[[ALLT2012Memo4]] Web2.0 **What is Web2.0? [#d9c853b2] -Examples --Twitter --Google --Facebook --Flickers --Delicious -Definitions --user-generated content --collective intelligence --facilitate participatory information sharing ---interoperability ---user-centered design ---collaboration -Tim O'Reilly sees Web2.0 as a business revolution ***Characteristics [#wa83257d] -web as a platform for applications -textual and multimedia information creation & sharing -user participation & collaboration **Optimism about Web2.0 [#s652a12b] -Sociocultural/social constructivist learning --Vygotskyan notion of social interactions -Scepticism about Web2.0 --Technologies are often over-hyped. --After the hype, there is disappointment but little change. **SNS [#xe4e4364] -Livemocha (http://www.livemocha.com) --offers online learning exercises and networking with native speakers around the world -SNS & Language Learning (Harrison & Thomas 2009) --6 postgraduate students learn languages using Livemocha --Data collected through clasroom observations ---Students not willing to expose their real identities ---Difficult to manage friendship and build relationship --1 out of 6 only was really taking advantage of the program **Weblogs [#a6da3e3a] -Blogsites --http://www.blogger.com --http://wordpress.com -Blob use: --Fostering learner reflections --Providing opportunities for supplementary reading and writing practice --Building of learner communities -How ready are students? --Pinkman & Bortolin (2006): 11 of 87 students continued 6 months after study --Wu (2005): 68% did not invite others -Meaning-focused interactions **Podcasting [#p62d9890] -Strength --Listening --Delivering cultural information --Supports situated and informal learning -Handouts and PDFs --Onscreen iPod texts