Groupboard is a set of multi-user java applets including whiteboard, chat, message board, games and voice conferencing which you can place on your web page by simply copying a few lines of HTML code.
Students, in their infinite wisdom, have identified what makes Web 2.0 communication media so powerful: they genuinely put the act of communication back into writing. They offer a platform for students to use writing to develop their ideas and communicate those ideas to real audiences with real purpose.
Marielle (Classroom 2.0) aka mapl3 (Authorship 2.0) publicises findings of a telephone survey and discussion with focus groups of U.S. teens about writing online
Will Richardson is Mr. Utopian Education to a lot of people. Even if you don't agree with everything he says, most folks agree that he offers thought-provoking topics.
reflection is not quick. It is a challenge and you need others to accompay you and expand your thinking. I am glad that I am being led by Wendy and Brian through some of this active reflection... i might not have dug this deep on my own.
About the hidden purposes in using technology in the class; about the absolute need for reflection on how to enhance students autonomy and learning skills through the new web tools.
"This web page is for people interested in learning the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbols. This is a useful skill for learners and teachers of English who may want to check the pronunciation of a word in a dictionary. Use the phonetic chart to learn the sounds of English. Then do a quiz to see how well you have learnt them" (The Phonetic Chart, ¶1).