e-learning 2.0

Last Thursday I went to the Blended Learning Conference in Hatfield where I gave a presentation on using blogs for learning.

Here is the abstract of the talk, if you want more information please contact me by commenting on this post.

The use of social software is becoming more popular in higher education as a means of engaging students in their learning, and there is some evidence that students are aided in their learning as a consequence of engaging with this technology (Glogoff 2005). However it is clear that it is not the use of technology that is important in enabling the learner to learn but the way that the technology is used to support appropriate pedagogy (Oblinger & Hawkins 2006).

There are a number of learning principles that may be applied to the use of technology in a blended learning context (Chickering & Ehrmann 1995, McLoughlin 2000). It is the degree to which these, or equivalent, learning principles are incorporated into the student learning environment that determines how effective the learning tools might be.

This presentation is based on an action research project which used blogs and wikis to encourage students to be reflective about their work and to feedback to themselves, their peers and to their tutor. Students taking part in the project are able to take advantage of the technology for learning because its use is appropriately blended with a number of well established learning principles.

The presentation will discuss the following:

• how the use of the technology was linked to learning principles to support effective learning;
• how the use of these tools promoted good practice in the student’s learning;
• what were the student’s perceptions about the how the tools aided their learning;
• how effective was the use of these tools in encouraging learning;

A number of examples of using these tools will be discussed and from these a series of recommendations for effective practice will be made.

References:

Chickering, Arthur and Stephen C. Ehrmann (1996), “Implementing the Seven Principles: Technology as Lever,” AAHE Bulletin, October, pp. 3-6

Available at http://www.tltgroup.org/programs/seven.html (accessed February 9th 2007)

Glogoff, S. (2005) Instructional blogging: Promoting interactivity, student-centered learning, and peer input. Innovate 1 (5).
http://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=126 (accessed January 11, 2007)

McLoughlin, C. (2000). Beyond the halo effect: Investigating the quality of student learning online. Southern Cross University. Proceedings Moving Online Conference, pp.141-154.

Oblinger, D & Hawkins, B. (2006) The Myth about No Significant Difference, Educause Review, November/December 2006