Friday, April 11, 2014

RSA #3 Web 2.0 and Classroom Research, and Face to Facebook

RSA #3 Web 2.0 and Classroom Research, Face to Facebook


Web 2.0 and Classroom Research; What Path Should We Take Now?  This week’s reading brought up several relevant issues, whereas the authors introduce questions to the reader, offering examples to consider. The overall question about Web 2.0 is stated in the title, what should we do with it now? The questions are asked, and lines of inquiry are brought up in this article. Where do educators take this Web, and how can it best be utilized in the academic growth of students? What is the best use for Web 2.0 as it relates to academic use? How do we begin to research the effect Web 2.0 will/does have within the classroom? How does the student use the Web for academics? What should we be looking at/for?

Digital citizenship and digital presence go beyond just the classroom, it crisscrosses in the everyday lives of the students. The author references, “contrary to most assumptions, youth’s online social activities are not devoid of substantive intellectual activity.” (Greenhow, Hughes, & Robelia, 2009, pp. 247-248) Students do bring up academic topics.  The Web is ever changing, its move from the basic information, to social interaction, creation of, and reuse of various artifacts, and scholarly interaction and information.

The Web 2.0 is offering the ability to grow, and be included in social, and learning communities. The authors of Face to Facebook bring up the point that learning communities stretch beyond the brick and mortal schools, a learning community of choice. As learning and education begin to utilize all that the Web offers, communities are of increasing importance in the sense of belonging.  Online learners still desire the social, intellectual interaction of learning communities. The author immediately references on page one, how the Institutions can use Facebook as a learning tool to, “develop learning communities that facilitate positive learning outcomes.” (VanDoorn & Eklund, 2013, p. 1) This creates more self-initiated learning. The author references multiple works, where Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) is, “an essential tool in teaching today’s ‘Net Generation’ students.” (VanDoorn & Eklund, 2013, p. 4)  Additional articles of note on this subject of the Web 2.0, and the generation abound. The “Net Generation” is referenced in The Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education, (Katya & Kumar, 2011) and identified as “Generation Y” in writings by Liam Morgan and published by Campus-Wide Information Systems. (Morgan, 2012)

Moving from the beginnings of the Web, to what it is now, has been, and continues to be a challenge. These articles attempt to introduce issues to consider, and questions to ponder. Both do a good job of introducing the appropriateness to Web 2.0 in the classroom, as the classroom, and beyond. The introduction of social scholarship is important, as is the choosing to be a part of an online learning community. Students are creating their online, digital presence and direction is required. The interaction between instructor and student is critical. Students expect the instructor to be present, and look for input and critique from fellow students, not just the instructor of these virtual classrooms. The increase of online classrooms also creates the need to fellowship, and communities within that cybernetic classroom. Face to Facebook touches on plausible solutions to questions pondered in our reading. Online communities, social presence, digital citizenship are all areas open to research and needing discussion. These articles can only possibly touch the surface of the questions to be pondered.


References
Greenhow, C., Hughes, J., & Robelia, B. (2009, March 24). Web 2.0 and Classroom Research: What Path Should We Take Now? Educational Researcher, 246-259. Retrieved from: http://blackboard.cuchicago.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1043205-dt-content-rid-4446549_2/courses/8988.201430/Web%202.0%20and%20Classroom%20Research%20%20What%20Path%20%20Should%20We%20Take%20Now.pdf?target=blank

Katya, V., & Kumar, S. (2011). The Net Generation as Preservice Teacher: Transfering Familiarity with New Technologies to Educational Environments. Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education, 27(4), PP. 144-153. ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education). Retrieved from: http://eric.ed.gov/?q=web+2.0+in+the+classroom&pr=on&ft=on&pg=2&id=EJ936543

Morgan, L. (2012). Generation Y, Learner Autonomy and the Potential of Web 2.0 Tools for Language Learning and Teaching. Campus-Wide Information Systems, 27(3), pp. 166-176. Retrieved from: http://eric.ed.gov/?q=web+2.0+classroom&id=EJ970563

VanDoorn, G., & Eklund, A. A. (2013, March 14). Face to Facebook: Social media and the learning and teaching potential of symmetrical, sychronous communication. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 10(1), pp. 1-14. Retrieved from: http://eric.ed.gov/?q=web+2.0+in+the+classroom&pr=on&ft=on&pg=5&id=EJ1005279




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