Learning, in OLEs, is a process of social negotiation among participants in any activity. Learning, from this perspective, is dialogue, a process of internal as well as social negotiation(Jonassen, 2000).
Through exploration, interpretation, and negotiation, understanding is deepened as multiple perspectives are considered. Such approaches may use teacher-student or student-student interactions to model or scaffold reflection and performance (see for example, Bereiter & Scardamalia, 1989; Palincsar & Brown, 1984).
OLEs are designed to assist the learners in the process of angling, or considering multiple perspectives during learning process. Varied perspectives from teachers, experts, or peers can be coordinated to form a knowledge base from which learners evaluate and negotiate varied sources of meaning (Hill & Land, 1998). The Knowledge Integration Environment (Linn,1995) uses web technology to support learners in sharing databases of learners-constructed evidence for evaluating scientific phenomena. Once learners generate explanations and examples, they can browse databases of evidence constructed by themselves, other students, and teachers.
Varied methods and perspectives are viewed as critical to developing deeper, divergent, and more flexible thinking processes.
(We see potential application of Web 2.0 tools here to enhance negotiation and multi-perspectives of interpretation)
*** Web 2.0 tools like Blogger,or Wiki help students to have collabortion work with others. Students can evaluate their understanding, clarify areas of uncertainty or confusion, and improve their understanding of the material by collaborative work and discussion in which multiple perspectives are involved. Take Wiki for example, learners can easily review the history of an article and contributors’ ongoing discussion. They can also contribute their beliefs and understanding to the topic in Wiki. Teachers could monitor students' discussion and provide guidance. Synchronous communication is feasible by video conferencing.
Wiki provides a platform in which the participants of the group could interprete the topic or question individually, then take sides or come up with their own needs for knowledge to explore. In our group work, each has his own perspective to the topic---" Web 2.0 and the Open learning Environment". We created our Wiki page, and began to work on the part we divided amongst us. What other members posted or commented always stimulate me to think about the approch I have to the topic. With interpretation,collbabration and negotiation, my understanding of the topic deepened.
Return to Front Page
Go to Assumption 4
Go to Open Learning Environments
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.