GoodReads is a website which provides various organizational structures for users to document, rate, review and share books. Users can place books into categories called shelves, or add books to lists created by other users. Many of the organizational structures on the site were tagged or organized by other GoodReads users.
This lesson plan is intended to provide a brief overview of the background of GoodReads, and some of the features available to registered users. The focus of this lesson plan is on the organizational structures of the site, and the extent to which users can influence and customize these structures. Notable sections of the lesson plan include; searching the collection, contributing to Listopia, creating and maintaining shelves, and a brief analysis of diversity in the social circles users develop on the site. Time is made available for a brief demonstration of the site's shelving and tagging system.
By the end of the demonstration, students will be understand genres, lists, shelving, tagging and social interactions common to the site's userbase.
This lesson plan can be implemented by providing a brief informative discussion regarding the foundational aspects of the GoodReads website, a live demonstration of the various organizatinal systems available on the site, and an interactive discussion at the conclusion of the presentation.
Supplemental material include a Google Slides Presentation and related Merlot materials.
