Web 2.0 Vocabulary Terms, K-12

One of the biggest differences between Web 2.0 and the traditional World Wide Web (referred to as Web 1.0) is greater collaboration among Internet users and other users, content providers, and application developers. The emergence of Web 2.0 is providing opportunities for personal participation and social connections in ways that offer new possibilities for education. Web 2.0 is the popular term for advanced Internet technology and applications including blogs, wikis, RSS, and social bookmarking.

Blog (short for web log): This is a Web site where entries are commonly displayed in reverse chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog. The World of Media electronic version was created with blogging software.

Federated search: This is the simultaneous search of multiple online databases and is an emerging feature of automated, Web-based library and information retrieval systems. The new Com Cat database uses federated searching, http://comcat-agent.auto-graphics.com.

Feed aggregator, feed reader, news reader or aggregator: This is client software or a Web application that aggregates syndicated Web content such as news headlines, blogs, podcasts, and vlogs in a single location for easy viewing. The World of Media newsletter can be delivered to your computer desktop using a feed.

Folksonomy: Open-ended labels called tags are used to categorize and retrieve Web pages, photographs, Web links, and other Web content.

Google Earth: This is a virtual globe program that was originally called Earth Viewer and was created by Keyhole, Inc. It maps the earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite imagery, aerial photography, and GIS over a 3D globe.

Mashups: The combining of content from Web sites or Web applications creates a single new site or experience.

Open source software: This refers to any computer software whose source code is available under a license (or arrangement such as the public domain) that permits users to study, change, and improve the software and to redistribute it. It is often developed in a public, collaborative manner.

Podcast: This is a collection of digital media files distributed over the Internet, often using syndication feeds, for playback on portable media players and personal computers.

RSS (Really Simple Syndication): This is a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines, or podcasts. An RSS document, which is called a "feed," "Web feed," or "channel," contains either a summary of content from an associated Web site or the full text. RSS makes it possible for people to keep up with their favorite Web sites in an automated manner that's easier than checking them manually. The World of Media newsletter is available as an RSS feed.

Social bookmarking: This is a method for Internet users to store, organize, search, and manage bookmarks of Web pages.

Social networking: This is a phenomena defined by virtually linking people to each other in some way. Examples: MySpace, FaceBook, blogs.

Social software: This software enables people to rendezvous, connect, or collaborate through computer-mediated communication and to form online communities.

Tagging: By giving a Web page, photo, video, or blog entry individual search terms, it makes it easier to find when searching.

Tag cloud: This is a visual depiction of user-generated tags that describes the content of Web sites. Tags are usually single words and are typically listed alphabetically, and the importance of a tag is shown with font size or color.

User Generated Content (UGC): This is content created by users themselves. It can be in the form of posts on discussion groups, personal or departmental blogs, or wikis.

Webcast: This describes sending audio and/or video live over the Internet. In essence, Webcasting can be thought of as broadcasting over the Internet. A Webcast uses streaming media technology.

Web feed: This is a data format where users can subscribe and receive frequently updated content. It’s also known as aggregation. A Web feed is also sometimes referred to as a syndicated feed.

Webinar: This is a presentation, lecture, workshop, or training that is delivered over the Web. A key feature of a webinar is its interactive elements.

Web 2.0: This term generally refers to a second generation of services available on the World Wide Web that lets people collaborate and share information online.

Web 2.0 tools: This refers to software applications on your computer and applications that are Web-based.

Vodcast: This is the delivery of on-demand video content using a computer, an MP3 player, or an iPod.

Wiki: This server software allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any browser. Wikis support hyperlinks and have a simple text language for creating new pages and cross-links between internal pages.