Tuesday 24 March 2015

Sixth rung - INF506 -Module 2: What is Web 2.0?

Module 2: What is Web 2.0?

If there is a concept called Web 2.0, and with Google posting 9.5 million plus citations of the term, then we must accept the concept to be true. We must assume therefore that the precursor to Web 2.0 was Web 1.0. This early innovation of the web existed in a format that one-way commonly provided users with the provision to access information in static, non-interactive formats, where the information content of the site could only be uploaded or altered by the site owner.
The second generation of the development of the World Wide Web would then logically be Web 2.0. This evolution of web technologies has been exemplified by interaction, facilitating the emergence of social media platforms, a collection of collaborative conduits, centered upon the foundation of providing user-driven, interpersonal content. As Tim O’Reilly explained, Web 2.0 relates to people engaged in making connections with others through:
    • Forums, OLJ for example
    • Blogs, similar to Twitter
    • Wikis similar to Wikipedia
    • Podcasts
    • Social networking formats, such as Facebook
The acknowledged creator of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee labeled the term Web 2.0 as jargon, and states that the idea of the Web was initially and still is interaction between people where they can “interact”. Critics label the concept of Web 2.0 as “a cult of amateurism” and creating a “endless forest of mediocrity and uninformed commentary” as well as inviting exploitation by companies and increased government surveillance of users.
These criticisms may have some validity, but “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”, it does not matter what the movement is called, Web 2.0 or any other name, it will not affect the transformation of interactive association that has occurred in education, marketing, business, media and social interaction due to the Web 2.0. As Strategic Business Insights suggests the 2 in Web 2.0 may very well represent the two-way communication that has developed between its users.
O’Reilly, T. (2005), What is Web 2.0? Design patterns and business models for the next generation of software. Retrieved from:
O’Reilly, T., Battelle, J. (2009). Web Squared: Web 2.0 Five Years OnRetrieved from:
Web 2.0 (2015). Retrieved from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0

Friday 13 March 2015

Sixth rung - INF506 - Social Networking

I perceive social networking as a catalyst where ‘like’ minded people can interact with each other, individually or within groups to discus point of interest through forums, participate in shared activities such as gaming and allowing us to keep in contact with others through sites such as Facebook. Each of these is a promoter of communication, both for private or business use allowing us to contact others and exchange viewpoints and ideas.

Humans have always participated in social networking, long before the keyboard and screen; it was called ‘talking to people’. The Internet and the growth of social media sites have now globalized my access to social assembles, where I can exchange ideas with any like-minded individuals or group in the world, regarding whatever we are interested in.
However I believe that the social media, which are the communal instruments of this two-way interaction, can be the ‘poisoned chalice’ as well as the ‘holy grail’ of being able to be in contact with, and being contactable by others.
 I identify social networking as the sharing of information and ideas, by personally ‘connecting’ to the world regardless of distance.While I’m not a luddite, ‘use’ is too strong a word to describe the dabbling that take place between me and the following networking tools:
Blogger – for reflection during the Masters course
Facebook – for personal use to keep ‘connected’ with established friends and to connect to new ones
LinkedIn – used to link the following
Twitter – applied for work
Yammer – utilized through work and study
 By embarking on the journey that is INF506 I hope to enthusiastically raise my participation in social media sites from being a lurker to confidently engaging and contributing with my fellow students when sharing online.
I expect to learn a lot more about the technologies I already use and to discover and use technologies I’ve been aware of and others that I have never considered.
Because social networking supports learning and development through teacher and student interaction, I also expect to increase my digital literacy skills in order to support my Teacher Librarian goals through the use of these tools.

Thursday 12 March 2015

Just Think

Just Think

“LinkedIn is for the people you know. Facebook is for the people you used to know. Twitter is for people you want to know” ~ Source unknown