Tagging

I love this! This tool is awesome! As far as research goes, this is worth its weight in gold. Tags allow me to label my sites and put notes on them. Gone are the days of random URLs scrawled on a page in my notes. This also allows researchers to share their links. If I am doing a group project I can tag a link for everyone to stop and take a look at. Libraries can tag sites in their databases in advance for classes. Good search engines, online books, educational opportunities, all of this can be done with a few clicks. Again, tagging is worth its weight in gold. I can't wait until my next group project!

(Too much kissing up...?)

Wikipedia/Wikis

Wikis strike me as entirely unorganized. They are great for collaboration but little else. In everyday conversation there is structure in the flow of conversation. Wikis take away that structure and without guidance can quickly get out of control. I would only advise the use of a wiki when outlining. Anything else that involves more organization to be meaningful would just result in a mash of information no one knows what to do with. I completely agree with the idea that Wikipedia is unreliable and banned. Schools try and teach us the value of research and analyzing one's sources. Quoting wikipedia is like saying, "I got this from some guy down the street." No credentials are involved. Wikipedia is good for a working knowledge, but not much else.

Web 2.0

Web 2.0 is a strange mixture of new technology, globalization, and a tiny bit of chaos. Almost everyone has internet access these days. Web 2.0 is a way to describe the computer based revolution. Computers are no longer just tools for business but are a way of life for some people. Entire lives can be lived out online. It has connected people who otherwise never would have met. Web 2.0 is the change from stationary to fluid. We are going on this journey because the world is relying on computers and the internet more and more. Understanding how to use social networking sites, research databases, and etc. is paramount to success. The world is digital now, for better or worse, and that is what Web 2.0 means.