Adoption of Web 2.0 tools in distance education Yasemin KOÇAK USLUEL Sacide Güzin MAZMAN Hacettepe University, Faculty of Education Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology TURKIYE

Introduction Providing interaction has always been an important issue in distance education. For quality of learning, satisfaction of students and effective learning outcomes, necessity of different interaction forms as student-student, student-teacher, student-content, has been revealed by different technologies. 2

Purpose of Study To explain possible educational utilization of Web 2.0 tools, namely blogs, wikis, podcasts and social networks, from the point of importance of interaction for distance education. To investigate adoption process of Web 2.0 tools in distance education by defining theories and models which have different construct that effect this process.

Interaction in Distance Education Technology plays a key role for; promoting interaction delivering education communication between individuals Technology plays a key role especially for promoting interaction, delivering education and providing communication between individuals. Interaction in distance education is not limited to audio and video, or solely to teacher-student interactions, it must also represents the connectivity, the students’ feel with the distance teacher, aides, peers.

Interaction in Distance Education Interaction in distance education is not limited to solely audio and video or only teacher-student interactions Interaction must also represents students’ connectivity feeling with the distance teacher, aides, peers.

Web 1.0 Technologies WWW pages Discussion boards E-mail Multimedia File Transfer Protocol FTP Discussion boards Multimedia Softwares One way communication, Published content Users as passive consumers Internet as a different channel

Emerging technologies and changing pedagogies bring out the necessity for more effective two way communication, promoting interaction and collaboration, sharing and flexible participation.

Web 2.0 Two way communication User generated content Openness Easy sharing Writing comment and feedback Rich design RSS feeding Collective Intelligence

Web 2.0 Web 1.0 Distributed Centralized Syndication Stickiness Folksonomy Taxonomy Tagging Directories Wikis Content Management System Participation Publishing Search engine optimization Domain Host Weblogs Personal Web sites Wikipedia Britannica Online Web 2.0   Web 1.0

Web 2.0 Tools in Distance Education To fulfill the shortages of Web 1.0, To provide more effective interaction and collaboration, Investigation has been started in education, for the ways of using; Blogs Wikis Podcasts Social networks

Blogs Online diaries No technical skill, to create, publish and organize Dated content, entries, comments, discussion in chronological order Easy to use and flexible RSS feature

Blogs in educational context Enhance writing skills, Faciliate self reflection, Encourage critical thinking, Provide collaborative and active learning, Provide feedback, E-portfolios that keep records of personal development.

Wiki Free open source software Freely expandable collection of interlinked Web pages Hypertext system for storing and modifying information Database where each page is easily edited by any user. Users can visit wiki, read and add content to wiki or update and organize content.

Wikis in educational context Support collaborative learning and writing Support project based and inquiry based learning Promote creativity Encourage critical searching Provide easy online updating content Wikis can be used as; Classroom websites, course administration, timetabling Online dictionary Bibliographically organized class or group projects Virtual classes for online collaboration Frequently asked questions (FAQ) for classroom

Podcast Podcast= iPod(portable digital audio player form apple) + broadcasting. Basically digital audio programs that can be subscribed to and downloaded by users via RSS and listened to on either a variety of digital audio services or desktop computer.

Podcast in educational context With mobile devices, as another variant of mobile learning. Eliminating cost and time limitations of mobile learning Reviewing lectures before exams Listen in on classes missed lessons Students can create their own podcasts for peers Feel connected to learning community.

Social Networks Social networks are software that support; Collaboration Knowledge sharing Interaction and communication of users from different places who come together with a common interest, need or goal.

Social Networks in Educational Context Social networks can also be viewed as pedagogical tools as they support; Information discovery and sharing, Networks of people and connections Informal learning Creative, expressive forms of behavior and identity seeking, Developing a range of digital illiteracies

Adoption of Web 2.0 Tools in Distance Education There are different models and theories about diffusion, acceptance and adoption of an innovation. Attitude Intention Subjective norm Behavior Normative belief Usefulness perception Ease of use perception Grounded in socio physiological context and focused on internal decision processes at individual level. Relative advantage Complexity Trialability Observability Compability Visibility Focused on features of innovation and diffusion of new among users in a system.

Adoption of Web 2.0 Tools in Distance Education Adoption of Web 2.0 tools in distance education context contains many different dimensions, must be taken into consideration such as; Social dimension (student, teacher and others) Perception and efficacy of users Media, technology access, cost, Resources and services etc.,.

Theories and Models Diffusion of Innovation Theory (Rogers, 2003) Theory of Reasoned Action (Fishbein&Ajzen,1975) Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991) Technology Acceptance Model I and II (Davis, 1989; Venkatesh and Davis, 2000) Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (Venkatesh et al., 2003)

Adoption of Web 2.0 Tools in Distance Education When studying in Web 2.0 technologies and distance education context, it is necessary to consider both of the individual decision processes and features of innovation. Instead of only one diffusion, adoption or acceptance theory and model it can be suggested to investigate Web 2.0 adoption within a holistic view.

“Distance Education” come into question in all levels of education. Conclusion Because of; Continuos globalization of information Learning independent from time and place Need for cost effective and quality learning Need for life long learning “Distance Education” come into question in all levels of education.

Conclusion Interaction between students, teacher, content etc. has been a major factor since beginning of distance education. Developments in technology that provides interaction, has brought out necessity of continuous support for process.

Conclusion As Web 2.0 technologies support interaction process, many advantages of them have also been a response for questions about adoption of these technologies in distance education.

Conclusion Individuals’ acceptance and usage of technology in system is important for obtaining effective outcomes with these technologies. There has been many studies in the framework of different models and theories in this field.

Conclusion It can be suggested that utilization from various and different theories and research methods will strengthen the studies in this field. While investigating adoption of these tools in distance education, researches for a holistic view by utilizing various theories and models like Venkatesh et al. (2003) may be needed.

Conclusion Further researches could establish a new model by selecting appropriate constructs from previous models and theories and could examine the adoption of Web 2.0 tools in distance education, by considering both technological characteristics of technology and social factors in distance education as students, teacher etc. Additionally, except from previous constructs, external new constructs can be included into this model.

Thank you kocak@hacettepe.edu.tr sguzin@hacettepe.edu.tr