This document discusses challenges in education and the need for new forms of learning using technology. It outlines how students' learning preferences have changed and teachers must change their roles and environments. Social networks like Facebook and Ning have been used to facilitate collaborative and informal learning. Wikis have also been used for project collaboration. The role of faculty is to attract early adopters and develop skills in educational technologies. Students should lead discussions and increase motivation. Facilitating new forms of learning with technologies can close gaps between teachers and students and integrate formal and informal learning.

1. Alev Elçi Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus 8 November 2009 “ICT for Innovations in Training”

2. Outline Challenges in Education Change in students’ learning preferences Need change in teachers Need change in teaching environments Social Networks Role of faculty Role of students Results & Discussion

3. Challenges in Education Change in needs & expectations of students ( Ellis, R. , 1993 ; Fallows, S., & Bhanot, R. , 2005). Change in learning environments ( Grodecka, K., Pata, K., & Valjataga, T. , 2008). Need to embrace 21st century learning skills ( Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. , 2007).

4. Change in 21st Century Students’ learning Learning styles Games Learning time and place Networks Use of Technology Experiential Constructivist Creativity

5. Need change in Teachers Facilitator Guide Data miners Networking Collaborative Communicative Friend Available 24/7

6. Need change in Learning Environments Online Accessible 24/7 Social Forming Communities Collaborative

7. Used Social Networks and Wikis Social Networks Facebook Ning Wikis Wikispaces Wetpaint

8. Facebook Used in IT Department since 2007 forming groups CSIT474 Advanced Database Management for DBA in Oracle CSIT422 Project Management in IT Sharing content related Links Videos Photos Communication Discussions Peer to peer learning

9. Facebook Advantage Most students were already registered Familiar user interface Informal learning Entertainment & Learning Disadvantage Focusing on learning is difficult since other news distract No privacy

10. Facebook groups http://www.facebook.com/editaccount.php?language#/group.php?gid=17894549712&ref=ts http://www.facebook.com/editaccount.php?language#/group.php?gid=17790879328&ref=ts

12. Ning Start to use at 2008 CPIT224 Term Project “Dream Factory” for using Alice to create 3D Animations CITE101 ICT in Education GPSC315 Software Applications for Guidance and Psychological Counselling Sharing subject related Links Videos Photos Communication Solving problems in the project

13. Ning Advantage Private community is selected Share experiences Entertainment & Learning Previous semesters contributions are available Disadvantage No sustainability after the course ends http://the-end.ning.com http://cite101.ning.com http://gpsc315.ning.com

15. Wikis ITEC422 Project Management in IT For developing and collaborating in class projects Prepare another wiki project Collaborative writing Adding, editing, changing content Commenting each others contributions Ease of use Effective

16. Wikis Advantage Project management collaboration and communication Creating common reports and documents Disadvantage Training is needed http://pminit.wikispaces.com/

18. Role of faculty in facilitation of new forms of learning Attract early adopters Competence development Role model Creating communities for faculty development in collaborative educational technologies

19. Role of students in facilitation of new forms of learning Early adopters Lead group discussions Increase motivation

20. Result & Discussion Facilitating new forms of l earning with c ollaborative t echnologies may close the gap between teachers and students that exists in traditional teaching. Also formal and informal learning environments can be hand in hand. Collaboration is more than competition where entertaining while learning is a priority. Teachers needs to be prepared to integrate technology in the curriculum for including new forms of learning activities . Also the sustainability is needed for future competence development.

21. References Ellis, R. (1993). Quality assurance for university teaching: Issues and approaches. In H.Eggins (Series Ed.), & R. Ellis (Vol. Ed.), The Society for Research into Higher Education. Quality Assurance for University Teaching . Great Briton: Open University Press. Fallows, S., & Bhanot, R. (Eds.). (2005). Quality in ICT-based higher education: Some introductory questions. In J. Wisdom (Series Ed.), The staff and educational development series. Quality issues in ICT-based higher education . NY: RoutledgeFalmer. Grodecka, K., Pata, K., & Valjataga, T. (2008). How to Use Social Software in Higher Education. A handbook from the iCamp project (2005-2008). Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0: new Tools, new schools. International Society for Technology in Education. Washington DC: ISTE.

22. Thank You... [email_address] http://sct.emu.edu.tr/alev New forms of learning for the new generation learners