Thing #23: The end, or the beginning?

When I set out on this journey I thought I had a good understanding of web resources, of Web 2.0. But, I think I was just scapping the tip of the Web 2.0 iceberg.... and to some extent this experience has only made me realise how much I do not know. I am left wondering how I will keep up with all of the Web 2.0 developments that happen in the world... Wags, would you like to set up a 'latest things in Web 2.0' blog? I would subscribe, but then again there is probably already one out there... Thing 24 perhaps.

I have a hard time singling out any one 'Thing', but loved discovering Prezi, YouSendIt, and leaning to upload Video was cool too.

I think that this journey has set me on a course where I can try to integrate Web 2.0 to the classroom when I do teach. I was recently asked what the downfalls of using Web 2.0 in teaching might be, and would love anyone to propose some?

I think the concept is great, could this form a component of all new staff inductions? What a great idea!

Bring on the next set of 'Things'!

Thing #22: Create your own audio or video message

Thing #21: Podcasts

Podcasts are a great, not to mention free, source of information. I get sick of the music on my iPod, so download Podcasts frequently - in fact I subscribed to the US NPR All things considered Podcast, which for almost a year kept me entertained on the train ride to work... I was most upset when the canned it!! God knows why.

There are so many great Podcasts that can be used for teaching, including Best Ads on TV, which is a great source of new Advertising content...

Thing #20: Discover YouTube

I heart You Tube would sum up my view of the site. It's right up there with Google (probably because they own it)!

Funny story about why I selected this video. I was doing an interview recently with a well respected New Zealand art historian, author and television producer on a topic I have been researching. He gave this great narrative about New Zealand's nation identity and as I hung of his every word, the words "Who the Fuck are we" leapt from his mouth. He then went on to describe this video, and these words in particular, as a metaphor for the craving for national identity that he sees New Zealand as having. He was a great interviewee, and his video recommendation was very funny... and one I may use in the creation of my video for ACR...

I think YouTube is a major resource for teaching, having access to the latest TV commercials around the world is just great for teaching in class - so long as the lecture room has IT working (!!!)

Thing #19: Discovering Web 2.0 Tools

I clicked on the CNET Top 100 site and was not at all to see the site YouSendIt profiled. This is a great site, and one that I have had the need to use on several occasions of late. The site allows users to send large files (free if you send 1 file at a time) to others. The great thing about this site is that it gets around the file size restrictions that we have placed on us at Monash, and I am often having to send large PPT slides to people. It'a an application that all in the university setting could use... I explored some of the sites further and found Cuil, which was to be a competitor to Google... apparently some of the search results are not great, but I seemd to have some success. It will take something special to overthrow Google...

Thing #18: Online Productivity Tools

I have had some limited experience with Google Docs, but think that it is a good idea for a tool to be used when working with different people. However, in my experience it is good to have old versions of a document saved as v1, v2, and so on. So, I agree with Wags that there is a time and a place. I'm yet to more fully integrate it to my life, but see the benefits.

Thing #17: Wikipedia

I have never looked at the discussion page and found it interesting to see how people are actually collaborating. I just assumed you made an edit and that was it, but there seems to be some discussion and deliberation around some of the changes, although I am sure there are a lot of users that aren;t involved in the discussion. I'm not game enough to change the wiki's but will check others posts to see if they have...