Community Building with Technology

What is Web 2.0?
Web 2.0 is an evolution of the Internet from solely searching to sharing and it has created endless opportunities for all sectors within communities and for persons with specified interests and concerns to connect. Communities have been transformed with this innovation. People from various parts of the globe can exchange ideas, discuss concerns and common interests as well as debate in a shared virtual space. Web 2.0 is a movement giving individuals seeking to collaborate with like minds more possibilities and broadening the scope of communities.

Jonassen's Perspective
I recently read Chapter 5 of David Jonassen's book, "Meaningful Learning with Technology" and I appreciated his views and research on the subject. He shares a lot of informative findings. Throughout the chapter he gives examples of online communities have exposed students to diversity and social awareness. Through the use of various 2.0 platforms and well planned projects and lesson plans students can build on their knowledge and deepen their understanding of subject domains by collaborating with students in other localities that can offer a different perspective so that students can view concepts from other angles. Jonassen also talks about the opportunity for educators to exchange best practices, new ideas and experiences that help them to avoid reinventing the wheel and operating in separate silos. It's an opportunity for learning environments to create learning circles that are more far reaching and that can add more substance and authenticity to curriculum while shaping well rounded students and teachers.

Reflection Questions
At the end of the chapter, Jonassen asks some questions to provoke deeper thought around the subject of community building with technology. I would like to state my opinion and observations of the following questions posed in the chapter.

Question: What responsibilities to do teachers and students have in cultivating a learning community in the classroom?

I think teachers and students must be openminded to exploring new opportunities that can aid in the continued effort to strengthen and enrich learning environments. Sharing ideas and perceptions can promote deeper understanding because we are able to consider all factors that impact concepts and think more critically, analytically and deeply about subject matter. The responsibility of teachers and students is to consider the best, most effective way to enhance their understanding so that their learning is more meaningful.

When teachers decide to implement Web 2.0 platforms into their classrooms they must understand the technology so that they can decide if it is the right vehicle for the outcome they are seeking in a lesson plan. They should also be willing to learn with students as they explore new technologies.

Students should take part in shaping the learning environment by expressing preferred ways to learn. By taking some ownership in their learning students can ensure that they will be more engaged and connected to content they are presented with. This can also make learning more exciting, self directed and therefore more motivating to students. Students should be encouraged to share their ideas on ways to improve and enrich their learning experience.

Question: How can technology serve the goals of the community and how might it get in the way?

Technology can broaden communities making them more far reaching. It can help create more opportunities for those with common interests and concerns to connect and exchange ideas, learn from one another and explore new solutions to problems.

Technology in all its sophistication is also very open and that means online communities can be of a very wide spectrum. Anyone can create an online community or network including hate groups, predators and others that users might consider controversial. These groups may publish content that is offensive or biased and it is available to anyone that comes across it. This includes students. This means that teachers have to be cautious and cognizant of students reaction to information such as this and how this could get in the way of quality learning and meaningful learning environments. Although teachers have a responsibility when using technology to protect students and to shield them from harmful, distracting content they should also teach students how to decipher cyber junk or potentially harmful information and unsafe connections made online. They should think critically about the content they come across as they connect with others. Netiquette, credibility of users and motives of users publishing information are all topics that should be discussed with students when they use technology in classrooms.

Final Thoughts
Overall, this was a very interesting chapter with some insightful ideas on the benefits of building communities online as well as obstacles to the idea of 2.0 in classrooms. Jonassen lists some well known, reputable 2.0 networks that I have bookmarked and tagged as collaboration.

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