Ten Web Apps for Students

I rejoined the ranks of academia this year, and have recently discovered several web applications that have made education much more enjoyable and simplified. I realized today, however, while talking to some classmates, that I may be the only person at my university that knows about these pearls of wisdom. So, for the unaware, here are ten web sites every student should utilize.

1. Google Docs
Google Docs allows you to create documents, spreadsheets and presentations online with the use of a web-based word processor. You can log into your account from any computer, thus eliminating the need for those hard-to-keep-track-of flash drives. While Google Docs is a very basic word processor, it enables the capability to export your document to a variety of sources: Word, Open Office, HTML, RTF, PDF, etc. I use a combination of Open Office at home and Google Docs on the go to eliminate facing off with the nasty Word 2007 monster that my college insists on using.

2. Delicious
You'll hear me talking a lot about Delicious. That's because it is my absolute favorite web utility. Delicious is a social bookmarking site that allows you to access your bookmarks from any location. Simply create a Delicious account, and add links to your bookmark index either manually or with the use of Mozilla Firefox's Delicious bookmarking add-on. This feature eliminates the need to email yourself important web sites; instead, you can keep track of them all, and organize them by tags, through Delicious.

3. Notely
Notely is a web application designed specifically for students by students. It helps you organize data while on the go. Notely features a calendar, a to-do list, a homework organizer, course management, and the ability to write and save notes, keep a notebook, and organize links, contacts and files. I use Notely primarily for their file upload tool. This is a great place to be able to retrieve documents I've written while at home when I'm at the college. I simply upload my docs to Notely, and can retrieve them from any system I'm able to log onto later.

4. Google Notebook
Google Notebook is a godsend that I have dreamed of for a long time. The application allows you to save pieces of web pages - text, photos and the like - to a clipboard-like notebook for easy viewing later. You can create multiple notebooks and organize your web clippings into respective categories as well.

5. Bubbl.us
Bubbl.us is an online brainstorming application that eliminates scribbling on hundreds of sheets of paper to come up with a plan of action. Bubbl.us allows you to create colorful mind maps online and share them with friends and family.

6. Stixy
Stixy is a bulletin board for all of your online stuff. This web application allows you to create online projects, scrapbooks and research files by adding photos, documents, notes and to-do lists directly onto your Stixyboards. Stixy utilizes widgets than can be dragged onto each bulletin board to create a visually stunning and well-organized online project.

7. Bib Me
Say goodbye to Works Cited and Reference pages, and say hello to the application that does it for you. Bib Me allows you to search for books, films, articles and web sites, add your sources to a bibliography, and download the bibliography in either MLA, APA, Chicago or Turabian format. Seeing as how I despise bibliographies and everything about them, I utilize this service quite often.

8. Lit Sum
LitSum is the largest free online literature summary site that offers free study guides, full chapter summaries and analysis, quotes, topics for discussion, style, themes and character analysis. This is an amazing place to find ideas for literature papers. It's an English major's dream come true.

9. Refdesk
Refdesk features acronyms, almanacs, currency converters, dictionaries, maps, public records, encyclopedias, translators and more, as well as and a whole host of search engines. If it's a question you'd ask your reference librarian, you'll likely find the answer on Refdesk all by yourself.

10. AllPeers
AllPeers is an application that allows you to share large files with friends and family right in your web browser. You can privately and securely share web pages, music, videos and photos with an individual or a group. Sharing becomes as simple as dragging and dropping files into your contacts' folders through AllPeers, which also has a handy Mozilla Firefox add-on available. For educational purposes, AllPeers can be used to share documents and other files with classmates or professors easily and efficiently.

Feel free to try these applications on for size. The best feature all of these utilities offer is that they are 100 percent free. Did I miss a site that you utilize to make your life easier? If so, please comment below.

Ethics of Social Networking

Mike Gunderloy of Web Worker Daily recently published "3 Problems with Social Networks," an article detailing issues that detract from the social networking experience. While Gunderloy admits that every social networking site has its own glitches and flaws, he points out that a little self-control can go a long way when you're publicizing yourself online. Here, I'll mesh WWDs tips with my own to help social networkers achieve the best online community experience possible.

