Description

Question 1: Web developers and designers are now equipped with an incredible number of tools with which to create dynamic and interactive Web pages. Many of these tools come in the form of application programming interfaces (APIs), which are essentially snippets of code (and sometimes art) that allow developers and designers to quickly, and easily, implement powerful features in their online work. For example, APIs run the gamut from shopping carts to music players to game physics. All a developer needs to do is plug an API into their existing Web code for the feature to function, saving a tremendous amount of time and money. As is suggested in the Lecture Notes, there is a Web site called ProgrammableWeb that acts as a major source of news and information regarding Internet-based APIs. For this Discussion, visit http://www.programmableweb.com/category/project-management to review how many APIs are available for project management.

 After you finish perusing the collection of APIs, your task is to pitch one of the project management APIs to your colleagues as a useful tool for virtual team project work (within your enterprise or for your elearning group project work. Create a five-paragraph essay in which you pitch at least one project management API from the ProgrammableWeb Website for use in the Group Project. Identify and describe the use of the API you selected and provide at least three reasons that it is useful. Focus especially on the social computing advantages the API provides (e.g. improved efficiency and communications). Question 2 : During this course you will work in groups to develop a blog-based Website complete with various social computing features. With each successive week, starting with Week 3, your group will build upon its website based upon the specific assignment requirements for that week. Your blog’s progress will be assessed in Week 3, Week 5 and Week 7. At the beginning of Week 8 you will provide a summary report and link to your group's website to the Week 8 Discussion Board for review and discussion with the other groups. For Week 1, your first task is to form your groups utilising this Week 1 - 2 discussion board thread. To form groups, start by posting a professional essay marketing yourself to your colleagues as a potential group member. Include in your essay some topics (hobbies are a best choice) for a website that would interest you along with your days/time of day availability and prior blogging experience. Once you have formed your groups, your Instructor will create a group area on the Discussion Boards for your team to utilise. It is within this area that all your project-related discussions must be documented. Create a Discussion post in which you post a professional essay marketing yourself to your colleagues as a potential group member. Include in your essay examples of blog-based websites and topics which interest you. Since you are marketing yourself, you should include the skills and qualities you will contribute to the group project. Additionally, share your availability and time commitment. This should include times available each day and your time zone. Question 3: Everyone’s experience with social computing tends to be a little bit different. Whether you prefer using social computing for personal enjoyment or if it is a major tool used for work and/or school, you likely have your own preferred resources, techniques and tools for leveraging the technology to your benefit. Moreover, in the past decade, you likely changed and adapted your methods to keep pace with evolving social computing tools.

 For this Discussion it is very important to review the text, the lecture and research the difference between communicating web 1.0 versus web 2.0. Think back to a time when your communications were all done without Web 2.0 tools. Based on your personal 'history', share your experiences of social computing (eCommunications). What Web 1.0 tools did you use to complete your previous work, online learning and/or socialising? Were there any other etools available that you utilised? Moreover, analyse how social computing has evolved in your country. create a five-paragraph essay (500 words) in which you summarise the types of eCommunications tools you used in past work, online learning and/or social contexts prior to Web 2.0 tools in your country. Evaluate these tools/technologies as business tools and present the benefits and detriments associated with these tools/technologies. You must use at least one source from the Learning Resources and/or external Web sites to support your claims.