Creating an Online Course Based on E-Learning 2.0 Concepts

I gave a presentation “Creating an Online Course Based on E-Learning 2.0 Concepts” at the 2011 TxDLA 14^th Annual Confernce in San Antonio, Texas last week.  I want to take the opportunity to share my presentation here with my blog subscribers.  This presentation provided an overview of e-learning 2.0 concepts and described the process of designing, developing, and teaching an online course based on e-learning 2.0 concepts.  Also, lessons learned and students’ feedback regarding their opinions and experiences on taking my online courses based on e-learning 2.0 concepts were discussed in the presentation.  Below is an online version of my presentation at the 2011 TxDLA Conference.  Please feel free to provide suggestions and comments.  Thanks.

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Developing an Online Course Based on E-Learning 2.0 Concepts

E-learning 2.0 differs from traditional e-learning.  Instead of learners simply receiving, reading, and responding to learning content in traditional e-learning, e-learning 2.0 allows learners to create content and to collaborate with peers to form a learning network with distribution of content creation and responsibilities.  In addition, e-learning 2.0 allows learners to easily access content through search, aggregation, and tagging.  It provides learners with opportunities to interact with the content and share their thoughts and comments with not only the instructor but also with other learners.  E-learning 2.0, therefore, is evolving to one of the most exciting, dynamic, and challenging fields involving teaching and learning online.

I delivered a presentation entitled “Developing an Online Course Based on E-Learning 2.0 Concepts” at the 2010 SITE (Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education) International Conference in San Diego on March 31, 2010.  The following presentation shows my current effort of designing, developing, and implementing a graduate course in the blended learning format at my university.  Besides including the common components of an online/hybrid course offered by traditional LMS such as Blackboard, the e-learning 2.0 components (blog, podcasts, social networking site, and Wiki) are created and integrated into the course.  Though the teaching of this hybrid course based on e-learning 2.0 concepts is still in process and data collection is under way, the feedbacks from students so far are very positive and encouraging.   I think the e-learning 2.0 instructional approach allows the instructor to empower learners and create exciting new learning opportunities.  It allows students to easily access course content, interact content with others, construct new knowledge, and collaborate with others to form a learning network.  Students can communicate with others and access knowledge in ways that encourage creative and reflective practices that extend beyond traditional online learning.

Please stay tuned and follow my blog.  I should complete the data collection and data analysis after the summer.  Then, I will be happy to share the results of my study regarding students’ feedback on their attitudes and the effectiveness of the e-learning 2.0 instructional approach.

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Collective Intelligence and E-Learning 2.0

This was the presentation I gave yesterday at the 2010 Creating Futures  Through Technology Pre-Conference in Biloxi, Mississippi.  Please feel free to provide comments and suggestions here.  Thanks.

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Handbook of Research on Practices and Outcomes in E-Learning: Issues and Trends

It is a great pleasure that I announce my second book, “Handbook of Research on Practices and Outcomes in E-Learning: Issues and Trends,” that I co-edited with Professor Harrison Hao Yang at the State University of New York at Oswego is published by IGI Global this month.  The book is now available online at IGI Global,  Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and many online bookstores.

As education continues to integrate technological advancements into learning and instruction, a resource dedicated to the latest findings and implications becomes necessary.  The Handbook of Research on Practices and Outcomes in E-Learning: Issues and Trends provides academicians, researchers, and practitioners with a comprehensive view of the historical, conceptual, theoretical, and practical perspectives of conventional e-learning and innovative e-learning 2.0. Presenting cutting-edge research, case studies, best practices, and pedagogical approaches and strategies, this defining reference source incorporates the latest and most discussed Web 2.0 technologies in educational learning and practice.

Preface

Learning has been dramatically influenced by information and communication technology (ICT). There is no doubt that ICT keeps bringing new excitement into learning and communication. Multimedia on the Internet, telecommunications, wireless applications, mobile devices, social network software, Web 2.0, etc. are all radically redefining the way people obtain information and the way to learn and communicate. Consequently, electronic learning (e-learning) has become one of the most exciting, dynamic, and yet challenging fields that we have been facing. What is the history of e-learning? Where are we now? What will the future bring? What are the key elements of e-learning we need to focus on? Where has progress been made? How will we face and rise to new opportunities and challenges? How do we analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate e-learning? In order to shed light on these questions, we have taken a comprehensive view and looked at e-learning and innovative e-learning 2.0 from historical, conceptual, empirical, practical, and vocational perspectives. The result is this book, entitled Handbook of Research on Practices and Outcomes in E-Learning: Issues and Trends.

Handbook of Research on Practices and Outcomes in E-Learning: Issues and Trends is written for broader audiences including educators, trainers, administrators, and researchers working in the area of e-learning or distance learning in various disciplines, e.g. education, corporate training, instructional technology, computer science, library information science, information technology, and workforce development. We hope readers will benefit from the work of authors who range from cutting edge researchers to experienced practitioners regarding the research and practices in e-learning. The book covers focal points of e-learning and is organized into five parts of e-learning: Chronical and Conceptual Perspectives (Chapters 1-4); E-Learners (Chapters 5-9); E-Learning Environments and Communities (Chapters 10-14); Professional and Disciplinary Implications (Chapters 15-19); and Pedagogical Design and Implementations (Chapters 20-29).

Handbook of Research on Practices and Outcomes in E-Learning: Issues and Trends provides not only the advanced and latest development of e-learning for experienced professionals, but also provides clear and inclusive information for novice readers. It is designed to be used in a flexible manner, and it can adapt easily to suit a variety of ICT related courses/workshops and needs by students, instructors, professionals, and administrators. The book can be used as a research reference, pedagogical and professional guide, or educational resource in the area of e-learning.

Organization of the Book

Section 1: Chronical and Conceptual Perspectives

Chapter 1: Computer-Mediated Learning: What Have We Experienced and Where Do We Go Next?

Chien Yu, Mississippi State University, USA
Wei-Chieh Wayne Yu, Chang Gung Institute of Technology, Taiwan
Chun Fu Lin, Minghsin University of Science & Technology, Taiwan

Dramatic changes in information and communication technologies (ICTs) provide a powerful force for the growth of e-learning. E-learning has become the undeniable trend for both secondary and higher education. This chapter provides an overview of e-learning computer technologies within the teaching and learning, an examination of current research studies in related areas, and a discussion of the paradigm shift as well as on the trends and issues pertinent to the development of computer-mediated instruction/learning and e-learning. Furthermore, this chapter explores how students perceived the effectiveness of computer-mediated instruction and learning and their perceptions and attitudes toward learning using computer technology.

