Introduction to Web 2.0 Services

In the past four years, the Internet has become populated with thousands of web sites that are very useful for productivity in higher education. Called Web 2.0 tools, such websites are dedicated to providing easy to use services for non-technical people. The label Web 2.0 separates them from first generation Web 1.0 sites, which are dedicated more to information distribution and commercial sales managed by professional webmasters. Most Web 2.0 tools are free or for nominal fees and are rapidly complementing or even replacing desktop software. Some examples are listed here:

1. Book publishing, distribution: Lulu, Wordclay, Amazon BookSurge
2. Document creation, management, sharing: Zoho Docs, Google Docs, Box.Net
3. Encyclopedias, knowledge bases: Wikipedia, Citizendium, Google Knol, Google Earth, Encarta, Worldwide Telescope
4. Photo storage, editing, sharing: Flickr, Photobucket, Pixlr
   
5. Video distribution and broadcast: YouTube, Viddler, SplashCast, UStream (Getting Started with UStream)
6. Web conferencing via voice/video: Skype, (Getting Started with Skype), ooVoo
7. Web conferencing via virtual meetings with voice/video/data: Vyew, DimDim, Yugma
8. Personal web start pages, information organizers: Netvibes, iGoogle
9. Personal website bookmarks organizer: Delicious, Diigo
10. Website creation, social networking: WetPaint Wikis, Ning, Weebly, Webjam, Facebook, Twitter, (Getting Started with Twitter),  Office Live

The most immediate example is the Web 2.0 service Webjam that the ALC uses to host this eLearning Resources website.

As Web 2.0 tools become more prevalent in teaching and learning, the Advanced Learning Center will be happy to work with faculty on the integration of these tools in their curriculum. Since Web 2.0 tools encourage collaboration with users, they are continually evolving and newer technologies appear daily. The ALC will use this area to share the Web 2.0 tools they have researched.

Issues to Consider

Remember these precautions if you choose to use Web 2.0 tools for your personal or university work:

1. Support: Web 2.0 tools are not supported by the university, so if you use one, you will not be able to call the UofM HelpDesk for support. However, these tools are most often easy to use and implement in teaching and learning.
2. Security: Does the service provide password security to protect you or your students' information if applicable? The UofM will not be responsible for any security issues on non-UofM servers.
3. Stability: Check on the About page of the service and read independent reviews. Does the service appear to have a future? You don't want to login in next week and find that the company has closed doors and your data is gone.
4. Backup: Most Web 2.0 services do not provide user accessible backup files. Provide your own backup of your information stored on Web 2.0 servers.
5. FERPA: The same federal FERPA guidelines apply for any student information, whether it exists on UofM servers or Web 2.0 servers. Please use caution in what you ask students to post and who is allowed to access that information.