Welcome Parents Creating 21 st Century Learners

What is Web 2.0 Web 2.0, a phrase coined by O'Reilly Media in 2004, refers to a supposed second-generation of Internet-based services — such as social networking sites, wikis, communication tools, and folksonomies — that let people collaborate and share information online in previously unavailable ways. O'Reilly MediagenerationInternet servicessocial networking siteswikis folksonomiesinformationonline MediagenerationInternet servicessocial networking siteswikis folksonomiesinformationonline

Why Do We Need To Know This? The internet is moving rapidly allowing people to interact with one another. Businesses are adopting more and more Web 2.0 tools to achieve greater productivity. Chances are your children are doing many of the following but not for educational pursuits.

Parts of Web 2.0 Podcasts or Vodcast Wikis Blogs or Vlogs

Podcasts A podcast is a multimedia file distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds, for playback on mobile devices and personal computers. multimediaInternetsyndicationmobile computersmultimediaInternetsyndicationmobile computers The school has a podcast entitled Bulldog Barks which can be found on the schools webpage, iTunes or the Educational Podcast Network. Many teachers have started podcasting with iTunes links.

Wikis A wiki is a type of website that allows the visitors themselves to easily add, remove and otherwise edit and change some available content, sometimes without the need for registration. This ease of interaction and operation makes a wiki an effective tool for collaborative authoring. websiteeditcollaborative authoringhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikiswebsiteeditcollaborative authoringhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikis Comes from the Hawaiian term for quick. This could be used for student created study guides or shared notes. There is a trail of edits that can be reverted to if necessary.

Wikipedia Wikipedia is a multilingual, Web-based free content encyclopedia project. The name Wikipedia is a blend of the words wiki and encyclopedia. Wikipedia is written collaboratively by volunteers, allowing most articles to be changed by almost anyone with access to the website. multilingualWebfree content encyclopediablendwikivolunteers content encyclopediablendwikivolunteers If mistakes are found they can be easily corrected. Earlier versions can be restored if somebody destroys an entry. The good thing is most of the information is current and always updated by people interested in various topics. It is a good starting place for research but the goal is to find more resources to prove or disprove Wikipedia information.

How Fast Wikis Work Go to this website: nm/life_usa300million_dc nm/life_usa300million_dc nm/life_usa300million_dc And go to this site:

Blogs A blog is a website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order. journalchronological orderjournalchronological order Blogs often provide commentary or news on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. Most blogs are primarily textual although some focus on photographs (photoblog), videos (vlog), or audio (podcasting), and are part of a wider network of social media. online diaries photographsphotoblogvideosvlogaudiopodcastingsocial mediaonline diaries photographsphotoblogvideosvlogaudiopodcastingsocial media The term "blog" is a contraction of "Web log." "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

Google Word Processor and Spreadsheets Along with UTube, Google ( has acquired an online word processor and spreadsheet compatible with Microsoft products. Documents can be saved on the site or transferred to a computer. Documents can be shared and edited by other people the author allows. There is also a view only function. Price is right, its free!

Gaming Something coming in the future. Think about this: To reach a higher level you must lean something or master some skill. To reach higher levels faster, players usually collaborate to gain necessary knowledge and skills.

RSS Feeds RSS is a simple XML-based system that allows users to subscribe to their favorite websites. Using RSS, webmasters can put their content into a standardized format, which can be viewed and organized through RSS-aware software or automatically conveyed as new content on another website. This allows information to come to you instead of you going to it. School news and other correspondence is set up with an RSS feed. Many teachers have information linked to RSS feeds as well. Flock ( an easy to use free web browser that simplifies the RSS subscription process. Flock is based on Mozella Flock is based on Mozella Can import Internet Explorer preferences. Can import Internet Explorer preferences.

Security Concerns Does open children to the “Digital World” where there are all different kinds of people including bad ones. The anonymity of the internet does allow you to see who you are interacting with. There have been incidents with “My Space” and similar websites and attacks on children.

Security Concerns Many are turning away from posting too much private information for the following reasons. Postings are records that can be viewed later. There have been cases where people have either been denied jobs or fired from jobs because of My Space postings. Postings are records that can be viewed later. There have been cases where people have either been denied jobs or fired from jobs because of My Space postings. Many people are realizing personal blog postings are not really private. Many people are realizing personal blog postings are not really private

Security Questions There are about 30 registered sex offenders in the zip code according to the South Carolina Sex Offender Database. Not all are convicted of offenses offending minors. Not all are convicted of offenses offending minors Look at this link: 10/4/06, page A 18.

Security Questions How will we keep our students’ identities secure? No last names will used in blogs, podcasts, discussion boards, wikis, or other public online sites. No last names will used in blogs, podcasts, discussion boards, wikis, or other public online sites. First names, initials, or stage names will be used instead. First names, initials, or stage names will be used instead. Students will not be allowed to say where they live even on assignments. Students will not be allowed to say where they live even on assignments.

How Can You Participate? Subscribe to school and teachers’ RSS feeds. If a teacher does not have a feed ask them for it. Participate in blogs. Watch other sites. Provide feedback and encouragement. Let the school and/or teachers know if you see anything you believe may be inappropriate first.

Resources web.beaufort.k12.sc.us (South Carolia Sex Offenders Data Base)