A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk Introduction To Web 2.0 For Student Support Services Brian Kelly, UKOLN, University of Bath Bath UKOLN is supported by: This work is licensed under a Attribution- NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 licence (but note caveat) Resources bookmarked using ‘ bath ' tag Acceptable Use Policy Recording/broadcasting of this talk, taking photographs, discussing the content using , instant messaging, blogs, SMS, etc. is permitted providing distractions to others is minimised. Acceptable Use Policy Recording/broadcasting of this talk, taking photographs, discussing the content using , instant messaging, blogs, SMS, etc. is permitted providing distractions to others is minimised.

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 2 About Me Brian Kelly: UK Web Focus: a national Web advisory post Based at UKOLN, a national centre of expertise in digital information management Located at the University of Bath Funded by JISC and the MLA Involved in Web since Jan 1993 Currently advising on best practices for Web 2.0 Introduction

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 3 About You (1) What is your interest in Web 2.0? Why are you here? Aims of this talk This talk aims to provide: A better understanding of ‘Web 2.0’ An awareness of how students may use Web 2.0 tools in an informal context An understanding of possible dangers, both for students and the institution An opportunity to discuss how we should address the opportunities and challenges (and inevitabilities!) Aims of this talk This talk aims to provide: A better understanding of ‘Web 2.0’ An awareness of how students may use Web 2.0 tools in an informal context An understanding of possible dangers, both for students and the institution An opportunity to discuss how we should address the opportunities and challenges (and inevitabilities!) Introduction

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 4 About You (2) How many of you: Have heard of Web 2.0? Have read content in a blog or wiki? Use Facebook? Have used MSN Messenger, Skype, …? Use photo sharing sites (e.g. Flickr)? Have viewed video clips on YouTube? Do you: Use the tools for work? Use the tools for social purposes (e.g. communicating with your children)? Introduction

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 5 Contents Web 2.0 – What Is It? (Talking …) Blogs  Wikis Mashups  Comms tools Social networks … Deployment Strategies (… doing) User focus Information literacy; staff development Risk assessment Safe experimentation Introduction

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 6 Let’s Do It Now! Let’s not just talk about Web 2.0 – let’s use it now (assuming WiFi network available!): Let’s Talk Go to and in box enter Let’s Share Resources Go to to access resources Discussion Lecture theatres with WiFi/pervasive networking  students with laptops will expect to use them  we need experience to establish best practices & manage problems Discussion Lecture theatres with WiFi/pervasive networking  students with laptops will expect to use them  we need experience to establish best practices & manage problems 2 Mar 2007 Introduction

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 7 Web2MemeMap, Tim O’Reilly, 2005 (or see Wikipedia ) Characteristics Of Web 2.0 Network as platform Easy-to-use (Ajax) Always beta Remix and mash-ups  Syndication (RSS) Architecture of participation  Blogs & Wikis  Social networking  Social tagging (folksonomies) Trust and openness Characteristics Of Web 2.0 Network as platform Easy-to-use (Ajax) Always beta Remix and mash-ups  Syndication (RSS) Architecture of participation  Blogs & Wikis  Social networking  Social tagging (folksonomies) Trust and openness Web 2.0 What Is Web 2.0? Marketing term (derived from observing 'patterns') rather than technical standards - “an attitude not a technology” Web 2.0

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 8 Blogs The term ‘blog’ is well-known, but perhaps there’s a lack of awareness of the potential of blogs. There’s a need to: Explore how blogs can support business functions (support users, staff & organisation) There’s also a need for information professionals to: Understand blogging & related technologies (e.g. RSS, Technorati) Be able to find resources in the 'Blogosphere' Web 2.0 Openness Syndication Collaboration Key Characteristics

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 9 Blogs – Reading (RSS) How do you keep informed of new developments? You can use a blog reader This alerts you to changes to key blogs Provides a focus on the content, and avoid distractions of ads, etc. Part of information literacy, to ensure users can process information more effectively Web 2.0 Bloglines – a Web-based blog reader. You are informed of changes since you last viewed the page. BlogBridge – a desktop blog reader. You are informed of changes since you last viewed the page. Openness Syndication Collaboration

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 10 Blogs – Engaging With Users The ukwebfocus.wordpress. com blog provides: Comments option for all postings A realtime chat facility Benefits: Feedback on my thoughts and ideas Evaluation … /01/25/experiments-with-meebo/ /01/25/experiments-with-meebo/ Blogs aren’t just one-way publishing, but an implementation of Tim Berners-Lee’s vision of a collaborative Web See (and discuss) UK Web Focus blog post 25 Jan 2007 Blended blogging

