The Critical Issues Facing Higher Education in a Web 2.0 World

Oct. 20, 2010

Higher Education and Web 2.0 A recent independent study performed by JISC, an organization which, “provide[s] world-class leadership in the innovative use of Information and Communications Technology to support education, research and institutional effectiveness,” looks at higher education’s current use of Web 2.0 technologies, the challenges facing Higher Education institutions and how they can be addressed.

While the study was performed on higher education institutions in the UK, after reading it we think that many of the findings hold true for institutions in the rest of the world as well.

Key findings for Web 2.0 use in higher education now:

Web 2.0 technologies are being deployed across a broad spectrum of university activities in similar ways in the UK and overseas
Deployment is in no way systematic, and is driven by the professional interest and enthusiasm of individual members of staff
In both learning and teaching usage is patchy but a considerable work base does exist
While advice and guidance is available to institutions, there is no blueprint for implementation of web 2.0 technologies and as such, each institution is currently choosing its own path

What critical issues do these findings raise?

These issues were determined by JISC and they feel that addressing these issues is integral to, “capitalizing on the momentum that exists” within institutions.

The digital divide – This is one of the most important issues that needs to be dealt with and involves ensuring access to technology for all students and the development of practical skills in its use.
Information literacies – This means ensuring that students possess the, “skills and understanding to search, authenticate and critically evaluate material from the range of appropriate sources, and attribute it as necessary.” The concern here from a student’s perspective is that they feel that institutions need to develop a certain level of web-awareness among students so that they can, “operate as informed users.”

The ongoing drivers to change

Tradition – There is a change in students’ perceptions of teaching where they are looking for traditional approaches to learning (ie personal contact) in a modern setting (ie web supported).
Environmental factors – This is the digitization of learning materials and creating a receptive audience of teaching staff and learners
A richer educational experience – This is developing learning approaches that are active and undertaken within a community and, “based on individual’s interests,” which are widely thought to be the most effective teaching methods and which Web 2.0 technologies are well-suited to supporting.

Report conclusions

Web 2.0, the social web, has had and is continuing to have enormous implications on student behaviors which has lead to strengthened feelings towards and desires for community in the web space and an impatience and preference for quick answers and a casual approach to evaluating information.
The disconnect which is currently facing higher education institutions is that traditional learning methods have been constructed on, “a wholly different set of norms,” which is causing frustration and difficulty for the learning process and a movement for change led by the students themselves.

This isn’t a comprehensive summary of the report by any means and it is definitely worth taking a look at. You can download a full copy of the report here from the JISC’s website.

Image by Athena on Flickr

Posted by Amberlie Denny at October 20, 2010 8:00 AM