Web 2.0 in the Classroom!

I am so excited about Web 2.0, and all of the opportunities that it affords me to enhance learning in the classroom! Google Earth will be a great asset . . . I even think about reading major works of literature, for example, Homer's the Iliad and the Odyssey, and being able to track down realistic settings that the characters lived within. We could travel to Troy, and kind of get an idea of the area where all of the great battles took place. Or, we could take a look at the Mississippi River from Huckleberry Finn, and discover the location of all of Huck and Jim's adventures.
Also, wikki's provide so many avenues for learning and discovery: I could use one similar to the way we have in this class, requiring students to sign up for projects, etc. through a wikki. Or I could use it for class discussion/participation, posting an on-line question or topic and requiring all students to respond.
Using skype to have discussions with people from over-seas, etc. is another really exciting idea. It would be great not only to connect with authors/politicians, but even students in cross-cultural settings. Maybe English speakers overseas . . . discuss novels with them, etc.
And too, pod-casting is GREAT! I would love to use that for speech . . . not only does it provide an avenue for students to post their ideas on-line through their own voices, but it also provides space for personal critique. One of the most powerful aspects of growth in speech is through listening to your own voice, and identifying strengths and weaknesses in order to build on your communicative ability. I would love to practice exercises in this!
I could even plan for group projects in which conferences are conducted on-line . . . students are required to "teach" a certain novel/grammar lesson/etc. through pod-casting and set it up/post it as a professional conference.
I love all of the different tools that I'm only JUST being introduced to through Web 2.0: I look forward to growing more familiar with them in the future, because I know that technology is the future for my students!