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 11 Institutional Student Blogging University of Warwick were first UK university to provide (and actively promote) blogging service for its students Liberal policy toward content (quick response to user concerns) Post by Taiwanese PhD student in response to on high unemployment rate for PhDs in Taiwan

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 12 Social Networking Software (1) But what if: Students aren’t interested in university-provided blogging services? Students use commercial social networking services such as Facebook? Web 2.0 Should we: Make use of these environments (save money by not reinventing wheels) Inform students on integration of our information? Ignore? 18 Feb 2007

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 13 Social Networking Software (2) What are they saying about your institution in social networking services, on blogs, …? Do you (and your departments) provide business intelligence services to find out what your users are saying about you? Do you have policies on rebuttal? university-of-nottingham-not-found/ university-of-nottingham-not-found/ tech-team-storms-student-underground/ tech-team-storms-student-underground/

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 14 Wikis Wiki – a collaborative Web-based authoring tool Leeds Metropolitan University launched a student wiki in Feb and had a high profile launch Web Openness Syndication Collaboration Note a couple of Universities have had similar high-profile launches of Web 2.0 services

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 15 Sharing - Flickr Web 2.0 includes community-building You can help support your community- building by making it easy to share photos at events Flickr is popular in professional circles – but students probably use another service (Facebook?) Web 2.0 Openness Network effect Syndication Collaboration

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 16 Sharing – Slides Slideshare.net: Repository for PowerPoint slides Find (and reuse) slideshows of interest (I like your Web 2.0 slideshow – so maybe I’ll like yours, or others that you like) Add comments, questions, etc. Use as planning, feedback, etc. Can assign Creative Commons rights Lecturers could use – but note sustainability issue

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 17 Web 2.0 Google Maps Mashups Google Map ‘mashup’ used for IWMW 2006 event workshops/webmaster-2006/maps/ Openness Mashup APIs More sophisticated mapping applications are being developed, such as Radius 5 at Northumbria Univ. Shouldn’t we have one of pubs in Bath?

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 18 Communications We said: Content is king! But maybe: Communications is king! Communications tool include: Chat tools (MSN Messenger) Audio & video (including MSN Messenger, Skype, …) MS text messaging Using Web 2.0 Web 2.0 Also note Web-based video chat services such as TokBox

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 19 Integration of Services Web 2.0 applications can be used in isolation They can also be integration into other services (e.g. widgets in blogs and Web sites) Facebook is (currently) the leading platform for integrating many Web 2.0 tools

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 20 The Facebook platform provides access to (a) Skype (b) Twitter micro-blogging service (c) mini- questions The Facebook Platform

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 21 What is Facebook? Facebook: A social networking Web site Had the largest number of registered users among college-focused sites with over 30 million members worldwide Ranked between top 10–20 Web sites Seventh most visited site in the US From Wikipedia Facebook Let’s now look at one very popular Web 2.0 application – the Facebook social networking service Let’s now look at one very popular Web 2.0 application – the Facebook social networking service

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 22 Your Profile Page Here’s an example of a profile page: Your details Access to default applications Access to applications your added Facebook could be used as a personalised portal to various applications And here’s how others may see your profile Boring isn’t it!

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 23 It’s a Social Network (1) The strength of Facebook is when it is used as a social network. Here people can see: My updates to my Facebook account Applications I’ve installed Groups I’ve joined Photos & videos I’ve uploaded Blogs posts I’ve written Messages I’ve sent & received …

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 24 It’s a Social Network (2) Here’s the page of a former colleague (now at Eduserv). This is valuable to me: Spot friends in common Keep informed of Andy’s professional interests (of interest to me) Keep informed of Andy’s discussions with others …

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 25 Student Use (1) Example of groups subscribed by a student: Student society Facebook seems to be very popular for use with Student union societies (nb is this a threat to similar services provided on Student Union Web site?) Facebook seems to be very popular for use with Student union societies (nb is this a threat to similar services provided on Student Union Web site?)

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 26 Student Use (1) Example of groups subscribed by a student: Student society Notice how the issue of local versus global Facebook groups is being discussed. Would a local-only group act as a barrier to student alumni?

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 27 Student Use (2) Example of groups subscribed by a student: Student society Social Facebook is popular for various social activities – especially for keeping in touch over summer

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 28 Student Use (2) Example of groups subscribed by a student: Student society Social Note that Facebook provides access to videos and photos – a way of providing seamless access or a bandwidth hog?

