Thing #11: Explore Web 2.0 award-winning applications

Throughout the course of this Learning 2.0 program we’ve explored just a small sampling of the new internet technologies and websites that are empowering users with the ability to create and share content. But given time there are so many more we could explore! A recent estimate placed the number of Web 2.0 tools at somewhere close to 500 with only a handful emerging as market dominators. And although time will only tell which of these new collaborative, social networking and information tools will remain on top, one thing is for sure, they're not going to go away (at least anytime soon).

For this discovery exercise, participants are asked to select any site from this list of Web 2.0 Award Winners and explore it. With so many to choose from, it might be handy to first select a category that interests you (like Books or Personal Organization) and then select a tool/site to explore. Be careful to select a tool that is Free and that doesn't require a plug-in or download. The majority of these are free, so this shouldn’t be a problem.

Discovery Exercise:
1. Select any site/tool from the list of Web 2.0 Awards winners (If you prefer to select from just the winners, here’s a link to the short list.)

2. Explore the site you selected.

3. Write a blog post for Thing #11 about your discovery. What did you like or dislike about the tool? What were the site’s useful features? Could you see any applications for its use in a school or library setting?

4. Play -- check your Travel IQ.

Web 2.0 – with so much to explore, just start with ONE. :)We hope you're having fun with the exercises.