Web 2.0 platforms for learning, teaching and skills development

New web technologies present exciting opportunities to enrich teaching, learning and research as these U & I projects show. APT STAIRS have developed capacity to support collaborative learning with Web 2.0 tools and eTutor have created an effective online learning environment from currently available Web 2.0 services and software. Skills development maps and a system to allow academics to record their personal and professional development to create rich ePortfolios have been produced by UCKAN-Skills and Flourish and PERSoNA is showing how social networking tools can facilitate connections to learning object repositories. On the legal side, Web2Rights provides guidance on important issues of copyright and intellectual property in the deployment, adaptation and development of next generation technologies and the re- use of third party content.