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 29 The Opportunities Facebook provides great opportunities for colleges and universities: It’s popular It’s easy-to-use No need for in-house development or to purchase software Useful for staff and post-graduate students too We can easily integrate our resources into Facebook (e.g. RSS feeds, blogs, etc.) It can provide alternative access to our services cf. MyNewport portal which took a day to port to Facebook

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 30 What Others Are Doing MyNewport: VLE/portal used by staff & students (course material, news, blogs, forums, etc.) Facebook app allows students to access to MyLearning resources Allows students to create their own personal learning environment in a platform other than the University’s Facebook targeted as it’s the fastest growing community If the users like idea but want to work in another environment then that is fine See info on UK Web Focus blog & Michael Webb’s (IT Services director at Newport College) blog See info on UK Web Focus blog & Michael Webb’s (IT Services director at Newport College) blog

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 31 What’s The Downside? Various concerns have been expressed about: Privacy (is Facebook a private or public space?) Is Facebook a space for students or for all? Is Facebook a closed environment? … Various concerns have been expressed about: Privacy (is Facebook a private or public space?) Is Facebook a space for students or for all? Is Facebook a closed environment? …

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 32 The Challenges – The User Should people be concerned about the privacy implications of Facebook? Here’s an example of a group set up on the University of Bath network Should people be concerned about the privacy implications of Facebook? Here’s an example of a group set up on the University of Bath network “Definatly Bullard....found him strangly sexy....is that wrong!?” Note that Newbridge Primacy has a Web site which has no photos of children – but they upload their own photos to Facebook

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 33 Challenges: The Institution (1) Facebook can provide challenges for the institution IT Service departments, for example, are always liable to face criticism These days as well as User Group meetings and online forums, users can create their own discussion groups

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 34 Challenges: The Institution (2) How should the departments respond? Read the posts to gain feedback on areas in which improvements may be needed? Join in the discussions Ban such discussions / people who make inappropriate comments? Ignore the groups

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 35 Challenges: The Institution (3) Note though: Departments may find support being provided on the discussion groups There will always be criticism Do our (fee-paying) students have a right to watch “crap on YouTube” What if this slows network down? How does the university engage in discussions on this topic with the students?

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 36 Other Issues There are also challenges for individuals What if this group I’ve joined isn’t about nos. of UK Facebook users, but a BNP support group? A friend has joined a group which advocates violence! Note that Facebook isn’t a local University service, so it can’t easily be banned. Is this were we need education (for staff as well as students)?

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 37 You Can Manage Your Privacy You have control over the information others can see about you

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 38 You Can Manage Your Privacy You have control over the information others can see about you But how many users change the default settings? And what about what Facebook can do with your information? Note that Wikipedia provides useful information on Facebook’s terms and conditions

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 39 Looking Back What if Facebook had been around in the 1970s and 1980s? Photos of Gordon Brown, Tony Blair & David Cameron from their student (and schoolboy) days are easily found But what if they had been blogging about their exploits & views? What will the Daily Mail be publishing in 30 years time?

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 40 Responding To The Challenges How to respond to the challenges? Ban Facebook to protect the institution / the users Disciplinary measures Take students to court Guidelines (how to configure settings) Education Information literacy.. BBC Video clip Register, 22 Mar 2007 University moves to hush Facebook criticism The administration was provoked by a Facebook group called "James Knowles is a Twat". University moves to hush Facebook criticism The administration was provoked by a Facebook group called "James Knowles is a Twat".

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 41 What Do My Friends Think? A question I asked on Facebook: Facebook: (a) institutions need to engage with it as our students like it or (b) its their social space; let's leave it alone? Responses from my Facebook friends, 1 Aug 2007

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 42 Some Thoughts Facebook: We can’t ignore it! So should we: Leave it for students to use as they see fit? Allow departments to use as they see fit? Make formal use of it? In all scenarios how should we: Address privacy concerns for students (and staff)? Address the issue of whether the university should respond to criticisms? Protect the integrity of the institution? Provide advice, training, etc. on best practices? … Many of these issues will be addressed at a one-day workshop on “Exploiting The Potential Of Blogs and Social Networks” to be held in Birmingham on 26 November Many of these issues will be addressed at a one-day workshop on “Exploiting The Potential Of Blogs and Social Networks” to be held in Birmingham on 26 November 2007.

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 43 Conclusions To conclude: Web 2.0 is here and many people are using it We can’t stop students using many of these services Should we stop them? How do we address the balance between being user-focussed & educating digital citizens for the real world and providing managed IT environments? We have a need for an information literacy strategy Many of these issues will be addressed at a one-day workshop on “Exploiting The Potential Of Blogs and Social Networks” to be held in Birmingham on 26 November Many of these issues will be addressed at a one-day workshop on “Exploiting The Potential Of Blogs and Social Networks” to be held in Birmingham on 26 November 2007.

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 44 Questions Any questions?