2. Web 2.0 and Social Networking

Web 2.0 does not mean you need a computer upgrade. It refers to current generation of web-based communities and hosted services that aim to facilitate creativity, collaboration and sharing between users. Web 1.0 revolved around the democratization of access. Web 2.0 is about the democratization of content creation – it revolves around the tools and applications that enable all users to create and re-use content. One of the benefits of Web 2.0 tools is that they are often web-based tools, not browser-based tools. That means that your content, your communities, your bookmarks, your images, your music are accessible to you and others from any computer, not just your computer at work or your computer at home or your laptop or your mobile phone or your PDA or …







A social network is a social structure made of nodes (generally individuals or organizations) that are tied by one or more specific type of interdependency or relationship (such as values, friends, likes or dislikes, kinship, or ideas).

A social network service focuses on building online social networks for communities of people who share interests and activities. Most social networking involves using web-based applications and provides users various ways to interact. Email is a form of social networking, as are instant messages, file sharing, blogging, wikis, and listservs.

In other words, social networking applications are simply online communication tools. The interaction may be synchronous (taking place at the same time) or asynchronous (as in “I’ll post this now, you read it whenever you like”).

Social networking communication can take many forms:

• One to one – email, instant messaging


• One to many – web pages and blogs


• Many to many – wikis

Resources:

• Web 2.0 (Wikipedia entry)


• The Machine is Us/ing Us (Michael Wesch, Kansas State University)

Exercise:

• Explore the history of Instant Messaging. When did it start? When did it take-off? What are some of the popular IM applications? Do you think IM is a useful tool for a library to utilize in its communication with patrons? Post a comment to this page with a list of IM applications and your thoughts about how a library can best use (if at all) instant messaging.

1. Lifelong Learning and Learning 2.0

Among libraries, lifelong learning is one of those core values we shelve our books by. So it makes sense that before we embark on this new online learning and discovery journey that we should take a few minutes to review a few habits that can assist in creating lifelong learners. 7-1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners — This screencast from Lori Reed, Training Specialist at the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, will help get you into the mindset of a lifelong learner. (You do not need to create a learning contract.)

Resources:

• 7-1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners (Public Library of Charlotte and Meckenburg County)


• Smith, M. K. (1996, 2001) ‘Lifelong learning’, the encyclopedia of informal education

Exercise:

• Make sure you have headphones or speakers attached to your computer


• Open the 7-1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners and view the online tutorial


• As you watch and listen, write down which habit among the 7 and 1/2 is the easiest for you and which is the hardest. You will use your personal blog (which you will set up in Thing #3) to post your thoughts about lifelong learning.