Using web 2.0, social media and mobile computing in VET, and why schools, teachers and businesses are going about it the wrong way.

Arne JansenNKI Distance Education

So who does he think he is?

Arne JansenNKI Distance Education, NorwayTech-head, Course developer, Multimedia developer, Teacher, Writer

arne.jansen@nki.no

About NKI

NKI Distance EducationScandinavia’s largest provider of online education

www.nki.no

One of the pioneers of online education.Over 300 individual courses and studies on all levels.Start whenever you want, from anywhere you are 24/7, 365 days a year.Approximately 12.000 students.60 employees and approximately 250 teachers.Professors of online education, Torstein Rekkedal and Morten Flate Paulsen.

The e-teacher 2.0 project

e-teacher 2.0Project under the Leonardo da Vinci program

www.e-teacher-2.euwww.hansenberg.dk

'E-teacher 2.0' will facilitate the process of redidactization and empower teachers in integrating Web 2.0 into teaching, update teachers with new technologies and prepare for new relevant technologies as they emerge.

Facilitated by Metropolitan University College in Denmark.Project leader: Torben S. Thomsen, Hansenberg vocational school.

Participants from Denmark, Turkey, Portugal, Nederlands, Norway

Words I will be using a lot

Definitions

Web 2.0 – Applications and services on the Internet that facilitates communication, sharing, cooperation and interaction.

Social media – A type of Web 2.0 service.

Mobile computing – Using an Internet connected computing device that is independent of location.

The challenge

The challengeSchools and teachers must update their learning methods to include the use of ICT, web 2.0 technologies, social media and mobile computing.

The reaction

How do schools and teachers react to this challenge?

SchoolsAsk for more money to buy computers.Register a Facebook page.Tell teachers that they have to learn ICT and use it in class.Make rules for the use of ICT in class.

TeachersAsk for time off to update their ICT-competence.Register a Facebook page and a Twitter account.

The response

How teachers meet the challenge

Find a web 2.0 application

Learn to use the application

Figure out how to use the application in class

Teach the students to use the application

Do a project with the class

The problem

So what’s wrong with that?

It’s a one-off. Teacher go back to traditional teaching as soon as the project is done.

It’s time consuming. It steals a lot of time from the teachers primary tasks.

Students don’t get it. Students feel the application is just one more thing theteacher tells them they have to learn.

Teachers are unable to stay updated.There are thousands of web 2.0 applications and services. New are added every day and old ones are constantly updated.The application will become obsolete or changed before it can be reused

Ouch...

The reality

How teachers end up

Find a web 2.0 application

Learn to use the application

Figure out how to use the application in class

Teach the students to use the application

Do a project with the class

The bad news

There is no way a vocational teacher will be able to stay updated on web applications and services.

Traditional thinking and approach don’t work with web 2.0, social media and mobile computing because of the rapid change in technology.

Ouch...

The good news

Teachers don’t need to be able to use the applications, they need to understand the basic concepts of how the technology is used.

Communication

InteractionCollaborationSharing

The alternative way

Teachers can apply these concepts to their teaching without learning applications.

Find a web 2.0 application

Learn to use the application

Figure out how to use the application in class

Teach the students to use the application

Do a project with the class

Ask how communication, sharing, collaboration and interaction are used in the profession they teach?

Figure out how to apply this in a learning environment

Give the students tasks that require them to use web 2.0

Let the students find out what applications and services they can use to solve the tasks

Let the students present their solutions

The benefits

Why is this a better approach?

The students get it. Students get the freedom to make their own decisions and use the tools they are familiar with or feel are right for the task.

It promotes creativity and innovation. There is an element of competition.

Teachers can focus on their subjectsinstead of technology. Less pressure to constantly learn new technology.

Successful projects can be reused.New students will just use new applications andfind other solutions.

The flip side

It’s not as easy as it sounds

Teachers still need to learn ICTTeacher must be able to use computers, mobile devices and web 2.0 applications on a basic level.

Schools must be willing to relax restrictions. Students must be allowed to use computers, mobile phones and applications freely.

Teacher must be willing to resign some control to the students. The teacher will not be able to help the students with technology problems

Risk that some students are left out.Differences in access to technology increases the risk.

Weighing in

But it’s still the better alternative

'E-teacher 2.0' will facilitate the process of redidactization and empower teachers in integrating Web 2.0 into teaching, update teachers with new technologies and prepare for new relevant technologies as they emerge.

What about businesses?

Businesses treat web 2.0 and social media as just another marketing channel.

Marketing department wants full control.Register a Facebook page to tell everyone about new products and services.Register a Twitter account to tell everyone about new products and services.Start a blog to brag about new products and services.Make rules that restricts employees use of social media.

It’s good for business, but itdoes not promote innovation.

What businesses must understand

To be innovative, businesses need to open the “digital door” and let students in and the employees out.

Use the Internet for two-way communication instead of just announcements.

Share thoughts, ideas and knowledge instead of just product specifications.

Let employees collaborate and interact with schools, teachers and students.

Summary

ConclusionsA traditional approach to web 2.0 does not work well because the rapid change of technology makes it impossible for teachers and schools to stay up to date.

Focus should be on the underlying concepts. Communication, sharing, collaboration and interaction. These are stable and independent of applications and platforms.

But there are still many challenges and this approach creates new ones.

Businesses must learn to understand that the internetis a lot more than a marketing channel.

It’s not about learning technology. It’s about understanding what technology can do.

The End

Thank you!

arne.jansen@nki.no