Chapter 2:  From Web to Web 2.0 and E-Learning 2.0
Clara Pereira Coutinho, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

João Batista Bottentuit Junior, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

In this chapter the authors analyze issues and ideas regarding the next generation of e-Learning, which is already known as e-Learning 2.0 or social e-Learning. The authors look at the new learning tools that have emerged from the evolution of the Web, to the Web 2.0 paradigm, discussing their potential for supporting modern and independent lifelong learners. Even more important, the authors justify the modeling of a new concept for the future of teaching and learning in the knowledge-based society in which we live. The conclusion of this chapter presents a scenario for the evolution of the Web, the Semantic Web or 3.0 generation Web, which is emerging as a higher environment that will advance the design and development of e-Learning systems in promising new directions: machine-understandable educational material will be the basis for machines that automatically use and interpret information for the benefit of authors and educators, making e-Learning platforms more adaptable and responsive to each individual learner.

Chapter 3: E-Learning 2.0: Web 2.0, the Semantic Web and the Power of Collective Intelligence

Chaka Chaka, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa

This chapter contends that both Web 2.0 and the Semantic Web (the SW) serve as critical enablers for e-learning 2.0. It also maintains that the SW has the potential to take e-learning 2.0 to new frontiers of advancement. Most significantly, the chapter argues that Web 2.0 and the SW provide an ideal platform for harnessing collective intelligence, collective knowledge, the power of the groundswell, the network effect, and the power of collective simulation for higher education institutions (HEIs) in the area of e-learning 2.0. Against this backdrop, the chapter provides, first, a short overview of e-learning 2.0, Web 2.0 and the SW. Second, it characterizes the way in which Web 2.0 social software technologies (e.g., blogs, wikis, social networks and virtual worlds) can be deployed in HEIs for delivering e-learning 2.0 for educational purposes. In addition, it outlines the manner in which the SW (in the form of semantic blogs, semantic wikis, semantic social networks and semantic virtual worlds) can enhance each of these Web 2.0 technologies for deploying e-learning 2.0 in HEIs.

Chapter 4: The Key Elements of Online Learning Communities

Jianxia Du, Mississippi State University, USA
Yunyan Liu, Southwest University, China
Robert L. Brown, Mississippi State University, USA

An online learning community can be a place for vibrant discussions and the sharing of new ideas in a medium where content constantly changes. This chapter examines the different definitions that researchers have provided for online learning communities. It then illuminates several key elements that are integral to online learning communities: interactivity, in both its task-driven and socio-emotional forms; collaboration, which both builds and nurtures online communities; trusting relationships, which are developed primarily through social interaction and consist of shared goals and a sense of belonging or connectedness; and communication media choices, which impact the other three elements. This chapter also provides suggestions for the practical application of these elements in the online classroom.

Section 2: E-Learners

Chapter 5: Generational Learners & E-Learning Technologies

Ke Zhang, Wayne State University, USA
Curtis J. Bonk, Indiana University, USA

This chapter reviews the characteristics of learners of different generations. In particular, it compares their differences in terms of learning preferences as well as their typical skills and attitudes towards technology in e-learning. In addition, it discusses the impacts of these shared and varied learner characteristics on e-learning and provides suggestions and recommendations on how to address generational learning diversity in e-learning design and delivery. In responding to the emerging learning technologies, this chapter specifically analyzes generational learners’ preferences and characteristics regarding learning technologies, and the practical implications for designers and educators working on e-learning for highly diversified audiences representing various generations.

Chapter 6: The Digital Generation and Web 2.0: E-Learning Concern or Media Myth?

Robin M. Roberts, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA

The relationship between the Digital or Millennium Generation and Web 2.0 is investigated focusing on how post-secondary students just entering American colleges and universities use the interactive or read-write web popularly known as “Web 2.0” and what implications their use of those web sites has for E-learning. Central to the investigation is addressing the question of whether the Digital Generation and Web 2.0 concepts describe actual realities or exist merely as popular media constructions. The basic thrust of the chapter is the position that the Digital Generation does not function as a monolithic group, but that the use of Web 2.0 technologies is related to developmental stages and life situation.

Chapter 7: Adult Learners, E-Learning, and Success: Critical Issues and Challenges in an Adult Hybrid Distance Learning Program

Jeffrey Hsu, Fairleigh Dickinson University, USA
Karin Hamilton, Fairleigh Dickinson University, USA

Adult learners have a set of specific and unique needs, and are different from traditional college students. Possessing greater maturity, interest in learning, and also career and life-oriented objectives, they have different expectations for their education, as well as different backgrounds and goals. This chapter examines what adult learners are, theories of adult learning, and the applicability of online learning to adult learners. Specific teaching methods and techniques are discussed for online and hybrid distance learning courses, as well as hybrid arrangements; encompassing teaching methods, types of exercises and activities, intensive course structures, block scheduling, and the use of modular course segments. Examples from an adult learner hybrid distance learning undergraduate program, Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Global Business Management, are also provided. Future trends and areas for further research conclude the chapter.

Chapter 8: Online Interaction Styles: Adapting to Active Interaction Styles

Dazhi Yang, Purdue University, USA
Jennifer C. Richardson, Purdue University, USA

Past studies indicate that students demonstrate different online interaction styles, which consist of the ways or habits students acquire knowledge from computer-mediated discussions (Sutton, 2001). Such interaction styles include the active interaction style (Beaudion, 2002), the vicarious interaction style (Sutton, 2001), and the mixed or balanced-interaction style. The purposes of this chapter are to: (a) examine relative studies on students’ online interaction styles; (b) propose a hypothesis that students’ online interaction styles can change during the course of computer-mediated discussion; (c) conduct a case study on students’ online interaction styles to test the hypothesis. This chapter reviews current issues related to students’ online interaction styles. It offers practical suggestions on the design of online learning environments, instructor’s role in online courses, and educational tools to facilitate students in adapting to more active interaction styles in computer-mediated learning environments.

