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While many stakeholders are involved in developing policies on the use of Web 2.0 technologies in K-12 education, new research suggests that teachers are the most important group driving adoption. This is a major finding from a national research survey of more than 500 district technology directors. The survey was commissioned by Lightspeed Systems Inc., a leader in network security and management software for schools, and Thinkronize Inc., creators of netTrekker, America's number one educational search tool, with support from Atomic Learning.

Excellent overview of Web 2.0, what it is and how it works.

This is an excellent article that has been reposted. It includes a lot of the information that outlines WHAT web 2.0 is. This includes videos and many important hyperlinks. Excellent article for newcomers to web 2.0 to pick up on.

CoSN Receives MacArthur Grant: Exploring Policy and Leadership Barriers to Effective Use of Web 2.0 in Schools
The $450,000 grant began July 1st and over the coming year CoSN will focus on the following key objectives:
1.Identify findings from existing empirical research relevant to the use of new media in schools and the barriers to their adoption and scalability.
2. Assess the awareness, understanding, and perspectives of U.S. educational leaders (superintendents, district curriculum and technology directors/CTOs) and policymaker's on the role, problems, and benefits of new media in schools within a participatory culture context.
3. Investigate and document the organizational and policy issues that are critical obstacles for the effective deployment of new media.
4. Develop a concise report of findings and construct an action plan for intervention.

In his article, Thompson offers an exploration of the meaning and application of Web 2.0; evaluates how Net Generation students, who will enter the classroom with Web 2.0 expectations and experiences, will reshape institutions of higher education and their practices; and examines what some of these IHEs are specifically doing to meet the needs of the next generation of students. Thompson suggest that in order to move our educational practices forward, it is incumbent upon us to recognize and react to our changing student population.

A Practical Guide to Using Web2.0 Technologies to Recruit, Organize and Engage Youth.
Ben Rigby and Rock the Vote have put together a book for activists, politicos, and organizers called "Mobilizing Generation 2.0: A Practical Guide to Using Web 2.0." It is a how-to guide to help those who want to mobilize using the web, focusing on how organizers can leverage blogging, social network sites, photo/video sharing, mobile phones, wikis, maps and virtual worlds.

Presentation at the K-12HSN Conference Online by Joseph Bires. A discussion of how the use of Web 2.0 technologies has challenged and changed the concept of acceptable use. The presenter suggests ways to balance protecting students, teachers, and schools from the dangers of the Internet, while still integrating Web 2.0 technologies into the K-12 curriculum. Also, philosophical issues of acceptable use are discussed such as identity and transparency. Finally, practical suggestions are shared to help every teacher and administrator. This talk is available as an MP3 audio file and an audiofile blog.

Chances are your district's acceptable use policy is outdated. With the proliferation of Web 2.0 tools, multifunction cell phones and handheld computers, to name just three, it's obvious that keeping AUPs up to date requires constant attention.

Giving Students Ownership of Learning: Footprints in the Digital Age. In the Web 2.0 world, self-directed learners must be adept at building and sustaining networks.

Cybersafety in a Web 2.0 World: What Parents & Policymakers Need To Know [PDF]

Interview with the Honorable Melissa Bean, Larry Magid, Nancy Willard and Sharon Miller Cindrich.

An effective school-based strategy to address the issue of online safety should include these six key components:
EDUCATIONAL USE - Schools must ensure that when students use the Internet, their activities have an educational purpose -- class assignments, extra credit work, and perhaps some high quality enrichment activities as a reward
SUPERVISION AND MONITORING Schools must shift focus from reliance on filtering to better supervision and monitoring.
MEANINGFUL CONSEQUENCES Misuse of the Internet must lead to a meaningful consequence -- but it should be recognized that suspension of Internet access privileges just causes more work for teachers. Requiring a service contribution to the school and establishing "close monitoring status" for all Internet use are preferable consequences.
ACCIDENTAL ACCESS TO PORN - All students and staff must know that if inappropriate material appears, they should quickly turn off the monitor or turn it so it can't be seen, and then report it. Following any incident or discovery, there must be a responsible assessment of culpability.
INAPPROPRIATE BLOCKING Selected staff in every school building must have the authority and ability to quickly override the filter to provide other staff or students access to sites that have been inappropriately blocked
INTERNET SAFETY AND RESPONSIBLE USE EDUCATION Schools must provide effective Web 2.0 Internet safety and responsible use education to students and parents.

This is a guide to assist school districts in developing, rethinking or revising Internet policies as a consequence of the emergence of web 2.0 and the growing pervasiveness of smart phone use.

With the proliferation of Web 2.0 tools, rapidly emerging technologies and portable electronic devices, your AUP may need frequent updating. In this section of the CTAP CyberSafety Project web site, you'll find helpful resources for all areas of consideration, including cell phone policies.

Educators are closely watching a $1 billion copyright infringement lawsuit challenging YouTube's ability to keep copyrighted material off its popular video-sharing web site-a lawsuit that could have important implications for the future of Web 2.0 applications, observers say.

This wiki was created for school library media specialists by Dr. Donna Baumbach and Dr. Judy Lee, University of Central Florida. The purpose is to provide information about some of the new web-based tools (Web 2.0) and how they can be used and are being used by school library media specialists and their students and teachers. Much of the information--including identifying a need for this kind of information--is the result of a survey conducted in 2008 of over 600 school library media specialists about their knowledge and use of web-based tools in library media programs.

MySpace, Facebook, and other Web 2.0 tools led TIME to name you, yes, you, 2006 Person of the Year. With such notoriety, you might want to see what your online identity says about you. What do potential employers and friends find when they google you? When was the last time you googled yourself? What impression do your MySpace profile and YouTube videos leave? Your blog? What do other people say about you? How much control do you have over what is written about you on the web?

Cybersafety expert and Internet Law Attorney, Nancy Willard, has some ideas for schools as they develop and adapt safety strategies to address Web 2.0. She also offers some questions that school staff can discuss to assess and improve the manner in which they are addressing these issues in their building:

Excellent post about how many are relinquishing their privacy. Very insightful post.

Fascinating ponderings by Mike Curtain about how many of us are relinquishing our own privacy. This is a very thought provoking post and yet another one I wouldn't have read, had he not linked to my blog post yesterday asking for bloggers to share their links. This is a very powerful blog post. Wow! I personally think there is a balance here, but also agree than many are not considering the privacy they are relinquishing when they post things that don't belong out there for everyone to see. Internet privacy is an illusion, it really is.

A collection of Web 2.0 tools with links - screened by CLRN (California Learning Resource Network) with appropriate grade levels. Includes blogs & wikis, bookmark/resource sharing, productivity, collaboration and social networking.

From TICAL - Technology Information Center for Administrative Leadership.
These are short presentations to help busy administrators and teachers gain a better understanding of the variety of tools on the World Wide Web.

Terrific slide show for addressing all of the concerns and finding solutions for where to start.