Podcasts, online discussion forums, Second Life training venues, wikis, blogs - Web 2.0 offers so many exciting opportunities for learning, but how many organisations are really harnessing and exploring those possibilities? In this first Browser I thought I'd start looking at some of the basic resources out there for learning on Web 2.0.

In search of a 'bluffers guide' to Web 2.0, how about this presentation virtual worlds for corporate collaboration by the then Metaverse Evangelist (what a great title) at IBM Roo Reynolds? It's a great resource for anyone who wants a quick guide to the learning and business benefits of Web 2.0. In less than 30 minutes Reynolds gently guides his audience from the traditional forms of social networking (beers after work anyone?) through Flickr, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and on to the knowledge sharing possibilities of Second Life.

Reynolds' former company IBM has, of course, pioneered business use of Second Life. And if all this is enough to inspire you to join the legions of Second Lifers - technology market analyst Gartner has predicted that by 2011, 80% of all web users will have an online 'second life' - Nik Peachey's blogspot has a presentation that will take you by the hand and lead you into a new virtual world of learning.

There are some useful resources in TrainingZone.co.uk's own document library, including this Epic whitepaper that looks at how Web 2.0 technologies such as wikis and blogs offer innovative ways to integrate informal, user-centric learning models into a learning strategy. It also looks at the pros and cons of established versus Web 2.0 learning.

While our technology editor, John Stokdyk, addressed the future of Second Life for training in A view to a kill: Training in virtual worlds. There's also an interesting comment from member Tim Drewitt at the foot of this article, questioning whether delegates are yet technology-savvy enough to step into a virtual world of training.

Peachey's blog links through to Multimedia/ICT lecturer Russell Standard's excellent site Teachertrainingvideos.com. I could happily spend hours here going through the bounty of resources clearly sign-posted from the left-hand menu. Among the online tutorials there's advice on using YouTube, mind mapping, using and making wikis, including a presentation on how to make your own blog. And if you do, drop me a line news@trainingzone.co.uk and I'll be watching you.

Now, how about some adventures in Web 3.0?

Share your favourite sites, blogs and resources: Post a comment below or drop me a line at news@trainingzone.co.uk