Data Tagging
What is data tagging?
Data tagging allows users to organize information more efficiently by associating pieces of information (websites or photos, for example) with tags. What is a tag? According to Wikipedia, "a tag is a non-hierarchical keyword or term assigned to a piece of information (such as an internet bookmark, digital image, or computer file). This kind of metadata helps describe an item and allows it to be found again by browsing or searching. Tags are chosen informally and personally by the item's creator or by its viewer, depending on the system."
Two popular ways to use data tagging are social bookmarking and photo sharing. With the social bookmarking site Delicious, you can save and organize your bookmarks online and share them with others (hence "social" bookmarking). Watch this short Common Craft video and read Educause's "7 Things You Should Know About Social Bookmarking" to learn more about social bookmarking with Delicious.
Flickr allows users to upload photos, organize them by tagging, and share them. To find out more about Flickr, watch the Common Craft video and read Educause's "7 Things You Should Know About Flickr."
Here are some ideas for using data tagging applications in the classroom:
- create a central storage place for course-related bookmarks with Delicious
- find authentic photos for use in the classroom by exploring Flickr tags
- share travel photos with friends, family and colleagues back home
Where can I get started data tagging?
Flickr - a popular image hosting site; basic accounts (up to 200 photos) are free Picasa - free image editing software from Google that allows tagging and sharing Introducing Picasa 3 - watch this to see the features Picasa has to offer Delicious - a social bookmarking website that helps you store, organize, share, and discover bookmarks
Where can I see how others are using data tags?
Edie Furniss's Flickr photos - Photos from Russia
Edie Furniss's del.ici.ous bookmarks - Bookmarks for sites related to Russian language and culture and using technology in teaching