Chapter 9: Strategies for Providing Formative Feedback to Maximize Learner Satisfaction and Online Learning

Yuliang Liu, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, USA

Learner satisfaction and learning is currently a very important topic in online instruction and learning. Blignaut and Trollip (2003) proposed six types of response for providing formative feedback in online courses. These six response types include: Administrative, Affective, Other, Corrective, Informative, and Socratic. The first three types involve no academic content while the last three types are related to academic content. Each type serves a different purpose for online learners. This study is designed to validate how the appropriate use of six response types for providing formative feedback affected learner satisfaction and online learning in an online graduate class at a mid-western university in the summer semester of 2008. Results indicated that all six response types are necessary to ensure maximum online learner satisfaction and effective online learning although each has its different focus. Findings have implications for all other online courses in the future.

Section 3: E-Learning Environments and Communities

Chapter 10: Exploring Ideas and Possibilities of Second Life as an Advanced E-learning Environment

Bo Kyeong Kim, Jeonju University, Republic of Korea
Youngkyun Baek, Korea National University of Education, Republic of Korea

Web 2.0 is changing the paradigm of using the Internet which is affecting the e-learning paradigm. In this chapter, e-learning 2.0 and its strategies are described for net generation. E-learning 2.0 is followed by introduction of Second Life as an advanced e-learning environment. Flexibility, strong social networking, and residents’ creative activities of Second Life allow unlimited potential to educators when they apply various educational principles to designing a learning environment. The authors assert that Second Life is a classroom built-in 3D cyber space. This chapter presents some cases on how Second Life is used in a new e-learning environment. Also, it explores ideas and possibilities of Second Life that can provide to make up for the limits in the current e-learning environment.

Chapter 11: When Virtual Communities Click: Transforming Teacher Practice, Transforming Teachers

Jeannine Hirtle, The University of Hawaii at Hilo, USA
Samuel Smith, University of Texas at Arlington, USA

Communities of practice (CoP’s)—much touted and studied as a mechanism for teacher education and professional development—may offer environments for deeper learning and transformation of their participants. This chapter examines more meaningful outcomes possible in community-centered learning—deep learning, changes in professional culture and identity, and participants “finding voice”—outcomes of value not often seen in formal educational and traditional professional development settings. Drawing on qualitative data from participants in a three-year community of writers and literacy educators, the authors suggests that CoP’s can be linked not only to development of knowledge and skills, but also to changes in participant beliefs, attitudes, voices, visions, and the identities of practicing educators.

Chapter 12: Could Web 2.0 Technologies Support Knowledge Management in Organizations?

Luiz Fernando de Barros Campos, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil

This chapter investigates whether information technology tools typical of Web 2.0 can support Knowledge Management (KM) practices in organizations. An investigation on the Web is conducted and the appropriate literature examined. The information technology tools employed in organizations nowadays are discussed with the help of three guidelines which each present two opposing ideas: knowledge creation versus knowledge sharing, tacit knowledge versus explicit knowledge, and hierarchical KM versus organic KM. It is argued that these tools reveal an innate contradiction: they are based on a centralized conception and production but aim to deal with informal, fluid processes, which resist structuring. The term Enterprise 2.0 is defined and examined, since it brings out a critical view of traditional KM technology. Also, the challenges and opportunities in the organizational use of Web 2.0 technologies are remarked. Finally, the managerial interventions appropriate to enable the success of KM projects based on Web 2.0 technologies are discussed.

Chapter 13: E-Learning Design for the Information Workplace

Colleen Carmean, Arizona State University, USA

Anytime and all-the-time access to electronic resources, artifacts and community have changed learning practices in the workplace as surely as it has changed the workplace itself. Learning today is measured not by what we know, but by how successfully we tap into our network to find the information we need in the moment we need it. The business environment now demands anytime and just-in-time answers at all levels of the organization. In response to new expectations within the information-rich workplace, the organization must look to a new practice of comprehensive design for a shared knowledge architecture that can leverage the digital tools, methods and effective practices now available. To understand not simply technology but the affordance (Norman, 1988; Carmean & McGee, 2008) and effective use of each technology now available, a new design practice is needed. Current digital learners seek practices, resources and help in navigating the shared knowledge flow and have little training or support in understanding the network of information available. If anytime, anywhere, and from any source is a new e-learning paradigm in the digital workplace (Cross, 2006), then the challenge for a new breed of designers will be to understand, create and support the digital learner in their access and use of the shared knowledge embedded within local and global networked resources.

Chapter 14: The Impact of Information Communication Technology (ICT) to the Greek Educational Community

Paraskevi Mentzelou, Alexander Technological Educational Institute (A.T.E.I.) of Thessaloniki, Greece
Dimitrios Drogidis, School Consultant of Primary Education, Greece

The aims of Greek education system is to give to students the ability to develop the required skills, character and values that will enable them to contribute to the prosperity of Greek Society, Greek Nation and humanity. The fulfillments of these aims require a dynamic educational system with the potential of incessant adjustment emanated from the interaction between national education and societal needs and demands. Living in an information and knowledge society where quality is its goal, Greek education system has to be enriched with all the characteristics and means that specify educational quality. In a framework, where educational changes are unavoidable due to the entrance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and especially the use of World Wide Web in Greek education system, an effort to present the current impact to Greek Educational community is attempted. This chapter describes ways, efforts, stages and methods that have been set for the application of ICT to Greek education system and presents effects, issues, trends and utilization of World Wide Web by the Greek educational community.

Section 4: Professional and Disciplinary Implications

Chapter 15: Faculty Use and Perceptions of Web 2.0 in Higher Education

Richard Hartshorne, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA
Haya Ajjan, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA
Richard E. Ferdig, University of Florida, USA

In this chapter, the authors provide evidence for the potential of various Web 2.0 applications in higher education through a review of relevant literature on both emerging educational technologies and social networking. Additionally, the authors report the results and implications of a study exploring faculty awareness of the potential of Web 2.0 technologies (blogs, wikis, social bookmarks, social networks, instant messaging, internet telephony, and audio/video conferencing) to support and supplement classroom instruction in higher education. Also, using the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior as the theoretical foundation, the authors discuss factors that influence faculty decisions to adopt specific Web 2.0 technologies. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the implications of the study and recommendations for future research.

