Module 11

Web2.0 ….in conclusion

Addressing e-learning

E-learning is about creating an engaging environment for both teachers and students ensuring that the learning process continues to develop and evolve while accessing and utilising emerging technologies and practices. Ultimately as educators it is our role to ensure that we provide a safe and comfortable environment in which our students are supported throughout their learning journey. This takes place in the real and the virtual classroom.
The nature of learning is constantly evolving, and the ways in which we learn now are not the same as those of 5 years ago and these will change even further in the next 5 years. Technology is evolving and allowing us to access information and learning opportunities 24 hours a day 7 days a week. By developing confident and capable e-learners we are generating a generation of responsible and reflective students, who are well equipped to utilise technology when it best suits them.
As a result of me undertaking the Web 2.0 course I have been exposed to new methods that I can use in my day to day teaching, I have been challenged to work beyond my immediate comfort zone and I have been awakened to many new skills that I believe will make me a better teacher, equipped in some way to utilise the technology of the 21st century.

With respect to Bloom's digital taxonomy

Blooms’ Digital Taxonomy places creating as its highest order skill, with this in mind students who use Web 2.0 tools and technology are able to work to this creation goal. The ease which students can create and edit using Web2.0 tools allows them the opportunity to experiment with methods, and to receive feedback from their peers and teachers in an environment of relative intellectual safety. As a result this helps to alleviate to an extent an individuals fear of failure.
This environment of support was identified in Jade’s blog (http://jadesweb20adventure.blogspot.com/2011_08_01_archive.html) which I commented on noting the value of her being able to support her students who were struggling to remember to bring work to class,this was overcome by permitting the student to access Google docs to complete work at home and school, although not a higher order skill this process has provided a far more supportive learning environment for the individual.
Throughout the Web 2.0 tools we have been given the opportunity to learn techniques ranging from blogging to generate personal reflection, using Prezi as a simple note taking information technique (or to create much higher scale presentations) through to he creation of podcasts,

Personally

I have found the process of working with the tools presented throughout this course quite interesting.
Will I use all of these applications, probably not!
Have I begun to implement some? Most definitely! I have enjoyed using Google docs as I find this to be a useful method of working on basic documents between locations without having to save to selected drives, this enables me to do work at work or home with great convenience.
I have also used Prezi and can see me using Flickr. in a classroom situation.
I have re-established working with Google Reader (on a personal rather than professional level) but can see the potential for its use also..
Pod-casting is an area that holds great potential however it is something that I know I will need to work on more to gain further confidence ( to create my own).
I also would like to use blogging as a tool for students to respond and reflect on their own learning journey, similar to the ways in which both Monica (http://monicasweb2journey.blogspot.com/2011/11/module-11-web-20-course-reflection.html?showComment=1321441472482#c3574957334604386228)and Jade (http://jadesweb20adventure.blogspot.com/2011_08_01_archive.html) have used blogging
It has been encouraging reviewing the blogs of my peers. and I really enjoyed being part of the classroom environment when Tanya used Prezi as a tool for students to create a presentation of their own design work from the past semester (http://ferraromsj.blogspot.com/)

Has the Web 2.0 journey been enjoyable? Yes.
Has it been frustrating? Yes (especially dealing with slow technology)
Am i confident about what I have been taught? No ...But I am confident that I know more as a result of doing the course and I can see enormous potential ahead