Learning 2.0 eBook - Free to Learn! (Jeff Cobb)

• Link to Learning 2.0 eBook
• Download Learning 2.0 eBook (5.0 MB, PDF) & Presentation Slides
• Go2Web20.net - The Complete Web 2.0 Directory

LEARNING 2.0 eBOOK?
"This report considers how approaches to learning have evolved and what impact the new technologies dubbed “Web 2.0” are having. In it you will find examples of ways in which associations are using these new technologies and what possibilities they may represent for your organization’s professional development and other learning initiatives (page 4)."

This Learning 2.0 eBook by Jeff Cobb, was first published on February 1, 2008. And thanks to the speed of word-of-blog it has already received a lot of deserved attention in the messy informal global learning network and people that follow it. I also hope that this juicy Learning 2.0 eBook is increasingly brought to attention, promoted, discussed and reflected in the formal education communities around the world (from primary to tertiary education!).

WHY?
Jeff Cobb's Learning 2.0 eBook makes it easy for anyone to learn the basics about Learning 2.0, or how learning approaches are evolving much thanks to the learning possibilities empowered by new and innovative learning tools increasingly being made available online (mostly for free!).

What I really like about this eBook is that it keeps it simple and clear (although 116 pages!), and at the same time is informative and stimulating with catchy graphics and illustrations. In terms of this eBook's nicely chunked and attractive design, we have to give due recognition, appreciation and credit to the editor Celisa Steele (page 115 for details), who has done a splendid job!

In addition to making it easy for us to discover and learn about learning tools such as wikis, blogs, virtual worlds, social bookmarking, slide sharing, etc., this eBook also shares with us possibilities on how we can utilize these tools to facilitate the learning process (in a simple and useful manner!).

However, anyone wanting to explore Learning 2.0 (or web 2.0 tools) might get overwhelmed with all the learning possibilities, and the thousands of possible learning tools to explore and use. Here Jeff's eBook comes to the rescue with its own useful non-comprehensive list of commonly used learning tools (page 75 and onwards), which could be a good starting point, before exploring Go2Web20.net to pick up some new tools at random.

GO2WEB20.net?
Go2Web20.net is a directory (birth- mid 2006) of web 2.0 applications and services, and currently has a searchable index of more than 2000 tools (logos), which is designed in a creative and flashy way. It blends Flash and AJAX technologies to produce a directory that is really cool and stylish, and useful if you have broadband. Alright it is updated, but I got to say I really don't like to wait, and if you don't have broadband or a good Internet access, this directory is a really frustrating wait as the services are being loaded. It certainly fails the speed test, but then again it contains an amazing list of learning tools, so I suppose we can wait while its' Web 2.0 services are loading. A simple text-based index of learning tools would do wonders, too! Have both and you have my vote of support! Ooops, here is a good example: Web 2.0 Links List of Web 2.0 Applications.

In general, I would actually recommend visiting Jane Knight's amazing learning tools directory (2000+ learning tools!) instead, which is more informative and useful, and faster to access (than Go2Web20.net).

WHAT'S NEXT?

"Explore and experiment—try out a variety of tools, and use the tools themselves to capture your learning. But keep your context in mind (page 72)."

In short, you need to 'Get Your Hands Dirty' and explore some of these new learning approaches and tools. In addition to eating an apple a day to keep the doctor away, perhaps we should also explore a new learning tool (or approach) a day to engage our learners to learn :)