Web 2.0 is still entirely new to me. I would argue that before my current class in the EMDT program, I didn’t even fully understand the definition of Web 2.0. I can now say that I have a better understanding of exactly what we have been getting at in terms of using digital media in the classroom. The overall benefit of using Web 2.0 is that it can create social networks that allow for collaboration and communication in new ways that facilitate a group effort and cohesive camaraderie rather than a individualistic goal of self determinism in which the author is the only benefactor. We have all worked on projects that we felt were a group effort and one person has taken credit and received the reward for a job well done. We have all seen individuals take advantage of others with only their own goal of climbing the professional ladder at whatever costs. Web 2.0 is ushering a new method of business that is looking at innovation and growth through group work that benefits everyone, especially the company or organization as a whole.
In my research, I am looking at the way that educators teach course content in a college setting. I have witnessed a lot of surprising and discouraging methods being used at the college that I work at. We are a more rural area and unfortunately, I have an offsite class that has nothing except a dry erase board. I have observed that most of the teachers I work with use the old method of lecture and notes. On campus, we have a smart room and I know that the traditional way for most teachers to lecture is by accompaniment with a slide presentation.
I have already started using web 2.0 applications in my class and am trying to be responsible as an educator and find ways around my limitations to allow more collaboration in my classrooms, focusing on a class goal. Part of the problem is that educators are using the tools that they have the wrong way. I started researching Power Point and found two interesting articles. The first critique I found was a blog by the author Seth Godin (2007). The link provided here is a response to an original post that discussed the familiar ppt presentations and tips on how to create more efficient and engaging presentations that will keep your audience from losing interest.
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/01/really_bad_powe.html
The next article I found looks at the use of ppt presentations used at NASA. The article is from 2005 written by Edward Tufte. I think the reason I feel so strongly is that almost five years later, we have not changed our use of ppt as the main way to teach in college. So how are the scientists at NASA using ppt’s? While we can imagine the funny, social butterflies that rocket scientists are known to be, it makes perfect since that they use ppt to speak about technical training and go over reports. All jokes aside, the article looks at the way that ppt layout can hinder creative thinking and explorative learning. It poses the question of whether we think hierarchically and if that is the best method to rank important information. Do we become desensitized to a screen of bullets? The article makes a lot of points about the actual layout and design of ppt, but also looks at the fundamental way that we communicate through storytelling and observing that the slide format makes the information choppy and disrupts the progression of discussion. While this article is technical, if you can read through the information related to NASA, you’ll find that there are some basic, important aspects of the way that we teach using ppt and how it is more stifling than open. If we can create lecture that is more collaborative and group centered than we can eliminate the empty note taking with the absence of learning.
http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0001yB&topic_id=1
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