Exploring Web 2.0: Second Generation Interactive Tools - Blogs, Podcasts, Wikis, Networking, Virtual Words, And More [Paperback]

Ann Bell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 11, 2009

Exploring Web 2.0: Second Generation Interactive Tools - Blogs, Podcasts, Wikis, Networking, Virtual Worlds, and More is designed to help the casual computer user, students, parents, and teachers understand the latest in free and inexpensive web tools and their power for research, collaboration, and communication. It provides the history, background, and current overview of Web 2.0, RSS feeds, metadata, tags, tag clouds, and folksonomy to demystify the current jargon connected with this latest web phenomenon. Web 2.0 tools covered include: 1. Social bookmarking 2. Photo-sharing 3. Blogs 4. Podcasts 5. Vodcasts/Screencasts 6. Wikis 7. Mashups 8. Virtual Offices 9. E-Learning Course Management 10. Social/Professional Networking 11. Virtual Worlds 12. Online Communications

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ann Bell is an Adjunct Online Professional Development Instructor and Course Developer for the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She has developed and instructs the courses Digital Media and Visual Literacy, Learning Applications for the iPod(r) and Handheld Computers, and Implementing Instructional Technology Innovations. Mrs. Bell has been a high school media specialist for twenty years in Iowa, Montana, Oregon, and Guam. Ann received her B.A. degree from the University of Northern Iowa, a library media endorsement from the University of Montana, and a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Hawaii. She has completed postgraduate work at Drake University and the University of Northern Iowa. Ann was the recipient of the 2001 Information Technology Pathfinder Award from the American Association of School Librarians and the Follett Software Company and the 2002 recipient of the Iowa Educational Media Association Lamplighter Award. She was featured in the December 2001 issue of Teacher Librarian: The Journal for School Library Professionals and has been published in Library Media Connection (Linworth Publishing, Inc.). Ann has published two books for Linworth Publishing, Inc., Creating Digital Video in Your School: How to Shoot, Edit Produce, Distribute and Incorporate Digital Media into the Curriculum and Handheld Computers in Schools and Media Centers. She has published a series of eight novels plus one stand-alone book for Heartsong Presents Book Club. Barbour Publishing republished and combined the first four books into Montana and the second four into Montana Skies. Gale-Thorndike Press released this same series in a large print edition. Mrs. Bell was selected to be included in the 2008 Contemporary Authors (volume 259) series by the Thomson Gale Publishers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 302 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (February 11, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1441449868
• ISBN-13: 978-1441449863
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #633,596 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ann (Anna Mae) Bell grew up in Adel, Iowa and received her B.A. degree from the University of Northern Iowa, a Library Media Endorsement from the University of Montana, and a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Hawaii. She authored a series of nine books for Heartsong Presents (Autumn Love, Contagious Love,Inspired Love, Distant Love, Healing Love, Compassionate Love, Love Remembered, Love Abounds, and Mended Wheels). Barbour Press republished the first four books into one volume "Montana" and the second four into "Montana Skies." Those eight books were reprinted in large print by Thorndike Press.

Mrs. Bell also published three educational technology books "Creating Digital Video in Your School," "Handheld Computers in Schools and Media Center," and "Exploring Web 2.0 - Second Generation Interactive Tools" along with one children's book "The Adventures of Scampy Churchmouse," and an historical novel "Rebekah's Journey."

A complete biography is available in Thomson Gale's "Contemporary Authors" Series Volume 259.

After living in Iowa, Montana, Guam, Hawaii, and Oregon, Mrs. Bell currently lives in Georgetown, Texas.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Comprehensive Tour of Web 2.0, Second Generation, February 17, 2009

By 

Phyllis R. Moses "Give me Wings" (Georgetown, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Exploring Web 2.0: Second Generation Interactive Tools - Blogs, Podcasts, Wikis, Networking, Virtual Words, And More (Paperback)

Review of Exploring Web 2.0 by Ann Bell
Exploring Web 2.0: Second Generation, is a straight-forward venture into
the complex world of Web usage. The author's meticulous research into every possible application of educational features and virtual devices to be found on the Web has resulted in an easy-to-read and understand compilation of available multi-media tools.
The result is an honest and detailed text for the student and lay person
alike to inspire use of these technologies. The reader is encouraged to evaluate and select new information and technological innovations to pursue a career or simply to use in their online experience. Countless links to Web sites guide the reader to immense resources of technological material. With this in-depth information, one can't lose in their quest
for feasible ways to navigate the labyrinth of Web 2.0.
Explanations of technological material and language peculiar to the genre is understandable to all levels of users.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chock full of useful information, references and links, February 25, 2010

By 

atmj (Rochester, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Exploring Web 2.0: Second Generation Interactive Tools - Blogs, Podcasts, Wikis, Networking, Virtual Words, And More (Paperback)

GOOD FOR THE MODERATE WEB USER TO THE BEGINNER
If you are like me, fairly web-knowledgeable but feel, you need to understand more of what is out there, this is the book for you. If you are clueless, this book can help as well, but you might read it a bit slower and poke at the links provided in detail. Take your time, it is an interesting read.

QUICKLY BECAME A SOURCE I PLAN TO GO BACK TO
I've read this book cover to cover once. Now it has over 20 post-it-notes tabbing pages that have links that I plan on investigating. This is a book that is going on the shelf at work and will be dog-eared quickly. My colleagues have also expressed an interest in getting their hands on it as well.

THE BREADTH AND DEPTH ARE JUST RIGHT
I already knew about Blogs, Social Networking, Geo-tagging, photo sites and a bit about Wikis but only knew the names of the rest. Ann Bell the author takes a teacher's role in this book and spells out what each are. She doesn't necessarily tell you why you would use one site over the other (that would be a book in itself and be out of date before it was published) but she gives you what you need to make your own judgment. This really was a brave undertaking for its breadth of topics as well as depth of coverage.

ALL SORTS OF DETAILED INFORMATION, YOU CAN PICK AND CHOOSE
Within the book there are links and in some cases detailed instructions on hardware and software for what it takes to create some of the items such as Pod and Vod casts. Knowing what to do to create these if you have ever done any video work, is no small feat. While I didn't test her instructions, I'm sure at some point I might. It is clear the author's predominant focus is education and many of the links reflect that. There is a wealth of information for the casual reader too and I plan to dig in. Some of the educational links will provide further instruction on Web 2.0 as well.

TIMELY AND CURRENT LINKS
This book will be out of date in two years as the web is changing so fast, but right now all the links listed in the book that I tried are current and work. I'm amazed at how much functionality out there is free.
Look at the Table of contents which Amazon enables and see if this book is what you want. I found it very helpful and useful.

A thumbs up for a well needed collection of information at your fingertips.