Web 2.0

Web 2.0 is
a definition that was first coined in 1999 by Darcy DiNucci, an information architecture consultant.  It is commonly used to refer to a more interactive
collaborative web experience rather than the conventional experience of
accessing a static website.  This is the
main difference between “Web 1.0” and “Web 2.0”; the interactivity and use
driven content.  Examples of traditional
“Web 1.0” content include the business models of Encyclopedia Britannica
online compared to Wikipedia.  The former
is focused on an end point user targeted product and experience.  A product is developed, produced and released
to the users who interact with it and gain knowledge from it.  Compared to Wikipedia (a wiki) which is a user driven
experience.  Rather than providing
material that users consume, all the material on Wikipedia is driven by user demand and
created by users.  This is the hallmark of a Web
2.0 tool, one which focuses on giving the users a tool to create their own
interactive content rather than rely on existing content created by a company.

Web 2.0
technologies consist of 5 key features which have educational advantages :

·
The
free classification of information as governed by users, such as “tagging” which uses keywords to allow streamlined searching and information association.

·
A
rich user experience that is dynamic and responds to audience input as users can see their influence affect the media being developed and the focus of the content.

·
User
participation:  there is a two way flow
between users and the site owner/operator that is transparent and observable by all users.  This is distinct from the Web 1.0 presentation and curation of information by a distinct administrative group.

·
Software
provides a service and allows for automation or updates and curation.

·
Mass
participation:  the ubiquity of web
access allows for mass input by the entire user base, rather than a select few administrators or curators.

Web 2.0
tools are defined by their communal, collaborative and, above all, social nature
where they are driven by user input rather than by providing content that a specific group has decided is relevant.

Web 2.0
Tools have seen significant uptake in the areas of teaching and education due
to the freedom and differentiation that they provide to teachers and students.

Web 2.0 has
several key concepts.  It is a rich
experience which comprises a variety in inputs from a web perspective.  It is entirely web oriented, rather than
desktop based and is socially based, with the end user a key driver.

It also
relies on a number of key elements which have been given the acronym SLATES by
Andrew MacAfee

**Searching:**
Searching out new information is a key part of Web 2.0 Technology

**Links:** Physically linking and drawing connections
between information is also considered vital.

**Tags:**  To
facilitate searching and linking, the ability to use one word tags to identify
pages or material in a user driven manner is a key part of web 2.0 technology.

**Extensions:**
Applications that turn the web into a multimedia experience rather than
a document server through the integration of sound, video, pdfs etc.

**Signals:**  The use
of syndication technology such as RSS to make users aware of changes in
content.

As a result
WEB 2.0 technologies including blogging, podcasting, wikis, RSS curating and
social networking are all collaborative user driven tools which are focused around the
sharing of information and opinions.

1. ↑ Redecker, C., Ala-Mutka, K., Bacigalupo, M., Ferrari,
A., & Punie, Y. (2009). *Learning 2.0: The Impact of Web 2.0 Innovations*
on Education and Training in Europe. *Seville (Spain): European Comission*
Joint Research Centre Institute for Prospective Technological Studies.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Alexander, B. (2006). Web 2.0 A New Wave of Inovation
for Teachign and Learning? *EDUCAUSE Review*, 33-44.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Grosseck, G. (2009). To use or not to use web 2.0 in
higher education? *Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences*, 1(478–482).
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Wang, L., & Beasley, W. (2008). The Wiki as a Web
2.0 Tool in Education. *International Journal of Technology in Teaching and*
Learning*, 4(1), 78–85.*
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Thompson, J. (2007). Is Education 1.0 Ready for Web 2.0
Students? *Innovate: Journal of Online Education*, 3:4(5).
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Duffy, P., & Bruns, A. (2006). The Use of Blogs,
Wikis and RSS in Education: A Conversation of Possibilities. *Proceedings*
Online Learning and Teaching Conference *, (pp. 31-38). Brisbane.*