The purpose of this activity is for you to learn about Social Bookmarking and how it can be used to share and collaborate. Your mission is to search for 10 web sites and bookmark them on the popular social bookmarking site http://delicious.com

Please note that the data you provide will be analyzed for research purposes. You name will not be associated with any data given in the final report. If you would like a copy of the final report emailed to you, please indicate on the first page of the survey form given to you in class.

Following are the directions:

1. You will use a search engine to find the BEST web site in each of 10 categories below. Remember that these should be sites as they relate to teaching and learning in your future role as a teacher.

2. You will need to establish an account at http://delicious.com. I will give you directions for using this web site in class.

3. After you find the BEST web site in each category, you should bookmark it in Delicious using A MINIMUM OF THREE TAGS. Tags are keywords that people use to describe their bookmarks.

4. You will be given a survey to complete as you bookmark each site. A copy of the survey will be given to you in class. You may also download a copy at http://teacherworld.com/sbsurvey.doc

5. When your are done with this assignment, save a copy of the link because you will make a link from your home page once you build your web site.

6. If I determine that you randomly chose any site to get this assignment done, I will withhold credit.

These are the categories listed on the survey form:

• Lesson Plans
• Graphic Resources
• Using Technology in Teaching
• Video Resources for the Classroom
• Finding a Teaching Job
• Web Sites for Teachers
• Using Interactive Whiteboards
• Teaching Strategies
• Online Tools for Teachers
• Web Site Evaluation for Students

For each site, you should do the following which is also listed on the survey form:

1. List the name of the web site:
2. List the address of the web sites
   
3. List all of the search terms that you used separated by a comma:
   
4. List the ranking of the link that you used as it appeared in the search results list (ex. First, Third, Sixth etc).
   
5. List the search strategies that you used separated by a comma: (see Note below)
   
6. List the tags that you used separated by a comma:
   
7. List why you think this is the BEST web site in this category:
8. List the search engine or search engines that you used: (Note that this was omitted from your sheet and you must add it for each site)

Note: There are many search strategies. Listed below are a few:

• Changing the wording
• Typing in phrases
• Using quotes
• Using the "Advanced Search" Features
• Using Boolean operators such as "and" & "or"
• Using more than one search engine
• Using singular rather than plural words

©Raymond S. Pastore, Ph.D.
Professor of Education
Teacherworld.com
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Bloomsburg University
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