The first book about Elgg is now on the market. It is called Elgg Social Networking, by Mayank Sharma. The description of Elgg that is given in the description of this book has provided me with the first real understanding of what is different about Elgg. He describes how to
"Create and manage your own social network site using this free open-source tool.
Create your own customized community site; Manage users, invite friends, start groups and blogs; Host content: photos, videos, MP3s, podcasts ; Manage your Elgg site, protect it from spam )."http://www.packtpub.com/elgg-social-networking/book
"If you are looking to create your social networking site by tomorrow, then this book is for you. Elgg is an open-source social web application. It offers a networking platform combining elements of blogging, e-portfolios, news feed aggregation, file sharing, and social networking. Elgg has its own plug-in architecture, and can use plug-ins to provide a calendar and a wiki” It can be integrated with most third-party blogging clients. It can be integrated with our own WebCT".
"While anybody can use Elgg to create their social network, it is especially useful in education as it has many features making it suitable for e-learning, including groups, communities, and blogs that can be used for online classes where students can communicate in a new way with each other and with students around the world—in a managed, protected environment, creating what its authors term a "personal learning landscape". This book also covers using Elgg in teaching/learning.” © Packt Publishing Ltd 2008(http://www.packtpub.com/elgg-social-networking/book
Hope that helps you guys as much as it did me!
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5 comments:
Brooke,
Great find with the book. The description really helped clarify what is Elgg. From the description it seems like something that could really catch on. I'll be interested to see what else you find.
Jennifer
Thank you for including a link to that book. I really want to learn more about this product since I think it would be wonderful in a school environment. Initially, I was concerned about safety but felt better when I read the following claim: "it is especially useful in education as it has many features making it suitable for e-learning, including groups, communities, and blogs that can be used for online classes where students can communicate in a new way with each other and with students around the world—in a managed, protected environment, creating what its authors term a "personal learning landscape"."
I am interested in learning how they create and manage a protected environment, since I wouldn't rather can't put students at risk.
One thing that draws me to Elgg, as well, is their statement about safety. Safety is #1 for k-12, and Elgg could only be imlpemented if it can be demonstrated to the school's administration that it's use is safe.
This "personal learning landscape" sounds really interesting, and definitely like something worth looking into in schools. Thanks for posting this resource!
Hi Brooke, I'm the author the Elgg book published by Packt. Thanks for blogging about it. Since your blog is about using technology in schools, would you like a review copy? geekybodhi-AT-gmail-DOT-com
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