Introduction

The Internet and Web 2.0 tools have made it easier to communicate, create, and share for everyone. Learning to use these tools can help students be more productive online. Many of the tools are fun, too.

Learning Community
This is a learning community--a group of people committed to the goal of learning together and from each other. A learning community supports the learning and development of all members of the community. By participating in the MA On a Stick learning community, you agree to:

• Fully participate by reading and doing the Things as described.
• Share what you learn by blogging about the Things.
• Help others learn.
• Ask questions.
• Respond to others' questions.
• Comment on others' blogs in positive, helpful ways. (Click here to find out how to read other's blogs.)
  
• Be nice--no rude comments, no bullying, no inappropriate behavior.
• Follow the MA Acceptable Use Policy. And whatever rules are in force at your house regarding computer/Internet use.
  

How It Works
You are in charge of your learning in this program. We have identified the Things for you to do, but you decide when you do them—and the amount of time you spend and the depth of your exploration. Each of the Things can take as little as an hour or as much more time you have to give. You document your participation by setting up and maintaining a blog (Thing 3).

Each Thing will show you one or more Web tools. These Web 2.0 tools are bringing us in touch with the entire world through social networking, video, audio, and other sites.

Even if you think you know all about all of the tools in On a Stick, we encourage you to join the program. You can always learn more about any of the tools through independent exploration. And we will learn from you because you will blog about your discoveries.

Tutorial Format
Each Thing begins with a brief explanation of a new Web 2.0 topic or tool, followed by a numbered list of activities related to the tool. These exercises give you the background you need to understand the tools you're learning about. Don't skip them!

When you have done the items in each list, you comment or post to your blog. Your blog is the tool to communicate your reactions, new-found skills, ideas, questions, and favorite Web sites to the other On a Stick participants and is how your completion of all Things is documented.