On 169005
Welcome to 169005. This
paper is in some ways always in draft mode.This I feel is how
it should be as this paper needs to be always shifting because
technology does not rest. Nor does the discussion of digital
literacies. I
feel it is important to keep in mind definitions of Web 2.0 which
stress the importance of collaboration of learners and teachers and the
multiplicity of links that are made available through the web. Web 2 is
about students being creators of knowledge in contrast to being
receivers of knowledge (An & Williams, 2010).
For me this is a problem because being a pragmatist I try to tie 169005 down and the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) suits my teaching style as I like the buttons (folders) where I can put learning activities, assessments etc. However I have made a conscious decision to use outside social media (blogger.com) as well as communication tools within the LMS such as discussion boards and wikis.I am trying to widen the parameters of this online space for more interaction in the design of the paper and in more student input and student centred learning.
Downs (2005) argues for the emergence of Web 2.0 to be seen as a social revolution that both encourages and enables participation through the nature of the web 's open applications.This ‘openness’ is its strength. But also it’s a challenge for both teachers and learners.I am constantly having to rethink my philosophical position and my teaching practice.
Another conscious decision was for you to create your own blog outside the Blackboard LMS.This was because I want you to experience using an authentic Web 2.0 tool. This may understandably cause concern for some of you. Herrington and Oliver (2003) discuss in detail the benefits to learning using authentic online learning environments.Two
of the ten characteristics of authentic activities that are
particularly relevant to my argument, for getting you to create a blog, are that authentic activities are made up of complex tasks that take
time and intellectual resources to complete (days/weeks rather than
hours) and that authentic activities provide the opportunity for
students to examine the tasks from different perspectives. In order for
your blog to be accessed and commented on, you have had to explore ways
of enabling this to happen. And this takes time and perseverance.
Still on the open aspect of this paper, I am aiming for you to engage and collaborate in creating the paper content and one way for this is for you to write two questions that require some research.These two questions will be posted into the wiki space.Your first question can be researched and answered by yourself and posted as a blog entry.Your second question will be answered by another student on the paper.They will research the topic using APA 6th citation and referencing and post the answer in their blog where you can comment.
References
An.Y & Williams, K. (2010) Teaching with Web 2.0 Technologies: Benefits, Barriers and
Lessons Learned. Retrieved from http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Mar_10/article04.htm
Herrington, J., & Oliver, R. (2003).Patterns of engagement in authentic online learning
environments. Australian Journal of Educational Technology, 19 (1), 59-71.
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