e-learning 2.0

I have been thinking for some time about the implications of web 2.0 for universities.

Web 2.0 is about people creating their own information on the web and sharing their ideas with one another in order to create further information. If information is available to all and the individual can make their own decisions about what material they access and how they do it what does that leave for the University to do?

It seems that universities are going one of two ways:

1. they are setting up systems which are designed to control student’s access to materials by using software like WebCT as a managed learning environment (MLE);
2. they are allowing students to make their own decisions about information access, putting information in the public domain and encouraging the use of software like blogs and wikis;

Of course the situation is not as clear cut as this because universities consist of individuals and there is still an opportunity for academics and students to work autonomously and make their own decisions about information access outside the “official” university system. However this path can only be taken by those who are sufficiently e-literate to know about and be able to use the “non-official” systems.

Are we in danger of creating a bipartite structure where some of us have access to a range of technologies and others do not? If so who are going to be the haves? Do we really have digital natives who can use the digital systems to enhance their learning? Perhaps the situation is not so clear cut and it depends on a subtle interaction between academics who are expert in the academic use of the technologies for learning and students who are confident and expert enough to use these technologies.

I have seen no evidence of digital natives who are also digital learners. Most students need to develop the skills of using e-technologies appropriately for learning. Is this because I just don’t understand they way that students learn with technology and that I am trying to use a “traditional” model of learning in an on-line situation? Or is there actually no difference between the way that people learn with traditional technologies such as paper and pen and with computer systems? If people construct their own meanings and one of the ways they do this is through social interaction does it really matter how they undertake this social interaction? Is the advantage of e-learning that it provides more opportunity for access to learning and information rather than it providing a “new” way of learning?

There area number of people who have something to say about university 2.0. These include:

• D’arcy Norman
• Charles Halton
• the Pedablogy blog

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