Chapter 16: Librarian as Collaborator: Bringing E-Learning 2.0 into the Classroom by Way of the Library

Susanne Markgren, State University of New York Purchase College, USA
Carrie Eastman, State University of New York Purchase College, USA
Leah Massar Bloom, State University of New York Purchase College, USA

In this chapter, the authors explore the role of academic librarians in the e-learning 2.0 environment. Librarians are excellent partners in developing e-learning 2.0 spaces with faculty, because they are already familiar with many Web 2.0 technologies being used in these environments. The authors explore how libraries and librarians have traditionally served their patrons, and how the library is currently becoming a collaborative technology center serving increasingly tech-savvy students. With this in mind, the authors define e-learning 2.0 and examine the history behind the development of the concept. They also address the librarian’s role as it pertains to information literacy on campus and collaboration with faculty in order to facilitate the e-learning process. The chapter concludes with a focus on how librarians can help bring e-learning 2.0 in to the classroom through faculty workshops, consultations, and embedding of librarians within classes.

Chapter 17: Implementing E-Learning in University 2.0: Are Universities Ready for the Digital Age?

Betül C. Özkan, University of Arizona South, USA

Because of the ways students learn and make sense of world change, higher education institutions try to re-conceptualize this change process and search for better approaches to respond to the demands of the information age. This chapter addresses current transformation specifically occurring in e-Learning environments through emerging technologies and discusses new approaches to teaching and learning so the future of education can be better grasped. The chapter also provides a list of suggestions so adoption of new technologies as well as e-Learning strategies are more effective in Universities 2.0.

Chapter 18: New Literacies in New Times: A Multimodal Approach to Literacy Learning

Hsiu-Ting Hung, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

The focus of the chapter is two-fold: on one hand, it seeks theoretical understanding of literacy as social practice; on the other hand, it explores how emerging technologies afford and transcend the practice of literacy in social interaction. The chapter begins with a re-conceptualization of literacy from the perspective of New Literacies Studies and outlines key principles pertaining to the plural notion of literacy to provide a theoretical context for the discussion of a multimodal approach to literacy learning. The chapter then links the development of the emerging literacy approach with the advent of technology to explore new possibilities in language and literacy classrooms. Vignettes of emerging technologies, more specifically, social networking services are also presented to demonstrate possible pedagogic uses of multimodal resources in education. The chapter concludes with directions for future literacy research, promoting a multimodal approach to learning that attends to teaching and learning with emerging technologies.

Chapter 19: Transforming Continuing Healthcare Education with E-Learning 2.0

Rajani S. Sadasivam, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
Katie M. Crenshaw, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
Michael J. Schoen, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
Raju V. Datla, Massachusetts Medical Society, USA

The e-learning 2.0 transformation of continuing education of healthcare professionals (CE/CME) will be characterized by a fundamental shift from the delivery of static information online to a seamless, digital operation in which all users have the ability to access, create, and share knowledge in a multidimensional, instantaneous, collaborative, and interactive manner. This transformation will be disruptive, blurring existing boundaries between CE/CME professionals, content experts, and student learners, and modifying the traditional structured learning process to a more informal one. While the opportunities are unlimited, the transformation will present not only technology challenges but also social and educational challenges. Recent experiences with similar disruptive technologies show that a meaningful transformation can be achieved only if the application of technology is accompanied by strategic operational changes. This chapter offers a conceptual framework to guide CE/CME professionals interested in transforming their operations with new e-learning 2.0 technologies. Employing several usage scenarios, a new e-learning 2.0-based model of CE/CME operation is introduced. The authors also present several examples of approaches adopted by their academic group to address the various challenges discussed in this chapter.

Section 5: Pedagogical Design and Implementations

Chapter 20: Mode Neutral: The Pedagogy that Bridges Web 2.0 and E-Learning 2.0

Brian Smith, Edge Hill University, UK
Peter Reed, Edge Hill University, UK

In this chapter, the authors share their excitement about the 2.0 era with some notes of caution. From an educational perspective, the authors believe there is a void between Web 2.0 and E-learning 2.0 – in the shape of pedagogy. What academics have traditionally delivered in a classroom setting has been framed around a sound set of principles – the pedagogy. As for e-learning, many educators have adopted classroom pedagogies within the ever-evolving online world and have noted their incompatibilities. Nevertheless, the common aim of using technology in education is intended to support the learner in their studies. Integrating any (new or old) technologies into education requires a pedagogy that is effective in information exchange, yet flexible enough to respond to the various demands placed upon learning and teaching by both the learner, and the technology. This chapter details the authors’ evidence-based pedagogical model – Mode Neutral – showing how contemporary education can promote the use of Web 2.0 tools to harness collective intelligence. The authors outline their case study of using (arguably) a Web 1.0 technology, the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) as the single learning space, with Web 2.0 tools integrated to encourage collaborative learning.

Chapter 21: Dispatches from the Graduate Classroom: Bringing Theory and Practice to E-learning

F.R. “Fritz” Nordengren, Des Moines University, USA
Ann M. York, Des Moines University, USA

This chapter is a practical overview of both the theoretical, evidence-based research in pedagogy and the anecdotal, experience-based practices of faculty who work daily in online and blended learning communities. This approach combines best practices with theoretical aspects of delivering and facilitating education with diverse adult learners. Issues and trends in E-learning are presented with specific examples for implementation and suggestions for future research. Using an evidence-based approach, the authors explore and summarize recent research with a concurrent analysis of the anecdotal popular literature. This chapter explores the concept of information literacy and other skills necessary to succeed in the Web 2.0 world. The discussion takes readers away from the traditional “sage on stage” versus “guide on side” dichotomy towards both a new understanding of Web 2.0’s role in education as well as a preface to what may become Web 3.0 and beyond.

