Module+7


 * Module 7 - The Impact of Web 2.0**

This is where I have fun - learning about all the new technologies, gadgets, programs, etc., and the true geek in me comes out!

I enjoyed reading through these Web 2.0 tools, not really learning a lot - all though "a little," but getting a refresher on how easy and popular these tools are! Let's see what Web 2.0 tools I use - just to name a few! The module started with an audacity introductory podcast from Professor Huelsmann. With this new webcast technology - do students like this? This student does. I don't need a lot of podcasts in a specific semester, but as a distance student I like when the professor provides an introduction - and you get to hear them! You get a brief bio and picture from most through WebTycho, but that's about all the personal information you get. I have had a class where each module had a brief podcast welcoming us to the module - and I liked that. Some classes used longer podcasts for instruction, and that was fine also. I think the podcast adds a personal touch - and I encourage that.
 * Facebook || Skype || Twitter ||
 * LinkedIn || Flickr || Wikipedia ||
 * Google (variety of apps) || Second Life || YouTube ||
 * Last.fm || Crocodoc || Jing ||
 * iTunes || RSS || Podcasts ||

After the podcast, Professor Huelsmann gave us another introduction to Web 2.0. The benefit of Web 2.0 isn't always obvious - it's not just technology and gadgets, but how it enables participation, collaboration, and sharing - in the classroom, but also outside the classroom. The following chart from Wikipedia gives us just a sampling of some Web 2.01 themes. We discussed several examples of Web 2.0, including:
 * Wikipedia - which I think is great for getting background information, even though you need to be careful of credibility, but usually provides some credible links to other sources
 * Google - did you know how many Google Apps are out there - check this out [|More Google Applications]
 * MySpace - I definitely agree that Facebook has replaced MySpace - although obviously still quite popular - one tool I never used!
 * Xing and Plaxo - aware of them but don't bother - I'm on LinkedIn, and that's enough!
 * Second Life - I think is very interesting, but I haven't had the time to really play around with it. On Second Life I am known as Rose Lordhunter - maybe during semesters I can play around with this because I can see great potential - especially when a student can visit an art or history museum, geographical areas, etc.
 * Flickr - just signed up for this, as I have heard a lot about it. I actually just created a short tutorial on the advantages of using Flickr in the classroom. Although it has many educational uses - especially photography and art classes, it can also be used to teach copyright issues. By working in concert with Creative Commons students and faculty are able to search for images that can be used commercially without paying royalty fees by giving proper attribution.
 * YouTube - I love. Although I haven't posted anything, I think it's great for teaching. Besides pure entertainment purposes, I have used it to show me how to perform a task - in a prior math class where I was having problems with quadratic functions, and also assembly of technology. Great tool to help users understand what to do - for those who want to be shown instead of want to read!
 * Last.fm - Although similar to Pandora, I just joined this service to see what it's all about. I like how you enter some of your favorite artists, and immediately you have recommendations you might like - very cool!

We were provided an article (O'Reilly, T. (09/30/2005). //What Is Web 2.0 Design Patterns and Business Models for the Next Generation of Software//. Retrieved January 31, 2007, from the World Wide Web: [] ) in the next section of the conference. Some highlights for me included:
 * The "meme map" showing the "many ideas that radiate out from the Web 2.0 core" (p. 3)
 * "Google isn't just a collection of software tools, it's a specialized database" (p. 4)
 * "A Platform Beats an Application Every Time" - I remember all too well when I had to change from WordPerfect to Word, and Lotus123 to Excel - Oh - that was painful! (p. 5)
 * Folksonomy - "a style of collaborative categorization of sites using freely chosen keywords, often referred to as tags" (p. 7)
 * "RSS is the most significant advance in the fundamental architecture of the web..." (p. 7)

Another topic discussed was __Participatory Surveillance__ - where I posted:

//Sometimes we think we're adding personal information so our friends and colleagues will know more about us - but who else knows this information? I remember reading a brief article in The Washington Post a few months ago about Facebook - how people put their full birthdays on their profile, some available to the general public - not a good idea. A quick Google search will give someone your address, then they have your name, birthday - trouble looms.// //For example, users of Web 2.0 are encouraged to put as much of their lives as possible online, to divulge and share their personal lives through blogs or on [|Live Journal], their professional development on [|LinkedIn], share bookmarks of favorite Web sites on [|del.icio.us], upload the music they listen to on [|last.fm], detail their friendships on [|Facebook] and [|MySpace], share their appointments and social events on [|UpComing], where they are traveling on [|Dopplr], where they’ve connected to wi–fi on [|Plazer], just to name a few.//

// Zimmer, M. (2008, March, 3). The Externalities of search 2.0: The emerging privacy threats when the drive for the perfect search engine meets web 2.0. First Monday, 13(3). //

Podcasting was also discussed, and I think it's truly amazing the number of available podcasts from numerous universities, that are so simply accessible at [|iTunes U] -definitely worth browsing.

This module had us look at Web 2.0 as a business model - comprised of technologies and networks - far, far different than those dot.com companies from years ago. To end this module, and this course, I attach a fantastic presentation found online discussing Web 2.0 Business Models - [|Web 2.0 Business Models]