There is such a thing as too many friends.
Scrutinize who you allow on your friends list. Limit spammers before they have a chance to get into your social networking world. When you receive a friend request, check out the user's profile before even considering approval. MySpace in particular has become a hub for the porn, music and other industries to spam people into their networks. MySpace offers the option of blocking all invites from bands and groups, but you can choose to personally screen these invites. And remember, social networking is not a popularity contest. The more friends you have does not add to your online reputation; as a matter of fact, it detracts from your appeal, IMHO.

Honesty is the best policy.
While it is important to create truthful profiles, it's not necessary to tell every last detail about yourself. A rule of thumb for online privacy is not publishing your full name and address, and don't provide contact information to people you don't want to contact you. Remember, anything you post online can be viewed by every person you add to your friends list or networks. Up-and-coming social network aggregators will provide a method of profile comparison. Google's OpenSocial is just the beginning. Soon, sites will utilize widgets to pool all of your social networking profiles. This is where it will be important for your MySpace profile to match your Facebook profile, and so on. This is just one other way Web2.0 is promoting more honest, intelligent, reputable community members.

Use applications.
I recommend using Mozilla Firefox, regardless of your web browsing needs. This comes along with the capability of adding personalized applications to further improve browsing. Firefox offers many applications that go hand-in-hand with today's social networking sites, such as Boost for Facebook and Delicious bookmarking, two applications that I personally use. And I can't possibly recommend any application without mentioning AdBlock and Flashblock, two add-ons that eliminate annoying advertisements that detract from any browsing experience. With all of the flash littering MySpace today, I'm overjoyed to have access to such add-ons.

Remain devoted to just a few sites.
I've attempted to hold down the fort on more than a few social networking sites, and unless you spend an ungodly amount of time online, it's quite difficult. Attempting to manage too many online profiles detracts from your presence on any one. I've managed to limit my social networking to a few sites with different purposes. I keep up with both MySpace and Facebook because I can keep in contact with different friends who use each program, but to be honest, I'd rather limit my social networking to just one of these. Tack on Last.fm, Delicious, and a few other utility-type services, and I'm socially maxed out. Limiting your online presence will also increase your enjoyment of these services. Social networking is a blast. It puts us in touch with old and new friends and helps us get a visual picture of ourselves. With the growth of Web2.0 and social networking, it is necessary that individuals learn the ethical rules of the online world.

Social Networking 101

Perhaps my favorite commodity of the 21st Century Digital Revolution is the multitude of social networking sites on the Interweb. I first discovered LiveJournal about seven years ago, and I've been socially hooked ever since. In recent years, my social networking has branched out to the worlds of MySpace and Facebook, as well as to the newly-popular Web2.0 sites like Last.fm and Delicious.

Social networking empowers individuals to bask in their own spotlight. When I look at my profiles, I am proud of my interests and hobbies, and I've learned that I'm a lot cooler online. It's this self-promotion that keeps our narcissistic culture coming back for more.

Through this blog, I will feature many, many social networking sites, both old and new to the World Wide Web. I'll define Web2.0 and offer examples and reviews of up-and-coming sites and utilities for net users. My readers will also indulge in various entertainment and media topics, as I plan to give all aspects of popular culture a good analysis through my writings.

Much of my content will focus on the open source movement, as well. I am a huge advocate for free information, and I plan to offer many options for completing tasks more easily and efficiently by using online tools and software advances - for free.

To kick things off, I'll offer the basic definition of social networking. This article from the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication says it best:

"We define social network sites as web-based services that allow individuals to (1) construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and (3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system."

I believe the world of social networking is creating more intelligent, open-minded and interesting individuals, united by pop culture. The above article is an excellent one, that delves into the psychological and societal aspects of community sites.

Wikipedia's article on social networking sums up this community evolution:

"Several websites are beginning to tap into the power of the social networking model for social good. Such models may be highly successful for connecting otherwise fragmented industries and small organizations without the resources to reach a broader audience with interested and passionate users. Users benefit by interacting with a like minded community and finding a channel for their energy and giving."

So, here's to a better community, educated by our peers and the technological advances the world is handing to us. Stay tuned for more.