Chapter 22: Student-centered Teaching with Constructionist Technology Tools: Preparing 21st Century Teachers

Kathryn Kennedy, University of Florida, USA
Jeff Boyer, University of Florida, USA
Catherine Cavanaugh, University of Florida, USA
Kara Dawson, University of Florida, USA

Using the theoretical framework of “craft” highlighted by Richard Sennett (2008) in The Craftsman, this chapter focuses on constructionism and the implications of project-based learning in an undergraduate-level pre-service teachers’ technology integration course. The chapter evaluates an approach to teaching undergraduate pre-service teachers to teach children to use constructionist technology tools, including Web 2.0 technologies – wikis, blogs, podcasts, etc. Data were collected and analyzed to document pre-service teachers’ experiences with these tools as well as to gauge their level of confidence in teaching with the technology in their future classrooms. Data collected included pre-post concept maps, pre-post preinternship interviews, and learning artifacts. Analyses show an increase in pre-service teachers’ complexity of knowledge and awareness of Web 2.0 tools and skills, and a moderate impact on their beliefs about student constructionism in their future classrooms.

Chapter 23: Challenges for Teacher Education in the Learning Society: Case Studies of Promising Practice

Clara Pereira Coutinho, University of Minho, Portugal

In this chapter, the author presents the results of a project developed in pre-service and in-service teacher education programs at the University of Minho, Portugal. The main goal of the research was to test the importance of providing technological-rich experiences in education programs as a strategy to promote the integration of technologies in the classroom. The author assumes that the failure of ICT integration in Portuguese schools is due to a lack of teacher training in technology-supported pedagogy. This chapter presents and discusses a set of principles that are essential to understand and sustain the importance of the learning experiences in teacher education programs both for pre-service and in-service teacher education. Different Web 2.0 tools are explored in different contexts and with different pedagogical goals: to build e-portfolios, to enhance cooperation and collaboration among peers, to develop skills in searching, organizing and sharing Web resources and to facilitate interaction and communication competencies. Results are presented and discussed in order to infer a set of guidelines for the design of teacher education and training programs regarding the use of ICT in teaching and learning.

Chapter 24: From Memorable to Transformative E-Learning Experiences: Theory and Practice of Experience Design

Pearl Chen, California State University, Los Angeles, USA

This chapter reviews the current state of theory and practice of experience design and suggests that the notion of experience should be regarded as an essential and unifying theme in guiding a broader perspective of design and study of e-learning. Underlying this chapter is a view that suggests a shift from designing learning environments to “staging” learning experiences. By looking at learning through the prism of experience design, we may begin to discover ways to create compelling, memorable, and transformative e-learning experiences. Some existing models and effective practices in education are considered as viable models for adapting experience design to e-learning contexts. Furthermore, this chapter identifies some converging areas of research from the fields of experience design and education, so as not to reinvent the wheel but to expand our knowledge on designing quality e-learning experiences that are engaging and valued by people.

Chapter 25: A Constructivist Model in Course Design

Carl Scott, University of Houston, USA
Youmei Liu, University of Houston, USA
Madhuri Kumar, University of Houston, USA

This chapter examines the relationship between a constructivist teaching approach and online learning experiences in the Virtual Worlds of Second Life, using a specifically constructed MBA-level course teaching Systems Analysis and Design. A research study was incorporated in the course design to test the Constructivist Learning Design (CLD) model (Gagnon & Collay, 2006) and social (use of individual- vs. group-oriented activities) domains. This chapter covers: (a) fundamentals of Systems Analysis and Design course; (b) current research of Second Life in education; (c) course design based on CLD models; and (d) research data analysis of course delivery through constructivist learning in Second Life and student learning experiences in the Virtual Worlds.

Chapter 26: Student Perceptions and Pedagogical Applications of E-Learning Tools in Online Course

C. Candace Chou, University of St. Thomas, USA

This study explores student views of various E-Learning tools as teaching and learning media in an online course for pre-service and in-service teachers. This chapter also examines the pedagogical applications of E-Learning tools in an online course. The capabilities of a system that allows meaningful interaction, reflection, personal identification, and a sense of community play a key role in the degree of social presence. This study highlights some key findings regarding the efficacy of E-Learning tools from student perspectives and make recommendations for future pedagogical practice.

Chapter 27: Using Blogfolios to Enhance Interaction in E-Learning Courses

Steve Chi-Yin Yuen, The University of Southern Mississippi, USA
Harrison Hao Yang, State University of New York at Oswego, USA

Enhancing the substantial interaction in e-learning courses can be a challenge to instructors. The chapter gave an overview of online interaction, portfolios development, and blogs use in education. It then discussed the potential uses of Weblog-based portfolio for e-learning courses in supporting interactions among students and instructors, and presented a case study on how a blogfolio approach was implemented into three hybrid courses and one fully online course at two universities in the United States. The effectiveness of the blogfolio approach on interactions in both fully online and hybrid courses has been assessed and confirmed in this study.

Chapter 28: Multi-Tier Knowledge Based System Accessing Learning Object Repository using Fuzzy XML

Priti Srinivas Sajja, Sardar Patel University, India

Quality of an e-Learning solution depends on its content, services offered by it and technology used. To increase reusability of common learning material which is accessed by multiple applications, there is a need for user-friendly and cost-effective knowledge based approach. This chapter discusses basic concepts of learning object repositories; presents work done so far and establishes the need of knowledge based access of the learning repositories to improve cost-benefit ratio of an e-Learning solution. For this purpose, a multi-tier knowledge based system accessing a fuzzy XML learning object repository is described with architectural framework and detailed methodology. The working of course tier, reusable LO tier, presentation tier, fuzzy interface tier and application tier is discussed in detail with an example to identify learners’ level and determine presentation sequence accordingly. The chapter concludes by discussing the advantages and questions related to further enhancement.

Chapter 29: Finding Information: Factors that Improve Online Experiences

Ivan Angelov, University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Sathish Menon, Analytic Dimension, USA
Michael Douma, Institute for Dynamic Educational Advancement (IDEA), USA

This chapter outlines central findings from surveys that considered factors that drive online experience as expressed by the three different groups of subjects – nonprofit organizations and cities, web designers and firms, and the general public. The survey’s significant findings are: designers underestimate the thresholds for an effective site; easy access to complete information is the key to visitor enjoyment; good visual design and up-to-date information are critical; visitors want information fast; visitors want a broad range of topics; designers are overly optimistic about visitors’ ability to maintain orientation; visitors still need handholding; and visitors cite the lack of breadth and depth of content as causing an “information gap.”

