UH, StudyNet & ‘e-learning 2.0’

1. UH, StudyNet & ‘e-learning 2.0’ Dr Andrew Oliver a.oliver@herts.ac.uk LTDU & BLU University of Hertfordshire

2. Preamble: We are officially web 2.0 • Web 1. 0: read only, Web 2.0: read AND write • Primary info on the net provided by the user: • Blogs & podcasts taking over from websites as news • Wikis & tagging & forums: primary knowledge & research sources • Data & structure no longer exclusive to the host website

3. eLearning 2.0 • Socially based software: collaborative, iterative, inclusive (discussion) = knowledge building & sharing • Includes: • Blogs • Wikis • Social tagging • Forums • Podcasting • Used in conjunction with each other

4. Blogs • Google + ‘blog’ returns • 2.7 Billion results • How many blogs? • 43 mill, 60 mill, 90 mill? • From July 2006: 175,000 new ones per day or 2 per sec • Technorati track 50 million blogs

5. What are they? • Blog = web and log = a simple webpage with diary elements • ‘owned’ by single person (blogger) • Items posted on regular basis • Unedited / conversational tone (uncensored) • Readers can leave comments - extend topic • public & linked to other blogs (blogosphere) • Search & subscribe (RSS) to receive updates

6. Blog types & StudyNet • Individual: • E Learning Now! (social bookmarking) • On line Ramblings (topical) • LIS Research Support • Group blogs • ‘StudyNet Groups’ & module websites • BusiBlogs (resources for Business staff & students)

7. Providers & examples • Blogger www.blogger.com • edublogs.org www.edublogs.org (10,000 academic users) • warwickblogs blogs.warwick.ac.uk (for Warwick only!, 4000 blogs) • myspace www.myspace.com (100 mill users, 70% actively socialising)

8. So it’s a web diary? So what? What are the benefits? As a poster: • Creative outlet - user can express • Reflection about course content, career, current events • Improves writing, design & self critiquing • Enhance & establish reputation As a reader • Tagged entries (categorised – knowledge pool) • Keep up to date & spot emergent trends

9. Podcasting Google results for ‘podcast’: • May 2005: 4,460,000 • June 2006: 318,000,000

10. So what is it? Podcasting : iPod (MP3 player) and Broadcasting What does it mean? “a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar program, made available on the Internet for DOWNLOADING to a personal audio player“, New Oxford American Dictionary BUT… • But you DON’T need an iPod • In fact – you DON’T need an MP3 player

11. The technology is NOT new …but is MORE accessible. Easy to… • Create • Publish (i.e. upload to a website) • Subscribe and • Listen… • at home, driving, exercising, waiting for buses – the ‘Dead time’. • Mobile learning: when they want, how they want and where they want.

12. How does it work? Staff • Record using digital voice recorder (MP3 format) • Upload (‘publish’) to website (StudyNet) Student • subscribes to the podcast (usually iTunes) • downloads the latest recording to their MP3 player • AND regularly checks for new content But don’t need iTunes/ MP3 player… …the workstation is fine

13. Some examples websites • EdTechTalk • Podcast for Teachers(live from the Bronx!) • UC Berkeley Courses & Events Live • Stanford on iTunes U • Musselburgh Grammar Sch (UK) • StudyNet! Public Law (Penny Tongue)

14. StudyNet: Public Law • Module leader Penny Tongue • For revision and preparation • Recorded ‘live’ or pre-recorded • Range 7 mins to over 1 hour • instructions to user are included by default (but aren’t really needed…)

15. UC Berkeley Courses & Events Live • examples of podcasted lecture sessions • some live, some pre recorded. • Mainly free to outside world • Berkeley on iTunes U • Access to lectures, guides, events etc.

16. Stanford on iTunes U Never mind the lectures here’s… • News, visiting lecturers & speeches • ‘Best of Philosophy Talk’ ,Microdocumentaries • Stanford Initiatives (environment, health, International issues) • sports (interviews and highlights, game coverage) • music (concerts) 500 tracks (for the public) averaging 15,000 downloads per week (130,000 during the first 2 weeks)

17. What are the benefits? • Where the player goes… so does the learning (makes use of ‘dead time’) • Familiar technology = widen education (non threatening) • Sits along side other podcasts : reaches into ‘digital lives’

18. How can I use this? (staff) • Record lectures (during / pre) • Weekly commentaries (hints, topical issues, faqs) • Q & A and Tutorial sessions • Interview experts, guest lecturers • Podcasts: NOT repeats of lectures BUT an extension

19. The future? Institution casting • Institutional promotion • Campus guides, student interviews, staff interviews • used to promote the university and it’s location to domestic and foreign students. • Student support (news, religion) • Linking institution to community • Profcasts, guest lecturers (seeds of interest). • Establish links to local schools (& abroad).

20. How can students use this? BIG in the States (K12) & Musselburgh, Scotland • Field trips, placements, language practice, record of group work, seminars, lectures, interviews, field notes, interviews (with each other, experts). • Oral essays (poster!) sound affects, music, commentary, readings - pull in above to create their own interpretation

21. And the students… • “VERY good idea, it is hard to listen and take in everything said in a lecture, and so to be able to hear it again is useful.” • “This really helps me,....i struggle to take everything in, even though im listening, and often end up teaching myself!” • “If you didn't understand an explanation in the lecture, you can listen back and maybe pick up on something you missed the first time round.”

22. Wikis: what is it? A collection of web pages – a website BUT… …Pages can be EDITED and new pages ADDED ….by ANYONE (well more or less)

23. What are the benefits? • Authoring • collaboration on creating on-line documents / websites • No hierarchy – all contributors are equal • ANYONE can add / change / remove: content, pages & structure • Follow the evolution of thoughts and ideas • each change is archived

24. How can I use this? • Collaborative project work (staff & student) • Create: • Common Knowledge pool • Website (online resources & prototype) • Edit textbook • Prepare journal article / report • Assemble reading list, syllabus, guidelines • Track evolution of thought processes • Works in conjunction with blogs & online forums

25. And finally • Podcasting at UH: Sept 2006 • Guidelines (detailed & simple) are now available • Regular monthly sessions from Sept ‘06 • E-Technology event 29th Nov ‘06 • Pre HE students are using the technology already!

26. More information This presentation is a condensed version of series of talks on elearning For more info please contact Dr Andrew Oliver (x 4754, a.oliver@herts.ac.uk)