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Spark Web 2.0 Tools for Communication, Collaboration, Publishing

David GroganManager, Curricular Technology Group

UIT Academic Technology • Tufts University

•What is Spark?

•How do you use Spark?

•What tools are available?

•What’s next?

•Questions

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

How do you use Spark?

1. Login to http://spark.uit.tufts.edu (same login credentials as TUSK).

2. Pick a tool.

3. Create something.

4. Add other Tufts users to it.


http://spark.uit.tufts.edu/

What tools are available?

• Most popular:– Wikis– Blogs– Podcasts– MediaMarkup

• Other tools:– Web conferencing– Mapping



• 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



• 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.



• 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.



• 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.



• 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.



• 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).


What do we hope Spark will be?

A Tufts-based localized network of people and ideas.


How is Spark being used?

Interesting Recent Use Cases

• Wikis: Workflow and social networking for student teachers.

• Blogs: Anthropology of Media• MediaMarkup: Feedback on student presentations.• SparkMaps: Mapping student network.• Podcasts: Podcasting biology lectures.


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?


Any Questions?

• Contact: David Grogan ([email protected])
