Web 2.0

Editor's Notes

• #3 Obviously you are here because you are interested in this concept of Web 2.0. But did you know that you probably already are a part of the Web 2.0 crowd.*Have you downloaded a free application program? Do you have a facebook or myspace account? What about wikipedia? Have you ever looked something up on wikipedia or even added information to it? Do you share video clips or photographs online? Have you ever written a book or product review for amazon? If you can answer yes to any of these questions, you are in the Web 2.0 crowd.But there is so much more available…in fact, too much to include in this short workshop or even a week-long workshop. *My goal for this session is to empower you to become confident in searching the Internet and trying out applications that will assist you in your own needs.
• #5 “OpenOffice.org is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose.” (http://www.openoffice.org) Many school districts are utilizing the program to help with expenses. The Microsoft Office suite is very expensive…especially for the number of licenses required in school labs. Another problem that schools and teachers are facing is providing the applications to students for their class work. Microsoft Office does offer a 60-day trial download, but obviously the time limit is a problem. Through the use of OpenOffice, students and teachers alike have open access to the programs wherever they have Internet access.It’s easy to download the OpenOffice Suite. Just go to www.openoffice.org and click on the link “I want to download OpenOffice.org.” The big green download box/button will appear. Just click again.
• #6 Of course, as with any open source program, you will be asked to contribute to the program, provide reviews/feedback, etc. You should see the yellow caution bar appear at the top of your screen. Click to download the file. You have the option of running the program straight from the download or saving the downloaded executable file to your computer. I always save to my computer in a Download folder I have in My Documents on my hard drive. This way I still have the original executable file if I ever need it.Once the program is downloaded, follow the onscreen steps to install the program onto your computer. The first time you open the program, it will take you through the registration wizard. Just follow the online steps to start using the application. At the finish of the setup, you will be given the opportunity to register your copy of OpenOffice.org online. It is not required, but registering will give you updates on new versions, additional extensions such as pdf authoring, and foreign language dictionaries. As with all application programs, openoffice provides an excellent help tool with guides and tutorials. For additional help, access your favorite search engine and look for “openoffice tutorials.”
• #7 If you prefer to work online rather than downloading a program to your computer, there are two excellent applications: Google and ZOHO.As you can see by this screen shot, Google offers quite a few different applications. Some of the most popular are Earth, Finance, Blogger, Calendar, Docs, Gmail, Picasa, and Reader. The first feature we will look at is Docs.
• #8 When you first click on the docs link, you will be directed to the Home page. On the left is a panel showing you documents that you have already created, documents that you have opened before, and documents that have been shared by someone else. This is a screen shot of my Google docs. Notice there is a document created by me and another document that has been shared by someone else. Another point about Google docs: you can share your documents online. Either choose a document to open and continue working or click on the New button to create a new document.If you choose to create a new document, you have the options of creating a document, presentation, spreadsheet, form, or even a new folder. You also have the option of creating a document from a predesigned template.At this time, Google does not offer a database application. But the word is out that it is coming soon and will be called Google Base. According to some reports, it was visible earlier on, but was removed from the site. If you search through Google for “google database” it comes up. Your information is stored on the google site, just like your documents and other information. Of course, this is a concern for several people.
• #9 Notice that the Google doc interface looks very similar to application programs that you are familiar with.You have the usual options of setting different styles for your text, alignment, bulleted lists, numbered lists, fonts, font color, highlighting, indenting, tables, etc. Save your document and it will be available for you in the home screen.Use the save feature to save your feature online. *You also have the option of downloading it to your computer in a more popular format such as a Word document, pdf file, text file, web page, or a rich text format file.Google docs gives you several options in sharing your documents: you can share the document with others online, send as an attachment in your email, or publish it as a web page. How easy is that? Notice there is also the option to preview the web page before publishing it. *Google docs gives you several options in sharing your documents: you can share the document with others online, send as an attachment in your email, or publish it as a web page. How easy is that? Notice there is also the option to preview the web page before publishing it.
