Web 2.0 – The Next Generation of the Internet

When you hear the word Internet, you probably think of web pages – much like a book or newspaper, it is content waiting to be consumed. If you ask a student, they will probably give a much broader description. To digital natives, the Internet is an interactive community; not just filled with information to consume, but a platform to communicate, collaborate, express ideas, and create content. Web 2.0 is the buzzword that is commonly used to describe this new level of Internet use. What has made this change possible? – Broadband service such as Cable or DSL connections. With dial-up access, the speed required for instant communication, images, and video was just not possible.

Category examples include blogging, podcasting, RSS feeds, wiki’s, and social bookmarking. You can think of Web 2.0 as programs much like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint… the difference? These applications run through the Internet and many are available for free. Let’s use Excel as an example. It is a spreadsheet program that allows you to enter text, data, and formulas so you can sort, calculate, and graph information. The drawback, it runs off the individual computer and the spreadsheet is limited to a single user entering the data. What if it was possible for multiple students to access the same spreadsheet and enter data simultaneously? A science class, for example, could collect data from multiple groups of students and enter the information onto a shared document. The document might be shared with other class periods or even other schools. The results could be compiled, arranged, and displayed in real-time. That is the concept behind Google Docs & Spreadsheets and several other Web 2.0 applications.

Social networking sites such as MySpace and FaceBook have gained popularity with students because it allows them to express their views and become part of a community. Negative press has left a shadow over these services which makes them taboo for schools. But when we look at the skills students are using on these sites, we will see they are reading, writing, and communicating with 21st century tools. The content is not always appropriate, but if blogging is motivating to students, we should consider how take advantage of that motivation and channel it into a learning opportunity.

The list of Web 2.0 tools continues to grow at an incredible pace. Students are using the Internet in ways never imagined only a few years ago. This newsletter will continue to introduce some of these new tools and how they can be integrated into the classroom. If you are using any type of Web 2.0 tools to educate your students or yourself I would like to hear about it. Share your stories by emailing me at sbrandt@np.k12.mn.us.