Wired for Learning

"Web 2.0" is a term used to describe an apparent second generation of the World Wide Web that emphasizes collaboration and sharing of knowledge and content among users. With the growing popularity of Web 2.0, there has been a burgeoning interest in education. Tools such as blogs, wikis, RSS, social networking sites, tag-based folksonomies, and peer-to-peer (P2P) media sharing applications have gained a prominence in teaching and learning. With Wired for Learning: An Educators Guide to Web 2.0 there is tremendous potential for addressing the needs student, teachers, researchers, and practitioners to enhance the teaching and learning experiences through customization, personalization, and rich opportunities for networking and collaboration.

The purpose of this text is to clarify and present applications and practices of Web 2.0 for teaching and learning to meet the educational challenges of students in diverse learning setting. This text will bring teachers and university education into a bold new reality and cause them to move to think differently about technology’s potential for strengthening students' critical thinking, writing, reflection, and interactive learning.

Terry T. Kidd is a PhD candidate from the Texas A&M University and is the Director of the Office of Instructional Development & Support Services at the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health. Kidd has presented at international conferences on designing technology rich learning environments, web based instruction, and issues dealing with faculty and staff development. His research interests include technology adoption and change, technology leadership, instructional design strategies for eLearning and socio-cultural aspect of information communication and technology as they relate to social change empowerment and community building.