Using web 2.0, social media and mobile computing in VET, and why schools, teachers and businesses are going about it the wrong way. Arne Jansen NKI Distance Education

Arne Jansen NKI Distance Education, Norway Tech-head, Course developer, Multimedia developer, Teacher, Writer

NKI Distance Education Scandinavia’s largest provider of online education One of the pioneers of online education. Over 300 individual courses and studies on all levels. Start whenever you want, from anywhere you are 24/7, 365 days a year. Approximately students. 60 employees and approximately 250 teachers. Professors of online education, Torstein Rekkedal and Morten Flate Paulsen.

e-teacher 2.0 Project under the Leonardo da Vinci program 'E-teacher 2.0' will facilitate the process of redidactization and empower teachers in integrating Web 2.0 into teaching, update teachers with new technologies and prepare for new relevant technologies as they emerge. Facilitated by Metropolitan University College in Denmark. Project leader: Torben S. Thomsen, Hansenberg vocational school. Participants from Denmark, Turkey, Portugal, Nederlands, Norway

Definitions Web 2.0 – Applications and services on the Internet that facilitates communication, sharing, cooperation and interaction. Social media – A type of Web 2.0 service. Mobile computing – Using an Internet connected computing device that is independent of location.

The challenge Schools and teachers must update their learning methods to include the use of ICT, web 2.0 technologies, social media and mobile computing.

How do schools and teachers react to this challenge? Schools Ask for more money to buy computers. Register a Facebook page. Tell teachers that they have to learn ICT and use it in class. Make rules for the use of ICT in class. Teachers Ask for time off to update their ICT-competence. Register a Facebook page and a Twitter account.

How teachers meet the challenge Find a web 2.0 application Learn to use the application Figure out how to use the application in class Teach the students to use the application Do a project with the class

So what’s wrong with that? It’s a one-off. Teacher go back to traditional teaching as soon as the project is done. It’s time consuming. It steals a lot of time from the teachers primary tasks. Students don’t get it. Students feel the application is just one more thing the teacher tells them they have to learn. Teachers are unable to stay updated. There are thousands of web 2.0 applications and services. New are added every day and old ones are constantly updated. The application will become obsolete or changed before it can be reused

How teachers end up Find a web 2.0 application Learn to use the application Figure out how to use the application in class Teach the students to use the application Do a project with the class

There is no way a vocational teacher will be able to stay updated on web applications and services. Traditional thinking and approach don’t work with web 2.0, social media and mobile computing because of the rapid change in technology.

Teachers don’t need to be able to use the applications, they need to understand the basic concepts of how the technology is used. Communication Interaction Collaboration Sharing

Teachers can apply these concepts to their teaching without learning applications. Find a web 2.0 application Learn to use the application Figure out how to use the application in class Teach the students to use the application Do a project with the class Ask how communication, sharing, collaboration and interaction are used in the profession they teach? Figure out how to apply this in a learning environment Give the students tasks that require them to use web 2.0 Let the students find out what applications and services they can use to solve the tasks Let the students present their solutions

Why is this a better approach? The students get it. Students get the freedom to make their own decisions and use the tools they are familiar with or feel are right for the task. It promotes creativity and innovation. There is an element of competition. Teachers can focus on their subjects instead of technology. Less pressure to constantly learn new technology. Successful projects can be reused. New students will just use new applications and find other solutions.

It’s not as easy as it sounds Teachers still need to learn ICT Teacher must be able to use computers, mobile devices and web 2.0 applications on a basic level. Schools must be willing to relax restrictions. Students must be allowed to use computers, mobile phones and applications freely. Teacher must be willing to resign some control to the students. The teacher will not be able to help the students with technology problems Risk that some students are left out. Differences in access to technology increases the risk.

But it’s still the better alternative 'E-teacher 2.0' will facilitate the process of redidactization and empower teachers in integrating Web 2.0 into teaching, update teachers with new technologies and prepare for new relevant technologies as they emerge.

Businesses treat web 2.0 and social media as just another marketing channel. Marketing department wants full control. Register a Facebook page to tell everyone about new products and services. Register a Twitter account to tell everyone about new products and services. Start a blog to brag about new products and services. Make rules that restricts employees use of social media. It’s good for business, but it does not promote innovation.

To be innovative, businesses need to open the “digital door” and let students in and the employees out. Use the Internet for two-way communication instead of just announcements. Share thoughts, ideas and knowledge instead of just product specifications. Let employees collaborate and interact with schools, teachers and students.

Conclusions A traditional approach to web 2.0 does not work well because the rapid change of technology makes it impossible for teachers and schools to stay up to date. Focus should be on the underlying concepts. Communication, sharing, collaboration and interaction. These are stable and independent of applications and platforms. But there are still many challenges and this approach creates new ones. Businesses must learn to understand that the internet is a lot more than a marketing channel. It’s not about learning technology. It’s about understanding what technology can do.

Thank you!