Video Offers Simple Definition of Web 2.0
I love it when a complex topic is deconstructed by smart people.Web 2.0 is one of those topics. Some insist it's a sociological phenomenon driven by the collective involvement of millions of individuals. Others say it's a software-oriented mechanism that yanks programs from the desktop and puts them on the Web.
Truth is, it's a lot of things, and up until recently no one had synthesized all the facets of Web 2.0 into anything that could be digested in one sitting.
But not anymore. Prof. Michael Wesch of Kansas State University deftly breaks down the aspects of Web 2.0 -- and, to a larger extent, digital media -- in a phenomenal new instructional video, "Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us." Take a look:
My journalism side finds the video's content fascinating, but my colleagues over on Poynter's E-media Tidbits blog will do a far better job breaking down the media perspective.
Here on the Indiepub Blog I'm interested in examining the educational aspects of this video. I teach technology and Web journalism and one of the biggest obstacles I face is finding a way to take a complex topic -- such as Web development or Macromedia Flash -- and breaking it into something students can process and use. It's not easy, but I enjoy the challenge.
Prof. Wesch's video raises the instructional bar. This is the type of thing I dream of doing. In one fell swoop he's taken an intricate concept and broken it into essential elements that can be understood by virtually anyone. You don't need a journalism degree or an education degree or an anthropology degree (Wesch's specialty) to understand the video's essential point: digital media is a game changer.
Now, many folks can topically deconstruct Web 2.0 in the same manner, but very few can do it quickly. "Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us" is less than five minutes long. FIVE MINUTES. I could spend an entire semester discussing digital media and Web 2.0, yet Wesch has distilled the concept into a five-minute chunk ... and it works.
Beyond the video's efficiency, the other aspect I admire is Wesch's use of entertainment-based editing and assembly. His video is quick. The cuts are slick. The accompanying music sets the tone. Clearly, an enormous amount of thought went into the development of this piece, but Wesch's use of poppy techniques isn't done for effect. He's doing this because he knows his audience. College students are accustomed to quick content and they expect a certain level of production design. This video speaks their language, which means the students are more apt to understand the content within the video. It's a lesson I'll certainly take to heart as I develop future classes.
Congratulations to Prof. Wesch. He's created something quite special. -- mac
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