1.
Short description of the Web 2.0
application or open source software application
I chose to review foursquare, which
is a location based form of social networking. Formed in NYC in 2009, it is
generally used by people looking to share their current locations with friends,
as a means of letting people know where they are and what they are doing.
2.
Describe the target audience for
this software.
Given the nature of foursquare, I
would assume that the target audience is composed of young, tech-savvy people
who live in urban areas where the mobile application is popular. I would
imagine that it would be kind of pointless to be one of twenty people using the
program in a small town in the Midwest. Given its popularity at Comic Con,
South by Southwest, and other techy conventions, foursquare seems to have a
nerdy following.
3.
What is the purpose of the software?
How does it work?
The purpose of foursquare is
GPS-based social networking. Instead of texting your friends to tell them where
to meet you, you simply ‘check-in’ to a venue and the people you accept as
friends are able to see your current location. Users can earn badges for
certain check-in combinations, adding a game-like nature to the program. For
example- you can earn a Barista Badge for checking into five different
Starbucks locations. Foursquare works through GPS, or cell towers when/where
GPS is unavailable.
4.
Describe the user interface.
Is it easy or difficult to use? Why or why not?
Foursquare is very easy to use and
lacks the flashy graphics found on many mobile apps, usually slowing them down.
It is very straightforward and things appear as simple icons or lists making
them easy to understand. Further, given the danger of this type of location
tracking, foursquare has a crystal clear privacy policy and makes it very easy
to protect yourself from the potential harm of letting people know of your
exact locations.
5.
Technical requirements. Does
it work on Windows, Apple and Linux? Are there minimum memory
requirements, software that needs to be installed?
Foursquare works as a mobile app on
major smart phone platforms- iPhone, Android & BlackBerry (though I believe
there is a general mobile site). It must be downloaded from the smart phone’s
app catalogue
6.
What browsers does it work with?
Does it require Javascript, Java, ActiveX, Flash, Shockwave or plugins
It works as a mobile app on major
smart phone platforms- iPhone, Android & BlackBerry (though I believe there
is a general mobile site).
7.
What are the strengths of this
software application?
The strengths of foursquare are
based in its user-friendliness. It is generally free of bugs and easy to figure
out without needing to read complicated directions or trouble shoot. For the
super-connected user, foursquare links to twitter and facebook accounts,
allowing users to share their check-ins with their friends on other social
networks. Businesses are also benefitting from foursquare, via the offering of
badges for specific check-ins, as well as special offers for check-ins or
mayorships.
8.
What are the weaknesses of this
software application?
The weaknesses of foursquare are
based in its general youthfulness. It is obviously geared towards younger
people who are not paranoid enough to shun it, and its growth as a company is
limited as a result. Some people simply think it’s a bad idea to let people
know of your constant whereabouts and the places you frequent. Some of the
badges that can be earned are also crude in nature, with some based on
bar-hopping, frequenting frat houses, and a few with derogatory names and
implications.
9.
Provide at least three examples of
how you might use this in your science teaching.
Initially, I browsed web 2.0 apps
that were typical of the applications you would use in a classroom- chemistry
lab simulations, sketchpads, animation creators, etc. Then I realized that
foursquare (which I do use amongst my friends) has huge potential in my
classroom! While student teaching at John Bowne HS last semester, most of my
students were around 16 years old, which is not far off from my fabulous age of
21. The girls in my classes really did think I was their friend, and would
always ask me what I did over the weekend, where I shop, and things of that
nature. If I were to use foursquare with inner-city students who are generally
independent and able to travel, I would definitely be able to encourage them to
broaden their horizons and look for science in the world around them. The ways
I would use foursquare:
- I would visit places that I would
want my students to visit and learn from. Foursquare allows you to add tips to
different locations and I would be able to tell my students what to look for in
museums, parks, conservatories, arboretums, and beaches.
- I would offer extra credit
assignments based on an assignment completed at the aforementioned places…we’ve
all pretended to go to the museum at some point in our lives! Foursquare would
make it harder for students to cheat and run to google!
- I would hopefully be able to
change at least a few lives. A lot of teenagers tend to spend their weekends
bumming around and sleeping the day away. If they already admire you and take
interest in the things you’re interested in, they might like to visit the
places you visit and spend your free time. If they think you’re ‘cool’ and you
go bird watching every Sunday afternoon, they might want to do the same!
10.
Include any tips for science
teachers.
Obviously, the account you use with
your students would not be the same one you use with your friends, and you
would not want your students to see you checking into a bar at 2 am. I guess
common sense trumps all tips! You probably shouldn’t check into your house
either…
11.
Any other comments
Initially, I thought foursquare was
the most pointless thing ever. I joined
after a friend nagged me to and never found it to be much fun. I haven’t gotten
into it though, and it actually is fun to earn badges! I don’t think I’ll be
using it with my sixth graders this year (most of them don’t have cell phones
yet, and they are too young to travel around the city at their leisure), but I
will definitely give it a try if/when I teach high school students in the
future.