Title: The Web 2.0 way of learning with technologies

Authors: Herwig Rollett, Mathias Lux, Markus Strohmaier, Gisela Dosinger, Klaus Tochtermann

Addresses: Know-Center, Inffeldgasse 21a, A-8010 Graz, Austria. ' Department for Information Technology, University of Klagenfurt, Universitatsstrasse 65–67, A-9020 Klagenfurt, Austria. ' Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, 40 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2E4, Canada; Know-Center, Inffeldgasse 21a, A-8010 Graz, Austria. ' Know-Center, Inffeldgasse 21a, A-8010 Graz, Austria. ' Know-Center, Institute of Knowledge Management, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 21a, A-8010 Graz, Austria

Abstract: While there is a lot of hype around various concepts associated with the term Web 2.0 in industry, little academic research has so far been conducted on the implications of this new approach for the domain of education. Much of what goes by the name of Web 2.0 can, in fact, be regarded as new kinds of learning technologies, and can be utilised as such. This paper explains the background of Web 2.0, investigates the implications for knowledge transfer in general, and then discusses its particular use in eLearning contexts with the help of short scenarios. The main challenge in the future will be to maintain essential Web 2.0 attributes, such as trust, openness, voluntariness and self-organisation, when applying Web 2.0 tools in institutional contexts.

Keywords: knowledge management; knowledge sharing; knowledge transfer; e-learning; online learning; education; communities; technologies; social software; Web 2.0; scenarios; learning technology; internet.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLT.2007.012368

International Journal of Learning Technology, 2007 Vol.3 No.1, pp.87 - 107

Published online: 07 Feb 2007 *

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