Thing #9 - Social bookmarking

Ever wish you could take your bookmarks with you? Got a list of bookmarks a mile long that you wished you could organize without creating a scary complicated file folder structure? Or say you're looking to buy a car and a friend is helping you out - wouldn't it be nice to have an easy way to share websites that you've found without emailing them to each other? Welcome to the world of social bookmarking.

Using del.icio.us, and other sites like it, you can bookmark websites, organize them using tags and access your bookmarks from any computer.

1) Go to http://del.icio.us/ and set up an account.
2) Add a couple of bookmarks to your del.icio.us account. As you add each site, add a tag or two to describe that site. For an example of a del.icio.us account with a lot of bookmarks, see the LIBY 1210 del.icio.us site: http://del.icio.us/liby1210.
3) Post the URL of your del.icio.us site in your blog entry for this week and answer the following questions:

- How might an individual use del.icio.us?
- What is tagging? What are it's advantages and disadvantages?
- How does del.icio.us embody the principles of the Web 2.0 philosophy?

Resources: http://del.icio.us/liby1210/tagging

Post length: At least 150 words.
Due: Wed, January 31st by 9pm.

Thing #8 - Compare two search engines

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You've probably used Google to find information on the web, and with good reason. Google is easy to use, has a simple, uncluttered interface and allows you to apply various search limits. It is not, however, the only search engine out there.

In fact, different search engines have unique features, and rank the sites they return in different ways (which is why the same keyword search in Google will not return the exact list you'll get in say, Microsoft's Live Search). There are also a number of specialty search engines that cater to specific subject areas, such as science or

So let's get started. Choose two search engines from the following list:

A9
Ask
Clusty
Exalead
Grokker
Intute
SearchMash

Next, try a few searches, check out any advanced search features, explore and play. If you want to kill two birds with one stone, try searching for background information on your research topic. You won't have to turn it in this week, but finding websites for your research project is an upcoming Thing.

Complete the following questions for each search engine:

1. Who produces this search engine? What do you think is the search engine's main purpose (i.e. to find anything on the web, find specific topical information or formats, research)?

2. Describe two or three special features of this search engine. Also describe any features that you think would be useful in narrowing down your search.

One more question:
3. Compare and contrast this search engines with each other and with Google. Of the three, which do you like best? Why?

Resources: http://del.icio.us/liby1210/searchengine

Minimum blog post length: At least 150 words
Due Wednesday, January 31st by 9pm.


*Challenge Exercise* (1 point extra credit)
Create your own search engine using Google Co-op. Include at least 5 web resources in your engine. Post the URL so I can check it out.

Thing #7 - Web 2.0

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Just when you thought web 1.0 was getting kind of tired...along comes Web 2.0!

Actually, Web 2.0 has been with us for a few years now. While you don't need to become an expert on web history, knowing the current philosophy behind web tools will help you gather and use information more efficiently. Read this Time magazine article to get a sense of the spirit of Web 2.0.

Now review this Squidoo lens on Web 2.0 and pick an article to read from the list.

Next, answer the following questions and post them to your blog (At least 50 words per answer):

1. Name 2 key characteristics of Web 2.0, and how these developments impact information seeking.

2. Name two web sites you commonly use (not MySpace) and explain why (or why not) they can be classified as Web 2.0.

Due Wed, January 31st by 9pm.

Thing #6 - Locate and subscribe to a few blogs or newsfeeds related to your project

Now that you've set up your Google Reader account and set up a few feeds, I want you to find and subscribe to two feeds that have to do with your project. You can search for feeds using the built in Google Reader feed directory or you can find appropriate websites that concern your topic and subscribe to their feeds. Remember to think about the principles of evaluation as you choose feeds. The resources should be appropriate for scholarly, college-level research.

In your blog post, tell me how you found the feeds and why you chose them.

Blog length: at least 150 words
Blog must be posted by: Wed, January 24th by 9pm

Thing #5 - Learn about RSS feeds

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Using RSS is one of the easiest and most powerful ways to organize the world of online information for your own personal use. RSS is one of those concepts that is harder to explain than to use. So, I recommend that you listen to the audio portion above and then just dive right in. If you don't quite understand what you are doing at first, that's okay, it will become clearer as you go. (But if you are one of those people who wants to read about it before you do it, check out the Resources link below).

