Thing #18: Discovering Web 2.0 tools

Throughout the course of Learn & Play @CML we’ve explored a very small sampling of all the different Web 2.0 tools that are out there, just waiting to enhance our online experience. If we had the time, there are sooo many more we could explore. (And if you’re this far into the program, I think know what I mean.) The Web 2.0 directory Go2Web20 has more than 2,700 Web 2.0 tools and applications in its database as of this writing.  Although only time will 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 Awards nominees 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 simply 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 free, so this shouldn’t be a problem.

Discovery Exercise:

1. Select any site/tool from the list of Web 2.0 Awards nominees. (If you prefer to select from just the winners, here’s a link to the short list.)
2. Explore the site you selected.
3. Create a blog post 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 library setting?