Hello again!
The thought of the internet becoming more than an information resource had me intrigued, however it soon became apparent that without really realising it, the internet has become so great and so important within the society in which we currently live, that we often find it encroaching on the society we live in, and the language we use on a day to day basis. I often find myself suggesting that I might ‘Facebook’ someone, or that I will ‘Skype’ them or follow them on ‘Twitter’. These started off as little more than websites and computer programs, yet they have become so much more than that, to the extent where they are almost accepted as part of the English language. 
Whilst the majority of people will know what people are talking about with regards to the technical language of Web 2.0 (such as ‘Facebooking’ or ‘Following’), it might not be clear as to what the term ‘Web 2.0’ actually means. It is however, not an object as such, but more of a concept. The Web 2.0 mainly refers to the way in which systems are used, and their function, rather than a particular program or system itself, in fact, it is often suggested that the way in which Web 2.0 is actually being used is leading to all sorts of online communities and groups. There are also numerous videos and explanations on websites (like YouTube) which explain Web 2.0 in a variety of different ways.
In my opinion, the development of these sort of communities, whilst they have their positives, also carry with them some negatives. (This refers back to my previous blog on e-safety, so I won’t repeat myself). The positives however do allow for open and frank communication between people worldwide. This can mean that children within the school environment will be able to access the outside world, and as such, their experiences in this can be recorded online for everyone to share in. The integration of Web 2.0 into mainstream society will not be to everyone’s liking, but you get the impression that it is here to stay. I am undecided as to whether or not this has an ideal practical use in the classroom, because whilst technology is one thing, open networking with total strangers makes me feel slightly uneasy, because there can be no effective system of controlling access to certain websites and activities that children could be undertaking on them. However, it would be naive to suggest that it is possible to stop children accessing these sites and to prevent them from seeping into learning environments.
Keep Calm and Carry On!
Alex
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