Web 2.0

"Why is Web 2.0 Important to Higher Education?" written by Trent Batson, and ""Web 2.0: A New Wave of Innovation for Teaching and Learning," written by Bryan Alexander, are both articles about Web 2.0. Both articles refer to Web 2.0 as "social Web," or "social software." They emphasize Web 2.0's potential to create communities that "[link] people around the world." More specifically, the articles appreciate how this quality of Web 2.0 can be helpful in higher education. Batson states that as a "knowledge-generating technology", Web 2.0 allows interactive learning through conversations and coopertaion between faculties and students. Similarly, Alexander says Web 2.0 was derived from the idea of "using networked computing to connect people in order to boost their knowledge and their ability to learn." Another similarity between the two articles is their discussion on the openness of Web 2.0. While Batson lists "open education, open knowledge, and open resources" as "faces of the Web 2.0 revolution in higher education," Alexander also states that "oppenness [is] a hallmark of [the] emergent movement [of Web 2.0]."

Despite these commonalities, the two articles also differ in many ways. Firstly, Alexander focuses on the elements of Web 2.0 that makes it work and popular. He believes that along with the openness, the "microcontent" nature of Web 2.0, for example, blog posts instead of web pages, allow users to build upon each other's information. Also, the organized tagging system makes the clustering of information easier and consequently the Web 2.0 to work in a orderly manner. On the other hand, Batson puts much more emphasis on the effectiveness of Web 2.0 on the education field. He argues that instead of "solo and autonomous learning mode" of books, Web 2.0 provides interactive and convesational learning environment, which can "[help] us rediscover our naturally cooperative, creative, and gregarious nature." Moreover, the tone of the two passages are significantly distinct. Overall, Alexander's article is written with rather neutral and informative voice. Even though most parts of the article discusses the positive features of Web 2.0, Alexander is not biased when he engages in describing and explaning aspects of Web 2.0 The primary goal of this piece is likely to inform the readers what Web 2.0 is and why it can be a useful tool. In contrast, Batson is approving and supportive of the possibilities that Web 2.0 can open for better educational systems. While delineating advantages charateristics, he tries to persuade the audience that Web 2.0 is certainly beneficial. In a sense, Alexander, in his persuasive voice, attempts to promote the use of Web 2.0.