A Survey of Web 2.0 Technologies for Online Classroom Learning CSM Third Annual Regional Conference Les Pang, PhD, MBA, CISSP Program Director and Collegiate Professor University of Maryland University College

Agenda What is Web 2.0? Background/Classroom Experiences Wikis Blogs Social Networks Podcasting/RSS Feeds Video-sharing sites Future Conclusions

What is Web 2.0?

Background/Classroom Experiences

Wikis

Blogs

Social Networks

Podcasting/RSS Feeds

Video-sharing sites

Future

Conclusions

Definition of Web 2.0 Web 1.0 = personal web sites which were static in nature Web 2.0 = “the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the Internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform . ” - Tim O’Reilly Characteristics: Sharing, collaboration, participatory, community-based, Internet-based hosting services

Web 1.0 = personal web sites which were static in nature

Web 2.0 = “the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the Internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform . ” - Tim O’Reilly

What is a Wiki? A set of web pages designed to enable anyone with access to contribute or modify content Wiki “farms” include Wikia, Wikispaces, WetPaint, and PBWiki. Wikis in Plain English http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY

A set of web pages designed to enable anyone with access to contribute or modify content

Wiki “farms” include Wikia, Wikispaces, WetPaint, and PBWiki.

Wikis in Plain English http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY

Using Wikis in the Classroom Students Group research reports and other group writing assignments Student portfolios Literature circles Science projects Proposal development Instructors Collaboration on teaching techniques Collaborative textbooks Grant requests Task management among various instructors and administrators (e.g., curriculum development)

Students

Group research reports and other group writing assignments

Student portfolios

Literature circles

Science projects

Proposal development

Instructors

Collaboration on teaching techniques

Collaborative textbooks

Grant requests

Task management among various instructors and administrators (e.g., curriculum development)

Classroom Experience Assignment: “ You are part of a team in charge of hiring a CIO for your organization and must develop a job announcement for the position. Define the skills, knowledges and abilities that a CIO should have. Identify other attributes you would look for in a qualified candidate. You MUST frame your response in terms of language contained in a typical job announcement. This is a ***class collaborative project*** utilizing our wiki at: http://itec610spring2008.wikispaces.com/CIO+Job+Vacancy+Announcement No length requirements. Be sure to ***INTEGRATE*** your submission with the body of the job announcement or you will not receive credit. Also, duplicate entries do not receive credit. This is an unsupervised project (no input from me). It is not necessary to tell me here if you posted something. I can tell if you contributed within the wiki.”

Assignment:

“ You are part of a team in charge of hiring a CIO for your organization and must develop a job announcement for the position. Define the skills, knowledges and abilities that a CIO should have. Identify other attributes you would look for in a qualified candidate. You MUST frame your response in terms of language contained in a typical job announcement. This is a ***class collaborative project*** utilizing our wiki at:

http://itec610spring2008.wikispaces.com/CIO+Job+Vacancy+Announcement

No length requirements. Be sure to ***INTEGRATE*** your submission with the body of the job announcement or you will not receive credit. Also, duplicate entries do not receive credit. This is an unsupervised project (no input from me). It is not necessary to tell me here if you posted something. I can tell if you contributed within the wiki.”

Classroom Experience

Classroom Experience Benefits “ Collaboration - synergy – innovation” flow Avoid having multiple versions of the same document or project Global and convenient exchange of ideas Ability to easily revert to a previous version Drawbacks Arguments over content Learning curve Not the right format for presentation slides, project management purposes, graphics, and others. Authentication Vandals

Benefits

“ Collaboration - synergy – innovation” flow

Avoid having multiple versions of the same document or project

Global and convenient exchange of ideas

Ability to easily revert to a previous version

Drawbacks

Arguments over content

Learning curve

Not the right format for presentation slides, project management purposes, graphics, and others.

Authentication

Vandals

What is a Blog? A web page made up of usually short, frequently updated posts that are arranged (in reverse chronological order). B logging site s include Blogger, WordPress, Blog.com or LiveJournal. Blogs in Plain English - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKcqge8SvzQ

A web page made up of usually short, frequently updated posts that are arranged (in reverse chronological order).

B logging site s include Blogger, WordPress, Blog.com or LiveJournal.

Blogs in Plain English - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKcqge8SvzQ

Using Blogs in the Classroom Commentary / News Ideas Photos Poetry Mini-essays Project updates Fiction Media Education ( http:// edublogs.org /)

Commentary /

News

Ideas

Photos

Poetry

Mini-essays

Project updates

Fiction

Media

Education ( http:// edublogs.org /)

Classroom Experience Reflective Learning Journal = a piece of writing which allows students to record thoughts and insights about their own learning experience. Encourages students to review and consolidate learning, to evaluate performance, to plan future learning based on past learning experience. Students become capable of taking charge of their own learning, and eventually to develop into independent life long learners. (Source: http://www.polyu.edu.hk/learn-to-learn/teacher/_contents/htm/g17_journal.htm)

Reflective Learning Journal = a piece of writing which allows students to record thoughts and insights about their own learning experience.

