Recently, I've written quite a few posts about web 2.0 for online teachers and course creators. But, how can online students take advantage of web 2.0 tools? A recent Read / WriteWeb article discusses this question. Here's what the author has to say:

"I went to a school that utilized a Virtual Learning Environment called WebCT (since absorbed by the Blackboard company), and it really wasn't very fun to use. Note taking meant writing on paper, study groups meant face-to-face meetings, and if you were struggling through Shakespeare, your best bet was to turn to the library, not the Internet.

When I was in college most of the tools in this round up didn't exist. It was truly the dark ages of education! Well, okay, it was a just a few years ago, but just in this decade, and especially in the last few years, a handful of tools to make school life easier have appeared."

There are dozens of useful tools online students can take advantage of - whether or not their virtual classrooms embrace 2.0 technology. For a list of some of the most helpful tools check out Web 2.0 Backpack: Web Apps for Students.