eLearning 2.0, What is it?
Hi there,
I have just finished reading an article by David Jennings, in which he discusses eLearning 2.0. While reading such an article, I realised that I have written about many technologies that facilitate eLearning 2.0, without really introducing what it is, or the common views about it.
According to Jennings, eLearning 2.0 is a combination of eLearning and Web 2.0. In order to help explain what eLearning 2.0 is, let me explain what Web 2.0 is.
Web 2.0 refers to the a ’second’ version of the internet, in which users can find greater interaction and connectivity with people all around the world. Social networking phenomena such as Facebook, MySpace and Wikipedia are the most evident examples of Web 2.0.
eLearning 2.0 derives from these phenomena and refers to the knowledge sharing social software that aids eLearning. Stephen Downes’
explains this really well, and explains that eLearning 2.0 encourages users to have greater input into their learning. Whereas traditional eLearning designers view learners as passive absorbers of information, designers for eLearning 2.0 recognise the valuable input of learners themselves.
In eLearning 2.0, eLearning becomes less of a content delivery system such as a CD, to a platform in which learners can make connections, share discoveries and solve problems together. Software in eLearning 2.0 is more focused on content-publishing, which allow users to learn from the very act of reading, watching and listening a wide range of texts; and publishing their own reflections about the content on the web.
If you want to see some examples of technologies that fall into the eLearning 2.0 category, please see refer to the Web 2.0 link on this blog
