Social bookmarking sites allow users to store, classify, share and search for links to online content.

Users maintain a personal collection of links online, similar to the bookmarks or favourites in a browser: this may be a private archive, or the user may choose to make their list accessible to others.

When links are saved they are given a "tag" - a keyword used to describe the link. This user generated labelling system has become known as a folksonomy. A folksonomy differs from a taxonomy in that, in a folksonomy, the users create the labels, and often the content to which the labels are applied.

Multiple people can use the same tags, so you can search social bookmarking sites for everything tagged with "education" or "social bookmarking " and get the collected archive of everything that anyone using that service has saved using that tag.

Social Bookmarking Sites

Three well known examples of social bookmarking tools are delicious, FURL and StumbleUpon

These sites require the user to create a free account.

• delicious has a useful feature of suggesting tags
• FURL saves a (private) copy of the page, so you can see the page even if it disappears or changes
• Stumbleupon users can rate sites and get personalized recommendations according to their interests

Whilst most bookmarking sites have similar features it is worth investigating several to find one that offers the functionality and features that will suit your purpose.

The Read/Write Web: Social Bookmarking Faceoff article [Sept 2006] provides an easy to read comparison chart of major bookmarking sites and their features.

New bookmarking sites and services are appearing almost daily. For a comprehensive listing of bookmarking sites visit eConsultant Web 2.0 Directory. [54 sites listed Dec 2006]

As with all online services, users are advised to read the Terms of Service.

Most sites' Terms of Service agreements include a warning that they allow the posting of links to third-party websites. The linked websites are not under the control of the bookmarking site and they do not accept responsiblity for the content of any linked website or any link contained in a linked website. In accessing the Site and Services or following links to third-party websites you may be exposed to content that you consider offensive or inappropriate. You agree that your only recourse is to stop using the site and service.

Teachers are advised to read the individual Terms of Service agreements and trial bookmarking sites before using them with students.

How can social bookmarking be used for educational purposes?

• A teacher could set up an account for each class, tag resources and make the URL available to the class. As the work is web-based it can be modified and updated from any internet connected computer. Likewise students can access the resources from any internet connected computer.
  
• A specific tag (within a group of tags) could be used to direct individual students to specific readings or resources.
  
• A collaborative account could be created, the username and password shared by a class or group of students who could then tag and share resources.
  
• Library staff could maintain a list of tags specifically relevant to their school's curriculum

Many of bookmarking services also have RSS feeds, so students who use a news aggregator can see new postings automatically.

• Wagga Wagga City Library [NSW] has an extensive tag cloud
  
  
• This is an example of a cloud tag list from Swan View Senior High School Library [WA]

More detailed academic information about social bookmarking and its educational implications is available from the following sites:

• Social Bookmarking Tools
  D-Lib Magazine
  Tony Hammond, Timo Hannay, Ben Lund, and Joanna Scott
  Nature Publishing Group April 2005 Volume 11 Number 4

• The Structure of Collaborative Tagging Systems
  Scott A. Golder and Bernardo A. Huberman
  Information Dynamics Lab, HP Labs

• Web 2.0 A New Wave of Innovation for Teaching and Learning?
  Bryan Alexander
  Educause
  
  
• Learners, Learning and Technology
  Diana Oblinger
  Educause
  
  
• RSS Ideas for Educators
  Quentin D'Souza
  Teaching Hacks
  

• Social Bookmarking Sites
• Terms of Service
• Educational Uses of Social Bookmarking
• Examples of Educational Social Bookmarking
• Professional Reading