Web 2 Tools and a cultural question

[Mona Younes]

I came across this NING twice. First as a preparatory action for the Flatroom conference. But now as part of an assignment for an online course I am doing on "DIstance Education Technology" ( which is one required Core Course for the Distance Education Professional Development Program.) We are asked to review a couple of Web 2 Learning Tools and submit our review in a table format. I choose NING and actually I found it so interesting in the way it keeps people connected.

I have no idea, but do you think that NING will find its way into the Arab population. I have a hypothesis that is saying that the concept of SHARING can effectively be disseminated into cultures via Web 2 applications (see the popularity of facebook and YouTube)

[Rebecca Hatherley]

...and 'try again' we must - laazim.

[Mona Younes]

Hello Rebecca,

Ya, I have thought also of the idea of a reward system... a competition between teachers and a prize for those, who upload their lesson plans (regardless of its quality at first)..and maybe I will be putting an announcement for that soon. For now I am too busy preparing for the e-Learning workshops (16 sessions for independent schools).

I think hte best thing is to give them the option of uploading their stuff anonymously, or with their name and school name. Giving them more space to do it their way, is at the beginning very important.

Thank you for your thoughts. I just read a very good proverb, which I have to remember, when I have the feeling of giving up disseminating the concept of "sharing":

When the world tells you " Give up"....Hope whispers:" Try again" :)

,,,, it will need time a a lot of paaaaaaaaaaaaatience.
Mona

[Rebecca Hatherley]

Mona,
What about anonymously adding lesson plans? Some teachers may be fearful of repercussions if their lessons are not up to par.

Perhaps some teachers don't believe that others will give credit to them for all of their hard work.

What about a reward system? Have a monthly draw for teachers or highlight the top 5 contributors, and then one for a school that contributes the most. Make it fun. (I know, I know... I can hear Alfie Kohn in my ear!)

Have a 'public' space where other teachers can acknowledge/thank another teachers/schools for their resources.

Perhaps it is not the teachers. Perhaps the procedure for uploading their resources is time consuming, difficult, too many clicks, and/or they need training?

I'll keep brainstorming.

[Julie Lindsay]

Mona
This is an excellent discussion! Yes, knowledge is power however today who I connect with, when and how I connect will determine how I learn and what use I am making of the information I am working with. Learners today need to realise the real power lies in connections, collaborations and sharing as a learning community. We also need to break down this idea of 'ownership' of resources and also to an extent intellectual copyright. Yes, teachers are afraid to share, afraid to give over the power but we need to build into our everyday educational experience that the power of 2 people working on a problem is greater than one working in isolation.

[Mona Younes]

Thanks Dr Turner,

I am just thinking aloud:" what does it take to disseminate the concept of sharing / collaboration in the educational system, in a culture where the predominant notion is "KNOWLEDGE IS POWER... e.g. don't give it away?" Why am I asking the question?? I am the Managing Editor of the teachers network here in Qatar (www.teachers.net.qa) and I am encouraging (for 3 years now) teachers to share their lesson plans and assignments online... there is such a tremedous resistence and why : 'Because Knowledge is Power'.

What does it take to encourage teachers to collaborate and share online............?????????????? What can motivate them, what should be done????????????

Thank you
Mona

[Dr J Turner]

Thanks Mona - a very perceptive reflection.
I commend you on choosing Ning as it is a good example of a Web 2 technology that can bring people together for common purposes and shared understandings.
Having just been part of the FlatClassroom conference (http://flatclassroomconference.ning.com/) I saw first hand the potential of Web 2 applications to forge positive inter-cultural links.
Sharing / Collaboration is recognised as an important 21st Century Learning Skill. If the world is flattening then such skills will be in demand.(Gone are the days when we could rely on specialists who "know it all").
I hope all cultures can make similar use of Web 2 applications.
Regards
John Turner