1) Go to https://www.google.com/reader/ and log in with your Blogger username and password.
2) Watch the short video introduction (very helpful!)
3) Using the "Add subscription" button, search for a topic of interest and subscribe to one of the feeds.
4) Subscribe to a feed from a website. I recommend that you subscribe to the LIBY 1210-02 blog feed (scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the "Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)" link) .

Whew! Now answer a couple of questions in your blog post:
1) How would you explain RSS to a friend? (You might try looking at the Resources below to get some ideas)
2) What might you use RSS feeds for in your school/personal life?

Resources: http://del.icio.us/liby1210/rss

Blog length: at least 150 words
Blog must be posted by: Wed, January 24th by 9pm

Thing #4 - Read about the project and choose your topic

First, read about the research project here.

Now that you've got a pretty good idea about the nature of the project, it's time to pick an issue. I've included a list of possibilities. Most of the topics listed are too broad to address in one brief/memo. Part of the project is developing a good research topic and thesis statement. For example, one of the topics is the Patriot Act. However, I would expect you to focus your research efforts on a specific aspect/application of the Patriot Act, such as warrantless surveillance. You may choose your own topic and you will have time to narrow your topic further as you begin researching.

Remember, although some of the topics can be researched as social issues, your job is to look at them from a political perspective. This means thinking about them broadly in terms of legislation, government funding and government regulation.


Post your choice of topic to your blog.
Due by Wed, Jan24th at 9pm.


A completely non-comprehensive list of possible topics (if you don't like any of these, choose your own!):
autism
charter high schools
coast guard funding
Congressional ethics reform
corporate bankruptcy code
Darfur
emergency disaster aid
estate tax
farm subsidies
FDA drug-approval system
foreign aid
foreign investment in U.S. companies
generic drug access
global AIDS epidemic
global warming
government negotiation of drug prices
guest worker program
immigration/border security
intelligent design
minimum wage
net neutrality
No Child Left Behind
nutrition in the schools
obesity epidemic
oil in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
organic farming
over-fishing
paid family leave
Patriot Act
pharmaceutical companies - disclosure
pollution of the oceans
prescription drugs from Canada
regulation of fisheries
rising price of health care
stem cell research
tax cuts
universal health care
war in Iraq

Thing #3 - The Tour

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Your library is lots of things including books, magazines, newspapers, computers, and online databases, but did you know you can also borrow a laptop and find map collections?

For this exercise, you'll need a University Library Self-Guided Walking Tour (available at the Reference desk on the lower mall). Grab one and follow the steps. Sorry, no snacks provided.

As you take the tour, you can complete those questions from Thing #2 that require you to flip through a book or two. Just don't forget to post all the answers to your blog.

After the tour, create another post (and remember it helps me lots if you follow the number scheme, so calling it "Thing 3" is very kind!) and answer the following questions:

1. Why do you think the library is arranged the way it is? If you were the library building planner, how would you organize the collection?
2. What are the most useful services the library has to offer students?
3. Where, in your estimation is the best library bathroom located? (It's always good to know this sort of thing)
4. If you wanted to take an undisturbed nap in the library, where would you go?
5. What part of the library, in your opinion, offers the best view?

You're done!

Blog length: at least 150 words
Blog entry must be posted by: Wed, 1/17/07 at 9pm

Thing #2 - Get to know Haystac

This first week is about getting familiar with the library as a place, so you're going to take a tour. But before you run to the library just yet (I know you're excited about the tour, take a deep breath), get acquainted with Haystac, the library catalog. In fact, you can do most, but not all, of Thing 2 from home and fill in the gaps while doing the tour in Thing 3.

Use the Library of Congress Classifcation handout (available at the Reference Desk or here) and find a call number subclass for a topic that interests you. Make a note of the topic and subclass letters.

Topic:
Call number subclass (two letters):

Okay, that was pretty easy, now find three books and one media item using that call number. You'll need to include the following information for each item in your blog post (so jot it down as you search):

1. Reference book

• Call number
• Title
• Author
• Subjects
• Two interesting facts or ideas you found in this resource and the page numbers where you found those facts or ideas.
  

