Week 12: Browser Tools

This week, we’re exploring browser tools. This post will give you a brief overview of browser tools, explain the activities for the week, and provide links to some additional readings for those who would like to know more!

The 411 on Browsers
At it’s simplest, a browser is a piece of software that allows you to view web pages. But, browsers today can be so much more! Firefox is an open source browser that provides additional functionality that allows you to customize your browsing experience and interact with online content in new & exciting ways! And Internet Explorer 7 (the latest version of IE) also provides added functionality through the use of add-ons.

Firefox Add-ons
Add-ons are small programs that add functionality to a Web browser improving the user’s experience. There are many types of browser tools available including some that offer security, help with navigation, supply web development tools and provide entertainment. Keep in mind that too many add-ons will slow down your browser’s performance and therefore you should limit the amount of add-ons you install. Also, for security reasons, you should download add-ons from reputable sources (e.g. installing an add-on from the Firefox website is safe).

Check out this page for a list of Firefox add-ons (extensions), or from the Firefox Tools menu select Add-ons and then click the “Get More Extensions” link. Some examples of extensions include Auto Copy, URLFixer and one of my favorites, Web Developer. Advanced users should check out Greasemonkey which allows you to customize the way a web page looks and behaves. Greasemonkey requires userscripts (written in javascript) to control web pages. You can write your own userscript or install existing userscripts from sites such as GreaseMonkey UserScripts or UserScripts.org.

To uninstall a Firefox extension, go into the Tools menu, select “Add-ons” and select the extension you want to uninstall. Click the “Uninstall” button.

Internet Explorer Add-ons
For a list of Internet Explorer add-ons, click thr “Tools menu in Internet Explorer, select “Manage Add-ons” and then select “Find More Add-ons”. Internet Explorer add-ons include Microsoft Windows Defender, GoogleToolbar and ieSpell.

Bookmarklets
Bookmarklets are bits of javascript code that are embedded into the URL of a bookmark/favorite which perform an action (such as searching a specific database from another web page or retrieving information about a web page) when you click on the bookmarklet. You can create your own bookmarklets or install existing bookmarklets. You may have already used bookmarklets in week 5, if you installed the del.icio.us browser buttons. To install a bookmarklet that has been provided by a Web site, just right-click the link and either select “Add to favorites” (IE) or “Bookmark This link” (Firefox). Some sites may also provide an executable file to easily install their bookmarklets.

Activities for this week

• If you don’t already have Firefox on your system, download it from this site. You don’t need to have administrator rights to download and install Firefox.
• Check out some Firefox add-ons and install at least one. Most add-ons can be installed simply by clicking the “Install Now” button you see on any Firefox add-on page (if you need technical assistance, let me know).
• Add a post to your blog outlining which browser tools you found useful.
• Have fun!

Further Readings (optional!)

• Firefox Extension Tutorial – Business Logs
• Dive Into Greasemonkey
• Top 10 Firefox Extensions to Avoid

Week 11: Online Social Networks

If you’ve strolled through a library or computer lab recently, you’ve probably noticed Facebook on a lot of active computer screens. Well, if you’ve found yourself wondering why tools like Facebook (or MySpace, Bebo, LinkedIn, or whichever social networking space is “hot” this week!) are so popular, you’ll be happy to know that this week is devoted to exploring these tools — what they are, how they work, and why campus services should care!

Defining Online Social Networks
This video is a great place to start and provides an overview of social networking in the 2.0 world:

As with a lot of 2.0 tools, pinning down a definition of a “social network” is difficult — it’s one of those “you’ll know it when you see it” tools! But how do you know what to look for? Here are a few characteristics of social networks:

• profile pages: when you sign up for an account on a social networking site, your “profile page” becomes your home base. Most social networks allow you to add as much or as little information about yourself as you’d like. Common fields include your name, contact information, interests, and a photograph of yourself. Some social networks allow you to customize your profile page by changing the design, colour, or look of the page (MySpace is an example), whereas other social networking sites use the same look & feel for all profile pages (Facebook is an example).
• “friending”: this is probably the most important characteristic of a social network because finding friends (existing or new) on a social networking site is pretty much the point of being there in the first place! So, most social networks allow you to add another person/profile as a “friend” or a “contact” and your collection of friends becomes your own personal social network (not dissimilar to the way social networks form offline too!). The “friending” aspect of an online social network often accounts for why some social networking sites are popular with specific groups. For example, Facebook began as a social network for college and university students; it has since opened up to allow anyone to join the network, but it still remains most popular with students. Why? Because people go where their friends are!
• groups: with real life social networks, groups tend to form around common interests, therefore most online social networks allow users to start a group or join a group based on their interests or common goals. Depending on the social networking site, you will probably find a group that represents your interests, regardless of what that interest might be!

