Uses of Web 2.0 - meeting 20/1/09

EDDG Discussion: Web 2.0 technology and learning and teaching, 20/1/09

There was a very lively discussion around the use of Web 2.0 technology, with a sharing of current practice, information and a highlighting of difficulties and barriers. There was a mix of experiences from people who did not use web technologies very through (self-proclaimed Luddites) to those who used web 2.0 on a daily basis. Particular issues discussed were:

What exactly are Web 2.0 technologies ? Discussion focussed around the changing trends in the use of the web technology and web design that enhances creativity, communication , information sharing and collaboration. Discussion focussed on the use of social networking sites, wikis, blogs, social book marking.

We questioned whether web 2.0 technologies were a young person’s tool . Young people may be more familiar, but most have are using the internet, Google on a daily basis. However, for many lecturers this isn’t necessarily how we learned.

User responsibility : In particular we debated YouTube . Plenty of discussion here around the appropriateness of using YouTube with students. Do we need to monitor and control the use within college?

Development of students’ ability to search/use information critically.

The need to maintain face to face contact with students. Web 2.0 does not replace the teacher but should be seen as a means of supporting education, collaboration and generating creativity.
Attention span: discussion around whether students really have a shorter attention span, or whether they can focus for longer if learning and teaching is interactive .

Use of staff blogs: some staff groups are using blogs to share information and collaborate on projects. This has potential for staff groups across the college.
There was a suggestion that it would be good for staff to share their social networking ,blogging , and bookmarking sites e.g. twitter, facebook, delicious.

Focus group of students would be useful to establish what technology they actually use , and their expectations from the college.