If you have ever looked up anything on Wikipedia, you have used a Web 2.0 tool. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0) If you have ever watched a video on YouTube or TeacherTube, you have used a Web 2.0 tool. If you have ever been on MySpace or Facebook or LinkedIn, then you have used a Web 2.0 tool. If you have ever watched a movie from Netflix on your computer, you have used a Web 2.0 tool. If you are reading this blog, you are using a Web 2.0 tool. (Check out WebWare for a pretty good list of Web.2.0 tools)
Web 2.0 tools are kind of becoming the way things are "done" on the web these days. Someone asked me the other day what was Web 1.0? Great question! Well, we didn’t really call it Web 1.0 at the time because like most things that change over time, we didn’t know there was going to be a newer version. Think of Web 1.0 as your basic website - a static page that contains information you can consume or access - a one-way form of communication, if you will. Web 2.0, on the other hand, is your two-way form of communication, often called the Read/Write web. This means you can not only consume (read) the information on the site, but you can also contribute (write) to the information. For example, you could leave a comment on this blog post and then you would be writing to the web.
What does this mean? Pretty simple - now everyone and anyone who wants to can be published on the World Wide Web. Everyone has a voice. Your learning network has grown exponentially. You have access to more primary resources than ever. Does that sound a little overwhelming? Don't let it be.
If you are interested in knowing more about Web 2.0 tools and what they look like when used in education, then we have a class for you, Web 2.0: The Lightning Round. In this hands-on class we will look at many of the tools being used by educators in their classrooms and for their own professional development. The class meets this Wednesday, April 2nd on the Eighth Floor from 8:30 am – 2:30 pm.
Hope to see you Wednesday!
Lee Anne
