Social Sw In Education - RSC Webinar

Slide 1: Social Software in Education Tim Bush

Slide 2: The next 30 minutes.....

Slide 3: The next 30 minutes..... • Intro to Web 2.0 • Social Software - the tools • Collective benefits • Questions

Slide 4: Web 2.0

Slide 6: Tim O’Reilly - Definition “Second generation of web-based services - such as social networking sites, blogs, wiki’s and communication tools - that emphasize online collaboration and sharing among users”

Slide 7: Web 2.0/Social Networks • Total podcast audience in the US was 18.5 million in 2007 and will rise to 65 million in 2012 • Feedburner now manages more podcasts than there are radio stations worldwide! • Facebook - 69 Million users

Slide 8: The Tools...

Slide 9: Blogs

Slide 10: Definition “A blog is a website where entries are commonly displayed in reverse chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog” - Wikipedia

Slide 11: Blogs - common apps • Google Blogger • Word Press • Typepad

Slide 12: Blogs - Useful for.. • Students and teachers • Content - mixture of articles, thoughts and observations • Share links and resources • Can include photo’s, graphs, audio/video etc

Slide 13: Uses...(teachers) • Reflect on topics covered in the classroom • Share complementary content • Showcase student work • Share experiences with other teachers

Slide 14: Uses...(students) • Blog as part of assessment process • Share thoughts on classroom experiences • Personal archive or portfolio • Collaborate

Slide 15: Common Benefits • Dialogue rather than monologue • Community - greater than the sum of its parts • Access can be controlled • Low barrier of entry

Slide 16: Wikis

Slide 17: Definition “A wiki is software that allows users to create, edit, and link web pages easily. Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites and to power community websites” - Wikipedia

Slide 18: Use of Wikis in Education • Powerful collaboration tool for both students and staff • Promotes community spirit and negotiation skills • Uses - projects, class/school wikipedia, brainstorming • Examples - South African Curriculum and Planet Math

Slide 19: Wiki Tools • Mediawiki • Twiki • Google Sites • PBWiki

Slide 20: Potential Barriers • Learning curve • Security - password protect pages • Teacher monitoring - some control is good, but not to much!

Slide 21: Podcasting

Slide 22: What is Podcasting? • “A Podcast is a media file that is distributed over the internet using syndication feeds, for playback on portable media players and personal computers. Like radio it can mean both the content and the method of syndication. The later may also be termed podcasting” Source - Wikipedia

Slide 23: What is Podcasting? • Deliver media rich content - video, audio, PDF, PowerPoint etc - for listening or viewing on an MP3 device (iPod etc) or your Mac or PC • Proactive broadcast technology - content can be proactively broadcasted to students via RSS to the management tool/aggregator of their choice (iTunes etc) • Students do not need to proactively seek out new content - it is automatically downloaded when available e.g. Sky+ or a magazine subscription

Slide 24: What is Podcasting? • Once downloaded, content can be consumed offline • Offers greater flexibility than online alternatives such as video streaming • Students can listen to content at their convenience - home, park, library, commuting or walking across campus

Slide 25: What is Podcasting? • Compliments VLE’s - not designed to replace them • Enhances the effectiveness of traditional and e-learning methodologies. • Podcasting easily integrated within a VLE or Weblog - Moodle (Open Source VLE)

Slide 26: Podcasting in education • Many HE/FE Institutions already integrating Podcasting successfully into their curricula • Podcasting great for distributing, content but also valuable to students for use as part of their assignments - Peer generated content • Using Podcasting in this way - gets them used to using technology, improves presentations skills and vocabulary

Slide 27: Podcasting in Education • Lessons/Lectures • News/Updates • Alumni • Class Schedules • Revision Notes • Tours/Fieldwork • Student Projects • Supplementary material - i.e. speeches etc • Blended media Podcasts - combine and sync video w/Powerpoint etc

Slide 28: Podcasting - Production • Podcasting production quality a little more ‘rough around the edges’ than mainstream media • Part of its charm and fueled its success • Pretty much anyone with a microphone, PC/ Mac and software like iLife can produce a professional sounding podcast

Slide 29: iTunes U • Provides access to academic content from leading schools, colleges and universities within the US • Branded environment whereby students (and non-students) can access learning material - ‘Long Tail’ • Public/closed • ‘Tipping Point’ for podcasting - education

Slide 30: Collective Benefits

Slide 31: Collaboration • Create something more valuable • Value of networks - Flickr, Last.fm and delicious, Wikipedia • In education - Blogs, Wiki’s and Podcasting (both lecturer and peer generated content) • Community acts as teachers (both students and staff) • Students not studying in isolation!

Slide 32: Dialogue - not Monologue • Learning delivery not just a broadcast • Collaborative process - students, teachers and wider community • More participative - Dialogue • Student - More active role in their education

Slide 33: Online Archive/Portfolio • Reports, Twitter conversations, photo’s - collated to form an archive • Relate to single projects and extends to entire academic career

Slide 34: Portability • Data Portability - important consideration • Take content from school - college - university • Open standards • www.dataportability.org

Slide 35: A threat? • Structured traditional methods are better?

Slide 36: Questions......

Slide 37: Pictures - Flickr Collaboration - http://www.flickr.com/photos/kk/230544325/ Web 2.0 Logos -http://www.flickr.com/photos/bartelme/310852498/ Web 2.0 -http://www.flickr.com/photos/83496054@N00/189392262/ RSS & MP3 -http://www.flickr.com/photos/everythingdigital/8453832/ iPod and Moleskin -http://www.flickr.com/photos/sundve/2369983226/ Logo’s - from company websites

Slide 38: Thanks! • Email - t.bush@ulcc.ac.uk • Cell - 07881 951 462 • IM - tbush_uk@hotmail.com