Dear Mom-maw,

CLASS DEFINTION
If the Internet itself was considered Web 1.0, then Web 2.0 is any type of web application that allows user interaction, sharing, and collaboration to generate content. This user-generated content replaces the author-generated content of more traditional websites. Web 2.0 allows users to give more feedback to the author of the website. User participation, dynamic content and increased standardization enhance and enrich the user's experience. This interactive and enterprising process allows all users of Web 2.0 to share knowledge efficiently and effectively at a higher rate of speed. It allows a voice to all people who have access to the internet and is not constrained by economics or political systems.
Web 2.0 somewhat levels the playing field between all its participants and subtly blurs the line between creator and contributor.

DEAR MOM-MAW :)

On a computer or cell phone, there is something called the Internet.  It is basically a lot of information, pictures, video – it actually has anything you can ever imagine – like a library on the computer.  You can search for things on the Internet, this is called “surfing the net.” We use it a lot at school. 

When the Internet first began, people could only get information from the Internet, like how we go to the library to get books.  Now the Internet has changed.  People not only get information from the Internet but they can also add information to the Internet.  It would be like us taking books or pictures to the library and leaving it so that other people could see.  This new Internet is called Web 2.0.  The reason it is called Web 2.0 is because the Internet is sometimes referred to as “the World Wide Web.”  When we “surf the net” we look through different “web pages” – kind of like looking through the pages of a book.  Now people can add their own pages to the Internet.  Some of the ways they do this is to create a web log, or blog for short.  It is essentially a diary/journal of someone’s thoughts/opinions that other people can see.  Another way people share their own information, is through social networking. You know what all of us spend so much time on! Web pages like Facebook let people put up pictures, videos, or tell everyone what they are doing. You would love it – it is the new way to find out what people are up to!  I really wish that we could teach you how all of this works – I know you would enjoy the gossip! J The minute someone puts something on the Internet (this is called uploading) other people can see it and sometimes even make comments on it.  Anyone, anywhere who has a computer or cell phone with the Internet on it can add to the Internet and get information from the Internet. This is called Web 2.0.