Web 2.0

On Monday's post I used the term Web 2.0 and said I would further explain what I mean by that. Well, let's start by saying that if you are here on Blog Spot reading this you are participating in web 2.0!

By definition, Web 2.0 is a term that refers to a supposed second generation of Internet-based services. These usually include tools that let people collaborate and share information online, such as social networking sites, wikis, blogs, Nings, Message and Discussion Boards, podcasting, vodcasting, photo sharing/tagging etc. The list is almost endless. Another website that I visited recently explained it this way: Web 1.0 was mainly read only. People got on the web and read articles, found information they needed and that was about it. As the web has transitioned over the past few years in has gone into 2.0 which more collaborative. People not only read, but they interact with others. Even ones they may not know.

Teenagers, of course, have web 2.0 tools down to a right arm science. It is as if they have always had these tools at their finger tips and many of our younger ones actually have. We refer to these students as digital natives. They have never known life without web 2.0 tools such as social networking (MySpace, Face, Xanaga, Twitter).

As educators and even parents it is important to understand how your kids learn. They are learning in a very different way than we are used to. It is so important that teachers try their best to move with the transition and work toward teaching students to be good digital citizens in the Web 2.0 world. As the teachers guide their students to be good digital citizens, incorporating these tools into their instruction will definitely raise the interest level and learning outcomes of their students.

Have a wonderful evening!

Susan