Readings

[|Moving Toward Web 2.0 in K-12 Education], Steve Hargadon In this blog post, the author shares his definition of Web 2.0 and explains the aspects of Web 2.0 that translate into achieving educational goals. [|Web 2.0 Tools and K-12 Challenges], Ruth Reynard, //THE Journal// This article explains how teachers can use Web 2.0 tools to help students develop some of the essential skills they will need to be successful in the 21st century, such as learning how to collaborate, manage content, and maximize authorship. [|Why Schools Should Break the Web 2.0 Barrier], Will Richardson, //Threshold// In this article, author and educator Will Richardson explores how new paths to learning await schools that embrace the transformative power of technology. This piece originally appeared in the [|Summer 2009 issue] of //Threshold Magazine//.
 * What is Web 2.0?**

[|Grow Your Own Personal Learning Network], David Warlick, // Learning & Leading with Technology // In this article, David Warlick explores the concept of Personal Learning Networks and offers advice for “creating, cultivating, and pruning” your PLN. As you read, make note of some PLN tools that interest you, and consider exploring them later in this session. A direct link to this article is included at ISTE’s [|Your Learning Journey: Creativity and Innovation] webpage. [|Personal Learning Networks Are Virtual Lockers for Schoolkids], Vicki Davis, // Edutopia // Teacher and Web 2.0 aficionado Vicki Davis explains how she and her students rely on PLNs to stay connected and to complete school projects. [|It Really Is Really Simple: RSS for Educators], Infinite Thinking Machine RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. This tool allows users to “subscribe” to Internet content created on a particular website. Much like a newspaper subscriber has the local newspaper delivered to his home, RSS feeds “deliver” new content to your computer without you having to go out and find it. This article outlines the basics of an RSS feed and all you need to know to understand how RSS works (as well as how to use it).
 * GLN/PLNs**

[|The Way of the Wiki: Building Online Creativity and Cooperation], Grace Rubenstein, //Edutopia// This article offers an overview of the potential of wiki tools and provides examples of how educators are using them to enhance collaboration. [|Three Challenges to Wiki Use in Instruction], Ruth Reynard, //Campus Technology// A successful wiki project must have a clear lesson plan to help students develop content and collaborate both meaningfully and purposefully. This article provides clear strategies for developing wikis successfully in your classroom. [|Using Wikipedia In Your Classroom], 21st Century Information Fluency An important part of teaching media literacy is helping students understand how (and when) to use Wikipedia. This article provides information about using Wikipedia in an educational setting and contains a wealth of links to more information about Wikipedia itself. Watch [|Goomoodleikiog].
 * All about wikis**

[|To Blog or Not to Blog? You Decide], Wesley Fryer, //interactive educator// On pages 28-33 of this magazine, Wesley Fryer outlines the pros and cons of blogging and provides some examples for how to get started. A full list of past issues of interactive educator magazine is available at the [|SMART Technologies website]. [|The Prose of Blogging (and a Few Cons, Too)], //THE Journal// This articles highlights recent studies in which students commented that blogs helped them organize their thoughts, develop their ideas, and synthesize their research. The article also explains some of the challenges that teacher and student bloggers faced and describes how they overcame them. [|Embracing the Twitter Classroom], Jessica Gross, The Huffington Post This article highlights the potential benefits of using Twitter with students to enhance and extend instructional time. The author asserts that using these tools in the classroom can help students become more literate in our networking-based society.
 * Blogging and Microblogging**


 * Social Bookmarking**

[|Seven Things You Should Know About Social Bookmarking], Cyprien Lomas, //Educause// The article defines the concept of social bookmarking and highlights the benefits and drawbacks of using social bookmarking tools in the classroom. Other titles from the “7 Things You Should Know” series are also available on the [|Educause Learning Initiative website]. Web 2.0 Wiki: Social Bookmarks This wiki provides an overview of social bookmarking and its usefulness in the classroom. After reading through the information contained on this page, follow some of the links provided under the header “Real-world examples from teachers.”

**Internet Safety and Digital Citizenship** [|From Safety to Literacy: Digital Citizenship in the 21st Century], Marsali Hancock, Rebecca Randall, and Alan Simpson, //Threshold// In this article, the authors look at how Internet-safety education has evolved from teaching ‘stranger danger’ to raising ethical and responsible cyber-citizens. This piece originally appeared in the [|Summer 2009 issue] of //Threshold Magazine//. [|Cyber Savvy: Supporting Safe and Responsible Internet Use. A Web 2.0 Approach to Internet Safety], Nancy Willard, //Education World// Educator Nancy Willard outlines six key components that could guide conversations and policies about online safety in schools. [|Web-Monitoring Software Gathers Data on Kid Chats], Deborah Yao, Associated Press As children increasingly use the Internet to communicate with each other, some companies are trying to distill these conversations into data for marketing. This article describes one such instance and explores how companies use this information.