While many 2.0 tools use some of these elements (e.g. “contacts” on Flickr, “friends” on Digg, profile pages on YouTube), most sites that are considered to be online “social networks” have all these elements in common.

Popular Online Social Networks

• Facebook – most popular with college and university students, Facebook defines itself as “a social utility that connects you with the people around you.”
• MySpace – what began as a place for independent bands to promote their concerts and music has turned into the most popular online social network in the English-speaking world!
• LinkedIn – if Facebook caters to the student crowd, LinkedIn is where you go when you graduate! LinkedIn is “an online network of more than 9 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 130 industries.”
• Bebo – Bebo describes itself as “the next generation social networking site where members can stay in touch with their College friends, connect with friends, share photos, discover new interests and just hang out.”

Facebook @ Mac

This is a screenshot of the McMaster Network page on Facebook. Click the image to see a larger version.

Facebook is very popular at McMaster – this is not news! As of today, there are 24,063 members of the McMaster “network”. Anyone can choose to join the McMaster network, but it’s probably safe to assume that it’s mostly current students, alumni, staff and faculty that make up that number. While the size of the network might seem large, it’s important to remember that McMaster is not in a particularly unique position regarding the popularity of Facebook on campus. Campus services in universities across North America have already embraced the site and have begun using it to reach out to students. Here are some examples (note: you need to login to Facebook to view these links):

• Champlain College Career Services (Facebook “page”)
• Undergraduate Library @ the University of Illinois (Facebook “group”)
• Student Affairs Professionals (Facebook “group” for student affairs professionals in all universities)
• FVSU Campus Life & First Year Experience (Facebook “page”)
• The Campus Bookstore at Queen’s University (Facebook “page”)
• Hendriz College Admission & Financial Aid
• SUNY Student/Alumni Center for Professional Development

Activities

Just two activities this week!

1. Sign up for an account on Facebook and explore some of the profiles, groups and pages in the “McMaster Network”. Do you see a place for Career Services on Facebook? what sorts of information/services would you build into a Career Services presence on Facebook? Once you’ve spent some time exploring the site and thinking about these questions, write a blog post about your thoughts and impressions.
2. Check out some of the other online social spaces, like MySpace and LinkedIn. Set up a profile (or simply explore other profiles), check out the features and blog your thoughts!

See you on Facebook!

Week 10: Online Applications & Tools

Happy 2008 everyone, and welcome back to Learning 2.0 for Career Partners! We’ve had a few weeks off to catch up, explore, and enjoy some holiday merriment, so we’ll start slow this week with a fun topic and an easy exercise!

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One of the most interesting “2.0″ developments is the proliferation of web-based applications. These applications allow you to do many of the things you used to need software to do — things like creating or editing a Word document, spreadsheet or presentation, creating or editing an image file, chatting online via instant messaging, and even keeping track of your book collection! The best part? None of these applications require a download! Most simply require you to register with the site and login in order to use the tools.

For this week, I have just one activity for you: take a look at one (or more!) of these online applications and write a blog post about your impressions of the application(s) you explored. Here’s the list of applications:

• Google Docs & Spreadsheets: a neat online alternative to MS Office and other productivity software applications. Google Docs and Spreadsheets includes a word processor and a lightweight spreadsheet application that allows you to create and edit Word and Excel files online!
• Zoho: a full-featured suite of applications for creating word files, spreadsheets, presentations, wikis, calendars, databases, and more!
• ThinkFree: another online productivity suite, ThinkFree has tools to create word files, spreadsheets and presentations.
• Basecamp: a web-based project management application that allows you to manage everything from to-do lists to workflows to project milestones.
• Rollyo: OK, this one doesn’t really have a “1.0″ equivalent, but it’s so cool that we just had to throw it in! Rollyo allows you to “roll your own search engine”! Simply register for an account, login, and create a “searchroll” made up of all your favourite search engines.
• meebo: an online instant messaging tool that works with your existing IM accounts on MSN, Yahoo!, AIM and Google Talk. Message your friends & colleagues right from your browser!
• Snipshot: a really simple online image editor that allows you to resize, enhance, crop and rotate images online.
• fd’s Flickr Toys: if you have a Flickr account, the image tools here provide opportunities for endless enjoyment & creativity!
• RedKid.net: this one is just for fun! Create a billboard, highway sign, banner, or avatar of your own (and put it your blog for the rest of us to see!).
• LibraryThing: got books? Need to organize them? Want to see what other people (who have the same books as you) are reading? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you definitely want to check out LibraryThing!
• LastFM: build your own, personalized radio station and listen to your favourite music online!

Have fun exploring these applications (remember: you don’t have to look at them all!) and don’t forget to blog about your impressions of the application(s) you explored. Think about which apps would be most useful to you in your daily work and, perhaps, to the work you do with students. Happy exploring!