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Collective Intelligence and E-Learning 2.0: Implications of Web-Based Communities and Networking

I am pleased to announce the book, “Collective Intelligence and E-learning 2.0:  Implications of Web-Based Communities and Networking,” that I co-edited with Professor Harrison Hao Yang at the State University of New York at Oswego is published by IGI Global couple weeks ago.  The book is now available online at IGI Global,  Amazon.com, Target.com, and many online bookstores.

With the advent of Web 2.0, e-learning has the potential to become far more personal, social, and flexible. Collective Intelligence and E-Learning 2.0: Implications of Web-Based Communities and Networking provides a valuable reference to the latest advancements in the area of educational technology and e-learning. This innovative collection includes a selection of world-class chapters addressing current research, case studies, best practices, pedagogical approaches, and strategies related to e-learning resources and projects.

Preface

The Web is shifting from being a medium, in which information is transmitted and consumed, into being a platform, in which content is created, shared, remixed, repurposed, and exchanged. Learners become part of a global human network in which they can harness the collective intelligence of people in the world that could have never been possible previously. With the advent of Web 2.0, e-learning has the potential to become far more personal, social, and flexible. Consequently, e-learning 2.0 can capitalize on many sources of content aggregated together into learning experiences and utilize various tools including online references, courseware, knowledge management, collaboration, and search. Collective Intelligence and E-Learning 2.0: Implications of Web-Based Communities and Networking introduces theoretical aspect of e-learning 2.0 as well as disseminates cutting-edge research and first-hand practices regarding Game-Based Simulation, Podcasting, Second Life, Social Bookmarking, Social Networking, YouTube, Wiki, etc. on e-learning. In addition, instructional design models, strategies, and furture trends of e-learning are covered this book.

The book is written for broader audiences including educators, trainers, administrators, and researchers working in the area of e-learning or distance learning in various disciplines, e.g. educational fields, corporate training, instructional technology, computer science, library information science, information technology, and workforce development. The book can be used as a research reference, pedagogical guide, or educational resource in the area of Web 2.0 technologies and related applications applied to e-learning.

Organization of the Book

Collective Intelligence and E-Learning 2.0: Implications of Web-Based Communities and Networking is designed to be used in a flexible manner, and it can adapt easily to suit a variety of educational technology related courses and needs by students, instructors, and administrators. The book includes a selection of chapters addressing current research, case studies, best practices, pedagogical approaches and strategies, related resources and projects related to e-learning 2.0. The book is organized into two parts, From Web 2.0 to E-Learning 2.0 and Beyond (Chapters 1-6) and Web 2.0 Technologies in E-Learning (Chapters 7-16). The book covers beyond theoretical insights of Web 2.0 and e-learning 2.0. It shares practical aspects of e-learning 2.0 and provides readers with a balance of research, theory, and applications on both innovative Web 2.0 technologies and future e-learning.

Chapter 1: Learning Networks and Connective Knowledge. This chapter introduces theoretical views on factors impacting the future of e-learning. It discusses connectivisim theory, networked learning, connective knowledge, and network semantics that form a new e-learning approach (e-learning 2.0).

Chapter 2: Conceptualizing Codes of Conduct in Social Networking Communities. This chapter reviews the capabilities of social networking tools and links those capabilities to recent legal and ethical controversies involving use of social networking tools such as Facebook and MySpace.

Chapter 3: Fulfilling the Promise: Addressing Institutional Factors that Impede the Implementation of E-Learning 2.0. As online learning continues to expand and evolve, new challenges emerge regarding the implementation of Web 2.0 tools and technologies in online pedagogy. This chapter examines institutional factors that impede implementation of e-learning 2.0. The business model approach to online learning being embraced by many institutions may actually work against faculty who want to utilize Web 2.0 technologies to create E-Learning 2.0 experiences for their students.

Chapter 4: Designing Dynamic Learning Environment for Web 2.0 Application. This chapter presents a new instructional design model that specifically addresses the cognitive demands involved in Web 2.0 learning, promotes learning that focuses on metacognitive thinking and self-regulation, facilitates knowledge integration and construction of schemas-of-the-moment for ill-structured learning, and delivers a dynamic learning environment in Web 2.0 application.

Chapter 5: Instructional Strategies for Teaching in Synchronous Online Learning Environments (SOLE). This chapter discusses synchronous online learning environments (SOLEs) and their affordances for teaching and learning.

Chapter 6: University 2.0: Human, Social, and Societal Issues. Higher education is changing in important and profound ways. University 2.0 offers amazing potential to fundamentally change the way higher education functions in the future. This chapter describes many of the potential problems that will accompany University 2.0 and provides a series of recommended actions that university administrators can take to respond to the problems.

Chapter 7: Use of Wikis to Support Collaboration among Online Students. This chapter discusses the merits and challenges of using a wiki to support the activities of students during group projects.

Chapter 8: Wikibook Transformations and Disruptions: Looking Back Twenty Years to Today. A wikibook is a transformative and disruptive technology that is finding increasing use in schools and higher education institutions. This chapter describes the adoption of three wikibooks in cross-institutional higher education settings and discusses collaboration issues, technology issues, knowledge construction and sense of community issues related to the wikibook technology and the wikibook design process.

Chapter 9: Web-Based Video for e-Learning: Tapping into the YouTube Phenomenon. The recent explosive growth of Web-based video has expanded the repository of free content that can be tapped into for e-learning. This chapter introduces Web-based video as a new form of educational motion picture, delves into technical aspects of Web 2.0 video tools, describes instructional strategies that integrate Web-based video clips in e-learning, and examines barriers that could potentially inhibit its use.

Chapter 10: From Information Literacy to Scholarly Identity: Effective Pedagogical Strategies for Social Bookmarking. This chapter provides best examples for effective pedagogical applications of social bookmarking and offers insights into how these activities change the way students think and learn.

Chapter 11: VISOLE: A Constructivist Pedagogical Approach to Game-based Learning. VISOLE (Virtual Interactive Student-Oriented Learning Environment) is a constructivist pedagogical approach to empower computer game-based learning. This approach encompasses the creation of a near real-life online interactive world modeled upon a set of multi-disciplinary domains, in which each student plays a role in this “virtual world” and shapes its development. With sophisticated multi-player simulation contexts and teacher facilitation (scaffolding and debriefing), VISOLE provides opportunities for students to acquire both subject-specific knowledge and problem-solving skills through their near real-life gaming experience.

