Web 2.0 for engaging and collaborative learning in higher education Essay

Web 2.0 for engaging and collaborative learning in higher education - Essay Example Classroom 2.0 uses asynchronous learning to promote collaboration among large numbers of users, instead of consuming one-way information, which is common in Classroom 1.0. Some educators are concerned, however, with the adoption of Web 2.0, because it may not serve their specific teaching needs and it may not always be aligned with learners’ skills and interests (Bennett et al., 2012; Yoo & David, 2011). Other educators think that Web 2.0 is a powerful enabling technology for students (Churchill, 2011; Sistek-Chandler, 2012). This essay aims to negotiate differences in the perceptions of Web 2.0 because of different beliefs in the effects of Web 2.0 on learning. Web 2.0 promotes learning through providing diverse tools for engaging and collaborative learning. Web 2.0 contributes to synchronous and asynchronous learning in higher education because it assists student content creation and sharing, promotes self-regulated learning and teamwork, and supports critical and reflective participation. Opponents of Web 2.0 assert that students have different Web 2.0 skills and these differences can produce cognitive load that can interfere with deep learning. Cifuentes, Alvarez Xochihua, and Edwards (2011) learned that the cognitive load from Web 2.0 interfered with deep learning due to students’ varying Web 2.0 skills. ... The authors stressed the importance of Web 2.0 in enhancing student content creation and sharing, but the inexperience of the students with these tools may prove disconcerting to them enough to not understand its value in their education. Cifuentes, Alvarez Xochihua, and Edwards (2011) also stressed that not all students understood the objectives of using Web 2.0. This article emphasizes the role of instructors in mediating learning through providing clear learning objectives in the use of Web 2.0. Teachers must consider these issues, before introducing Web 2.0 into learning practices. Technology skills and learning goals can impact how Web 2.0 will be used and adopted by both teachers and students alike. Students and teachers may have different interests and preferences too, when it comes too Web 2.0, which can affect how Web 2.0 is accepted and used in actual class settings. Yoo and David Huang (2011), in â€Å"Comparison of Web 2.0 Technology Acceptance Level Based on Cultural Di fferences,† examined the role of culture in accepting Web 2.0. They learned that Koreans and Americans have different preferences, when it comes to Web 2.0 technologies. If instructors are not aware of these preferences, they might not be able to motivate their students in maximizing Web 2.0 for learning. Bennett et al. (2012) noted that teachers also have varying perceptions on the importance of Web 2.0 in teaching and learning. Some teachers continue to believe that face-to-face communication is still the best way of learning, because actual presence can stimulate deep learning. Others believe that Web 2.0 presents interesting ways of engaging students. Clearly, differences in how Web

Examine the Internet and social media use in a foreign country Essay

Examine the Internet and social media use in a foreign country (report) - Essay Example This shows that internet is a household service that is quite popular in United Arab Emirates. There are, however, some forms internet censorship and restrictions put by the UAE government. The government does not allow any person to use internet to gather people for demonstrations that are not authorized by the government and also defaming the ruler of UAE and state in general is not allowed (BBC, 1). Promotion of prostitution and pornography is also not allowed using the internet (BBC, 1). Gambling is also not allowed in UAE, like most other Muslim countries. All these restrictions of internet use come under internet censorship. Use of social media is also very popular in the country and many users are active on social media. The most popular social media by far is Facebook because more than half of internet users of the country are active on Facebook (Scaria, 1). This is why it can be safely argued that Facebook is highly preferred by internet user of UAE. Mainly the youth is more interested in using Facebook as it provides them with the opportunity to communicate with each other and make new friends. The use of internet in the country is quite common and, therefore, users have developed great trust in internet. Internet is used in UAE for online transactions by many people (MVF Global, 1). Also, there is great potential in the e-commerce industry in UAE as many people want to shop online for services and products (MVF Global, 1). This highlights the fact that internet users in UAE are developed and they do not use internet for general communication and entertainment purposes only. Online transactions happen in UAE showing that the country has sophisticated internet users. All in all, United Arab Emirates is an internet loving nation as majority of the residents of the country use internet regularly. Social media is also very popular and among social networking sites, Facebook is the most popular. There are, however, many