Reflection on the course

I found this course is very valuable in advancing my teaching techniques using different web 2.0 tools. Apparently in most higher education institutes, we still focus on having a centralized learning management system (LMS) that we can use university wide and centrally support by the university. Due to the heavy workload of the lecturer and probably the limited time that lecturer has in designing their course, a centrally supported LMS seems to be the simplest solution. Although I'm working in the field of enhancing teaching and learning in higher education, I didn't know there are so many web 2.0 tools that we can use to complement the inadequacy of LMS. Blogging can actually provide other functionalities in which LMS is lack of – for example – the ease to change security settings to provide different access to individual, instructor; add in discussion to former students, colleagues of similar interests at other local or overseas institutions for collaboration work, sharing experience and knowledge exchange (Anderson, 2007). It’s been supported by literature that “blogging is a useful practice for the development of higher order learning skills, active, learner centered pedagogy, authentic learning, associative thinking, and interactive learning communities”(B. Farmer, Yue, & Brooks, 2008).

It’s definitely out of my expectation that so many high schools and primary schools in Hong Kong have actually realised the use of web 2.0 learning tools in their classrooms. They seem to be more enthusiastic about utilizing all these tools than we are in higher education. I wonder why it is the case?? Is it because some of these web 2.0 tools hasn’t be realized or generally accepted by the greater commercial community or profession, that’s why that is not widely employed or publicized in the higher education sector? I wonder there’s still the issue of ‘formality’ if it’s to be employed as an official tool in higher education. The higher education should play a significant role in educating the commercial world and the management about the benefits and effectiveness of these learning tools, if these tools are to be integrated or substituted the traditional technology. Moreover, we are now in a world of mobile learning, web 2.0 tools definitely offer versatility and full mobility. We are no longer restricted to access the world in front of a desktop computer, we can access the internet via smartphone, and wifi handheld devices. The popularity of iPhone and Andriod phones generates another knowledge resource – Applications (Apps), these Apps can be downloaded free or at a charge according to consumers’ interests. These Apps ranges from entertainment, news update, recreational interests to educational use. It would be worthwhile to investigate the pedagogy in using these Apps in educational use and how is it different to web-based programs.


References

Anderson, M. (2007). Open-Source Blog Platform Provides Much-Needed Communication Flexibility. Online Classroom, October 2007, 1-2. Retrieved from http://www.vcu.edu/cte/resources/newsletters_archive/OC0710.pdf

Farmer, B., Yue, A., & Brooks, C. (2008). Using blogging for higher order learning in large cohort university teaching: A case study. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 24(2), 123-136