ABSTRACT
The term “Web 2.0” is used to describ e applications that
distinguish themselves from previous generations of software
by a numb er of principles. Existing work shows that Web
2.0 applications can b e successfully exploited for technologyenhance learning. However, in-depth analyses of the relationship b etween Web 2.0 technology on the one hand and
teaching and learning on the other hand are still rare. In
this article, we will analyze the technological principles of
the Web 2.0 and describe their pedagogical implications on
learning. We will furthermore show that Web 2.0 is not
only well suited for learning but also for research on learning: the wealth of services that is available and their openness regarding API and data allow to assemble prototypes
of technology-supported learning applications in amazingly
small amount of time. These prototypes can be used to
evaluate research hypotheses quickly. We will present two
example prototypes and discuss the lessons we learned from
building and using these prototypes.