Web Widget
From LIS 460 Summer 2007
Contents |
Definition
Although widgets, which are chunks of code embedded in a webpage -- (i.e. a banner ad above your email in-box) have been around for ages, social networking sites have increased both their variety and uses.
A web widget is often a piece of interactive content --like a game, or sports scores updates. Widgets allow for extraordinary customization and personalization for blogs, social networks, and web sites.
Widgets in School Libraries
With such a variety available, widgets are a great resource for customizing the library webpage to suit the interest and needs of the school community.
School librarians will likely find students interested in creating widgets for school and personal uses, since they are new and fun to have. Having a school library that supports a students personal interest in widgets would create a positive association with the library as a place to support interests outside of school studies.
Not only could the school library offer a professional development workshop on widgets for classroom teachers, The school library could maintain a collection of resources for building widgets for students if they become part of a computer science curriculum, for example.
English teachers who introduce blogs to their students will enjoy offering widgets as a way to enhance the student's blogs.
Widget Resources
An IBM Tutorial
widgetbox for information, ideas, and lots of widgets.
Issues and Concerns
Like Mashups, widgets could cause the IT department of a school to be alarmed--downloading applications from the web and installing them on school computers can be dangerous for the network.
Widgets could be introduced in an information technology literacy unit as part of a collaborative project with the school's computer technology program. Having both a teacher and the SLMS supervising the building of widgets could safeguard the school's network to the satisfaction of the network administrator.
