Web2.0- Social learning

Web2.0 is a relatively recent concept that has stirred up a great deal of controversy as well as many different opinions and ideas. The articles by Bryan Alexander and Trent Batson show some of the ideas that people have about Web2.0. Actually, these two articles are very similar in their main points and their arguments. The main concept that they both attempt to convey is the interactive, social aspect of Web2.0. They both explain how the Internet is no longer simply reading web pages that are very similar to reading pages in a book. The web is now about connections, sharing, and interacting with other people to find or provide the knowledge that is desired. The prevalence of social networking sites, blogs, and wikis allow people to provide information to others and edit this information as needed. Anyone from around the world can present, erase, or manipulate the information that is available on the web thus providing people with the exact information that they want, possibly even with a personal touch. However, as both of these articles point out, the web is not just about finding information anymore. Now, we can learn on the web without even trying. We can learn socially simply by interacting with other people through these new Web2.0 tools. This social aspect of learning can be very useful for higher education as well as simply for personal improvement.

Despite the major similarities in their arguments, there are some aspects of the articles that are very different. Batson focuses his article more on the use and implications of Web2.0 in the classroom. He points out how it would specifically benefit students by providing them with the ability to learn from each other and to learn from communication of ideas and thoughts. His argument is very specific to higher learning and how the manner in which we learn is changing back to a more natural, effective method. His argument is that we, as humans, are social beings and do most of our learning from being with other people, listening to other ideas, arguing and refuting ideas, and solving problems. He says that the traditional lecture style of learning does not fit with our natural tendencies and that Web2.0 with its tools that allow us to communicate, share, and argue online is much more natural and effective. Alexander's argument focuses less on how Web2.0 will specifically affect higher learning and more on how learning can be more social today with the use of Web2.0. We can learn from the information that other provide as well as provide our own information. This idea is that main argument of Alexander's article. He tell us how the tools can be used to share information, like how wikis can be edited by anyone, anywhere and how we can learn from each other about things even as simple and tagging. His arguments focuses more on the idea of how information can be shared around the world and less on how this directly impacts those involved in the higher education system.