This toolkit is based upon the July 2006 CTN Workshop on how to leverage Web 2.0 tools, presented by:
A blog is simply, the most easily publishable web page. In other words, a Blog, is simply a web page that can be created using only a web browser by non-technical users. This dramatically increases access to web publishing to a wider audience. Holly shared stories about the following organizations leveraging blogs.
Non-profits leveraging blogs include:
* You can find additional example of community organizations using blogs at NetSquared.org and WorldChanging.org
Tools that are freely available to use to create blogs include:
Tools you can use to see what people are saying in the "blogosphere":
Malcolm Marshal of Street Soldiers discussed podcasting and its power to connect communities. He also shared his experience of posting an online radio show, using the example of a radio show that discussed the challenges faced by inner city communities.
Classes:
Tools:
Ryan Hodson and Jay Dedman authors of Secrets of Video Blogging and FreeVlog led an informative discussion about Video Blogging. They emphasized that when nonprofits use blogs, podcasts, and video blogs to tell their stories, “They are giving access to communities that others don't see.”
Tools:
Social bookmarking tools allow individuals and organizations share links to website information. Think of them as public bookmarks. By sharing your bookmarks or favorites you can see what others who have bookmarked the same thing have also viewed, making these tools a very serendipitous way to do research.
Tools:
Delicious - The most popular tool for sharing bookmarks with your friends and colleagues.
John Lorance of CompuMentor demonstrated some clever use of mapping tools including one example from the Natural Resources Defense Council which used Google Earth + Flash to create a dramatic fundraising/promotional piece.
Tools:
The workshop finished with a presentation of how to use the first read/write web browser which provides easy and seamless tools for blogging (including spell checking), viewing and posting photos, and using social bookmarks.
Tools: