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**What is Web 2.0 - or the Read-Write Web?**
The nature of the web is changing from a static to a more dynamic, interactive, social place. The dynamic, social characteristics of this new set of web tools is sometimes referred to as Web 2.0 or the Read-Write Web. Conversation is the way that the new web, whatever you want to call it, is profoundly different. It allows for social interaction and discourse. Instead of just being a one way source of information where information is consumed, the web now allows people to have conversations about that information, and to then create new content from those conversations. Teachers can use these new tools to engage students in meaningful, collaborative conversations that validate the worth of student contribution. //Photo Credit:// //[|It's Time to Start by lecasio]// //posted on Flickr. (Click on the photo to go to the original post, then click the little rectangles to read more about this photo. Also, read the comments from others below the photo.)//

The read write web allows individuals with like interests to learn from one another. The global connectedness of all these new ways of expressing ourselves make the ability to learn and interact with information a common act. Take, for instance, the [|K-12 Online Conference], which began with a keynote presentation by David Warlick on October 16th. His keynote was posted at 5:00 a.m. PST. People all over the world downloaded it and watched it during the day (or night - in some cases). Then, there was a "[|Fireside Chat]", where a global conversation took place about the keynote, with David Warlick as guest speaker. As with all the outstanding sessions at the K-12 Online Conference, even if you miss the live events, you can go to the website any time to download and watch any of the outstanding sessions on the Read Write Web that are posted there.

This resource you are reading, called the |Read Write Web in Education, is created on a wiki, one of the new tools that allows anyone to publish and collaborate online with ease. On the left side of this wiki, you will notice linked pages. Each page contains information about some of the new tools of the Read Write Web. Please click each one to learn more. (This wiki is created on Wikispaces, a hosting tool to create Wikis. [|The owners of Wikispaces offer add-free wikispaces to educators for free].)

For good background information about what the Read/Write Web is about, Wesley Fryer shares his [|presentation about Web 2.0] on his website. It has excellent information. Also, read Will Richardson's blog post entitled (the) [|Read/Write Web Primer]. The recommended articles in the [|Fall 2005 issue of interactive educator] explain what the new web technologies are providing for students and educators.
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