Friday 18 September 2009

Module Four - TEAM (acronym) Together Everyone Achieves More (Web 2.0)


Eiffel Tower at Sunset
When I first sat down to write this blog reflection I wasn't sure what I should be focusing on. 

Sure Flickr is a great tool for storing images. It also is a great place to search for images that one may want to use.
Sacre Coeur


But I believe what is most important here is NOT the tool but rather a whole philosophy that is represented by Flickr and other similar sites.

"Web 1.0" was an environment which was really only for "taking" data, whether that be text, images, music - whatever.



The key thing that Web 2.0 has brought to the Internet community is the ability for all to GIVE not just TAKE.

And give we are - in our millions.

This is certainly posing a threat to commercial publishers who have built an economic model based around people charging for their work. With sites such as Flickr, people are giving away material that previously we would have been expected to pay for. And what do we/they want in return - acknowledgement!

Enter the Creative Commons License.

The whole issue of copyright is one that has raised many questions in recent years.

Even back in the days of "Web 1.0", there were those that were asking the questions of what one could "legally" do when it came to the transmission and storage of digital images.
The Louvre

This issue has only heightened with the emergence of the personal publishing revolution that is Web 2.0.

One of the key features of Web 2.0 is the ability of one to share themselves with the world. So if I share myself - that is to say - if I publish to the "Web" am I therefore giving away my material? There is no simple answer and the issue becomes complicated when one considers that an image I have posted above from a recent trip to Paris is hosted on a server located who knows where and covered by which countrys' laws?
Eiffel Tower at Night
I believe there has been a general shift in the population when it comes to attitudes relating to ownership of data. I believe we are seeing people more willing to share and collaborate. If I am prepared to share my work with others then they will be more likely to share with me. Sites such as Flickr have allowed people to easily publish and share their images without a need to understand how to create a web page.

We also have seen an emerging interpretation of copyright known as the Creative Commons License. By attaching such a license to images one can indicate whether are free to use your image in an unrestricted manner, where you allow altering of the image. Or you may choose to place some restrictions such as limiting the use of your images to non-commercial uses.

When working with students we have an obligation to not only use technology, but also to educate our students in what it means to be responsible digital citizens. We need to enlighten them on issues related to copyright, not just with images, but with all forms of digital data.
Notre Dame Cathederal

Recently when working with a group of Year 10 students, I was amazed to discover that students honestly believed that it was ok for them to download digital media using Limewire because they had paid for the professional version of Limewire.

Flickr is a great way of sharing images and short videos. Its also a great way to publish to an authentic audience and through feedback develop ones photographic skills. It is also a great place to find royalty free images for use within a classroom setting.

Another great site for sourcing such material is Creative Commons Search. Here one can search a variety of sources including Google Images, Fickr and blip.tv
Moulin Rouge by Day
I hope you have enjoyed some of the images I posted to Flickr from a recent trip to the most beautiful city (IMHO) on Earth. All images are Matt Wells originals taken in Paris, July 2009 and are free for use. Please simply acknowledge the source. More images are available from my Flickr Photostream.

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