Practical 8

In practical 8, we were told to evaluate this http://www.talkingcock.com where our class was divided into 3 groups where each group will have a role to play- Singapore's Prime Minister, Singaporean, foreigner working or studying in Singapore. Using the criteria for evaluating websites, I think this website is not sustainable as the topics discussed in this website is highly opinionated and exaggerated although it is talking about the issues in Singapore. However, I feel this is one good entertainment site where it serves a platform for Singaporeans and people all over the world to talk about Singapore politics and national issues in a lightweight and entertaining manner, but bringing their points forward, encouraging the people to voice out. This is indeed one good site for Singaporeans looking from all perspectives, as the prime minister may know what the public is talking and concerned about. This website’s popularity and achievements has been proven through its high subscribership in the tens of thousands and the fact that it has been debated in Singapore's parliament, featured on the BBC and NPR and in Time Magazine, Wired and The Economist and the production of a comedy CD. One particular site that we are lacking in Singapore and is needed.

Practical 7
This week, we were told to access our UIR-Rawkz Wiki (www.uirrawkz.wetpaint.com to submit our individual summary of our research
findings.

This is my second time using a wiki to share and communicate the research that we’ve done, thus I’m still fairly new to how wiki works. Wiki is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any Web browser, supporting hyperlinks and simple text syntax for creating new pages and crosslinks between internal pages on the fly.

Despite being the only second time of trying wiki out, I can see the potential of the use of wiki for projects and across organizations, where information can be distributed and edited for the sharing with other members or colleagues. One clear example for successful wiki is the best known online encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Of course, through this sharing session, I’ve learned the latest trends in the music industry for teenagers, Cancers and even the Integrated Resorts in Singapore, all at one shot!

Amazing!

No wonder it is highly used now in schools, encouraging the democratic use of the Web and content composition by nontechnical users.