Encourages students to review and consolidate learning, to evaluate performance, to plan future learning based on past learning experience.

Students become capable of taking charge of their own learning, and eventually to develop into independent life long learners.

(Source: http://www.polyu.edu.hk/learn-to-learn/teacher/_contents/htm/g17_journal.htm)

Classroom Experience

Classroom Experience Benefits Establish rapport with students Monitor student progress continuously Identify issues and challenges Behavior modification Disadvantages Student buy-in Technical challenge for some students Minimal effort by students Some students get carried away Grading Disputes among students and flaming Workload is heavier

Benefits

Establish rapport with students

Monitor student progress continuously

Identify issues and challenges

Behavior modification

Disadvantages

Student buy-in

Technical challenge for some students

Minimal effort by students

Some students get carried away

Grading

Disputes among students and flaming

Workload is heavier

What is a Social Network? A social network service site serves an online community of internet users. These community members often share a common interest or activity such as hobbies, religion, or politics. Examples: FaceBook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Ning Do Your Own Ning Thing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IJJXxc717s

A social network service site serves an online community of internet users. These community members often share a common interest or activity such as hobbies, religion, or politics.

Examples: FaceBook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Ning

Do Your Own Ning Thing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IJJXxc717s

Using Social Networks in the Classroom Students/Instructors Exposure to online communities Collaboration/sharing Maintenance of relationships

Students/Instructors

Exposure to online communities

Collaboration/sharing

Maintenance of relationships

Classroom Experience Assignment: Each student was assigned to create their own social network site using a tool called Ning . This tool provides a group website, a photo, music and video library, a blog, and other features. The assignment is described below: “ We will create a social network using Ning at: http:// www.ning.com Select a theme . An example I created is at: http://edtech100.ning.com/ Also, comment on this experience and/or discuss the implications of social networks. NOTE: You can keep in touch with your classmates forever using your Ning Site!” The learning objective of this assignment was for the student to understand the nature and impact of social networks by forming an online community.

Assignment:

Each student was assigned to create their own social network site using a tool called Ning . This tool provides a group website, a photo, music and video library, a blog, and other features. The assignment is described below:

“ We will create a social network using Ning at: http:// www.ning.com

Select a theme . An example I created is at: http://edtech100.ning.com/

Also, comment on this experience and/or discuss the implications of social networks. NOTE: You can keep in touch with your classmates forever using your Ning Site!”

The learning objective of this assignment was for the student to understand the nature and impact of social networks by forming an online community.

Classroom Experience

Classroom Experience Benefits Establish and maintain new relationships with like-minded individuals Outlet for creativity Offers a wide range of activities Drawbacks Some consider these sites as a time-consuming diversion Privacy issues Stalkers and bullies Hackers (such as the propagation of cross-site scripts and worms)

Benefits

Establish and maintain new relationships with like-minded individuals

Outlet for creativity

Offers a wide range of activities

Drawbacks

Some consider these sites as a time-consuming diversion

Privacy issues

Stalkers and bullies

Hackers (such as the propagation of cross-site scripts and worms)

What is a Podcasting and RSS? Podcasting = a method of publishing audio/video files to the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed and receive new files automatically by subscription. RSS = Really Simple Syndication = technology that notifies users every time content is updated on a particular site. Example: iTunes U Podcasting in Plain English - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-MSL42NV3c Google Reader in Plain English - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSPZ2Uu_X3Y (RSS Reader)

Podcasting = a method of publishing audio/video files to the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed and receive new files automatically by subscription.

RSS = Really Simple Syndication = technology that notifies users every time content is updated on a particular site.

Example: iTunes U

Podcasting in the Classroom Students Prepare rich and creative multimedia presentations (audio/video) Create radio and TV shows Watch at anytime, anywhere Instructors Archive lectures for students missing live presentation Online class lectures Posting assignments Collaborating with colleges (iTunes University)

Students

Prepare rich and creative multimedia presentations (audio/video)

Create radio and TV shows

Watch at anytime, anywhere

Instructors

Archive lectures for students missing live presentation

Online class lectures

Posting assignments

Collaborating with colleges (iTunes University)

Classroom Experience Assignment: Create a podcast using podOmatic ( http:// www.podomatic.com ) on your field trip experience or campus life.

Assignment:

Create a podcast using podOmatic ( http:// www.podomatic.com ) on your field trip experience or campus life.

Classroom Experience Benefits Creativity and innovation High student interest Honed student planning and design skills Drawbacks Learning curve Equipment and software needed Time consuming

Benefits

Creativity and innovation

High student interest

Honed student planning and design skills

Drawbacks

Learning curve

Equipment and software needed

Time consuming

What are Video Sharing Sites? Web sites where people can view, upload and share video clips. Visitors are encouraged to upload their own videos. There is no charge for viewing or downloading these videos. Examples: YouTube, Google Video, Teacher Tube . Example of Teacher Tube video - http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v = HxPXlANmllE

Web sites where people can view, upload and share video clips. Visitors are encouraged to upload their own videos. There is no charge for viewing or downloading these videos.

