Web+2.0+and+SAAS

=Web 2.0=

Web 2.0 Explained
Web 2.0 is considered the next generation of web use. The first use of the internet tended to be one-way use for eg internet banking, google searching for information, second life existence. Essentially web 1.0 was used to go and and find stuff, generally it did not come and find you.

Web 2.0 is generally two-way or I would even say multi-way in its use. It allow multiple connections, for multiple reasons. Tony Ryan, I believe, describes web 2.0 best by describing the "wisdom" of the 2.0 crowd of users:

The Wisdom of 2.0 Crowds

 * None of us is as smart as all of us
 * The individual contribution seems less critical, the group mind more crucial
 * Google/Amazon have very accurate 'top hits' selections
 * Most Gen Ys live a life ethic that involves learning with and from other people
 * //Does your school have a team learning environment for this 'new breed' of 2.0 teachers?//

For more information visit this [|link] to wikipedia (a [|web 2.0], collaboratively created encyclopedia)

Web 2.0 Applications
Blogs, wikis, facebook, bebo, skype... are just the tiniest fraction of examples of web 2.0 applications. To get a real idea of what is out there and how much is out there in terms of web 2.0 applications [|go2web20.net]

Benefits of Web 2.0 applications in learning...
 * Learners of all ages can connect and collaborate...breaking down the walls of the classroom.
 * With very basic editing knowledge and skills learners can create and publish to a wider audience - especially home.
 * Learning can happen 24/7 and not just during school time given this type of environment
 * Web 2.0 applications mesh together
 * No need to pay for software any more with the introduction of [|SAAS] from providers such as google and yahoo
 * in my opinion the use of these applications in learning opens the children's minds to how to use these appropriately

Implications of using Web 2.0 applications in learning...
 * Privacy issues for users regarding photographs, names and parent permission: there are a few points to consider here - firstly you do have choices regarding privacy and who can access/modify your web 2.0 apps (if you don't and you need a certain level of privacy, then consider another choice), as always we should try to limit the amount of personal data we add to the internet, and secondly second life characters are all a part of web 2.0 so children can use these avatar to represent themselves in blogs etc see [|meez] for an example of building an avatar
 * Connection to the internet: high speed broadband is best, otherwise any other connection will only allow text based web 2.0 applications to work well.
 * Filtering: according to Schoolzone many web 2.0 applications are personal pages, and personal pages are most times filtered, so this can limit use of web 2.0. Also, the nature of web 2.0 applications is to connect and work in someway with another, so you may allow one to come through, then savvy teachers will want more and more. This is an issue you, your school, and teachers will need to seriously consider.
 * Ministry of Education funding: there are three years left of the MOE paying for software licensing, presently the MOE are reconsidering providing this to schools - they watch with great interest in the development of web 2.0 and SAAS.
 * On the horizon the MOE are aware of mini computers that roam like a cell phone but are bigger, and smaller than current PCs at the price of $400 per machine allowing access to the internet but with less hard drive space. These they predict may be common place in the next few years. If so, this has huge implications on what schools will buy, what infrastructure and how they could best use web 2.0 applications.