6. The Question How can we as teachers empower our learners and facilitate the learning process using new technologies? Does one size fit all?
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8. “ Levels of access to and use of technology are high among young learners – especially out of school. However, their experience of technology in formal education generally differs from that at home and there are increasing indications that learners’ expectations of technology, and, as a result, of learning, are not being met.” (BECTA 2008: 23)
9. The Answer: Web 2.0 Technologies WEB 2.0 communication, conversation, connecting, community
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11. WEB 2.0 communication, conversation, connecting, community Empowering learners by giving them ownership of their learning using a collection of distributed tools that promote creativity and innovation.
Sharing is the key element -- teachers and teachers -- teachers and students Across the internet – information not constrained by institutional boundaries.
Having worked as teachers and on web projects over the past ten years I recognised that there is not going to be one technological solution to e-learning. If we are to embrace new technologies we need to embrace technologies that are truly interactive and that students are familiar with. Facilitate learning – using the most appropriate tools available.
We are very clearly critical about some aspects of learning platforms such as Moodle for use with particular students. Particulalry our A level sixth form students. Learning platforms can restrict learners journeys by trying to manage learners experiences. This may work with some learners but is very restrictive when used with bright enthusistic sixth formers. Our experience is that learning platoforms are often simply being used as repositories for files. Furthermore by managing attendance, assessment etc learning platforms can be percieved by learners in a negative way. Even in a punitive way. M Importantly the learning platforms don’t reflect the way that our media rich students interact with digital media. For example our students are use to using facebook, reading blogs and accessing resources through tags and twitter. Sadly the use of learning platforms can also limit the sharing of resources and practice between teachers. Great ideas and resources become hidden from other teachers which also leads to a duplication of work. Learning platforms can deskill teachers. Teachers are creative individuals and we have found through running IT course for teachers that they want to learn and try new ways of communicating with their students such as through blogging and twitter.
Me. We do not believe that learning platforms can reach the high expectations of learners on their own. Students are going to want to interact with web 2.0 technology perhaps even on their phones.
To be effective our e-learning strategies have to …
