Warning: There will be a lengthy reference to the filmA hallmark of Web 2.0 is sharing--your thoughts, ideas, plans, photos, videos, and more. I believe Daniel Webster said it best when he defined sharing as...
“The Return of the King” in the fourth paragraph of this Thing.
OK, now just wait a minute before you start rolling your eyes at me like that. I know what you’re thinking. “I get it already, sharing, sharing, sharing, blah, blah, blah. Why do you insist on beating this dead horse?"
Lemme tell you "why", my delicate, little hothouse flower.
When we share, we all benefit. It’s a big world out there. Lots going on. You’ll never cover it all on your own. That is why sharing ideas, experiences and information is essential. We can share the existential “burden” of just getting through each day and make life easier for each other. Allow me to illustrate this point by reminding you of that scene from “The Return of the King” where, in the direst of straits, while ascending the Stairs of Cirith Ungol, Samwise (the real hero of the film) offers to carry the Ring, which Gandalf has placed in Frodo's custodial care. He implores Frodo to “share the burden” in order to make the rest of the journey to Mordor easier on everyone. Sharing, remember, is what I’m trying to impress upon you here. Never mind the fact that Frodo, in his agitated state [and under the sinister machinations of Gollum], refuses the offer and instead banishes Sam from the trio for the balance of the quest (and, as we are to assume, his [Sam's] likely and ultimate banishment from the Shire). He (Frodo) is then tricked by Gollum into entering the giant spider’s lair, where he is poisoned, wrapped in a cocoon and then absconded by a rogue band of Orcs, to be eaten at a later time…
Anyways, the point I’m trying to make here, and admitedly it is a bit of a stretch, is don’t be like “Frodo” and think you can go that journey alone and come out the other end smelling like a rose growing on the western slope of the hillside facing Isengard. Cuz you won't. You'll come out smelling like an Orc's codpiece. And that, my friend, is why I encourage you to share your wisdom, ideas, knowledge, experience, videos, photos, whatever, and make it easier on all of us, yourself included. OK, somebody please move this soapbox back to the Ai MN 16 Things storage hanger/docking bay.
The tools in this Thing let you share many different kinds of creations via the Web. No need for a computer with the "right" software installed to open a presentation, no attachments to open, no remembering your flash drive--you just need an account (usually) and a computer with Internet access. Handy as a backup for your presentations at conferences, your vacation photos, your book preferences, or, as you will see in eFolio Minnesota, your personal accomplishments. BAM! Take that E-I-E-Iowa or eIowa, or whatever that ridiculousness is being called now.
For this Thing, explore each of the tools listed and then:
1. Choose one of the tools listed under Slideshows, Photos, and eFolio and create a slideshow or photo montage. Add photos and/or information and then link it to your blog.
Create and Share Slideshows
You can use these services as the primary delivery method for a presentation or you can use them to share your presentation after you have delivered it. You can share a slide deck on your Web site to highlight your snapshots, your work, your "gloriousness" or anything else you can think to do. Here is an example of a shared slide show Web 2.0 Tools in Your Classroom.
Each service offers different features. Explore these tools:
Share Your Photos
Flickr and other photo hosting sites are an obvious way to share photos. The sites in this Thing offer "fancier" presentations of your photos. While these are “slide shows,” too, they don’t have the narrative flow of a formal presentation. These tools work best for vacation or personal photo sharing on a blog or Web site.
Picture Trail offers many different ways to organize and display your photos. Called Flicks, they can be used to "trick out" your Web page or add a little virtual bling to your blog. Upload your photos to Picture Tail, arrange them into albums, choose your Flick slideshow format, and then save. Just copy the automatically-generated code and paste it into your blog where you want the Flick to appear.
Flickr badge creates a set of photos that displays horizontally or vertically. You can use your photos or everyone’s to add photo interest to your blog. (after you sign into Flicker, go to http://www.flickr.com/badge.gne)
Big Huge Lab offers many tools for using your photos to illustrate different things—billboards, name badges, motivational posters, and more. It also has a cool feature called Mosaic Maker. Upload your photos (account required) and arrange them in a grid.
Remember the age-old addage "How much does it cost if it's free?". In the case of many Web 2.0 tools, it is advertising or "special offers." So click through the ad pages, and use the tools. In PictureTrail, once you have viewed the offers, they won't (usually) appear again.
eFolio Minnesota
eFolio Minnesota is "a multimedia electronic portfolio designed to help you create a living showcase of your education, career and personal achievements." All Minnesota residents, including students enrolled in Minnesota schools, educators and others can use eFolio Minnesota to reach their career and education goals. See Before You Begin to learn more about using this cutting-edge electronic portfolio tool, or go straight to Sign Up.
A registered trademark, eFolio Minnesota is a product of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities in partnership with state workforce and education organizations.
- Take the tour and view some sample eFolios.
Need more or want to explore? 50 Web 2.0 Ways to Tell a Story is a huge list of tools you can use to create and share online. There are tools for storytelling, scrapbooking, video, audio, remixing, cartooning, and much, much more.
Blog Prompts
What uses do these tools have for professional or personal use?
Was the tool you used easy to navigate and understand?
Would you recommend it to others?
Do you use other sharing tools for photos, documents, or other creations that you would recommend?
Challenge (optional)
1. Create one of each of the sharing types—slide show, photo montage, eFolio and then link the results and blog about your experience.
