Making tagging work better

This post contains the consensus on the tags we have come up with for certain class topics.

Topics: remixing

Today in class, we discussed how to make tagging work better. Basically, we want to achieve two goals:

• Identify conversations, so that people can track questions and responses.
• Have a usable archive for later reference.

We identified the following two solutions:

• For class questions, use the tag classquestions plus another tag to indicate the specifics, for instance normalization. The tag classquestions is the big cue that you are talking about class. As time goes by, we will likely add more general tags like troubleshoot for software problems.
• For topics others bring up and you want to respond to, use that person's topic. That way, they will know you are specifically posting on the area they are interested in, and you can continue the conversation.

Bud last edited this September 20, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Creating and using a blog account

Creating a blog account and writing posts is almost as easy as creating and using a del.icio.us account. However, blog posts are more in-depth and complicated, so you have to do a little bit more.

Topics: remixing

Creating and using a blog account is slightly harder than creating a del.icio.us account, but only slightly so. We will be using an experimental version of the WordPress publishing platform called WordPress Multi-User. WordPress is an open source publishing platform that is highly popular among the budget-minded. One key thing is that I have found is that this highly experimental version of WordPress functions best with firefox, and I highly recommend downloading and using that.

The first thing you need to do is go to this URL: http://high-octane-blogging.org/wp-inst/wp-newblog.php. The instructions are pretty self-explanatory. Your blogs URL will be: http://USERNAME.high-octane-blogging.org. You need this for the coursetools assignment. I have provided this screenshot to help answer any questions:

After you create a blog, you will receive an email with your log-in credentials. Click on the link to log-in. You will see something resembling this screen:

As I mention in the screenshot, we need to modify some settings for Users and Options. For Users, we need to add some naming information so that you will appear as someone other than administrator when you post. Here's a screen shot showing what to do:

Now, we need to fix the timezone your blog thinks it is in. That is under Options > General. We are currently 4 hours behind UTC (that will change in October). I should point out that this setting change may and may not work, but it is worth the old college try. Here's a screenshot showing what to do:

Now, it is time to start writing blog posts. That can be achieved by going to the Write section once you log into the blog. Wordpress has bookmarklets like del.icio.us, but they are specific to your particular blog, so you can really only use them on your own computer. Here's a screen shot that shows the fields you will use in posting. Remember, always use categories, always link, and trackback whenever you can.

You are ready to start blogging. Don't forget to fill in the coursetools assignment.

Bud last edited this September 7, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Creating and using a del.icio.us account

Creating and using a del.icio.us account is easy.

Topics: remixing

Creating a del.icio.us account and using it is easy. First, go to this URL: http://del.icio.us/register. Then, fill out the form as I have indicated in this screenshot:

Once you have your del.icio.us account, you can post to it using bookmarklets. Bookmarklets and instructions for using them can be found at this URL (once you have logged in): http://del.icio.us/doc/about. You can also post without a bookmarklet from this URL: http://del.icio.us/post/. If you do that, you will want to fill out the fields as I show in this screenshot:

Once you are done creating a del.icio.us account, complete the del.icio.us assignment on coursetools.

Bud last edited this September 7, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

How to participate in the class remix

This post summarizes the rules for participating in the BIT320 Fall 2005 class remix.

Topics: remixing

The class remix engine will officially run from 12:01 AM Sunday, September 11, 2005 through 12:01 AM Tuesday, December 20, 2005. At any point in the semester, students may fall up to one week behind in their participation without penalty. My best advice is to just do a little every week day that you can. The more you do it, the more you will like it and get out of it. I will grade based on quantity and quality.

If you’re still reading this, you’re wondering how to best participate in the class so that you can maximize points allocated on the basis of class participation. Only class participation that takes place in the remix site counts. A key element of this class is that we have created our own remix site to understand an emerging, important phenomenon in information management for large and small organizations. To really understand, we gotta do.

My goal in assigning 36 out of 100 possible total course points for class participation is to motivate you to get on-line, do it, and pay attention to it. There are some simple to-do's that will help you get good credit for participating in the remix:

• Blog posts. You get credit for contributing knowledge in the form of relevant questions, answers, and observations.
  • Make five one-paragraph posts per week. A paragraph is at least three sentences organized around a single thought. You may write more.
  • Have at least one link in each post. You may link to a syllabus entry if you are talking about a class issue. You may link to another participant's blog post. In short, you may link to any relevant web resource.
  • Assign at least one category per post. Categories are also called tags and consist of one word that summarizes the post's content.
  • Trackback whenever possible so people will know you are discussing topics they have covered in their posts.
• Social bookmarks. You get credit for bookmarking and tagging relevant resources in your del.icio.us account.
  • Bookmark ten relevant items per week. Include the title of the item in the description field. Include a short one line description in the extended field.
  • Bookmark any relevant item. These may include other participants' posts, other bloggers' posts, news items you find on the web.
  • Assign at least one tag per bookamrk. Tags are like blog post categories and consist of one word.
  • Do not bookmark other people's bookmarks. It just does not make sense.

Bud last edited this September 7, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)