Blogging and RSS: Show and Share, May 4, 2006

Today's Show and Share covered three topics.

1. Additional Resources for Learning about Web 2.0/Library 2.0. Veronica shared with us the Educause site containing the audio file of Bryan Alexander's talk on Mobile Leaning at the ELI Spring Focus session. Bryan has a number of blogs and websites, including: Liberal Education Today, Infocult, and his page at the Center for Educational Technology. Please share the resources you find helpful and/or interesting on Web 2.0/Library 2.0, and we'll post them here.
2. Firefox, Performancing and Portable Firefox. Since working with Web 2.0 usually involves use of a web browser, Mike presented some of the differences between MS Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. Useful features include Themes (user selected "skins"), tabbed browsing, Live Bookmarks (RSS), and Extensions that the user installs to perform a myriad of tasks. One Extension, Performancing, allows the user to have access to a blog editor at the touch of a button from any Firefox browser window. This editor works with multiple blogs from multiple hosts. Finally, Mike demonstrated Portable Firefox, which can be loaded on a USB drive. When Portable Firefox is fully installed, the user can employ his/her preferred web work environment wherever he/she works (subject to security restrictions, as in the instruction labs). The environment includes the browser, bookmarks, themes, extensions and other browser-based settings. Testing of Portable Firefox needs to be done at various sites within the library: labs, student computers, reference desks, and on tablet PCs.
3. Mapping Business Resources using Platial. Rhonda demonstrated a trial application of Platial mapping software. Having identified a test set of business databases and libraries in Southeast Michigan that have access to them, Rhonda used Platial to map the libraries, and describe their business resources, hours, and computer access policies. She also included pictures of each of the libraries. Rhonda then showed how the map could be "published" as JavaScript and placed into the abstract section of a subject guide (#156). Platial was chosen from among a number of mapping applications for its flexibility and its ability to display and format textual annotation. The group discussed possible implications and extensions of this type of technology (e.g., legal clinics, special collections, community health).

Thanks to Laila Jackson for joining us. Laila is our new WSULS trainer. Her office is on the 2nd floor of the UGL.

It's clear that, while we are still talking about Blogging and RSS to some extent, the group has a thirst for all things Web 2.0. Therefore, a group name change is in order. Stay tuned for a new name and a broader mission, while still covering the same high quality content!