Web 2.0 in Art

Artgonia; this is an "art portal where independent artists can publish their work for the world to see. The picture is a screen shot of the website."

Useful website of Web 2.0

Hi everyone! I just found a great website talking about web 2.0 in ideas, technologies and implications for education. I thought it could be useful for any of us to get more ideas about web 2.0 in many different point of views.

http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/techwatch/tsw0701b.pdf

Web 2.0 in Art - Maccaca

Maccaca.com; "The premier site for people with artistic talent. Maccaca is an online network for connoisseurs of artistic talent and artists. It provides a platform for all artists – actors, dancers, musicians, singers, lyricists, writers, painters, photographers, etc." The picture on the left is the image of the website. www.maccaca.com

Web 2.0 in Art - DoodleIsArt

DoodleIsArt; this is "a place where young artists can display their drawings. Adults and children can enjoy drawings from the world." The picture on the left is the screen shot of the home page of "DoodleIsArt". http://www.doodleisart.com/

Web 2.0 in Art - Artgonia

Artgonia; this is an art portal where independent artists can publish their work for the world to see. The picture is the screen shot of the website (http://www.artgonia.com/);

Wikipedia

Web 2.0 tools are part of the formal curriculums, or for special classes / group projects, etc. With that, we can say something in terms of group activity on subject matter. Because web 2.o is a collaborative (and networking) phenomenon, the Wikipedia might be the best choice for educative application. It provides students the basis for:

• independent and collaborative research
• studying, and learning
• critiquing or critically reviewing researched materials
• structuring content
• composing process
• editing
• composition approval and final sign-off

There are still other activities not noted here.

"Wikipedia projects can go a long way in developing new knowledge, skills and abilities as well as understandings of the human component behind, within and in front of the technology the students are using (that they are an integral part of the 'system'). And a concomitant outcome of a wiki project can / may be the facilitation of improved or increased social maturation of the students."

*phenomenon = any observable occurrence (from wikipedia)

Web 2.0 for Universities

I have been researching about Web 2.0, and I found one university that discussed about how effective the web 2.0 can be, and the pros and cons.

“Kansas State University”, in United State, investigated to find out what Web 2.0 could mean for universities. Harriet Swain, the education guardian of the Kansas State University talked about the survey he’s given to the students and weighs the pros and cons.
Created from an online survey, it involved students surveying themselves, demonstrating how useful web 2.0 can be for universities in market research. In this survey results, it will be shown as an example of how effective web 2.0 technologies are in projects involving collaboration.
“Brian Kelly, UK web focus at UKlon, the national center of expertise in digital information management says that two years ago everyone was wondering whether web 2.0 had any relevance for higher education. Also says, ‘I think that’s generally accepted now.’”
“Les Watson, interim director of information services at Royal Holloway, University of London and a consultant for the Joint Information Systems Committee, which supports universities’ online activities goes further. ‘Anyone who thinks about learning and teaching and looks at these technologies cannot avoid taking advantage of them.’”
Nowadays most of the universities are taking advantage of web 2.0. Some are allowing students access to podcasts and videos for their lectures. Some others schools are encouraging students to collaborate through Wikis and using RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds to organize their own work. And many others are now giving feedback to their students’ works through Skype and using other social networking sites, both for their own research and to encourage students’ debate.
“Watson set up a Facebook site asking for suggestions from students what they would like to see provided in the new space. 200 students have given comments and they were constructive, however Watson admits: “You also had a few people with an axe to grind.” – this highlights the fact that web 2.0 presents dangers too. One institution reported three examples of serious problems in one year involving students' use of the new technology including the victim of a student scuffle using Facebook to identify the address of his attacker, and getting his revenge.”
There is also awareness for students who have been accessed to podcasts and YouTube videos of lectures, they may not bother turning up to the real thing. This may affects their education and grades.
“These dangers are surmountable. Institutions are issuing guidelines to students about how to keep safe while social networking, but students are still turning up to lectures. However, copyright and intellectual property issues involved in web 2.0 remain vague, and it’s not yet entirely clear how far students want universities invading their online space.”
“A survey carried out last year showed that 65% of sixth formers hoping to go to university used social networking sites, but most failed to see how they could be used for teaching and resented the idea that academics could interfere in a forum they saw as primarily social.
Most of those involved in universities’ use of web 2.0 nevertheless insist that institutions should not become overcautious. Kelly says; ‘Universities should be risk-taking organizations. Learning is a risky process.’”

Pros and Cons

"Determining the advantages and disadvantages of particular activities for people and organizations is an important task." The followings are the advantages and disadvantages which determines the truth about the social media, web 2.0, and blogging technologies;

Advantages of Social Media;
• Democratization of media.
• Create a new relationships.
• Creativity and re-mix culture.
• Embrace your passion and identity.
• Community, sharing, and connecting.
• Increase transparency in government and organizations.

