Log Nine: Task 1B - Professional Communication Technologies

Having read Reader 1 a few times and browsed through some interesting blog posts about people's perception on Web 2.0, I thought I would add my own personal and professional opinion on Web 2.0. My opening thoughts on web 2.0 tools were about identifying the primary purpose of their existence in our world. I believe there are many purposes of web 2.0 but from my experience with web 2.0 they are two key "ingredients" a user would find an attractive aspect, which are the following in no particular order:

1. "Global Connections"
2. "Social Interactive Education"

"Globally Connecting" people is a key function for a web 2.0 tool to have because 10 years ago we didn't have Facebook or Skype, so say a "Homer Simpson" went on a business trip to India while a "Marge Simpson" was at home and telephone calling service was unavailable like the recent Blackberry service then they wouldn't feel connected. However through usage of a web 2.0 tool such as Facebook or Skype the user now has an additional and/or alternative option of connecting with another user through messaging, calling or even video calling regardless of the location from both users.

"Social Interactive Education" is another key function I believe a potential user of a web 2.0 tool would find attractive because as well as expanding one's social network they would also be accessing information they wouldn't have even considered to learn. As well as social connection and educational purposes, web 2.0 can also raise the awareness of one's professional achievements through web 2.0 tools such as LinkedIn.

I believe I have mentioned above the positive aspects of web 2.0, so now for the negatives that web 2.0 can create. Along with creating and expanding one’s social network they can also receive abuse from other web 2.0 users called cyber bullying. While not physical this form of bullying could cause the victim of the abuse to feel insecure and could potentially lead to a tragic decision of action. Also it is now possible for a user to create a social image via online dating websites. While I believe you could find a happy relationship through dating online I believe the negatives vastly outweigh the positives as it’s possible for an underage teenager to join a dating website or possible for someone to steal someone else’s identity. Lastly, I believe that while there are advantages of online shopping, surely going shopping with a friend would be more rewarding than online shopping on River Island and having a “chat” on Facebook.  

"Is Web 2.0 Inclusive And Accessible To All?"

As part of my ongoing project part of my enquiry is look at inclusive teaching and learning in primary education. The usage of interactive learning web 2.0 tools in primary schools got me thinking whether, a child with a minor learning disability is secluded from the rest of their peers in a resource room because their learning development is slower than the average child and not wanting to expose the child is classified as inclusive teaching? This question and many others I have on web 2.0 is a topic I will be relating to throughout my project.   

                            

                

"How Much Influence Does Web 2.0 Have At Chickenshed Theatre Company? And On Primary Education?"

At Chickenshed Theatre Company they have started to promote upcoming events through use of web 2.0 tools such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter and encourage students to do the same.

At my local junior school where I am working as a teaching assistant I was amazed to find that in the resource room the amount of Apple iMacs available for children aged 8-11 years old. Part of the Key Stage 2 national curriculum is to introduce the children to a wider range of ICT tools, with many of these being web 2.0 learning interactive resources. 

Comparing the two working environments, it's evident of the influence web 2.0 has at Chickenshed Theatre Company is channelled towards advertisement, where as in education web 2.0 tools primary function is to help with the learning development  of the next generation of children. This is another question that I will be looking at in depth as part of my project.  

While I use some non-Web 2.0 websites for basic information, I generally use the internet browsing Web 2.0 websites for a greater depth of information and expanding my social network. In one of my previous posts (Log Six: Social Networking) I theorised about the notion that web 2.0 in the form of social networking could change how we interact with people thus potentially taking over the way we think we have to socially behave in different working environments. Having reviewed my own usage of Web 2.0 tools, I feel I could expand my network even more for professional reasons. Social media web 2.0 tools I have used to expand my network for professional and personal reasons are:

• Facebook
• Amazon
• Forums
• YouTube
• MySpace
• e-buddy
• Flickr
• Skype
• LinkedIn
• Blogger
• Windows Live Hotmail
• Windows Live Messenger
• Wikipedia

              "...living on the internet..." - The Social Network

Also I would recommend watching "The Social Network" which is a 2010 award winning film about the founding of Facebook. The concept is to introduce the idea of what it's like creating a web 2.0 website designed to create an "online social experience" and the struggles that come with it. I found the film changed my perception on Facebook and many other similar web 2.0 tools from general socialising with friends and expanding my current networks to questioning the privacy protection used on web 2.0 tools.

  

As a conclusion I feel the influence and power web 2.0 has in a workplace is potentially unlimited because everyday there are new methods of social interaction. Facebook is a prime example of this because in it's original form (Facemash) had 22,000 hits in two hours despite being created in a night by a drunken though admittedly intellectual teenager (Mark Zuckerberg) and thus when it expanded it became a global socially internet phenomenon. Thanks for reading.