I feel myself to be ignorant when it comes to Web 2.0. While I would call myself fairly tech-savvy, I guess I never stopped to think about a change in the Internet as I've known it for 15 years. Of course, I'm familiar with sites like Wikipedia, YouTube, and the like, but I saw the uploading and adding of information to the World Wide Web in a fairly seamless transition. "Web 1.0" smoothly flowed into Web 2.0 - so smoothly that I didn't even notice! Looking back over this article, of course I'm a proponent and avid user of Web 2.0. Like many students, I have a Facebook account, watch podcasts, find information on Wikipedia, and am constantly involved in communication. Like this article speaks to, I too am able to simultaneously listen to music, answer emails, send text messages, and research papers or write up assignments. Is that a good thing? No, not necessarily. But in this day and age, it seems like the status quo.
I'm surprised by the widespread nature of these participation-necessitated technologies. Reading about how some Universities are choosing to incorporate them is a little terrifying, to be honest. Sure, I've blogged for some of my classes, and I always appreciate a comprehensive class website, but to go so far as using iPods for everything from recording a lecture to uploading photos and information to a class group seems like a stretch. (And I thought iClickers were weird!) While it does worry me that, in the last 15 years, there has been a huge technology explosion, it does allow students to be engaged in the classroom. When learning is fun for students, they are so much more likely to retain knowledge, and understand it. I think that, when students can learn in a way that they are comfortable with, it's much more successful. These days, students are constantly surrounded by technology. Billions of text messages and emails are sent every single day. The Internet is constantly accessible, between laptops, desktops, and smart phones. Why not utilize the tools that students are already so proficient in, to teach them school subjects? This class itself shows just one of the ways that technology and the Internet, with appropriate use, can benefit student learning, and truly expand the reaches of education.
Is Education 1.0 Ready for Web 2.0 Students:
http://innovateonline.info/pdf/vol3_issue4/Is_Education_1.0_Ready_for_Web_2.0_Students_.pdf
Hi Eva,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point that when students learn in a way they are comfortable with it is much more successful. You suggest utilizing the technology that students are already proficient in to teach school subjects. I would like to expand on your idea a little bit. I think that to consider the technical aspect alone in choosing the type of technology to teach school subjects would be insufficient. In order to make the technology and Internet benefit students’ learning, the responsibility of a teacher is to consider the interests and passions of students and then choose the relevant type of technology to assist them in the learning process. When the teacher knows what his/her students like, what are they curious to know, what are they good at and what type of technology they prefer to use on a daily basis, then it is easier to make the right choice in choosing and incorporating such technology in the classroom.