1. Spark Web 2.0 Tools for Communication, Collaboration, Publishing David Grogan Manager, Curricular Technology Group UIT Academic Technology Tufts University What is Spark? How do you use Spark? What tools are available? What’s next? Questions

2. What is Spark? Spark is a suite of self-service, web-based communication, collaboration, and publishing tools freely available to entire Tufts community. Spark: Web 2.0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration

3. How do you use Spark? 1.Login to http://spark.uit.tufts.edu (same login credentials as TUSK).http://spark.uit.tufts.edu 2.Pick a tool. 3.Create something. 4.Add other Tufts users to it. Spark: Web 2.0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration

4. What tools are available? Most popular: –Wikis –Blogs –Podcasts –MediaMarkup Other tools: –Web conferencing –Mapping Spark: Web 2.0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration

5. What tools are available? Wikis –What is it? A website that allows the easy creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages. –What is it used for? Collaborative creation of content (e.g. grant proposals, research papers, group assignments) Quick and easy web publishing. Document repository Spark: Web 2.0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration

6. What tools are available? Blogs (WordPress) –What is it? A type of website, usually maintained with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other materials such as graphics or video. –What is it used for? Developing and publishing publicly accessible websites. (e.g. department web sites, project blogs etc.) Providing students with a platform for writing and sharing writing assignments. Spark: Web 2.0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration

7. What tools are available? Podcasts –What is it? A series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication via software such as iTunes. –What is it used for? Publishing lecture recordings. Publishing audio tours. Video log of departmental activities. Spark: Web 2.0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration

8. What tools are available? MediaMarkup –What is it? A web-based tool allowing users to provide commentary, feedback, and reflections, at specific time locations within digital audio and video files. –What is it used for? Providing feedback regarding student performances (e.g presentations, patient exams, interview techniques etc.) Providing chapter headings or highlighting core content within a recording. Spark: Web 2.0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration

9. What tools are available? Web Conferencing (Adobe Connect) –What is it? Web conferencing is used to conduct live meetings, training, or presentations via the Internet. In a web conference, each participant sits at his or her own computer and is connected to other participants via the internet. –What is it used for? Connecting students and staff across campuses. Providing or receiving in-class presentations to/from distant colleagues. Spark: Web 2.0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration

10. What tools are available? Mapping –What is it? A tool using GoogleMaps technology to allow you to create, define, and manage collections of geographically located data sets. –What is it used for? Collaborative geo-locating points of interest. (e.g. research locations). Spark: Web 2.0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration

11. What do we hope Spark will be? A Tufts-based localized network of people and ideas. Spark: Web 2.0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration

12. How is Spark being used? Interesting Recent Use Cases Wikis: Workflow and social networking for student teachers.Workflow and social networking for student teachers. Blogs: Anthropology of MediaAnthropology of Media MediaMarkup: Feedback on student presentations.Feedback on student presentations. SparkMaps: Mapping student network.Mapping student network. Podcasts: Podcasting biology lectures.Podcasting biology lectures. Spark: Web 2.0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration

13. What’s Coming this Summer? More support materials for WordPress. Full self-service for MediaMarkup. Wikis upgrade (improve performance and functionality). What would you like to see? Spark: Web 2.0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration

14. Any Questions? Contact: David Grogan (david.grogan@tufts.edu)david.grogan@tufts.edu Spark: Web 2.0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration