Using Web 2.0 Tools to Create Customized Research Portals

Abstract

The Information Resources team within the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) at the University of Sheffield has a long-standing interest in the application of new and emerging Web 2.0 technologies for research, learning, and teaching. In early 2008, members of the group began to discuss the development of customized web portals, also referred to as personal start pages, to aggregate various streams of specialist information relevant to researchers within the School and in the wider National Health Service (NHS) research community. This paper documents the background to the portals, their development, and reflects on the challenges and issues the team encountered.

KEYWORDS:

• aggregators
• customized web portals
• Netvibes
• Pageflakes
• portals
• RSS
• start page
• Web 2.0

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Andy Tattersall

Andy Tattersall, BA (Hons), MSc ([email protected]) is Information Specialist (Electronic Networks), Information Resources Group, HEDS, ScHARR, The University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 4DA, United Kingdom.

Claire Beecroft

Claire Beecroft, BA (Hons), DPS, MA, MCLIP ([email protected]) is University Teacher and Information Specialist, Information Resources Group, HEDS, ScHARR, The University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 4DA, United Kingdom.

Anna Cantrell

Anna Cantrell, BA, MA, MCLIP ([email protected]) is Information Specialist, Information Resources Group, HEDS, ScHARR, The University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 4DA, United Kingdom.