Criticisms of Social Media;
• Lots of great content still gets overlooked. Current lack of good filters creates problems finding the best content.
• Writers have problems delivering content consistently.
• It can cause many problems through the conversation which are sometimes misunderstood.
• overload of their information and the social networkings.

Educational Blogging

"Blogging has quickly become one of the most effective learning tools in education today. It introduces students with new methods of communicating, improving their writing, and helps motivate them to find their voice. Educators generally write blog about school news, philosophies, and class activities. On the other hand, students tend to write about current events, personal beliefs, and topics related to their education. Many teachers have noted this as well, that the students would publish to their school blogs even when not instructed to. Students really enjoy reaching out to the world and they are so motivated by it that they want to write even more. They would describe how their day was, what they learned in class, or even things they learned or read on the news that day.
Many students became so attached to their blogs that they made it a responsibility to keep consistent. When they found they have been lacking in posts or that they haven’t been instructed to post for class in in a while, they would often apologize and feel as though they deserted their readers. It’s pretty interesting, although expected, to see that kind of connection with students and their blogs. Most of the students refer to other posts by other students in their writing, but do not appear to take advantage of trackback or pingback functionality."

Students testimonials;
“At the beginning of the year when we started blogs, I didn’t really feel like doing these, and I thought that they were just a waste of time, but I was WRONG! I have loved having these blogs and I learned a lot about writing, people, things happening with my friends, I met new people, I have learned ALOT about things going on in the world, and I learned that I can be free to write what I want, and I like how people would disagree with me, becasue it just encouraged me to write more.” – Hillary.
“When I wasn’t in the weblog group I would still be writing one paragraph essay. Now I’m writing a page essay.” … “Weblogs are helping me a lot.” – Jhonathan.

General testimonials;
“Never in 25 years of teaching have I seen a more powerful motivator for writing than blogs.” … “And that’s because of the audience. Writing is not just taped on the refrigerator and then put in the recycle bin. It’s out there for the world to see. Kids realize other people are reading what they write” – Mark Ahlness.
“The response has been tremendous. Students seem so much more willing to blog in their own space and time. They seem less inhibited and more enthusiastic.” – Beth Lynne Ritter-Guth.
Some teachers noticed something in their students; “Even when they’re out sick, students work on their blogs.” – Carol Barsotti.

IBM and The University of Arizona are teaming up to teach about Web 2.0 and Social Networking to give students skills in creating and managing online communities. What’s interesting is that it’s not just a presentation or learning event – it’s an actual full course! Seems like students from The University of Arizona are learning about Web 2.0 products and social networking from a business standpoint to give leadership, communication, and community-building skills. One UA student in a Digg comment thread provided readers with the official course description from the university website:
“Online social networking and communities have become a big role in how organizations interact within themselves as well as with external partners. Developing a healthy community can lead to new business opportunities, improved customer relations, as well as improved communications to the world. Online social network sites already claim over 300 million members worldwide in public sites that are starting to turn into a new generation of b2b and b2c business collaboration and brokerage sites. This course investigates the technologies, methods and practices towards developing online communities, and how this knowledge and these skills are applied to businesses. The course will involve lectures facilitated by the instructor and corporate representatives. Also incorporated will be experiential exercises and skill development assignments”

"The press release also states, “The class will culminate in a final project where each student from the class will work with their own separate group of students from Howenstine High School in Tucson, Arizona, to organize into many micro-communities.” Sounds like a fun and informative class. And according to Torrentfreak, The Univeristy of Arizona will be the first to offer “Web 2.0 courses”. It will certainly open up a new world of technology to students."

*IBN = Instance-Based Network
*These are mostly original from the other websites, and because it is perfect as it is, i will keep this as it is. For more information, please visit the original website; http://p2pfoundation.net/Educational_Blogging

In what ways has technology influenced knowledge??

i think that all the technologies whether it is old or new, it let people's knowledge improve or develop, by giving new and more information to that person. it also lets people get used to the technology. this will effect the knowledge by getting the sources.
i also think that it effects the learning style. people will able to find their own style of learning, as well as to the teachers, it wil be easy for them because the students will be on their task and teachers will be needed when students ask. but sometimes it's not an easy task, because all the new technologies coming in and we have to determine how effective it is to our learning, whether it is useful or not. this is because it effects the students' learning and learning style. it is also same to the teachers. they have to find the appropriate technology to teach their students and develop their knowledge in understanding. but i think that most of the teachers find using technology helps them teach their students. computer is a good example of technology. it allows us to learn effectively, since it has got most of the useful sofware and internet