Chapter 12: Second Language E-Learning and Professional Training with Second Life® .This chapter addresses the application of e-learning in university degree programs based on exploiting the practical, intensive, and holistic aspects of Second Life®.

Chapter 13: Empirical evidence and practical cases for using virtual worlds in educational contexts. This chapter introduces three cases for educational uses of the Second Life® virtual world and provides empirical evidence for effective usage within the educational contexts.

Chapter 14: A Pedagogical Odyssey in Three-dimensional Virtual Worlds: The Second Life Model. This chapter discusses the theoretical perspectives, educational possibilities, as well as challenges of using virtual worlds in teaching and learning. In addition, it offers a pedagogical framework to support teaching and learning in virtual worlds – the Second Life® model.

Chapter 15: Podcasting – a flexible E-Learning Tool. This chapter discusses the uniqueness of podcasting technology in promoting e-learning, examines educational efficacy of podcasting in e-learning, and provides podcasting best practice in e-learning design and delivery.

Chapter 16: Using Social Networking to Enhance Sense of Community in E-Learning Courses. This chapter provides an overview and development of sense of community and social networking, discusses the potential uses of social networking in education, and presents a case study that integrates social networking into e-learning courses for the purpose of building a sense of community, improving communications and interactions, and promoting student-centered collaboration.

Chapter Authors and Table of Content

Table of Contents:

Foreword

George Siemens, University of Manitoba, Canada

Section I: From Web 2.0 to E-Learning 2.0 and Beyond

Chapter I: Learning Networks and Connective Knowledge

Stephen Downes, National Research Council, Canada

Chapter II: Conceptualizing Codes of Conduct in Social Networking Communities

Ann Dutton Ewbank, Arizona State University, USA
Adam G. Kay, Dartmouth College, USA
Teresa S. Foulger, Arizona State University, USA
Heather L. Carter, Arizona State University, USA

Chapter III: Fulfilling the Promise: Addressing Institutional Factors that Impede the Implementation of E-Learning 2.0

Judi Repman, Georgia Southern University, USA
Cordelia Zinskie, Georgia Southern University, USA
Elizabeth Downs, Georgia Southern University, USA

Chapter IV: Designing Dynamic Learning Environment for Web 2.0 Application

Robert Z. Zheng, University of Utah, USA

Chapter V: Instructional Strategies for Teaching in Synchronous Online Learning Environments (SOLE)

Marshall G. Jones, Winthrop University, USA
Stephen W. Harmon, Georgia State University, USA

Chapter VI: University 2.0: Human, Social, and Societal Issues

Daniel W. Surry, University of South Alabama, USA
David C. Ensminger, Loyola University Chicago, USA

Section II: Web 2.0 Technologies in E-Learning

Chapter VII: Use of Wikis to Support Collaboration among Online Students

Jay Alden, National Defense University, USA

Chapter VIII: Wikibook Transformations and Disruptions: Looking Back Twenty Years to Today

Curtis J. Bonk, Indiana University, USA
Mimi Miyoung Lee, University of Houston, USA
Nari Kim, The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, USA
Meng-Fen Grace Lin, University of Hawaii, USA

Chapter IX: Web-Based Video for e-Learning: Tapping into the YouTubeTM Phenomenon

Chareen Snelson, Boise State University, USA

Chapter X: From Information Literacy to Scholarly Identity: Effective Pedagogical Strategies for Social Bookmarking

Deborah Everhart, Georgetown University, USA
Kaye Shelton, Dallas Baptist University, USA

Chapter XI: VISOLE: A Constructivist Pedagogical Approach to Game-Based Learning

Morris S. Y. Jong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Junjie Shang, Peking University, China
Fong-Lok Lee, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Jimmy H. M. Lee, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Chapter XII: Second Language E-Learning and Professional Training with Second Life®

Patricia Edwards, University of Extremadura, Spain
Mercedes Rico, University of Extremadura, Spain
Eva Dominguez, University of Extremadura, Spain
J. Enrique Agudo, University of Extremadura, Spain

Chapter XIII: Empirical Evidence and Practical Cases for Using Virtual Worlds in Educational Contexts

Hyung Sung Park, Korea National University of Education, South Korea
Young Kyun Baek, Korea National University of Education, South Korea

Chapter XIV: A Pedagogical Odyssey in Three-Dimensional Virtual Worlds: The SECOND LIFE® Model

Sharon Stoerger, Indiana University, USA

Chapter XV: Podcasting: A Flexible E-Learning Tool

Youmei Liu, University of Houston, USA
Shawn McCombs, University of Houston, USA

Chapter XVI: Using Social Networking to Enhance Sense of Community in E-Learning Courses

Steve Chi-Yin Yuen, The University of Southern Mississippi, USA
Harrison Hao Yang, State University of New York at Oswego, USA

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Call for Chapter Proposals – Collective Intelligence and E-Learning 2.0

Since I discussed E-Learning 2.0 in this blog couple days ago, I want to take this opportunity here to invite you to consider contributing your expertise to a forthcoming book edited by me and Prof. Harrison Yang of the State University of New York at Oswego, entitled Collective Intelligence and E-Learning 2.0: Implications of Web-Based Communities and Networking.

E-learning 2.0 is evolving to one of the most exciting, dynamic, and challenging fields involving teaching and learning. The widespread Web 2.0 applications have the capacity for educational institutions and corporations involved in training to extend the possibilities of e-learning. E-learning 2.0 has the potential to become far more personal, social, and flexible. In the fields of e-learning, distance education, instructional technology, knowledge management, etc., there exists a need for an edited collection of chapters that provide a balance of research, theory, and applications on both innovative Web 2.0 technologies and future e-learning.

Collective Intelligence and E-Learning 2.0: Implications of Web-Based Communities and Networking will aim to introduce theoretical framework of e-learning 2.0 based on Web 2.0 technologies and provide practical aspect of e-learning 2.0 that includes research, case studies, best practices, pedagogical approaches and strategies, related resources and projects, etc.

Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

Part 1: From Web to Web 2.0 and E-learning 2.0

• The Read/Write Web, The Social Web, Web 2.0, The Web as Platform
• E-learning 2.0
• Social Networking
• Digital Natives or Net Generation
• New Learning Paradigms, Approaches to Studying/Learning Styles
• Connectivism, Constructivism, and other Learning Theories
• Learning and Knowledge Communities, Knowledge Management

Part 2: Web 2.0 Technologies in Education and Training

• Blogs, Content Aggregation, Feeds (RSS and Atom), Tagging and Syndication
• Online File/Work Editing and Sharing (Google Doc, Writeboard, etc.)
• Media Sharing (Flickr, SlideShare, YouTube, Zoomr, Putfile, etc.)
• Podcasting and screencasting, iTunes U
• Wikis (Web-based, Desktop, and Mobile Wikis, etc.)
• Folksonomy, Social Bookmarking (del.icio.us, Furl, etc.)
• Social Networking Services (EduSpace, Facebook, MySpace, etc.)
• Educational Games and Simulations
• Virtual Worlds (Second Life, Active Worlds, Galaxiki, etc.)

Part 3: Issues and Trends Related to E-learning 2.0

• Blended Learning, Rapid E-learning, Flexible Learning, Microlearning
• Corporate E-learning, E-Moderating
• Mobile Learning, Mobile Web 2.0, Mobile Collaborate Learning
• Informal and/or formal Network Learning
• Virtual Learning Environments or Learning Management System
• Knowledge Forum and Knowledge Building Theory
• Online Learning Community
• Computer-Mediate Communication, Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning
• Theory and Practices of E-learning 2.0 in Teaching and Training, Pedagogical Approaches or Perspectives for E-learning 2.0, Designing and Delivering E-learning 2.0

Part 4: E-Learning 2.0 and Beyond

• Web 3.0, School 2.0, University 2.0, Classroom 2.0, Library 2.0
• Critical Factors in Implementing E-learning 2.0
• Assessing E-learning 2.0 in Teaching and Learning
• Future of E-learning

For more information and recommended topics, please visit the website at: http://book.yuen.us

Should you accept this invitation, I would like to kindly ask that, on or before April30, 2008, you submit via e-mail a 2-3 page chapter proposal for review that clearly explains the mission and concern of your proposed chapter. Should your proposal be accepted, you will be notified by May 31, 2008, and given until August 31, 2008, to submit your chapter upon which it will be sent for double-blind peer review. The book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global (formerly Idea Group Inc.), www.igi-global.com, publisher of the IGI Publishing (formerly Idea Group Publishing), Information Science Publishing, IRM Press, CyberTech Publishing, Information Science Reference (formerly Idea Group Reference), and Medical Information Science Reference imprints.

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E-Learning 2.0

Online information and communication is changing the way instructors and learners interact and learn. Today, the Web is no longer just an information repository or a place to search for resources. Traditional Web applications typically consist of browsing and searching on the Internet and are essentially a reading operation. In contrast, the new Web (Web 2.0 or Read/Write Web) is a place to find other users, to exchange ideas and thoughts, to demonstrate creativity, and to create new knowledge. Web 2.0 applications, such as wikis, blogs, social bookmarking, and podcasts, have emerged in a rich, interactive, user-friendly application platform that allow users to read and also to write to the Web. Web 2.0 has transformed the Web into a global network community where every user is invited to create content. The Web is shifting from being a medium, in which information is transmitted and consumed, into being a platform, in which content is created, shared, remixed, repurposed, and exchanged. The unique feature of many Web 2.0 applications is that it harnesses the collective intelligence of users. Learners become part of a global human network in which they can harness the collective intelligence of people in the world that could have never been possible previously. Learners can interact with other learners, gain from their experiences, and then construct their own knowledge. The advent of Web 2.0 technologies allows teachers and trainers to empower learners and create exciting new learning opportunities.

The widespread Web 2.0 applications have the capacity for educational institutions and corporations involved in training to extend the possibilities of e-learning. Consequently, the model of e-learning 2.0 (as coined by Stephen Downes) has been emerged. Stephen Downes, in his 2005 article  E-Learning 2.0, noted:

What happens when online learning ceases to be like a medium, and becomes more like a platform? What happens when online learning software ceases to be a type of content-consumption tool, where learning is “delivered,” and becomes more like a content-authoring tool, where learning is created? The model of e-learning as being a type of content, produced by publishers, organized and structured into courses, and consumed by students, is turned on its head. Insofar as there is content, it is used rather than read- and is, in any case, more likely to be produced by students than courseware authors. And insofar as there is structure, it is more likely to resemble a language or a conversation rather than a book or a manual.

Similarly, Steve O’hear, in his 2006 article e-learning 2.0 – how Web technologies are shaping education, pointed out that the early promise of e-learning has not been fully realized. He wrote:

The traditional approach to e-learning has been to employ the use of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), software that is often cumbersome and expensive – and which tends to be structured around courses, timetables, and testing. That is an approach that is too often driven by the needs of the institution rather than the individual learner. In contrast, e-learning 2.0 (as coined by Stephen Downes) takes a ‘small pieces, loosely joined’ approach that combines the use of discrete but complementary tools and web services – such as blogs, wikis, and other social software – to support the creation of ad-hoc learning communities.

Web is no longer an information repository or a place to search for resources. The new Web a place to find other learners, to exchange ideas and thoughts, to demonstrate creativity, and to create new knowledge. With the new tools and services provided by the new Web, it starts laying the foundation for innovative ideas such as Classroom 2.0, Library 2.0, School 2.0, University 2.0, and E-learning 2.0.

E-learning 2.0 can capitalize on many sources of content aggregated together into learning experiences and utilize various tools including online references, courseware, knowledge management, collaboration and search. E-learning 2.0 differs from traditional e-learning. Instead of learners simply receiving, reading, and responding to learning content in traditional e-learning; e-learning 2.0 allows learners to create content and to collaborate with peers to form a learning network with distribution of content creation and responsibilities. In addition, e-learning 2.0 allows learners to easily access content through search, aggregation, and tagging. It provides learners with opportunities to interact with the content and share their thoughts and comments with not only the instructors but also with other learners. E-learning 2.0, therefore, is evolving to one of the most exciting, dynamic, and challenging fields involving teaching and learning.

[My colleague, Dr. Harrison Yang at the State University of New York at Oswego, also contributes to this post]

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