claudia@websterdesign.net
10.8.09 : EdTec541 : Thursday Nights
Name: Claudia Faulk
Assignment: Journal Summary
Date: December 3, 2009
Title: Learning 2.0: The Impact of Web2.0 Innovation on Education and Training in Europe
Article URL: http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:IsPqWKBBAB0J:ftp.jrc.es/EURdoc/JRC50704.pdf+impact+of+Web2.0+on+ Education+and+Training&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
The research paper was actually written following a workshop conducted in Europe that gathered evidence about the reason to use social computing in education and training and the overall impact it would have in the educational environment. 22 participants attended, representing industry, academia, consultancy and policy-making.
In discussing the use of Social Media as a tool to enhance education the debate brought out many unexpected outcomes. Social computing could completely change the way education is currently handled.
Education and Training could become a self-directed experience and expanded to include life-long learning. This would change the role of teachers, making them the ones who set up the framework that learning is based on. The users could choose their path and timeframe to make the experience work.
Online Learning enables interaction between users, not just students but teachers as well. Personalization of learning paths has been increased. A larger group of learners could have access (inclusion). Peer learning and a stronger building of peer community can occur. Learners become empowered, their motivation is increased their ownership of the content the learning dynamics. Expanded use of multiple types of media gives them expanded options to learn by. Focus is shifted from teaching to learning.
However there is some claim that the learning environment would lose structure that was necessary to ensure that learning actually took place. Business owners might be satisfied that the worker can perform the job. Other environments have a different level of competencies required (ie a doctor), suggesting a stricter control over some formats of learning. Certification and accreditation changes would need to be transformed.
A byproduct of this research was the changing role that teachers will face. Currently they are experts in contents. They will be forced to become facilitators of knowledge acquisition. It was found that teachers are not all experienced in using current technology and fall back upon assistance from their students. Teachers become more successful at integrating modern technologies if they received support from their schools.
Moving education to a Learning 2.0 environment could give access to learning for everyone everywhere, limited only by bandwidth required.
I agree that the time for the movement to Learning2.0 is here, whether all participants are willing to agree or not. The technology is available, and is already being used outside of the classroom to spread knowledge.
Education that is based on the user and their learning styles creates a more personal environment and therefore would be self-motivating. More study will have to be done to track the effectiveness of this new learning pattern. Modifications will be needed to match the learning levels required for multiple fields. There is no one answer, but there are a broad base of options available. Further research is encouraged.