What is Web 2.0?
April 12, 2008
Last week, I met with a Columbia Business School professor to discuss the broad issue: what is web 2.0?
My standard answer: Web 2.0 is a marketing buzzword used to describe a large class of next-generation web applications.
I categorize Web 2.0 into the following sections:
- Personal productivity
- Syndication
- Tagging / Organization
- Online Collaboration
I also believe that Web 2.0 generally emphasizes the following themes:
- Creating and Consuming Information
- Global conversation
- Empowering the individual
- Knowledge sharing / discover
Web 2.0 is intimately tied to the concept of 21st Century Learning.
This PDF briefly describes the framework from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.
- Creativity and innovation
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Communication and Collaboration
- Information Literacy
- Communication Literacy
- Technology Literacy
- Flexibility and Adaptability
- Initiative and Self-Direction
- Social and Cross-Cultural Skills
- Productivity and Accountability
- Leadership and Responsibility
It is amazing how fluency in Web 2.0 collaborative tools correlates with the same skill sets required to achieve success in 21st century learning environments.
Using twitter is engaging in a global conversation. Teaching oneself to use ning is the same “initiative and self direction” discussed in 21st century skills. Tools such as Google Docs or Sharepoint are primary platforms for online collaboration. (FYI – A division of Smart Solutions, Collaborative Technology Solutions, specializes in integrating online collaborative tools in the professional services arena.)
At Smart Solutions K-12, we are excited to bring practical solutions to integrating collaborative technologies into the classroom. Technology cannot exist in a vacuum. It must be accompanied by professional development, change management plans, technical leadership, and curricular support.
Our approach posits that educational institutions need a strong technology partner to help usher schools into the 21st Century.
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4 Responses to “What is Web 2.0?”
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Got it in one for Web 2.0. Nicely done.
“Web 3.0,” or the semantic web, is something you should look at as well. Since semantic technologies are based on browsing by context instead of by location, we could see a general increase in cognitive ability for web users. Semantic browsers will assist users in making connections between concepts they otherwise would not consider.
Exciting stuff!
[...] still strike!) Preparing for the Science Fair is always challenging, but doing it while using such Web 2.0 tools as wikis….that’s just plain ‘ol asking for it! I think that it may even [...]
It’s exciting to hear you reference the Partnership for 21st Knowledge and Skills. I think school administrators everywhere should have a copy of this on their desks.
I taught high school science in Houston for two years as a Teach For America corpsmember. The experience was an opportunity to bring science to underserved students, and I found technology to be the best way to capture their imaginations. I started doing more project based learning my second year, and found Web 2.0 apps like http://www.zoho.com and social bookmarking sites to be invaluable.
One problem though – we did not have easy access to computers. Another problem – many teachers were clueless when it came to opportunities for collaboration using web apps. The theory is still “work on your own” with little opportunity to form meaningful relationships around learning projects. Hopefully this will start to change.
[...] are also attempting to incorporate Web 2.0 technologies into our Science Fair again. Check out our Science Fair wiki to see how it’s [...]