An overview of the issues from using blogs and wikis in education

1. USE OF TECHNOLOGIES IN A CLASSROOM Questions from Alex Hayes Responses from Tony Whittingham Click here to view the screencast

2. What technologies are you using? BLOGS WIKIS PODCASTS Enhance teaching and learning. Provide skills demanded by business/industry Students in digital media courses and professional development for teachers Why? Whom? Digital camera Digital recorder Microphone Webcam Hardware PowerPoint Audacity Word Flash Camtasia Applications Software Wikispaces YouTube Podomatic Flickr Wordpress Blogger Delicious FileShare Web Services

3. eLearning Post edu.blogs.com How did you learn of these technologies? How were you first exposed to the technologies you are using? e.g. Assisting businesses to improve Intranet operations. Widespread use – confidential because of competitive advantage Newsletters, Blogs, White Papers, Podcasts Motorola: 2700 blogs – 2000 wikis eLearningPost Stephen’s (Downes) Web Atlassian.com Edu.blogs.com

4. What benefits do these technologies enable that traditional teaching modes would not? Enhanced communication, collaboration and access to information. Address higher learning levels e.g. Bloom’s Taxonomy. Develop skills in using industry/business relevant software. Knowledge – Comprehension – Application – Analysis – Synthesis - Evaluation Traditional Web2.0

5. What has the reaction been from your learners in engaging them using these technologies? Greater interest in curriculum Satisfaction from using workplace relevant technologies Transfer of use of technologies to other subjects and social applications. Increased confidence in using technology. Development of ePortfolios resulting in employment.

7. Has there been an uptake of these technologies by other teachers as a result? Interest shown by other teachers tempered by mis-information on security, access, costs, benefits and increased workload. Immediate application of technologies by teachers following professional development programs.

8. What is the future for the continued use of these technologies in a teaching and learning context? Use of technologies will continue because: 1. Demonstrated benefits to teaching and learning. 2. Continuing improvements in access. 3. Workplace demand. 5. Enhanced applications from emerging technologies. 4. Student demand

9. What other things should we consider as educators for the use of these technologies? Professional development programs. Intranet versus Internet based services. Integration of use of technologies in curriculum Link communication skills with technology skills e.g. ‘ generic’ subjects require increased focus on technology ‘ techo’ subjects require increased focus on communications

10. FURTHER INFORMATION? view the screencast .