Web 2.0 is a way of characterizing a social phenomenon that is changing the way many people use the Internet.

More than a technology, Web 2.0 is a social phenomenon built on a foundation of

• Open communication
• Transparency
• Decentralization of authority
• Sharing and re-use of information

The tools that enable this phenomenon include wikis, blogs, podcasts, and RSS feeds.

• Bloggers maintain open diaries or other postings, which appear in reverse chronological order (last posting first), and often open their sites to comments from others.
• Wikis are more than just dictionaries, they are collaborations, where visitors can do more than just read information, they can change it.
• RSS feeds  on a Web site integrate news postings from outside with content that is generated inside.

As with any communications tool, the technologies that support Web 2.0 have value, but the desire to advance the goals of learning and communication must be the most important considerations in choosing whether and how to use them.

For more information about Web 2.0 and its uses, speak with the Communications Director of your school, or contact Web Services.