Ive been experimenting with different ways to work with the resources from this course. Surfing about the blogs I found someone who went this way- read the resource and make a brief comment. So here goes..
Starting with the history of the web2.0 I was blown away with by the comprehensiveness of this broadreaching view of the webs history. Looking within the history context its good to see the pathway to day and the key players. Interesting to note that the telegraph created feelings of euphoria and too much information for the beginning users.. much the same responses to learners I have in my work groups.
http://www.collectivate.net/journalisms/2007/9/26/a-history-of-the-social-web.html
Seeing the players at different spaces in society, the graduates, the ferals, the dom com kings, and the international favour helps to move us from seeing everything as coming from the states. Interesting to see the way that different social networking tools have gained acceptance in different countries and to think why this might be. I didnt know that some spaces are hard to leave because you cant take your creations with you. Are these sites actually controlling people and content in web- prisons?
The creation of authoring tools, aggegrators, social networking sites, media sharing areas is happening what seems to feel like lightening speed, that it supports the idea that only through effective networks will we be able to access the information to help us find ones that work for our purposes.
The rise of the participatory community is another theme that emerges strongly as initially the technology was in the hands of a few often in specialised services such as the military but now we are seeing that people are accessing tools, creating their own content, and sharing as they want.. there has been a democratisation of internet. Certainly the rise of open source ware, free access to tools and services and open courses such as this one are revolutionising the way we go about learning .
Some tensions
1. Commercial and open access activities
2. Control/captivity vs open access
3. Copyright right and creative commons issues
4. Civic action and government/institution control
Great to see that some sites were developed by women eg Bebo but still a landscape dominated by males. Why?
