Students aren’t prepared for web 2.0 learning, are they? Ruth Whitfield and Neil Currant Learner Support Services

Who we are in this context? Communicating in an Information Age Module tutor - Ruth Whitfield. Enhancing Learner Progression Project Officer – Neil Currant, www.elp.ac.uk

Overview Aims of what we did Use of such tools Skills needed

Aims of what we did

Use of such tools

Skills needed

What are we going to say? “ The use of ‘web2.0’ is not as common as we are often led to believe. The underpinning skills required for effective educational use of tools are often not developed enough. This leads to a number of observed phenomenon using such tools in education. ”

“ The use of ‘web2.0’ is not as common as we are often led to believe. The underpinning skills required for effective educational use of tools are often not developed enough. This leads to a number of observed phenomenon using such tools in education. ”

Module aims To use tools such as blogs, wikis, e-portfolios To develop: Group working; ICT skills. To enable students to: Work with others more effectively; Exploit technology for presenting and sharing information within a multi-cultural society.

To use tools such as blogs, wikis, e-portfolios

To develop:

Group working;

ICT skills.

To enable students to:

Work with others more effectively;

Exploit technology for presenting and sharing information within a multi-cultural society.

Mode of assessment Group Project 30% Wiki Blackboard Online Group Discussion 30% Blackboard E-portfolio/ Weblog 40% PebblePad

Myths of Use Blog: 12% (UK), 7.4% (US) Most common creative use: sharing photos [28% (all) / 46% (students).] Created social network profile: 17% (all) / 42% (students) Biggest influence of social networking for contact with family or existing friends. Oxford Internet Survey (2007) http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/microsites/oxis/ USC (2007) www.digitalcenter.org

Blog: 12% (UK), 7.4% (US)

Most common creative use: sharing photos [28% (all) / 46% (students).]

Created social network profile: 17% (all) / 42% (students)

Biggest influence of social networking for contact with family or existing friends.

Oxford Internet Survey (2007) http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/microsites/oxis/

USC (2007) www.digitalcenter.org

Proposition from student data We can’t expect students to be able to use online tools and technology for their learning without (our?) help even if they use (some of) this stuff at school and at home. I have been a regular and proficient user of IT (systems and hardware), but I have been astounded by the fact of how much I didn't know about blogs and wiki's. Its rather confusing to learn in other ways. setting up blogs is the hardest part. it took me ages to get up and running on myspace.

We can’t expect students to be able to use online tools and technology for their learning without (our?) help even if they use (some of) this stuff at school and at home.

Why?

Underpinning skills IT skills Learning skills Group working skills Personal skills None of us have contributed to a wiki before and its daunting but we need to get over it.

IT skills

Learning skills

Group working skills

Personal skills

“ Everything is now … Reflection (the act of thought on our actions, motivations, experiences, and world events) is becoming a lost art . Deriving meaning no longer happens at a pause point . Meaning is derived in real time.” George Siemans (2006, p.74) Siemans, G. (2006) “Knowing Knowledge”, Complexive inc.

“ Everything is now … Reflection (the act of thought on our actions, motivations, experiences, and world events) is becoming a lost art . Deriving meaning no longer happens at a pause point . Meaning is derived in real time.” George Siemans (2006, p.74)

Reflecting

Observed Phenomenon: wiki Wikis not collaborative Individuals work on own pages Individuals worked on different sections of pages Trust and editing others work Repeat pages in wiki User error Deliberate (see above) Cut & Paste / plagiarism

Wikis not collaborative

Individuals work on own pages

Individuals worked on different sections of pages

Trust and editing others work

Repeat pages in wiki

User error

Deliberate (see above)

Cut & Paste / plagiarism

Observed Phenomenon: other Offline meetings to discuss content of blogs and wikis (made extra work) Individual blogs (in eP) more reflective than other work seen at this level. Confusion / Profusion of tools

Offline meetings to discuss content of blogs and wikis (made extra work)

Individual blogs (in eP) more reflective than other work seen at this level.

Confusion / Profusion of tools

Wikis not collaborative NB: series 1 had 14 potential contributors, the rest were group work wikis with 4 group members.

Trust Please do not mind if i have changed your work on the Wiki, as i have heard that from other groups that their members have minded. I would be OK with this as long as someone told me first before they wanted to change something and explained the reasons why

Group working Blog was used in one group to criticise each other and carry on offline arguments. Big problem with personality clashes…since then nobody has left a note on the blog…I think it would have happened anyway

Blog was used in one group to criticise each other and carry on offline arguments.

Repeat pages User error? Deliberate

Cut & Paste Lack of attribution Very obvious Please if you copy pictures or quote things please put the website in the bibliography using the harvard referencing.

Lack of attribution

Very obvious

Offline Meetings We appear to be making little or no progress!!!! I believe that face-to-face communication may be more successful . May I also add that this module is about taking the communication tools that have been provided to us and to use them!

Confusion / Profusion of tools Not sure which tool to use for which purpose, e.g. email should not be needed. Don’t know if you've managed to see the messages/e-mails left … let us know if you can by posting a message on the blog!

Not sure which tool to use for which purpose, e.g. email should not be needed.

To Ponder Level of support needed Skill Development Trust & group working Time (given a 12 week module) Levelness & appropriateness of tasks Plagiarism

Level of support needed

Skill Development

Trust & group working

Time (given a 12 week module)

Levelness & appropriateness of tasks

Plagiarism

Questions raised Do we (tutors) have the skills necessary to support students use of these tools for learning? What ‘academic’ / ‘personal’ skills do students need? All the students at the focus group agreed that the support given by the tutor was vital to their positive experience of the module

Do we (tutors) have the skills necessary to support students use of these tools for learning?

What ‘academic’ / ‘personal’ skills do students need?

Blogs & Wiki's With blogs and wiki's You can air your views And pay your dues. Hope Things don't get too sticky. They're cropping up everywhere Down the hall and up the stairs If you're getting really worried Better say your prayers. In blogs & wikis; they gotta be quickies. Yeah, it's real cool for to drool Over mantle of opinionated fool Cause with our blogs & wikis We have the necessary tools To be elaborate & free spirited. Well everyone knows that they're gifted But the emphasis has somehow shifted In expression that is wordy & descript A picturesque image may say as much But don't worry if it's all double dutch.

Blogs & Wiki's With blogs and wiki's You can air your views And pay your dues. Hope Things don't get too sticky. They're cropping up everywhere Down the hall and up the stairs If you're getting really worried Better say your prayers. In blogs & wikis; they gotta be quickies.

Yeah, it's real cool for to drool Over mantle of opinionated fool Cause with our blogs & wikis We have the necessary tools To be elaborate & free spirited. Well everyone knows that they're gifted But the emphasis has somehow shifted In expression that is wordy & descript A picturesque image may say as much But don't worry if it's all double dutch.