Inevitable, so Let's Plan For it: The Semantic Web (Web 3.0) in Education

If you're like us, you may be getting tired of hearing the term "Web 2.0" every time you're in a technology related discussion. The article referenced here is not an easy read, but you should read it anyway. Wouldn't it be nice if planners start planning for Web 3.0, ahead of time?

The mantra of the information age has been “The more information the better!” But what happens when we search the web and get so much information that we can’t sort through it, let alone evaluate it? Enter the semantic web, or Web 3.0. Among other things, the semantic web makes information more meaningful to people by making it more understandable to machines. . . . Ultimately, the goal of Web 3.0 is, in a phrase, data integration. . . . The implications for education are profound. Let’s consider three areas of impact: knowledge construction, personal learning network maintenance, and personal educational administration. . . . The Semantic Web is historically unique in that for the first time society can see a foundational shift in technology well in advance of its arrival. For the past 25 years we have been in reactive mode, as one wave of technological revolution after another caught us unawares. With the Semantic Web being both inevitable and slow to develop, we can begin discussing possible learning scenarios that might emerge once it arrives. . . . In fact, the Semantic Web is far enough into the future that we can actually help shape it. Educators would do themselves, students, and the world a tremendous favor by jumping into the discussion now and helping Web 3.0 developers realize a vision that recognizes education and promotes the public good as top priorities. Bias is implicit in all technology—let’s choose our bias for the Semantic Web wisely.