Wednesday

Thing #6: Mashups and 3rd Party sites

What is a "mashup"?
Wikipedia offers a great article that explains mashups. Basically they are hybrid web applications that take features from one application (like Flickr) and mash it up with another (like Google Maps). In this example, you get Mappr (http://mappr.com/).

Like many web 2.0 sites, Flickr has encouraged other people to build their own online applications using images found on the site. Through the use of APIs (application programming interfaces), many people have created third party tools and mashups that use Flickr Creative Commons images or even your own photos.

Discovery Resources:

Here are a few examples of mashups that use Flickr:
Mappr - allows you to take Flickr images and paste them on a map

Flickr Color Pickr - lets you find public photos in Flickr that match a specific color.

Mosaic Maker – create a photo mosaic from photos found on Flickr. Discover more mashups, web apps, and Flickr tools.

Bookr - a cute way to create little books using Flickr pictures and your text. Look in the archive at different examples by clicking on the key words list. If you create one, remember the title! The search function is not the best...but remember, it's free! Include the link in your posting so we can see your creation!

Discovery Exercise:
Your discovery exercise for this “thing” is to:
Explore some of the fun Flickr mashups and 3rd party tools that are out there.
Create a blog post about one that intrigues you.

In your post, talk about some ways Flickr and/or Flickr mashups could be used in your library program.One of our very favorite tools is FD ToysTrading Card Maker. And there’s a ton of librarians out there who have created their own Librarian Trading Card. So have some fun discovering and exploring some neat little apps. And if you're up to the challenge while you’re at it, why not create a trading card of your own?! :)

Take a look at more fun stuff from the Big Huge Labs.

P.S. Be sure and use copyright-friendly photos!

12 comments:

Katie Fitch said...

I enjoyed learning about all the different Mashups and 3rd Party sites. You could spend a lot of time trying all of these out.

hodgepodge said...

I always wondered where people found places on the internet to create calenders with their photos, etc....now I have come ideas.

Leslie Woolsey said...

Okay, I played with it all and it did take a lot of time but I had fun! Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

Thing 6 has been really fun with a great deal of possibilites for classroom application. I can see my students really loving it and wanting to use it often. Mrs. McC

The Peasant said...

This 'Thing' has some really great and natural applications in my classroom. I am already writing them into my lesson plans for next year!

Anonymous said...

I think I am finally getting the hang of all this!!! Itis so much fun!!!

Anonymous said...

I used the trading card creator in my classroom last year to have my students create trading cards of illustrating the art elements. The students had to find a photo on flickr creative commons, add a title, and the definition. When they were done, I made a class set of cards and copied them for the kids to take home.

woomaj said...

Thanks, artist; your use of cards gives me one more way to keep it interesting with teachers & students from all subjects; instead of the same ol' product, we'll make tutorial-ready cards from the info learned in a unit.

Ms. Musters said...

Totally love Flickr, Big Huge Labs and now Trading Cards. Did not get Mappr...

Ms. Musters said...

I was looking forward to exploring Bookr, but the the link does not work. Is it no longer available?

Charlotte Charles said...

This was exciting to see. I think many of these applications would be things that would be interesting to my students - and fun for them,too.

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