Podding Downunder

Some interesting reflections from Michael Coghlan, about social software and networking in education in Australia.

Web 2.0 and Education Tag Cloud

annotate apple approach audience author bees blog comments content course create dopa e-learning edu-blogging education example flickr fraser general images include itunes learning media network online podcasting post potential presented profile provides publish questions school services social software students subject teacher technologies tools university used users web written year youtube

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web 2.0 tools for ESL/EFL teaching (how to become web literate)

Well put together (although quite long :-) this is a great Slideshare presentation tailored to ESL learners and teachers. It has some superb ideas of how Web 2.0 tools might be used in language learning, as well as links to example tools. For key concepts that need further exploration and explanation Thiago Eduardo (the creator of the presentation) has included links to You Tube and other resources that give clear, accessible overviews.

web 2.0 tools for ESL/EFL teaching (how to become web literate)

View more presentations from Thiago Eduardo. (tags: eslteaching web2.0)

The Machine is Us/ing Us (Final Version)...

A really well produced, thought provoking exploration of literacy in the digital era by Dr Mike Wesch (Kansas State University).

Portfolios have long been a part of learning, teaching and professional practice, therefore, why use ePortfolios and do Web 2.0 tools have to offer?

Click to Play

Abstract: "This paper will showcase what was, at the time, effective practice, whereby Foundation students at Dubai Men's College (DMC) developed a Career ePortfolio as part of an integrated Computer, Research Skills and Projects Course. Some students were able to use their ePortfolio to obtain summer jobs and work placement, and reflective practice was encouraged through discussion, use of rubrics, and peer feedback. However, the ePortfolios were not interactive or easily portable, and the final artifact was produced for assessment.

Several benefits beyond the 'static' ePortfolio utilised at DMC have been identified, in particular around those created with Web 2.0 social software. Key positive outcomes indicated in recent research studies include increased and improved reflective practice, enhancement in the quality of final artifact (partly facilitated by multimedia and mobility), a clear authentic purpose, and a greater sense of audience. The audience is often interactive thereby helping to shift the locus of power from the teacher as knower?. Designed around experiences at DMC and the benefits mentioned, pre-pilot initiatives were undertaken at Unitec NZ in 2008, and a larger-scale pilot is planned for 2009. Underpinning these initiatives are a range of issues around assessment practices, Web 2.0 tools, professional development, and ethical considerations. This session will describe developments at Unitec NZ, as well as soliciting feedback, input and discussion from the audience around these and other associated aspects of ePortfolios."

Slideshare presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/hazelowendmc/portfolios-have-long-been-a-part-of-learning-teaching-and-professional-practice-therefore-why-use-eportfolios-and-do-web-20-tools-have-to-offer

Accompanying resource document: http://www.scribd.com/doc/11966163/Resources-for-ePortfolios

Please cite as: Owen, H. (2009, February 8-10). Portfolios have long been a part of learning, teaching and professional practice, therefore, why use ePortfolios and do Web 2.0 tools have to offer? Paper presented at the Australian ePortfolio Symposium 2009.

Web 3.0

This Slideshare presentation gives an interesting visual overview of Web 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0. The vision of Web 3.0 has a business focus, seeing entrepreneurial potential in everyone who publishes on the Internet (i.e. "user generated business"). The Web 3.0 content publisher takes on a 'managerial' role (compared with the 'delivery' role of 1.0, and the 'delivery and creation' roles of 2.0).

I'm not exactly sure yet (need to think about it further), if I agree with Johannes Bhakfi's vision of Web 3.0, or what the implications may be for education if he is correct. Any ideas? Thoughts? Comments?

One comment that has already been posted to his Slideshare presentation: "Actually, Johannes, I have strong scepticism to the WEB 3.0 idea. When money intrude into creativity, they kill it. The true creators don't think of money, if they do - then money will rule instead...".
Web3.0

View more presentations from Johannes Bhakdi. (tags: publishing internet)

Growing through collaboration....

I found it a little odd, but incredibly inspirational, to find that communicating through Web 2.0 was actually helping folk in rural communities, especially those working in agriculture, share and improve their practices.

The full report can be downloaded from the IAALD blog ( http://tiny.cc/aNGS ) and covers issues such as literacy and connectivity, as well as describing the results from specific case studies.

Peter Ballantyne (the IAALD President) concludes:
"Where information and knowledge in agriculture once comprised rather linear processes managed by specialists, tomorrow’s harvests will spring from more organic approaches where innovators of all types become active creators and managers of information and knowledge. This is already happening as researchers and farmers become bloggers, extension workers build wikis, and librarians become film makers. Underlying it all, the new ‘social’ Web 2.0 acts as a catalyst for people to interact, for knowledge sharing and communication to flourish and for innovators to connect and act together." (p. 19, The Participatory Web -
New Potentials of ICT in Rural Areas)

Well worth a read if you are interested in ICT enhanced learning and teaching, literacy, the potential of Web 2.0, or anything to do with climate change and sustainability.