2. Why online language learning 1
Web 2.0
The promise of Web 2.0 technologies is
different. Their impact on the learning
process and the practice of teaching is truly
revolutionary in that it does not promise
efficiency but it extends the relations between
teachers and students beyond the two-
dimensional models of instruction to
multidimensional networks that resemble the
world we live in closer than ever before…
(Sturm et al. 2009:368)
3. What’s Web 2.0 all about?
Web 1.0 is about Web 2.0 is about
reading writing
companies communities
homepages blogs
owning sharing
wires wireless
dialup broadband
web forms web applications
Netscape Google
Hardware costs Bandwidth costs
From http://joedrumgoole.com/blog/2006/05/29/web-20-vs-web-10/
4. Why online language learning 2
Digital natives vs Digital immigrants
…problems inherent in having non-
native instructors in charge of education
in the digital language…digital-native
students are fundamentally different to
traditional students and thus require a
new pedagogy… (MacLean & Elwood
2009:157)
5. New pedagogies
Digital natives Digital immigrants
• receive info quickly • receive info slowly
• multi-task • uni-task
• parallel processing • linear processing
So what do we (?) digital immigrant teachers need?
6. Our quick change cabinet
Pedagogy first
too often the technology is used without
appropriate reflection and pedagogical
foundation
Parameters
synchronicity
visibility
dialogicity
dynamicity
7. What technologies?
Web 1.0 Web 2.0
Webpages Wikis
Email Blogs
Instant messaging Social networking
8. Unpacking parameters
Synchronicity
asynchronous: anywhere, anytime
synchronous: right here, right now
Effects on learning
asynchronous: caters well for learner
difference; less anxiety → deep learning
(plan, test, reflect)
synchronous: caters for particular types of
learners; more anxiety
9. Unpacking parameters
Visibility
visible: how participants act is
visible/trackable
invisible: how participants act is invisible/
untrackable
Effects on learning
visible: excellent for group
work/collaborative projects → motivation
invisible: more challenging to promote
collaboration
10. Unpacking parameters
Dialogicity
dialogic: 1-to-1; 1-to-many; interaction
with peers (here and there), teachers, etc.
monologic: 1-to-1 only
Effects on learning
dialogic: excellent for group
work/collaborative projects → motivation
monologic: more challenging to promote
collaboration
11. Unpacking parameters
Dynamicity
dynamic: mirrors dynamic L&C, and
learners relationship to L&C
static: L&C as artefact
Effects on learning
dynamic: challenge conceptions →
hypothesis, test, deconstruct, reconstruct
static: L&C as set of monolithic rules
13. What do you need?
What are the challenges to onlining your teaching?
References
MacLean, G.R. & Elwood, J.A. (2009) ‘Digital Natives,
Learner Perceptions and the Use of ICT’. In Thomas
(ed.) 156-175.
Sturm, M. Kennerll, T. McBride, R. & Kelly, M. (2009)
‘The Pedagogical Implications of Web 2.0’. In
Thomas (ed.) 367-384.
Thomas, M. (2009) Handbook of Research on Web 2.0
and Second Language Learning. Information Science
Reference.