The article, Web 2.0: A New Wave of Innovation for Teaching and Learning by Bryan Alexander, describes the way Web 2.0 has helped to evolve the internet and technology as we know it. Web 2.0 includes a mix of concepts, projects, and practices that are forever changing. I thought that this article was filled with useful information about web software for teachers and students.
A major part of Web 2.0 is the new practice of social software. Social software contains a wide range of web concepts and is used as a way to boost knowledge and the ability to learn. It is a way that many professionals use the internet. Social software can include; blogs, wikis, podcasting, and social networking. Each type of software grabs the attention of different audiences. A person who uses blogs may not use podcasting. It all depends on the project at hand and the topic that is being looked at.
Another way Web 2.0 is changing and adapting to the new learning times is the way we look and use the internet. One person may prefer searching the web, while another want to post on blogs or create conversations on wikis. Web 2.0 has evolved tremendously over the decades and has adapted to the way people learn and do research using the internet. Some webpages allow you to do research, while others allow you to create videos or blogs.
The article also talked about the idea of social bookmarking. This is a way for teachers and students to store information, explain information, and share that same information. Social bookmarking allows teachers and students to secure links and keep records of a specific person's research. I think that social bookmarking is a good way for student's to share research and work on projects together.
A few examples of Web 2.0 sites that are becoming more useful are; wikipedia which is an online encyclopedia that can be edited, JotSpot which is a site to edit multiple documents, and Blogdex which shows the most popular webpages from a bloggers perspective. One problem that arises through all of these sites is the threat of copyright. Most of these sites allow users to "own, modify, and exchange data." This means that people using these sites need to be aware of not claiming other's work. Teachers must teach students the appropriate way to use these sites and to be aware of copyright.
In the world of education teachers and students can use the ever changing Web 2.0 by creating individualized learning, group projects, year long projects, weekly blogs and more. Students can use "del.icio.us" to tag topics for projects and for other students. The web has been transformed to meet the needs of most users and to provide sites that will help learning for students and teaching for teachers. Web 2.0 is a useful tool in the classroom and all the web based tools that come from Web 2.0 will allow enhanced and advanced learning for students.
Web 2.0 has certainly changed the internet. I like how you point out several ways that web 2.0 can be integrated into education. Del.icio.us is a great website that helps you keep track of topics and materials for projects. Social software has made a rise in popularity as of late with the coming of age of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and hundreds of blogging sites such as this one. I once thought that I needed to have some sort of authority to publish my thoughts on the web but now anyone with internet access has a platform to make their thoughts me known. Web 2.0 provides an opportunity millions if not billions of people to be educated by one another.
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