What is Web 2.0 and Why Is It Important?

"Web 2.0 is a trend in web design and development and refers to a perceived second generation of web-based communities and hosted services -- such as social networking sites, wikis, and folksonomies -- which aim to facilitate creativity, collaboration, and sharing between users."

From Wikipedia.com - Learn more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0

It's the difference between creating a Web site where only you, the creator, controls the content (what we used to have -- "Web 1.0" technology) and creating a "Web 2.0" Web presence (using a blog or wiki, for example) where others can contribute, respond to your ideas, edit and add text, make use of your work and other resources to create new meaning, etc.

Web 2.0 represents the latest developments in Web-based technology -- technology that supports the skills employers value and that people use today to think critically about life issues and to solve problems. These skills include collaboration, information creation and sharing, networking, and making connections between people, resources, and ideas.

Web 2.0 technologies such as wikis, blogs, social networking sites (MySpace and FaceBook) -- are the technologies people use today. Many of our students -- especially young adults -- connect using these technologies. As educators, we can take advantage of the interests, preferences, and priorities of our adult students to help them learn.

And, with Web 2.0 technology, it is easier (and cheaper) than ever to "get published," to share your ideas and your creative work as well. Our students can "find their voices" and engage in public discourse and the exchange of ideas in ways we had never dreamed of a few years ago.

Web 2.0 Glossary   From Social Signal