Social software supported at Deakin

Drupal-SMF

Drupal-SMF combines two types of social software, a content management system known as Drupal and a discussion board known as Simple Machines Forum (SMF). Drupal allows users to publish, manage and organise the content of a website. It supports blog-based communication and social networking ('friends' lists). It also contains the option for users to be notified via email when content on the site is updated. Drupal software affords some control over the look and layout of a site. SMF is an optional feature that can be added to a Drupal site to support threaded discussion forums.

Drupal-SMF guides

MediaWiki

MediaWiki provides a web space (called a wiki) where students can share information and create documents collaboratively. It is the software behind Wikipedia. Students can upload text, links, images and media files to the wiki, and then edit each other's work and add comments, all without any knowledge of html, and without any special software of their own - just their web browser. Multiple users can work on a page at the same time, and they can view the page history to see who added which components. Wikis are frequently used to create shared documents and knowledge bases.

Demonstration MediaWiki site (staff only)

MediaWiki guides

Which software for which purpose?

Function/tool Drupal-SMF MediaWiki
Social presence/ networking (avatars, user pages/profiles) Supports creation of profile pages with easy-to-follow templates. Users can upload an avatar that will display next to all their blog and forum posts. Supports 'friends' lists for easy access to particular users' blogs. Ideas for use:

  • Users can introduce themselves in their profile.

  • Users can use profiles to choose groups.

  • Information in profiles can be used as the basis for an online icebreaker activity.

 Supports creation of profile pages (user pages). Users can upload an avatar to their user page. Ideas for use:

  • Users can introduce themselves in their profile.

  • Students can use profiles to choose groups.

  • Information in profiles can be used as the basis for an online icebreaker activity.
Blogs Every user has their own blog. Ideas for use:

  • Students can share reflection and analysis via their blog.

  
Community blog A central page aggregates the 10 most recent blog posts from the community of users. Ideas for use:

  • Users can reflect on the latest discussions and follow quick links to posts where peer review is required.

  
Threaded discussion forum SMF provides a threaded discussion form with advanced threading and private group access. Ideas for use:
  • Activities that require groups to communicate.
Threaded discussions are not provided (however, every wiki article has a basic page attached where users can negotiate article content).
Complementary web pages Web pages can be created within the Drupal environment. Ideas for use:

  • Web pages can be created to provide an authentic setting for activities.

 Complementary web pages are not provided in the wiki, but links can be made to relevant web pages.
Image gallery with comments Images can be uploaded to blogs or threaded discussion postings. Images can be uploaded to wiki articles.

Wikis

   Supports collaborative production and editing of articles. Ideas for use:

  • A repository for team project material and research.

  • Building a knowledge base for future use.

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12th December 2011