The Affordance of Web2.0 Tools: Virtual Worlds and Other User-Created Content Tools in Education

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This workshop would involve participants working together using online collaboration and communication tools. We would provide experience of a number of 'web2.0' tools that allow educators and students to interact.
Online education is not only about supporting distance learning students (although can be useful in the context), but also about providing additional enriching channels for face to face interaction. A key concept is the notion of affordance, which helps educators design range of convenience, which may not be immediately apparent to the uninitiated. After this workshop participants will have more confidence in their choice and use of these exciting (but often hyped) new tools.
Appropriate education environments to support different types of student and different types of educational goal. We would look at virtual worlds, such as Second Life, collaborative communication tools, such as Google Documents, and social communication such as blogging and twittering. The workshop would use available technology to allow participants to experience some of the features of different web2.0 tools.

Stream: Curriculum and Pedagogy; Student Learning, Learner Experiences, Learner Diversity

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

Jonathan has worked in the University of Wolverhampton, the Open University and the University of Portsmouth. His interest in Human Computer Interaction lead to a fascination with how students learn using online and computer assisted tools. He has always been interested in how technology extends and facilitates human cognitive facilities, from visualization and representation of knowledge, to enhanced social networking using computer facilitated communication. After working as a University Teaching and Learning co-ordinator, and on secondment to a Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning he has (with colleagues) won awards for investigation of the use of virtual worlds. He has published in the domains of Human Computer Interaction and online eduction, at national and international conferences in the UK and abroad.