Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Web 2.0 : A Change in Philosophy?
Leonard Low has created an interesting discussion that raises issues about the nature of Web 2.0 and it's relation with learning.
He suggests that Web 2.0 is 'not so much about a change in technology, but rather, a change in philosophy. He implies that the ideas of E-learning 1.0 and 2.0 seem to be associated with the idea of Web 1.0 and 2.0. This is manifest in a change in emphasis from content dumping to more collaborative uses seems pretty much on the mark.
I agree with his suggestion that the use of technologies for networking, knowlege construction etc is consistent with the idea of constructivist learning principles. However, I'd like to suggest that we can refine this idea a little by describing the use of Web 2.0 to social constructivist principles. This shifts the emphasis from learning based on the individual to the social and cultural background of the group. (It is possible that he meant this in the first place).
If we assume that what people learn is a consequence of establishing personal meaning within a particular social group then the ideas of generational change, social, cultural and historical influences becomes embedded. In this respect, I find it difficult to understand claims that we need a new learning theory (for example connectivism as proposed by George Siemens) to explain contemporary learning.
It might also be useful to compare the nature of the discourse in Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 models. It seems to me that we are seeing a shift from move vertical discourse (top-down, expert-novice) to horizontal discourse. This is manifest in a change from expert knowledge dumping to the construction of knowledge within a community. In political terms this might be described as the appropriation of the technology by the masses.
Castells (2001) describes the internet culture as a combination of the influences of the techno-elites, hackers, virtual communitarians and entrepeneurs.
I wonder if we might characterise Web 1.0 (E-learning 1.0) as the appropriation of the Internet and privileging of the values of the techno-elites and entrepeneurs. Maybe Web 2.0 (E-learning 2.0) is the result of appropriation of the Internet and privileging of the values of virtual communitarians?
He suggests that Web 2.0 is 'not so much about a change in technology, but rather, a change in philosophy. He implies that the ideas of E-learning 1.0 and 2.0 seem to be associated with the idea of Web 1.0 and 2.0. This is manifest in a change in emphasis from content dumping to more collaborative uses seems pretty much on the mark.
I agree with his suggestion that the use of technologies for networking, knowlege construction etc is consistent with the idea of constructivist learning principles. However, I'd like to suggest that we can refine this idea a little by describing the use of Web 2.0 to social constructivist principles. This shifts the emphasis from learning based on the individual to the social and cultural background of the group. (It is possible that he meant this in the first place).
If we assume that what people learn is a consequence of establishing personal meaning within a particular social group then the ideas of generational change, social, cultural and historical influences becomes embedded. In this respect, I find it difficult to understand claims that we need a new learning theory (for example connectivism as proposed by George Siemens) to explain contemporary learning.
It might also be useful to compare the nature of the discourse in Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 models. It seems to me that we are seeing a shift from move vertical discourse (top-down, expert-novice) to horizontal discourse. This is manifest in a change from expert knowledge dumping to the construction of knowledge within a community. In political terms this might be described as the appropriation of the technology by the masses.
Castells (2001) describes the internet culture as a combination of the influences of the techno-elites, hackers, virtual communitarians and entrepeneurs.
I wonder if we might characterise Web 1.0 (E-learning 1.0) as the appropriation of the Internet and privileging of the values of the techno-elites and entrepeneurs. Maybe Web 2.0 (E-learning 2.0) is the result of appropriation of the Internet and privileging of the values of virtual communitarians?
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Different voices, different spaces
If you are interested in the use of voice to support teaching and learning then the Australian Flexible Learning Framework project Differnet voices, different spaces might be for you.
This project provides a terrific overview of the use of audio technologies for learning. Whilst it focusses on podcasting, the principles are well described. There are web pages, downloadable text based reports, video and off course, audio.
You can also get a free CD of Different voices, different spaces from WestOne, the details are at the bottom of the web site link above.
This project provides a terrific overview of the use of audio technologies for learning. Whilst it focusses on podcasting, the principles are well described. There are web pages, downloadable text based reports, video and off course, audio.
You can also get a free CD of Different voices, different spaces from WestOne, the details are at the bottom of the web site link above.
