Dilemma of Web 2.0 and the Classroom- initial ramblings

I have to start off by saying that the whole Web 2.0 phenomenon is both exciting and overwhelming. From taking the online survey, I do realize that I am familiar with quite a bit of the vocabulary and ideas associated with Web 2.0. Using them on a regular basis on a personal or professional level is another story.

I have taken many courses, staff developments etc. on this technology (everything from wikis to social bookmarking to blogging) but I still am hesitant to jump in. I think it has to do with the number of tools available now to do the same thing (i.e. look at all of the different places you can go to create a blog or set up social bookmarks). It 's hard to know where to start and every time I've taken a class, I've gotten more of the theoretical arguments for using these technologies when what I want is to see what the technology looks like in the classroom. In other words, as our professor alluded to in her podcast, I want these things to have real instructional value and not just be bells and whistles.

On the other hand, I do see the strong motivational pull these technologies have on our students. This is the world they are living in and the language they speak and I need to be conversant with that. I find a few of the ideas mentioned in Mishra's and Koehler's article, "Too Cool For School..." exciting and realistic. I learned about Microblogging (not just Twitter) in a BOCES training recently and think it has interesting applications for students reflecting on their research process. I am also interested in checking out some of the visual search engines mentioned. I think this is going to be an interesting and informative exploration for me, even if I am already a little overwhelmed.