• #10 How would you like to have access to an online calendar wherever and whenever you have Internet access? Google offers an excellent online calendar for that very purpose. You can also set up your Google Calendar to automatically sync with your Outlook calendar if desired. Just choose the Calendar feature from the Google More menu and follow the steps to set up your calendar.*Clicking on the Settings link in the top right corner of the calendar window will allow you to personalize your calendar to fit your own needs.
• #11 Here is a shot of my iGoogle home page. I love it and have those features that I use the most often.Notice the weather feature, the calendar thumbnail, Date & Time feature, Gmail inbox, and Google Reader that displays my subscribed RSS feeds. You can even change the banner along the top to fit your own moods.*For all the features available in Google, just click on the more option at the top of the screen. *Another point to remember is that some of the features will be downloaded onto your computer, such as Google Earth which is extremely popular with students. I must admit, it is a fun feature to use. Another Google tool that is great for students is the Google Sketchup. But it is also a download. Students can create all types of 3-D drawings for classroom projects of every kind.*We are an interrelated society. Why not join others in sharing your knowledge base? Anytime we are confronted with a new health issue, consumer product, or technology option we eagerly research through our local libraries, professional journals, and, of course, the Internet. You have a lot of knowledge about many different things. You have the opportunity through Google Knol to post that knowledge, sharing your expertise with others.*Picasa is a photo management system that allows you to store your photographs online, edit and manipulate them, and share with others. As you can see, it must also be downloaded to your computer.I hope that this encourages you to head home and attack Google, trying out all the features available.
• #12 Another online application suite is the Zoho Office Suite. “The Zoho Office Suite is a Web-based online office suite containing word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, note-taking, wikis, CRM, project management, invoiceing and other applications developed by AdventNet Inc., an Indian-based company. It was launched in 2005 with a web-based word processor. Additional products, such as spreadsheets and presentations were incorporated later into Zoho. *“Although some applications, such as Zoho CRM and Zoho Projects, require a fee to be used, Zoho maintains that it has a commitment to ‘maintaining a free tier of entry-level applications with free registration.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZOHO) Here is a pricing list for ZOHO Wiki and shows the different options offered in each package.
• #13 ZOHO applications are more dedicated to specific business applications. Here is a shot of the word processing application called Zoho Writer. Documents are saved online as they are in Google docs. Again, the interface appears to be Notice that the ZOHO writer has an export feature that allows you to save your document in a variety of popular formats including Word 07, older Word formats, web page, rich text format, and pdf.very similar to word processing applications that you are probably familiar with.
• #14 “’Blog’ is an abbreviated version of \"weblog,\" which is a term used to describe web sites that maintain an ongoing chronicle of information. A blog is a frequently updated, personal website featuring diary-type commentary and links to articles on other Web sites. Blogs range from the personal to the political, and can focus on one narrow subject or a whole range of subjects. “Many blogs focus on a particular topic, such as web design, home staging, sports, or mobile technology. Some are more eclectic, presenting links to all types of other sites. Others are more like personal journals, presenting the author's daily life and thoughts.” (http://codex.wordpress.org/Introduction_to_Blogging) The possibilities of using blogs can be endless. As the description above states, you can set up a blog as a personal journal, adding messages, trip logs, pictures, links to other sites, etc. In the classroom, teachers can incorporate blogs into their lessons as online assignments. Students can use a blog as a journal to record answers to discussion or essay questions. Collaboration can occur within the classroom or across the globe. The only problem is the filtering that occurs in schools.  Google offers a popular blogging tool called Blogger at www.blogger.com. This is a screen shot of my blog for Ball Photography. It offers me the opportunity to showcase samples of my photography.
• #15 “Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users' updates known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters, displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have subscribed to them (known as followers). Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow open access. Users can send and receive tweets via the Twitter website, Short Message Service (SMS) or external applications. The service is free to use over the Internet, but using SMS may incur phone service provider fees.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter)