Web 2.0

Web 2.0 is a new buzzword that is used in conjunction with the way that the web has recently become two-way. A number of different spins are put onto the term, but largely there are two main points;

  1. Anyone can post to the web. It becomes a two-way conversation; sharing and collaboration take more precedence;
  2. The desktop loses it’s dominance as the platform where you do your work, and he web becomes that platform. So you can work collaboratively with anyone who is connected.

So what might this mean for learning?

First let’s consider the “killer application” of Web 2.0, the blog (weblog).

Take a look at what these people have to say about weblogs. Here, have a go on a blog - make a comment on this post at ethink. Tell us what your understanding of a blog is, and how you might use it.

We could spend ages on blogs but there are so many other cool things to look at.

Writely is a great application that has grown into the Web 2.0 paradigm. An online word processor that allows collaborative documentation to be created, it offers learners the chance to work together to improve their work. It’s a nice-looking alternative to a wiki which is a kind of collaborative documentation.  Writeboard is similarly good.
Here’s what a wiki does. Take a look at Wikipedia , an online encyclopaedia that has gone from strength to strength simply on the eagerness of volunteers to play a part in the spread of knowledge.

Social bookmarking is a great way of saving your weblinks online. Del.icio.us and furl are just two - there are plenty of others.  Sign up and you get a place to keep all your bookmarks, and you see what like-minded people are doing with theirs.
Creative writing.  What makes learners want to improve their writing?  Take a look at fanfiction and make your own conclusions.

There are a number of what are becoming known as Web 2.0 applications out there - take a look here  or here and see what you can find that suits you. You surely will.