Book Review

Blog ‘til The Wiki Falls Off!
Richardson, W. (2006). Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press.

Richardson’s book is a very informative and fun introduction to some of the most recognizable Web 2.0 tools that we see today: blogs, wikis, and podcasts. We encounter these tools daily even if we do not realize it. Every time we check out news on cnn.com or follow a real time sporting event online or download a missed radio show we are taking advantage of Web 2.0. Even though we do use these tools, because we may not be aware of it, many of use are hesitant to use them and feel intimidated. Reading this book helps use to see that it can be a fun and exciting new way to play with the internet.

I would say the most famous of these tools is The Blog. Everyone nowadays has heard of blog and at its essence, a blog is nothing more than a digital diary. However because of the ease of computer, it might be updated every few minutes instead of every day or week. A great example of blog use that I am familiar with is during the annual MacWorld convention. Every hear Apple, Inc. puts on this tradeshow to launch new products or product updates. One of my favorite website (macrumors.com) streams a weblog on their homepage during the event. It display minute-by-minute reports on the happenings. Nothing is in great detail, however, the postings are just enough to make you feel as though you are there. A typical 10 min posting during the even may look like:

10:38 a.m.: lights are dimmed. audience begins applaud.
10:40 a.m.: video presentation beings. announcer is discussing current ipod sales totals
10:47 a.m.: Steve Jobs walks nonchalantly down the center aisle. audience applauds wildly as he takes the stage

I believe something like this could have many applications in education. A blog teaches students many important skills. For one, the must learn to type in order to proficiently use a computer. Blogs also require that student become comfortable expressing themselves and sharing with the world. They learn how to be concise, yet descriptive. If you were frequently updating a blog it would be almost impossible to write page after page of entries! The creative use of words, phrases, and photos as tools of communication is very important in blogs. You want readers to be engaged and enjoy reading your blog. Students could learn all these things if blogs were incorporated in the classroom.

I really enjoyed this book. I feel that Ricahrdson is removing some of the fear from technology by presenting a world where everyday people are using these tools with the same ease and casualness that they might have when using a calculator or setting a microwave. Web 2.0 tools like blogs are developed to enrichen our daily lives and this book proves that point!