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In this scholarly article, Bessenyei discusses the current desire in education to decrease the alienation of traditional schools. He looks at connectivism and network theories as a way to decentralize learning into self-organizing networks. These networks allow information sharing to become more significant as students information sources are varied to include experts as well as other students from multiple institutions.

In this article the author discusses the importance of connectivism that is dependent upon learning in a web 2.0 platform. As the influence of the web has spread so to has the importance the ability to share and distribute information to people all over the world. The premise of this article is that as costs continue to soar in education the connectivism platform offers an alternative way to disseminate learning. The web is now no longer a medium for learning, it is the platform and center for personal learning. One final point that is made is the importance in educating students how to use the available online resources to construct learning for future use because as online resources and CoP's continue to be the primary sources for information it is important to understand how to use and identify these resources for continued learning.

Bessenyei takes an interesting look at the history of elearning as it relates to student learning requirements, societal norms and Connectivism today. The authors perspective on Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 and the policital development of elearning provides the reader with a new lens to look at the variety of social media that is used today.

What kinds of questions should we be asking about web resources before using them in the classroom? Read Part 2 of Mike Gorman's series on the best ways to vet classroom resources. 

What kinds of questions should we be asking about web resources before using them in the classroom? Read Part 2 of Mike Gorman's series on the best ways to vet classroom resources. 

Another great list of Web 2.0 tools. There are a few that should be added in the Augmented Reality section like Aurasma and Daqri 4D, but still lots of good resources. There are also several different choices for Productivity Software.

25 Free Online Photo/Image Editors - Part 2

25 Free Online Photo/Image Editors - Part 2

100 Essential Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers

100 Essential Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers

Blogger, Larry Ferlazzo, provides his list of best Web 2.0 applications so far for 2016. Many of the applications have to do with ELL and ESL; however, these applications could be used with lessons in any classroom. He also provides lists from prior years.

Blogger, Larry Ferlazzo, provides his list of best Web 2.0 applications so far for 2016. Many of the applications have to do with ELL and ESL; however, these applications could be used with lessons in any classroom. He also provides lists from prior years.

This website is a presentation with an updated version of Bloom's Taxonomy for the 21st Century. It includes suggestions for web 2.0 tools for each department of the taxonomy.

This is a website created in 2010 with a list of web 2.0 tools that would be great for educators in the classroom.

This scholarly paper focuses on COP's and the use of web 2.0 applications. Its emphasis is that web 2.0 applications improve communication and thus build community.

Authors discuss advantages of personal learning environments in facilitating collaboration and fostering learner control. PLEs are facilitated by technology, networking, and self-regulation by learners. Open network learning environments from instructors allow PLEs to form. Focus of PLE is not information consumption, but information creation and participation. Authors relate PLE and ONLE to the theory of connectivism and discuss various applications and limitations.

Fantastic quote: "Educators perceive the instructional value of integrating Web 2.0 tools include autonomy, diversity, openness, and connectedness (van Harmelen, 2006); yet, they find multiple technologies daunting, which may affect their attitudes toward online learning. The integration of multiple Web 2.0 tools has created frustration among educators and students because they lack knowledge of the tools (Lee, Miller, & Newnham, 2008), difficulty learn- ing different tools (Weller, 2007), conducting multiple authentications (Suess & Morooney, 2009), visiting multiple sites for different tools, etc. This phenomenon results from a lack of understanding of the social networking learning paradigm and inappropriate integration." This article describes the role of Personalized Learning Environments (PLEs) and how Open Network Learning Environments (ONLEs) are instrumental for creating a PLE. The authors indicate that connectivism is a key underlying principle for developing such a PLE--seeking connections to learners and sources of information. They cite Siemens ("the pipe is more important than the content in the pipe"), which surprised me, as I read that comment from Siemens as hyperbolic. Practical advice for creating your own PLE are also incorporated, as well as examples of how to work and learn within a PLE. The authors suggest that PLEs (operating through ONLEs) disrupt LMSs in the same way that technology disrupts learning in general. Interesting analogy.

Some great Web 2.0 tools, including 3D Projects, games/quizzes, and timelines (among others).

This site is a source for web 2.0 sites for educators. It has a very nice sorting feature a ton of web 2.0 websites. The vast majority of them are free.

An interesting article about reformatting the traditional classroom to incorporate Web 2.0 technology and considerations.

Research regarding the benefits of being a member of a community of practice. While the information seems a bit forced (the communities of practice used for the study were exclusively face-to-face communities), the benefits of being a member of a community of practice still seem valid. According to the study, they are (1) autonomy and freedom to think beyond, (2) sources to ideas, (3) sounding board, (4) intellectual discussion, (5) like-mindedness, (6) alternative perspective and cross-pollination of ideas, (7) overcoming intellectual isolation, (8) move towards collaborative research, (9) response to research pressure, (10) synergy and leverage, (11) time and energy saving, (12) an informal ground for learning and training, (13) fostering of tangible returns, (14) driving research, (15) opportunities to met, (16) networking, information sharing and updates, (17) support and guidance, (18) sense of belonging, (19) identity, and (20) intrinsic fulfillment. As the article is about higher education, there are certainly some benefits that are more specific to their context, but I think the findings of the article are still valid.

Research regarding the benefits of being a member of a community of practice. While the information seems a bit forced (the communities of practice used for the study were exclusively face-to-face communities), the benefits of being a member of a community of practice still seem valid. According to the study, they are (1) autonomy and freedom to think beyond, (2) sources to ideas, (3) sounding board, (4) intellectual discussion, (5) like-mindedness, (6) alternative perspective and cross-pollination of ideas, (7) overcoming intellectual isolation, (8) move towards collaborative research, (9) response to research pressure, (10) synergy and leverage, (11) time and energy saving, (12) an informal ground for learning and training, (13) fostering of tangible returns, (14) driving research, (15) opportunities to met, (16) networking, information sharing and updates, (17) support and guidance, (18) sense of belonging, (19) identity, and (20) intrinsic fulfillment. As the article is about higher education, there are certainly some benefits that are more specific to their context, but I think the findings of the article are still valid.

Web 2.0 technology - the free digital tools that empower all users to create and share - has changed the way the world operates. In the hands of educators, it can become a powerful catalyst for changing the way students learn.

Great article! These three things every teacher should be doing with Web 2.0 are what make Web 2.0 tools so powerful for learning. Great find!

Edutopia blogger Lisa Dabbs Educational writes about her top 5 Web.2 free tools.

Free mini course for teachers on using Web 2.0 Tools for teaching

This website has a list of web 2.0 tools that I have never used before. Many of them are free and seem to be worth checking out!