What does the changing environment of higher education in a Web 2.0 world mean to you?
To me, this changing environment means three things i) anxiety about expectation to adapt ii) new opportunities for interaction, and iii) awareness of greater need for information literacy.
I feel that there is an expectation that I understand Web 2.0 technologies from the perspective of a Gen Y or Z student, that I am able to critique their engagement with Web 2.0, then change my own practice in response to it. At my most anxious I feel required to develop an oracle-like awareness of each new Web 2.0 tool as it is developed, and become proficient in it before breakfast the next day. At my calmest I remind myself that Web 2.0 tools are designed to be used intuitively, so that the greatest hurdle is overcoming anxiety about using them.
The 'Higher Education in a Web 2.0 World' report makes recommendations that higher education institutions (HEIs) support staff to become "proficient users of an appropriate range of technologies and skilled practitioners of e-pedagogy, incorporating both into initial staff training and CPD programmes" (p. 10). I am very grateful to be given the chance to study this unit, and see the need for ongoing support to staff, since technologies will change rapidly. Finding the time to stay up to date is very difficult, so supportive HEIs can reduce staff anxiety, and ensure that students have a meaningful learning experience.
The cornerstone of new Web 2.0 tools is interactivity. Students can interact with each other online, with the lecturer, or with learning tools. Online interactions are not necessarily better in quality than traditional interactions, but they do extend the range of interactions available. Learning how to use new technologies appropriately is part of todays changing environment. I see this challenge as ongoing, as new tools are developed.
Expectations on the way students work with information have been set by HEIs. Students also need to be supported in how they work with information. Increasingly, for ease of access and cost saving, more and more research will take place online. There is easy access to a great quantity of information, and students need to be armed with the skills to find what they need amongst the bulk. Sophisticated searching skills will need to be taught, and students will need to know how to recognise high quality information. The 'Higher Education in a Web 2.0 World' report recommends that HEIs prioritise the teaching of information literacy.
I agree with everything you have said about HE in a Web 2.0 world Anne. I also am so grateful for doing this ICT unit. I did not know what I did not know about technology. I did not even think of using Web 2.0 tools in my teaching,(I suppose because I didn't really know what they were). The report was correct in recommending HEI's support staff to become "proficient users of an appropriate range of technologies and skilled practitioners of e-pedagogy, incorporating both into initial staff training and CPD programmes"
ReplyDeleteI think teaching students how to research online is also very important as I did it last semester for my study and it is very overwhelming and time consuming. For students to understand which article is best to use & most reliable is also vital.
You've made an interesting point - that Web 2.0 technologies are meant to be able to be used intuitively. I think we have discovered that this is mostly the case from our experiences in this course. Generally, once we had the courage to try things for ourselves the programs were easy to explore and manipulate. Of course, directed exploration can help you get the most out of a technology, but generally we can achieve proficiency though our own explorations.
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