Web 2.0
Technology can have a positive or negative impact on the student's online learning
environment. Web 2.0 Technology such as wikis, blogs, you tube, Skype and
mobile apps can assist students in learning and employees in training situations.
By collaborating online within web pages, and other common sites, information
is shared with group members, and edited in a common place for all to view and
use (Laureate, Ed., Inc., n.d.), eliminating the need for uncertainty, and
improving information sharing.
Blogs can be
monitored by instructors easily when using aggregator software (Laureate, Ed.,
Inc., n.d.). The aggregator software
allows the instructor to pull all the blogs together in a common place to
monitor which ones have been updated. Professor Pratt, of Laureate, Ed., Inc.
(n.d.) contends it would be too difficult to monitor each student's individual
work separately. Professor Pratt also
warns that it is essential for instructors to determine when it is appropriate
for the students to use mobile applications for learning. He says that most learning institution's apps
compress learning into six weeks, as opposed to the normal eight weeks. Learners may be missing out on valuable
information.
The correct
web 2.0 technology can be usable for demonstrating procedures and processes,
and learners who are isolated or in remote locations, (Laureate, Ed., Inc.,
n.d.). The chosen application can make these learners feel that are a part of
the regular learning group. When using
web 2.0 technology tools the instructors
should consider whether the chosen technology will aid in the learning;
otherwise it should not be used. Sometimes, it may be best to allow the
learners to choose the web 2.0 tool that they feel most qualified for their
type of learning project. However, allowing
the learners this freedom may require the instructor to expand his/her own
teaching tool set, (Boettner & Conrad, 2010).
According to
these authors, the three most important basic tools that must be used in online
learning are announcements, discussion board monitoring and feedback. Once the instructor develops experience with
the online learning environment, he/she will move into a more comfortable zone
and begin experimenting with more visual and audio tools, such as podcasts,
audio feedback, blogs, and wikis, and other technology tools, (Boettner &
Conrad, 2010).
As an
instructor who is interested in training employees online, I would enjoy
utilizing all of the web 2.0 tools in time.
I too, would begin learning the most basic tools, and graduate to the
more advanced tools as my experience grows. Technology constantly changes, demanding that
instructors keep up with new software, applications and web 2.0 technology
tools. What is favored for instructors
and learners to use now for online learning may just be a thing of the past in
a few years.
References:
Conrad, R.,
& Donaldson, J. A. (2011). Engaging the online learner: Activities and
resources for creative instruction (Updated ed.). San Francisco, CA:
Jossey-Bass
Laureate
Ed., Inc. [video] (n.d.). Enhancing the Online Experience.
