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Internet Communications Unit Web101 Class Reflection Essay

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Using various Web 2.0 tools such as Blackboard, Twitter, blogs and online media, students in the Bachelor of Internet communications Unit Web101 discussed a variety of topics over the course of thirteen weeks. These topics ranged from the advent of the Internet to the current shift towards the connective experiences of Web 2.0. This reflection will cover a selection of some of the better known Web 2.0 platforms and tools covered in the unit, the way in which these enhance collaboration and communication, and some of the ways in which this might have the potential to impact upon the everyday user.

Implemented originally in the 1960′s to share information by NASA, the Internet is a network of computers joined by other computers. The …show more content…

Wikis are an example of Web 2.0 tools, the best known of which is ‘Wikipedia’, in which such collaboration happens. Wikis can be added to by anyone and, as part of the unit, students were required to do so, and in addition, the Wiki editor is web browser-based, meaning you do not have to be a web-design expert to use it. Furthermore, an interesting aspect of wikis is their ‘real time’ development, contributors often making entries as events happen as shown in the video footage of Wikipedia entries of the bombings in London (travelinlibrarian, 2006). In “The official 'Wikis' activity thread” on Blackboard, it appeared that most students were unaware of the history pages, discussion pages, and the reputation system, reminiscent of EBay’s feedback scores (2010). A report by Anthony, Smith and Williamson speculates that it is a sense of community and kudos that encourage high quality in registered users posts, and a pride in sharing expertise in non registered user’s contributions (2007). This system of user-based regulation is purported to keep the Wikipedia valid.

Another facet of collaboration discussed in Module 2 was that of ‘Taxonomies‘v ‘Folksonomies‘. By attaching labels to content using social bookmarking sites such as ‘Delicious’, we can share and collaborate with others, creating a database of knowledge. Folksonomies such as this lack the hierarchical structure of traditional categorization systems

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