Using Online

Collaborative Tools
Effectively
Neal R. Axton
Reference Librarian
Warren E. Burger Library
Classic Project Management
Stages
Project Initiation
Planning
Execution
Project Completion
Transition to Operation
Postmodern Project Management

Enthusiasm
Disappointment
Fear
Panic
Search for the Guilty
Punishment of the Innocent
Awards for those not involved in the project
Online Project Stages
Find Resources
Evaluate and Organize Resources
Develop a Narrative around
Resources
Create a Useful Tool for Others using
Narrative and Resources
Collaborative Tools
Resource Creation vs.
Discovery
Deductive vs. Inductive
Bookmarking
Social
Bookmarking
Web Graffiti
Social Bookmarking Defined
Educause Learning Initiative:

Social bookmarking is the practice of saving

bookmarks to a public Web site and tagging
them with keywords.

Bookmarks can be kept private or shared

 Collaborate
Gather Web resources

Share with team

Easily move to other collaborative

tools
Wikis, blogs, web pages
Organization - Tagging
User describes item

Many tags by many users

Search via tags

Tags link many pages/images

Start at the Beginning
Delicious
Began in 2003
Best Known

Largest Community

Minimalist

Unrefined
So MANY Tools
connottea
diigo
Google Bookmarks
gnolia

Raw Sugar HOW DO I CHOOSE?

Scuttle
Shadows
Simpy
Spurl
Different Flavors
Delicious
Minimalist
CiteULike
Scholarly
Diigo
Web Graffiti
Google Bookmarks
Super Minimalist
 Ma.gnolia
Search or browse bookmarks as a tag list or
tag cloud
Ability to rate bookmarks!
Widget to link from browser
Tutorials, FAQ, and wiki for support great
response from emails to the support team
Contacts, groups, thank yous and
discussions many ways to share
 CiteULike
Tag papers, not websites!
Mainly invisible web
Primarily medical and biological
Humanities, social sciences, and
information sciences too
Tags browsable and searchable
RSS feeds by author or topic
More Fun Tools with Silly Names
Sticky Notes at Google Wave
Highlight and Right Click to Annotate
 Blogs as 2nd stage
Collaborative Tools
Alternative to Email
Asynchronous Communication
Supports Hyperlinks
Automatic Date Feature
Multiple Users
WYSIWYG Interfaces
Useful for synthesizing resources
HTML Menu
Compose Menu
Facebook Groups 1st and 2nd
Stage
Convenient
Invitation Only
Multiple Administrators
Hyperlink
Blur work/private boundary
LinkedIn Groups 2nd & 3rd
More Professional Network
Closed Groups
News Feed
Sunsets
NOT archival
Email Updates
Multiple Administrators
Wiki wiki wiki!
Wiki = Hawaiian for quick
Collaborative Website
Wikipedia
Best known
Lightning Rod for criticism

Other models exist

Wiki as 3rd stage collaboration tool
Blog is strictly chronological
Wiki allows a linear path thru resources
Wiki allows hyperlinked path too!
Consider a site map vs site index
Plan before you produce
Wiki allow different levels of control
Wiki Considerations
Intended Audience
Ease of Use
Editorial Control
Confidentiality
Hosted or In House
Tracking Changes & Managing Passwords
Need to Update and Migrate Content
Wiki as Tool vs. Business Model
Open to World
Locked Down
Small Group
Vetted
Secret Wikis
Blog and Wiki = Bliki
International Legal Wiki

Multi-Lingual & Multi-Cultural

Wex: Cornells Legal Wiki
Wex Standards
Contributors Screened
Subject Matter Experts Desired
Not as self-referential as
Wikipedia
Extensive linking to external
authority
Legal Causes & Wikis
Peer to Patent: Reforming the
Patent System
World Citizenship Wiki
Network Against Violence
Anti-Lessig Reader Wiki:
Criticizing ideas of Prof. Lessig
Google Wave 2nd or 3rd Stage
Wiki Like Tool
Simultaneous Collaboration
Still in beta
Invitation Only
Email me for Invite
Tool in search of a mission?
Lots of Wiki Choices
PBWorks
Google Sites
Wetpaint
Wiki Farms
Measure Twice, Cut Once
Project Initiation
Planning
Execution
Project Completion
Transition to Operation
Contact Information

Neal Axton, Reference Librarian

Office Phone: 651-290-6374
Email: Neal.Axton@wmitchell.edu

Contact the reference desk

Reference@wmitchell.edu

Instant Messaging