This paper 169005 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.
For me this is a problem because being a pragmatist I try to tie 169005 down and the Blackboard Learning Management System (for us AUTOnline) suits me as I like the buttons (folders) where I can put learning activities, assessments etc. However I have made a conscious decision to use wikis as the main learning space and for that to be the entry point for the paper. Your other papers will open at announcements, but announcements are one way communication and 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 has understandably caused concern for some of you. Herrington and Oliver (2003) discuss in detail the benefits to learning in 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 was 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 has taken 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 (APA 6th referencing) and post the answer in their blog where you can comment.
References:
Downs, S. (2005). E-Learning 2.0. eLearn Magazine, Retrieved from http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?artoc;e=29-1§ion=articles
Herrington, J., & Oliver, R. (2003). Patterns of engagement in authentic online learning environments. Australian Journal of Educational Technology, 19 (1), 59-71.
You might like to comment on this blog. Please do. For a discussion and results from a research study on Web 2.0 use you could go to
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
Hi Helen
ReplyDeleteI am finding I am learning something every day by doing this paper. I was going to ask you to clarify how we should reference but I see we post a list at the end of the blog. This certainly is an authentic task as described by Herrington and Oliver (2003), while also satisfying the criteria, as given by Downs (2005), of encouraging and enabling participation.
Just another comment Helen, I did put a comment on Ethni's blog and it did show up, did this about 2 days ago. The comment is no longer there; which is a worry as i thought it was part of the paper to comment on each others blogs. I also have no followers yet I thought we were required to follow all class members blogs, or have I misunderstood this?
ReplyDeleteHi Fionna
DeleteYes I find using this outside blog does have its own problems- the comment section appears to one of them- I feel the publish button with having to prove I am not a robot really strange. That your comments stay on my blog yet not on Ethnis is also strange. However do not let it worry you too much as far as the assessment 1 goes as it is a self assessment and you know what level of input you had. You do not need to prove it to me.
Hi Helen
DeleteI have noticed you are following the photography blog of a fiona farquhar. I am wondering if this is a coincidence or you mis-spelt my blog name? I seem to be following everyone's blogs now all the teething issues are getting sorted, sadly though, I haven't attracted any followers, as yet. Oh well, back to the salt mines, otherwise known as blogging.
I jest, I am finding it quite enjoyable actually.
Fionna and Helen, I would just like to say thanks for replying to my blogs. Yes I have noticeed that replies on my blogs are there for a day or two and then suddenly deleted. Fortunately I used a Burner feed and and all information gets sent to my gmail address. Thus I do get a copy of what is said in the replies.
DeleteCheers Ethni