Social Bookmarking

Social bookmarking is becoming increasingly popular, and no wonder; it has wondrous advantages over antiquated bookmarking in the form of the "add to favorites" option on PCs.  Its power lies in the easy accessibility of these bookmarks at any location where there is an internet hotspot.  As social bookmarks require the users to include the URL, title, brief description, and tags per each added bookmark, they efficiently allow websites to be organized and stored.  Whether one chooses to create a free social bookmarking account at Diigo or Delicious (among others), teachers and students will benefit from such a technological transformation.  They can use these bookmarks to manage important internet resources (i.e. assignments, lesson plans, research projects, rubrics and assessments, particular interests/hobbies, etc.).  Social bookmarking helps to eliminate quandaries and wasted hours of, "I forget what site I used!"  In addition, students and teachers will both benefit from the instant collaboration. Students can share sites with one another, as well as teachers with students, and teachers with other teachers.  In this way, teachers can access educational sites that other teachers are using, thereby gaining insight and innovative ideas for their classrooms! 

As a teacher-in-training, I happily made the acquaintance of this new world of social bookmarking and plan to continue to use it for the rest of my existence for this reason: it is an efficient way of organizing noteworthy educational sites.  Thus far, I have been able to organize 18 sites based primarily on lesson plan content areas, use of technology in the classroom, and resources for teachers.  I will no longer need to rely on Google for my every "jot and tittle"; instead, I will utilize the reputable sites I have bookmarked!