Examples: YouTube, Google Video, Teacher Tube .

Example of Teacher Tube video - http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v = HxPXlANmllE

Video Sharing in the Classroom Students Include videos in any classroom assignment (e.g., online discussion boards, current event classroom discussion and threads, and class presentations.) Instructors Locate and insert videos into online discussion threads and other content areas Explain complex concepts Add more visual impact; gains attention By including current news videos, make the class material relevant to today’s world

Students

Include videos in any classroom assignment (e.g., online discussion boards, current event classroom discussion and threads, and class presentations.)

Instructors

Locate and insert videos into online discussion threads and other content areas

Explain complex concepts

Add more visual impact; gains attention

By including current news videos, make the class material relevant to today’s world

Classroom Experience

Classroom Experience Benefits Able to visualize complex ideas and processes High impact and attention-grabbing Richer information delivery than pure text from a sensory perspective Adds a taste of reality and authenticity Connects the class to the real world via the use of news videos Drawbacks Bandwidth issues (student posted large hour-long videos) Security problems Poor quality of videos (lack of resolution, poor audio quality) Offensive material Technical issues (e.g., sometimes videos would not render) Intellectual property issues (e.g., uploading proprietary content from DVD) Handicapped might not be able to see and/or hear the video

Benefits

Able to visualize complex ideas and processes

High impact and attention-grabbing

Richer information delivery than pure text from a sensory perspective

Adds a taste of reality and authenticity

Connects the class to the real world via the use of news videos

Drawbacks

Bandwidth issues (student posted large hour-long videos)

Security problems

Poor quality of videos (lack of resolution, poor audio quality)

Offensive material

Technical issues (e.g., sometimes videos would not render)

Intellectual property issues (e.g., uploading proprietary content from DVD)

Handicapped might not be able to see and/or hear the video

Future

Future Second Life

Second Life

Future Cloud Computing (Google Docs, Microsoft Office Live, etc.)

Cloud Computing (Google Docs, Microsoft Office Live, etc.)

Future Mobile Devices

Mobile Devices

Resources Wikis - http://writingwiki.org/default.aspx/WritingWiki/For%20Teachers%20New%20to%20Wikis.html Blogging - http:// weblogs.about.com/od/?once =true& Social networks - http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v =-IJJXxc717s Podcasting - http://mysite.verizon.net/lpang10473/web/ipod.htm RSS - http:// www.commoncraft.com/rss_plain_english Video Sharing – Teacher Tube - http://principianteglobal.blogspot.com/2007/03/video-sharing-for-teachers.html “ How To” Sites

Wikis - http://writingwiki.org/default.aspx/WritingWiki/For%20Teachers%20New%20to%20Wikis.html

Blogging - http:// weblogs.about.com/od/?once =true&

Social networks - http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v =-IJJXxc717s

Podcasting - http://mysite.verizon.net/lpang10473/web/ipod.htm

RSS - http:// www.commoncraft.com/rss_plain_english

Video Sharing – Teacher Tube - http://principianteglobal.blogspot.com/2007/03/video-sharing-for-teachers.html

Resources Wikispaces http:// www.wikispaces.com / Wikipedia http:// www.wikispaces.com / Blogger http:// www.blogger.com / Twitter http:// www.twitter.com / Ning http:// www.ning.com / Podcasting: Les’ EdTech site http://edtech100.ning.com/ PodOMatic http:// www.podomatic.com / YouTube http:// www.youtube.com Teacher Tube http:// teachertube.com/videoList.php?pg = featuredvideolist Second Life http://www.secondlife.com/ Google Docs http:// docs.google.com / Tools

Wikispaces http:// www.wikispaces.com /

Wikipedia http:// www.wikispaces.com /

Blogger http:// www.blogger.com /

Twitter http:// www.twitter.com /

Ning http:// www.ning.com /

Podcasting:

Les’ EdTech site http://edtech100.ning.com/

PodOMatic http:// www.podomatic.com /

YouTube http:// www.youtube.com

Teacher Tube http:// teachertube.com/videoList.php?pg = featuredvideolist

Second Life http://www.secondlife.com/

Google Docs http:// docs.google.com /

Resources The Best Web 2.0 Applications For Education — 2008 http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/09/11/the-best-web-20-applications-for-education-2008/ Emerging Applications

The Best Web 2.0 Applications For Education — 2008

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/09/11/the-best-web-20-applications-for-education-2008/

Conclusions Effective means for actively engaging with students Provides a valuable tool for instructors It means more work but the investment is worth it! Payoff is real!

Effective means for actively engaging with students

Provides a valuable tool for instructors

It means more work but the investment is worth it! Payoff is real!

For More Information… Dr. Les Pang E-mail: [email_address] Thank you!

Dr. Les Pang

E-mail: [email_address]