The Read/Write Web
I have been thinking a lot recently about the meaning of “Web 2.0.” I think I have distilled it to this: Web 1.0–the web that we all “grew up” with–was a read-only medium. The web was a place where we went for information that was for all intents and purposes unchangeable. Web 2.0 is a read/write medium. Rather than being merely readers, users can be participants in the content of web pages by editing Wikis (I have made some edits to WikiTravel, for example), commenting on blogs, creating content for YouTube, participating in social networks, or storing your photographs in a publically accessible place like Flickr. It’s exciting to think about the collaborative possibilities for students in such a medium.
The Read/Write Web is a blog devoted to the concept of the web as a participatory medium. The authors do a fine job of keeping abreast of developments in the Web 2.0 space, particularly in the education field. They have a nice RSS feed and subscribing is highly recommended.
Two recent posts are particularly significant for educators. In Web 2.0 Backpack: Web Apps for Students, Josh Catone cataogs a wealth of web-based applications for…ummm…students. Especially interesting are the links to mind-mapping software–on-line, collaborative applications that allow participants to brainstorm in real time. Think Inspiration as a web application and you’ll get the idea. The same article lists a huge variety of on-line notetaking tools, bookmarking utilities, study guides, calendars, and other useful productivity tools.
Another article to watch is Keeping Tabs on Web 2.0. This article tracks a variety of topics related to Web 2.0 development and implementation.
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