo you upload either public or private. Public photos will be viewable by anyone; private photos will only be viewable by family, friends, or only you (when logged in)--your choice.

Explore
The Common Craft video mentioned a couple of other photo sharing sites. Some additional ones include:

• Picasa, part of Google


• SmugMug

Images are protected by copyright, and you can decide who can use yours and what exactly they can do. Learn more at Creative Commons.

Free online photo editors are a convenient way to make your pictures really stand out. Flick incorporates Picnik. Others include:

• Pixenate


• FotoFlexer

Week 4: Social Bookmarking

Read

7 Things You Should Know About Social Bookmarking (PDF), by Educause Learning Initiative

View

Social Bookmarking in Plain English, by Common Craft

Do

1. Use your browser to go to http://del.icio.us/. Either Internet Explorer or Firefox will work.


2. Create a free del.icio.us account. For help see "How do I get started?".


3. Install the Firefox extension (or IE buttons) or save the bookmarklet buttons. These are what will allow you to add links to your del.icio.us account as you find them.


4. Add the neiulibrary account to your network by going to the neiulibrary del.icio.us page and clicking "add neiulibrary to your network".


5. Bookmark your first page. How about del.icio.us help? Remember to tag it.


6. Explore other del.icio.us users' links. How?
   


• Browse the del.icio.us home page for the latest adds.


• Search the site by tag.


• Go directly to one of your favorite sites.
  


7. Pick a bookmark and "send" to to neiulibrary by tagging it with for:neiulibrary


8. Share your del.icio.us URL in a post on your blog. Also include comments on a) those pink bars--what do they mean? b) tagging with phrases -- what are some options?
   
   example: http://del.icio.us/lisacwallis

Please note that you have the option of making each bookmark you save either public or private. Public bookmarks will show up in your publicly viewable link list; private booksmarks will only show up in your link list when you are logged in.

Explore

As with the other tools we've explored so far, del.ico.us is not the only social bookmarking site. You could also use:

• Ma.gnolia.com


• Furl

Some bookmarking sites have been created specifically for academic use. These include:

• CiteULike


• Connotea (from Nature Publishing Group)