Advancements
to ICTs now provide teachers with an array of communication technologies that
can be integrated into teachers’ instructional practices. As we saw in Current Trends in ICT, technological advancements provide
endless pedagogical opportunities for students in the teaching and learning
process. The same can be said for how they can influence how a classroom communicates with each other.
Communication technologies are electronic tools that facilitate computer mediated-communication
between individuals (Maloy,
Verock-O'Loughlin, Edwards, & Woolf, 2011). Examples
of these include:
-
Email
-
Teacher classroom websites
-
Blogs
-
Online discussions
-
Wikis
All of the technologies listed are a part
of Web 2.0 that is associated with web applications that facilitate
participatory information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design and
collaboration on the World Wide Web (Howell, 2012). When used in the classroom,
these tools facilitate collaborative learning, where groups
of learners working together to solve a problem, share information, complete a
task or create a product (Curtin University, 2012). Different
communication technologies are used for different audiences and educational
purposes, table 8.1 below informs us of some of these key differences:
One of the collaborative tools mentioned
above are Wikis. Wiki (meaning ‘quick’ in Hawaiian) is an online collaborative site
created in the 1990’s. Here, several individuals are able to contribute, edit
and create a document or wiki-page in a shared online experience. Maloy et al.
believe that there a five key ways that communication technologies (like wikis,
and those mentioned in table 8.1) can be used in the classroom and learning
environment by:
1.
Teaching
interactively
2.
Sharing
information
3.
Building
learning communities
4.
Publishing
student work
5.
Energizing
student writing
Although the
use of collaborative technologies is mostly seen as advantageous, many teachers
and schooling communities hold reservations about the use of Web 2.0
applications in the classroom. Some of
these concerns stem from the negative stigma that is often attached to social
networking as a platform for abuse and cyber-bullying. Howell maintains that
while some of this negative image is well earned, it is important that teachers
and parents recognise that such criticism comes from the individuals who misuse
the tool, and not the tool itself. This is an opinion that is also shared by
Associate Professor James Curran, Director of the National Computer Science
School in an Interview with ABC radio and available on the podcast below
(11:00-14:00)
Curran places
an emphasis on how fundamental social and emotional aspects are to the educational
experience. He believes that a community cannot be created without
communication. This is where Web 2.0 can be used to harvest some really great
results by reaching out beyond the classroom to more resources in an innovative
online teaching community.
It is easy to
see how some teachers might struggle with interaction that goes beyond the
physical parameters of the school and standard hours and the potential room for
these tools to be misused. If I were using Wikis or Facebook in my own
classroom I would clearly explain what it is, how we would use it and define a
set of guidelines to ensure student safety (closed Facebook pages, for example).
I believe that current and future teachers should look at these new
applications as gateways to a more enriched learning experience through the new
learning communities that Wikis and Web 2.0 provide.
References
Maloy, R.W., Verock-
O’Loughlin, R., Edwards, S.A., & Woolf, B.P. (2011) Transferring learning with new technologies (MyEducation Kit). New
Jersey: Person. (Chapter 8. Pages 206 -239).
Howell, J (2012). Teaching with ICT. Australia: Oxford University Press
Curtin University. (2012) . Retrieved May
20, 2013 from http://otl.curtin.edu.au/learning_teaching/philosophy_teaching/student_centred/collaborative.cfm
Podcast
Funnel, A (Producer) & Curran, J
(Interviewee) (2012, June 7). Virtual
Classroom. [EdPod Programme Podcast]. Sydney: ABC Radio National retieved
May 20, 2013 from
Images
Stop, Collaborate and Listen [image] n.d
Retrieved May 20, 2013 from http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs45/f/2009/096/d/b/Stop_Collaborate_and_Listen_by_awe_inspired.jpg
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