While perusing the intertubes, I came across this article by Professor Antonio-Ramón Bartolomé Pina of the University of Barcelona.
In it, Bartolomé argues that although schools are incorporating Web 2.0 technologies (blog, wikis, rss feeds) this activity alone hasn't changed the paradigm of how students are learning.
Typically schools only use the technology as a new publishing system. So rather than had students books, professors hand out URLs. This doesn't help students become better learners or take advantage of all the knowledge everyone brings to the table.
Here, I believe that the Westminster BBA is way a head of the curve. Because, our learners are allowed to modify the community wiki, everyone is encouraged to share their knowledge and personal experiences with each other. Becoming, in th end, a true learning community.
What do you think about technology helping to create learning communities? Does it work?
I agree on a certain level with Professor Antonio-Ramón Bartolomé Pina, if all you are doing is using these new technologies as a fancy text book, you really aren't changing the paradigm. I believe it is easier to make the technical switch than to convince students to shift their paradigm. For example, giving students access to a wiki doesn't change very much, but if they are encouraged to author content in that wiki,the old paradigm is gone. The challenge that is left is convincing students to participate! My experience has shown that students are reluctant to change paradigms because it forces them into a new role- probably one they have never had before.
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