Personal Blogs

Weller (2009) suggests that decentralisation, democratisation and bottom-up processes characterise the world of Web 2.0. Using your reading in the module thus far, provide one or two examples that would support this claim and one or two examples that would modify or counter this claim.

Examples in support: 

• Wikipedia is also an example used by Weller
• Blogging can reflect all three. Learners can have any blog site, so not controlled by any one institution, they can post their own thoughts to blogs and interact with others via comments. However, blogs can be limited by the requirements of the course to blog on certain subjects, especially where it forms part of assessment - which reduces the element of democracy
• Activity Theory and expansive learning suggest that learners work towards defining the problem and creating solutions. If learners are able to choose their own tools to research and collaborate then this would be a supporting example
• Wesch's arguments about Youtube as a social networking and publishing medium - emphasises the democracy, decentralisation and democratisation

Examples that partially support

• The Evolution MegaLab and the citizen science projects. Using the voluntary participation of many to provide evidence for the study. Not totally bottom up as the study has been decided by a group of experts and the results will be interpreted by this group.
• Elluminate is available for H800 students to use anytime to discuss topics arising, though sometimes this is directed by the course material and Elluminate is controlled by the OU and only open to course members. Elluminate is often used as a virtual classroom, maintaining the processes and values of the traditional classroom. Elluminate is also fixed in time which creates exclusion.

Examples against:

• Learning design suggests that learning outcomes are determined by the institution and the course and the tools are also prescribed. Compendium has icons for tools and learning outcomes.
• Cox's paper on vicarious learning also had specified tools and the experiences that students drew upon were also chosen by the course team
• Forums where the subject is determined by the course requirements, though participants can choose to discuss any topic. Forums are only available to the group, therefore limited participation determined by the institution.
• OERs - learners follow determined course structures using prescribed tools

References:

Weller, M. (2009) 'Using learning environments as a metaphor for educational change', On the Horizon, vol.17, no.3, pp.181-9; also available online at http://nogoodreason.typepad.co.uk/ .m/ welleronthehorizon.pdf [accessed 11/06/11]