Week 1-Blog Posting #2- Learning 2.0

Overcome the Fear of Learning 2.0

"I have a secret to tell you." My friend's husband told me with a serious but embarrassed expression 22 years ago.

"OK....What is your secret?" I tried to keep my voice as calm as possible.

"I don't know how to use computers!!! I think I am out of date and I will be left behind very soon....." He said it with a horrified tone of voice.

"You know what? You shouldn't be afraid of computers. Computers should mold themselves to fit your needs, not the other way around. Computers are going to get easier and easier. So...relax. You will be OK." I truly believe what I said 22 years ago still applies in today's world.

We were using MS-DOS at that time. (Never heard of it? OK, google MS-DOS and You will be able to guess my age...) We needed to remember lots and lots of command keys in order to tell computers to do what we want them to do. User friendly? It was a joke at that time.

Currently, we are walking in the Web 2.0 world. How many adults believe we are "Digital Immigrants" (Prensky, 2001)? I am Chinese and I speak English with an accent. Neuroscientists can explain the different brain functions between using mother language(s) and the foreign languages. But I don't believe that this is the case for digital learning. We can, if we want to, to use all the digital devices and programs as well as those youngsters. We can speak the digital language without an accent.

The following video I made reflects my opinions.

The research and my own observations, reflected what Gwen Solomon, Lynne Schrum (2007) wrote, "Young people are already using many of these tools for enjoyment. It's up to schools to help them apply the tools toward more serious endeavors."

I think the concern is not if the students should or shouldn't be using Web 2.0 anymore. It's not an option but necessary for the future. This digital wave is carrying and pushing us forward. We have no choice. The major concern and the key to leading to the success of students will be teachers and parents.

How can we help some teachers and parents overcome the fear of technology?

1. Show them that it is an easy process. Most of the operation systems and programs are very user friendly. If they tried several times and still have trouble handling the programs, blame the computers not yourself. Apparently, those programs were not "friendly" yet. In the spirit of collaboration using web 2.0, the complains will bring improvements.
2. Woo them to use it. Just like my "lazy" friend who I mentioned in last blog, he emailed everybody and wrote if we want to see more pictures, login his Facebook. In the beginning I was afraid Facebook would become a digital black hole and suck all my time away. After using it, I found it is a time saver to keep in touch with my friends without writing to everybody.

Do you have more ideas? Please leave your comments.

References:

Kennedy, G. E., Judd, T. S., Churchward, A., Gray, K. & Krause, K. L. (2008). First year students' experiences with technology: Are they really digital natives? Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 24(1), 108-122. Available from http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/ajet24/kennedy.html

Prenksy, M. (2001a). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5). Available from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf

Solomon, G., Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0 new tools, new schools. Washington, DC: ISTE

Extended reading:

Palfrey, J., Gasser, U. (2008). Born digital: understanding the first generation of digital natives, New York: Basic Books, more information in http://www.borndigitalbook.com/index.php

Bayne, S., Ross, J. (2007, 12), The ‘digital native’ and ‘digital immigrant’: a dangerous opposition, University of Edinburgh, available from http://www.malts.ed.ac.uk/staff/sian/natives_final.pdf