So far in EDU 624, we have discussed several interesting, relevant topics. However, the two that I would like to discuss are Post-Industrial Learning and Web 2.0.
We are living in a time after the Industrial Revolution, and our country has made a shift from an Industrial World focused on physical labor to a Post-Industrial World focused more on mental labor. This shift has also occurred in education. In terms of the shift in education, classroom activities should become more student-centered rather than teacher-centered, and work should be collaborative instead of individualized. Education should be, above all, enjoyable! I try to make my classroom a supportive learning environment and strive to include as much student-centered learning as possible. Learning should be fun, and I try to make topics that may not have seemed fun to me when I was in eighth grade fun for my students. In terms of instructional design, we need to keep in mind that we should be designing activities to be more student-centered. By doing this, it will allow us to create learning environments where we can support each student in the ways they need to learn (Valentine, 2011).
With the advent of more web technology, Web 2.0 has evolved. While it is difficult to put an exact definition on Web 2.0, the technologies that are considered “Social Media” (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc) are Web 2.0 Technologies. Web 2.0 allows for a lot of quick sharing of information with lots of people. Edmodo is a website that has been created to be free, safe social networking for schools. There is a push in Colchester to start using Edmodo, and I think that this is great. Some teachers use Twitter to update students on homework and provide extra credit opportunities, but Edmodo provides a safe environment to pursue online learning through Web 2.0 technologies. As Web 2.0 becomes more common-place in education, instructional designers need to take into account this collaborative software. This brings in the Post-Industrial Age of education as well because Web 2.0 allows us to create learner-centered, collaborative environments. The graphic above will expand when clicked. This includes several different Web 2.0 sites! Check it out!
I would like to point out that I did find an article about how students feel about their teachers/professors using Facebook. Teclehaimanoit and Hickman found that “ students find passive behaviors more appropriate than active behaviors” (p. 19) with regard to student-teacher Facebook interactions. Also, female students has more concerns “Facebooking” with their teachers than males did (Teclehaimanoit and Hickman, 2011). Just some food for thought…
And so, in closing, I ask this to my fellow classmates and readers…In what ways have you seen Web 2.0 tools used in instruction, either in education or industry? Do you feel there is a limit to the amount of Web 2.0 we should incorporate?
References:
Seo-Hacker. (Designer). (2011). Web-20-sites. [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://seo-hacker.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Web-20-sites.jpg
Teclehaimanot, B., & Hickman, T. (2011). Student-teacher interaction on facebook: What students find appropriate. Techtrends: Linking Research & Practice To Improve Learning, 55(3), 19-30.
Valentine, K. D. (2011, May 04). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://teachteachtech.coe.uga.edu/index.php/2011/05/04/a-shifting-learning-environment-key-ideas-for-the-post-industrial-ageknowledge-agedigital-age21st-century-learning-and-instruction/
We are living in a time after the Industrial Revolution, and our country has made a shift from an Industrial World focused on physical labor to a Post-Industrial World focused more on mental labor. This shift has also occurred in education. In terms of the shift in education, classroom activities should become more student-centered rather than teacher-centered, and work should be collaborative instead of individualized. Education should be, above all, enjoyable! I try to make my classroom a supportive learning environment and strive to include as much student-centered learning as possible. Learning should be fun, and I try to make topics that may not have seemed fun to me when I was in eighth grade fun for my students. In terms of instructional design, we need to keep in mind that we should be designing activities to be more student-centered. By doing this, it will allow us to create learning environments where we can support each student in the ways they need to learn (Valentine, 2011).
With the advent of more web technology, Web 2.0 has evolved. While it is difficult to put an exact definition on Web 2.0, the technologies that are considered “Social Media” (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc) are Web 2.0 Technologies. Web 2.0 allows for a lot of quick sharing of information with lots of people. Edmodo is a website that has been created to be free, safe social networking for schools. There is a push in Colchester to start using Edmodo, and I think that this is great. Some teachers use Twitter to update students on homework and provide extra credit opportunities, but Edmodo provides a safe environment to pursue online learning through Web 2.0 technologies. As Web 2.0 becomes more common-place in education, instructional designers need to take into account this collaborative software. This brings in the Post-Industrial Age of education as well because Web 2.0 allows us to create learner-centered, collaborative environments. The graphic above will expand when clicked. This includes several different Web 2.0 sites! Check it out!
I would like to point out that I did find an article about how students feel about their teachers/professors using Facebook. Teclehaimanoit and Hickman found that “ students find passive behaviors more appropriate than active behaviors” (p. 19) with regard to student-teacher Facebook interactions. Also, female students has more concerns “Facebooking” with their teachers than males did (Teclehaimanoit and Hickman, 2011). Just some food for thought…
And so, in closing, I ask this to my fellow classmates and readers…In what ways have you seen Web 2.0 tools used in instruction, either in education or industry? Do you feel there is a limit to the amount of Web 2.0 we should incorporate?
References:
Seo-Hacker. (Designer). (2011). Web-20-sites. [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://seo-hacker.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Web-20-sites.jpg
Teclehaimanot, B., & Hickman, T. (2011). Student-teacher interaction on facebook: What students find appropriate. Techtrends: Linking Research & Practice To Improve Learning, 55(3), 19-30.
Valentine, K. D. (2011, May 04). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://teachteachtech.coe.uga.edu/index.php/2011/05/04/a-shifting-learning-environment-key-ideas-for-the-post-industrial-ageknowledge-agedigital-age21st-century-learning-and-instruction/
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