del.ico.us and Twitter are social bookmarking and microblogging tools that can be used for personal development planning (PDP). del.ico.us allows users to bookmark websites, tag them, and share them with a network. Twitter allows users to post 140 character messages to share with their network. Both services allow users to search for others to expand their network and share resources.

1. Web Services and Accounts Matthew Mobbs
mjm33@le.ac.uk
Web Services and Accounts
There are several web services and accounts that can be used in the PDP process, we will now look
at a selection that can be embedded into an ePortfolio.
del.ico.us
del.ico.us (http://del.icio.us/) is a social booking tool that enables users to
bookmark websites, using their own tagging methods, and share them with
a network of fellow users. For PDP purposes within education, this can be used to share resources
with fellow course-mates and individuals can use them as part of the collection and reflection
process.
Creating a del.ico.us account
From the del.ico.us homepage select the ‘get started’ link. This will link to the ‘register’ screen,
shown below. Enter the appropriate details.
Once the details have been entered, select the ‘register’
button, this will lead to an ‘Install Buttons’ screen.
Installing these buttons will enable instant bookmarking
to del.ico.us by placing two buttons on the toolbar of your
web browser.
On completion of the installation del.ico.us will
automatically go to a tutorial screen on how to use the
buttons. When ready select the ‘View your saved pages
now’ to go to your account.
1

2. Web Services and Accounts Matthew Mobbs
mjm33@le.ac.uk
Using del.ico.us
Here are some of the key features of del.ico.us
Your Network
Post
See the links of the other
If the browser navigation
users you a have formed a Links for you
buttons are not available to
network with. Add new users Links that people in your
you, links can be posted
to your network network have suggested.
directly to del.ico.us
Related tags
The content on this list
has also been tagged
with these words
Tag Cloud
This is a collection of all
the tags assigned to
Saved previously saved
bookmarks bookmarks.
The tag highlighted in
red is the tag currently
being viewed.
Bookmarks highlighted in red show they
have been posted on del.ico.us previously
by other users. This presents an
opportunity to extend you network. 2

3. Web Services and Accounts Matthew Mobbs
mjm33@le.ac.uk
Posting a bookmark to del.ico.us
A bookmark can be posted to del.ico.us when viewing a webpage by selecting the TAG icon that now
appears on your browser toolbar. This opens the
window seen here.
When the window opens the URL and description
appear automatically, but can be edited if required.
The notes and tags need to be entered manually.
Multiple tags can be added to one posting.
The bookmark can be shared with other users in
your network by selecting their username, listed in
the ‘Your network’ section.
This process can also be done by following the ‘post’ link instructions given in the ‘Using del.ico.us’
section.
Extending your del.ico.us network
In del.ico.us users can construct a network of fellow users between whom
links are shared. This enables users to share their findings amongst one-
another. To view ‘your network’ select the ‘your network’ link from your
del.ico.us home page, as seen in the ‘Using del.ico.us’ section of this
document. On this screen you will see all the links posted by users within
‘your network’.
To extend your network enter the username of a user in the search box,
seen here. This displayed on the right of the del.ico.us page. Select the ‘add’
button. If entered correctly the user name will automatically appear in the
‘your network’ list.
In an educational context this enables course-mates to follow one another and share resources.
3

4. Web Services and Accounts Matthew Mobbs
mjm33@le.ac.uk
Twitter
Twitter (www.twitter.com) is a presence or micro-blogging tool that enables users to enter 140
character messages, the same as an SMS text message, and share
them with a network of users. Twitter can be used in an educational
context to discuss their subject at a distance or just share thoughts
on what they are currently doing with one another. From personal experience, having constructed a
community of academics within Twitter, by observing and contributing to conversations has enabled
me to find many valuable resources and solve problems.
Creating a Twitter
To create an account from the Twitter homepage
select the ‘Get Started – Join’ link. This will lead to an
account details screen, seen here where the usual
details are required, create a username, password
and email address. For security issues you will be
asked to enter two words that are displayed. Once
you have read the terms and conditions select the ‘I
accept. Create my account’ button.
This will lead to a page that presents an
opportunity for you to extend your network
by searching the contacts any email
accounts you have, including hotmail, Gmail
and yahoo. If you do not wish to search
your accounts this step can be skipped.
Once the registration steps have been completed
you will be invited to write your first ‘tweet’. A
‘tweet’ is the term Twitter use for a posted
message. At this stage Twitter prompts you to
answer the question ‘What are you doing?’. As you
start typing your answer the 140 character prompter will countdown, to show the number of
characters remaining.
This is your account now set-up, you can return to the site at any time to post a new ‘tweet’,
however in the PLEs and Portals section of this document you will discover this is unnecessary.
Extending your Twitter network
It is possible to extend your Twitter network by searching for users already in Twitter. To do this type
a search term, preferably a
username, into the search box
4

5. Web Services and Accounts Matthew Mobbs
mjm33@le.ac.uk
found in the main page navigation
located at the top of your Twitter
account page. Once the term is
entered select ‘search.’
The results of your search will be
displayed on a new screen, it will list
any users the match the term you
entered. To add any of these users to your network select the ‘follow’ button displayed next to their
name.
This will send an email to the user you have selecting. Their addition to your network needs to be
excepted by them.
Other services
There are many other web services that could be used in an ePortfolio including:
Flickr – a web album
Wordpress.com – blog
Google Docs – online office suit
To find out more about these visit http://pleuol.wetpaint.com
5