Web 2.0 Technologies and Community Building Online by Rena Palloff, PhD Keith Pratt, PhD

Community Building Online Intentional work on the development of a learning community and presence online is the vehicle through which online courses are most effectively delivered Until recently, the use of asynchronous threaded discussions in response to instructor discussion questions as the main means by which this community is developed Collaborative activities, such as ice breakers, debates, and fishbowls are additional means by which community can be achieved asynchronously

More Recent Community Building Tools Blogs Social networking – MySpace, Facebook, Twitter Wikis Second Life, Turtle, Cybertown, Muse Skype

Web 2.0 refers to the Second Generation of the World Wide Web and offers: Higher levels of user interaction and collaboration Self-expression through creation of content posted on the Web Easy communication with peers Ways to stay connected to friends

Why Web 2.0? Interest in and engagement with Web2.0 technologies is no longer relegated to younger people or people who are technologically savvy. Adults are now using Web2 technologies in greater numbers Businesses are making use of these technologies for marketing purposes and to communicate more effectively with consumers

How Web 2.0 Technologies are being used in Online Courses Blogs – online journals kept by individuals and used to comment on various topics Used to keep a journal about course content and reflections Some instructors use them in place of discussion forums and to post assignments Can be used to replace the “lecture” – instructors can comment on content and student discussions via a blog

How Web 2.0 Technologies are being used in Online Courses Learner-Generated Context (or Collective Intelligence) – collects the expertise of a group and makes group decisions Wikis are one form Can utilize many other collaborative tools to compile content including Flickr, YouTube videos, Google docs

How Web 2.0 Technologies are being used in Online Courses Wikis – collaboratively created web pages Students are able to add to or edit content if they have permission to do so Small groups in an online course can be working on multiple wikis simultaneously with the ability to share the final products with the other groups, the instructor, or outside experts Now incorporated into course management systems

How Web 2.0 Technologies are being used in Online Courses Podcasts (or vodcasts) – audio or video recordings that can be downloaded and played on a computer or an MP3 player Easy to create, download, and use Generally used for the delivery of “just-in-time” lecture content Availability of open source software for audio and video allows students to create content as well

How Web 2.0 Technologies are being used in Online Courses RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds – real-time information, news, blogs, or podcasts that can be streamed to a website in real time Can be used with most course management systems Students can subscribe to RSS feeds on mobile devices

How Web 2.0 Technologies are being used in Online Courses Social networking sites, such as MySpace, Facebook, and others – allow people to connect with a select group of people around personal or professional interests Contain applications such as wikis and the ability to create groups Allow for posting notes, photos, video, and sharing documents Can be used to create asynchronous discussion

How Web 2.0 Technologies are being used in Online Courses Twitter – a form of a social networking space that allows for very short (140 character) micro-blog entries known as “tweets” Can be used for class announcements Some instructors are experimenting with Twitter discussions to replace chat

How Web 2.0 Technologies are being used in Online Courses Skype – an internet-based phone service that also allows for conference calling, video calls, document sharing, and text messaging Free! Can be used to teach languages or where voice contact is important Especially useful when students are located all over the world

Second Life (SL)! Users create avatars and interact in real time A virtual world in which users interact in real time through the use of avatars Users create avatars and interact in real time Physical manifestation of people and places may help to enhance a sense of community

Concerns About the Use of 2.0 Technologies in Online Courses Because these technologies are, for the most part, available in the public domain, issues of copyright may emerge. Because sites like Facebook and Second Life are primarily social in nature, students can “wander” into areas that may be questionable. Because materials are created on and posted to another site, there may be concerns about archiving and loss of content.

Concerns About the Use of 2.0 Technologies in Online Courses Privacy concerns emerge in the use of social networking sites and Second Life. The use of social networking sites blur the lines of formality – some instructors object to being “friended” by their students. Instructors fear the loss of control that accompanies the collaborative and more social nature of Web 2.0 technologies There is a need to develop new norms for their use

Do the Positives Outweigh the Negatives? They do have the ability to enhance the development of community online The inclusion of a variety of means by which community is developed in an online course increases the means and amount of communication possible between students and the instructor The depth of a sense of community can be significantly enhanced Web 2.0 technologies are designed to connect people to one another also serve to increase the sense of social presence in an online course through these various forms of communication You Decide?