In what ways will the evolution of Web 2.0 potentially change the educational process? Will you look forward to these changes?
I am already looking forward to these changes. Course management systems, such as WebCT and Blackboard, paved the way to simplifying online course delivery. Initially, these seemed like very powerful utilities for delivering courses to the new online masses. However, in light of newer Web 2.0 technologies that are actually more user friendly, it turns out that these CMS’s are actually quite limiting, restricting, and most certainly, frustrating...to a certain degree.
This is where I see the future of Web 2.0 technologies; in how they can be developed and implemented in education. Curriculum building in Web 2.0, such as with wikis, blogs, moodle, writeboard, class blogmeister, survey monkey, etc., are going to begin to be more and more implemented in web-centric (web-enhanced) and completely asynchronous courses.
As pointed out in Read, Write Web, although these technologies were not specifically created for education and e-learning, they most certainly can be successfully employed to empower student learning and foster new, creative learning opportunities (blog entry, August 8, 2006). Stephen Downes, the gentleman credited with the phrase ‘e-learning 2.0’, defined this term as online learning enhanced by the implementation of social networks, blogging and podcasting, amongst other options (http://www.downes.ca/post/31741). Employing these technologies into a classroom curriculum is powerful, as we have already witnessed in this class alone. According to Downes (2005),
- What happens when online learning ceases to be like a medium, and becomes more like a platform? What happens when online learning software ceases to be a type of content-consumption tool, where learning is "delivered," and becomes more like a content-authoring tool, where learning is created? The model of e-learning as being a type of content, produced by publishers, organized and structured into courses, and consumed by students, is turned on its head. Insofar as there is content, it is used rather than read— and is, in any case, more likely to be produced by students than courseware authors. And insofar as there is structure, it is more likely to resemble a language or a conversation rather than a book or a manual. The e-learning application, therefore, begins to look very much like a blogging tool.
Its scary, its exciting, and its most certainly the future. If you have time, please take a look at the keynote address given by Stephen Downes (along with his PowerPoint slides) to the right of this blog post. The keynote is about 50 minutes long, but if you’re interested in Web 2.0 in education, it is well worth your time.
4 comments:
Hi, Lisa.
I enjoyed the video you put in your blog "Web 2.0 Lecture - S. Downes".
I watched it without notice how long it was. And once I started, I couldn't stop!
I began to find how powerful these new tech was. I am a pre-K chinese teacher. In My last class, I created a wiki for my Chinese class. I was about to talk about Chinese New Year, So I put information about Spring festival on the wiki, I also put link of video of Lion dance and dragon dance in the wiki. I also put pictures of typical food and decoration. When I arrived the classroom, I opened my wiki, I lectured while operating it. My students LOVED it so much. And the best part was their parents can reach my wiki anytime and review all the content with their kids.
Lisa,
I felt like I am living in the dark ages when I read your enthusiastic endorsement of Web 2.0 as an educational tool. I have been a classroom teacher for 22 years, and it is hard to imagine giving over the reins of learning to the internet. However, as someone who works with teenagers every day, I must acknowledge that the lecture and Power Point method does little to capture their attention or give them excitement for learning. When thinking about methodology, I am constantly challenged to recognize that "learning is created", and I must be the facilitator not the lecturer. Thank you for your insights.
Huihui --
I think it is absolutely wonderful that you used a wiki for your Chinese class! What a wonderful way to bring a different culture and celebration to children! My daughter (who is 7) would have loved to have been in that class!
I think its also wonderful that the parents can look and see what their children are learning. My daughter's teacher this year is less than open about what they are doing in class and that bothers me a great deal because I just don't see her being very challenged. I wish she had a teacher like you! :)
Lisa
Renee --
Thanks for your comments, but please, don't feel like you're in the Stone Ages!! You are in this course because you want to learn how to better incorporate these technologies and I applaud you for that!
Remember, also...Web 2.0 is not about handing 'over the reins to the Internet', as you put it. It is all about delivery methods, that's all! Instead of using overhead transparencies, we use PowerPoint, right? Well, instead of using VHS tapes, we use YouTube (or other streaming video). Instead of meeting outside of class to work on a group project (more so for higher ed), we can collaborate on a wiki. Instead of just giving a research paper to the instructor, we can publish it in a blog, so others may comment, too.
So, all of this is just a matter of delivering the same content in a different way. Its all still very much instructor-driven, its just now we have more cars than ever to drive!! :)
Lisa
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