2. Non-reference book

• Call number
• Title
• Author
• Subjects
• Two interesting facts or ideas you found in this resource and the page numbers where you found those facts or ideas.
  

3. Electronic book

• Call number (if possible, some e-books don't have a call number)
• Title
• Author
• Subjects
• Two interesting facts or ideas you found in this resource and the page numbers where you found those facts or ideas.
  

4. Video or DVD or Audio recording:

• Call number (if possible)
• Title
• Author
• Subjects
  

So how do you find these materials in Haystac?

• Use the Call Number Search option to find books with the two letter LC classification that you have chosen.
• Then use the "Limit this Search" option to limit by WHERE the item is located: reference, book stacks, or internet resource.
• For the video/DVD/audio resource, do a WORD search for your topic and limit the location to "Media/Reserves Collection".
  

*REMINDER: All of the call numbers for your books should start with the same two letters.*

Blog entry must be posted by: Wed, 1/17/07 at 9pm

Thing #1 - Create a blog

The term "blog" is an abbreviation of "weblog" - and it is a bit like an online journal. If you have a personal MySpace page, you have used a blog and no doubt seen dozens if not hundreds of them.

Why are we using blogs for this class? They organize information in an easy-to-read and navigate format and I'll be able to subscribe to your blog to get regular updates.

The blogosphere outside MySpace is full of interesting political/social/news commentary (as well as crude and/or aimless ramblings and loads of misinformation and rumor-mongering - kind of like life). Really, there's a blog for almost every interest - and some of them are quite useful for academic research.

So completing Thing 1 will take care of some housekeeping for the course and help me get to know you a bit:

1. Go to http://www.blogger.com/ and set up and create a blog.
2. The default set-up for a blog is public. If you would rather make the blog private (so that only you and I can read it), go to Settings > Permissions > Blog Readers.
3. Add your first post - a short introduction (at least 150 words). Write a little bit about yourself and your interests. Also, please tell me what you hope to learn from the class and how I can best help you accomplish your goals.
4. Email me the URL of your blog.

Resources: http://del.icio.us/liby1210/blogs

Blog length: At least 150 words.
Blog entry must be posted by: Wed, 1/17/07 at 9pm

Welcome!

You may not know it, but if you regularly use Google to find stuff on the web and MySpace to keep in touch with friends and family, you're already using the kinds of technologies we'll be exploring in this class.

This quarter, we'll use some emerging and (hopefully) fun new information tools that can improve the way you use information at school and in life. In addition to using the traditional "physical" library collection and learning about academic research strategies, we'll be playing around with tools like blogs, wikis, RSS feeds and other methods of accessing and organizing the information you need.

If you are reading this after class one, you know that the course centers around 23 Things (learning tasks), designed by myself and Korey Brunetti, another CSUEB electronic collections librarian. Completing the Things will help you better find, organize, cite and evaluate information.

Here are the "ground rules" for the class:

• Research-specific topics will be covered extensively during our weekly class meetings. However, not all of the tasks will be covered in class. For those topics that we don't cover in class, you will be given online resources and some basic directions, but I will expect you to figure things out for yourself. You are free to seek help from fellow classmates and individual help from me.

• Because of the extensive online component, each (required) class session will only meet for the first hour. The second (optional) hour will be reserved for individual help. I'll stay in the lab for the second hour and you may choose to stay and work on your homework with me, or you may choose to leave. If you encounter any trouble understanding the assignments, I encourage you to stay for the second half of class. I will be available at other times for individual appointments, but I expect you to seek help during class first, if possible.

• All assignments and announcements will be posted on the LIBY1210-02 blog. You will turn in your assignments, with the exception of the research project, via your personal blog, which you will be setting up this week.
  

• Some of the tasks will contain unfamiliar material and may be challenging. I hope that you will regard this as an opportunity to explore and have a little bit of fun. I don't expect you to become an expert (but maybe you will!). Just follow the directions, play around (in a mindful way), and let me know how things go.

• For details about the course schedule, grading, and other policies, please see the links above to the Syllabus and Schedule.

- Lori