A Tale of Two Blogs: Review

Here is my review of the blogs of Charlene and Sarah.

Charlene’s blog
http://ed6114charlenesblog.blogspot.com/



1. Higher Education in a Web 2.0 World
Charlene reflected on the exponential growth of ICT in the past few years, especially in the Web 2.0 world. The trick is to keep up with the new technology and how it might be applied to teaching and learning. Different technologies will suit different learning styles and different students. Web 2.0 technology can meet expanding needs as the technology is varied. One of the major problems for teachers is the time that it takes to learn new technology and how it can be applied to teaching and learning.

2. Digital natives debate
Charlene believes that the terms “digital natives” and digital immigrants” are inappropriate and should not be used. Also the debate is somewhat artificial and probably pointless.
Familiarity with new technology does not necessarily mean competence. Nor do all students want to use certain Web 2.0 technologies in education. They would prefer to leave social networking to their social lives outside education.

3. Analysis of learning styles and ICT
Charlene anticipated the outcome of the VARK questionnaire and got it right. She scored high in the read/write category, but low in the visual category. Whatever the pros or cons of the questionnaire it does show that people learn differently and we need to adapt our teaching practices to suit. Also, technology needs to complement face-to-face teaching, not replace it.

4. ICT current trends
Charlene reviewed the Horizon Report 2010. The report attempts to map out, in stages, the application of new technology in education. One of the many new innovations that will change ICT will be cloud-based technology.
There are problems, such as lack of finance, lack of ongoing specialised technical support, etc. Yet overcoming adversity usual produces good results.
As an historian, I find Charlene’s review fascinating. She captures the pioneering spirit of the Old West that is imbued in the report. Technology is the new frontier, a potential land of plenty in the virtual New World, whose boundaries are to be pushed back, explored and exploited.

Comments
I’m in almost total agreement with Charlene. We teach in different disciplines and have different teaching and learning preferences and styles, yet we agree on the fundamentals.

Sarah’s blog
http://elearinged6114.blogspot.com/

1. Higher Education in a Web 2.0 World
Sarah highlights two main issues: 1) the impact the new technology is having on how students actually learn, and how teachers should respond; and 2) what technologies exist which can be utilised to enhance teaching and learning. She looked the at Educating the Net Generation study from the University of Melbourne. The study urges the continuance of face-to-face teaching, and warns against assuming that the so-called Net Generation are technologically savvy. Even so, a New York Times article suggests that technology is changing the way we process information, and that will have important implications for teaching and learning.

2. Digital natives debate
Sarah read the article by Bennet, Mason & Kervin (2008). She agrees with them to some extent, but not entirely. She believes that there are “digital natives” or a “Net Generation”, many of whom are more technologically savvy. Yet it does not follow that all are, or that they apply that know-how to education. Yet despite this, technology is changing the way we process information even if we don’t realise it.

3. Analysis of learning styles and ICT
Sarah did the VARK questionnaire which found that she had VAK multimodal learning preferences. She believes that her learning preferences indicate the way she teaches. The VAK preference lends itself well to applying ICT to teaching and learning. She believes that ICT enhances the way she teaches, and is therefore enthusiastic about it.

4. ICT current trends
Sarah read the article, “The impact of web-based lecture technologies (WBLT) on current and future practice”. The report suggested that students were more enthusiastic about using Web 2.0 technology than lecturers, who tended to be divided over the issue. Students found that some technology applications could be useful as a revision tool. The real test of good teaching and learning practices comes in how these technologies are introduced in a way that enhances teaching and learning.

Comments
I may be wrong, but I think that Sarah was the only member of our class who was actually from the “Net Generation”. Her contribution was invaluable. She has used her blog to great effect, going further than what was required. She provided videos and random thoughts education and what she has learnt in the class. In other of her supplementary entries she suggests how various Web 2.0 technologies could be used in teaching and learning. Her enthusiasm also rubbed off a little on me, and I find myself being a little less sceptical.