Abstract:

Syndication of all kind of files (text, audio, graph, video, etc.) is one of the main media of Web 2.0 and facilitates quick diffusion of contents, as it enables the exchange of specific information-university curricular contents in this case. The possibility of using collaborative classification by means of simple tags with no need to surf the web, displaying a summary of these contents, organizing contents semantically and completing keyword-based searches are undoubtedly very appropriate tools for collaborative learning as a social-construction process, and also for constant follow-up of the team’s progress both at individual and group levels. The following benefits have generally been obtained for both students and teaching staff:
The learning value for students consists on the fact that RSS (Real Simple Syndication) allows all students in Communication Sciences sharing comments, news headlines, links to recent articles and papers, descriptions and images. This information thus becomes available not only for other Web content suppliers but also for users in a wide variety of multiplatform systems such as PDAs, mobile phones, e-mail alerts, voice searches, etc. Such a wide diffusion is possible since XML, instead of being an HTML language, is a database tool. Its high capabilities allow students exchanging their contents (created by themselves or not), thus developing a network of active and updatable contents, and therefore fostering effective collaborative learning. During the academic year 2008-09, new group dynamics have been established by means of content syndication, obtaining much higher quality levels and content assimilation than in previous years. On the other hand, students in Audiovisual Communication begin innovative proposals with these practices they shall employ in their future professional development in technical centres of production of news or multimedia contents
Regarding the teaching staff, content syndication allows creating specific online communities on scientific, teaching and research specialities. The main advantage of RSS for this kind of communities against other alternatives is the possibility to endorse similar teaching experiences and exchange materials, advances, etc. through the subscription to news and the publication of results which make use of the wide collection of teaching materials available on the Web. Generally, we all live unique experiences or find solutions which can benefit others. No rule states that only textbook publishing houses can create educational materials or suggest how they have to be used. It is possible to subscribe to news bulletins in your field of study, thus avoiding surfing through hundreds of websites. It is also possible to save time when preparing lessons by means of subscriptions to those specialized media which can provide appropriate information. Finally, it also improves connectivity among researchers who are unknown to one another, allowing them benefiting from the specialized knowledge of third parties with their consent.

Keywords:

syndication, communication sciences, cooperative learning, web 2, 0.