According to Wikipedia, “The phrase Web 2.0 refers to a perceived second-generation of web-based communities and hosted services  - such as social-networking sites, wikis and folksonomies - which aim to facilitate collaboration and sharing between users.” The Cooperative will monitor the development of Web 2.0 and provide information to SREB states regarding its impact and use in schools and on campuses.

SREB-SCORE (Sharable Content Object Repositories for Education) is an initiative of the Educational Technology Cooperative to help SREB states improve teaching and learning and achieve cost savings through the use of shared digital learning content. Through SREB-SCORE, participating SREB state educational agencies, schools, colleges and universities will work together over the long term to create quality digital learning content and share it through connected state repositories (databases).

When fully implemented, SREB-SCORE will provide teachers and faculty across the SREB region with convenient access to digital learning content that they can customize, share and use to enhance the quality of their courses.

This SREB Educational Technology Cooperative initiative will continue to help states use the Web to provide quality online professional development for elementary and secondary teachers. The cooperative will work closely with SREB states' departments of Education and the Education Development Center to create the Third Annual Institute for Online Instructors, Designers and Administrators of Online Programs. A new effort this year will be to create networks of those persons who have responsibility for providing online professional development within their states. Listservs, conference calls and Webinars will be used to help states share information and resources. Success stories and new initiatives in states also will be highlighted at Educational Technology Cooperative meetings.

SREB state interest in the quality work lead by the National Center for Academic Transformation to assist states and colleges to improve the quality of courses and student success while addressing cost is expanding rapidly. This year the Cooperative will identify SREB states and colleges involved in this effort and work with them to share resources and information. While the focus is currently postsecondary, the Cooperative also will address how to use the core ideas in K-12 education.

During the 2007-2008 academic year, the EvaluTech Web site will be expanded to promote the myriad of resources of the SREB Educational Technology Cooperative. In addition to continually updating information and resources on the existing site, topics related to uses of new and emerging technologies will be addressed. A third area of work this year will be to publicize EvaluTech to SREB colleges of education to promote access to quality resources for students and faculty. EvaluTech also links to other technology resources found elsewhere on the SREB site, including The Teacher Center.org, a new online resource for teachers at SREBs expanded Electronic Campus, a full-service e-learning portal.

The Educational Technology Cooperative will support states in their efforts with schools and colleges to help ensure students' success as they move into a world that is increasingly dominated by global and technological perspectives. As SREB states' departments of education integrate 21st Century Skills into their student academic standards and include them in professional development programs, the Cooperative's Teaching and Learning Task Group will gather and share this information with other SREB states. The task group also will continually update the Cooperative's 21st Century Skills Web site to ensure that it provides states with accurate and timely information on this rapidly expanding topic.