WEB 2.0 and Modern Learning

WEB 2.0 - a boon for the Teacher the Trainer and the Student

By

VIKRAM KARVE 

When we were students, in school in the 1960s and later in college and in university in the 1970s, the pedagogy process focussed on the teacher and was largely teacher-centric.

Yes, as far as learning was concerned, the teacher was supreme.

The teacher was considered the repository of all knowledge on the subject and students were required to just follow. 

Some smart teachers kept as a closely guarded secret the book they taught from and the reference material they had made their notes from. 

This made the teachers all the more important and the students were totally dependent on the teachers. 

Knowledge was scarce and Information was not easily available and accessible to all and searching for it was a painstaking and laborious process.

With the advent of internet all this has changed and this old model of pedagogy is no longer relevant. 

Today, the moment they get the syllabus, the astute students just google the topcs and subjects and get all the information and knowledge they want and are updated on the subject before they enter the first class. 

Access to information is instantaneous and easy and unlike in the earlier days, the teacher is no longer the sole authority on the subject, and if the teacher is not smart enough he or she may lag behind the students who have a thirst for knowledge and have access to the internet which is an easy and effective means of fulfilling that thirst.

Thus today’s teacher is more of a facilitator who interacts and collaborates with the students in the learning process. 

The standardized one-size-fits-all education model is passé and the teacher must be flexible in his or her instructional style and customize and tailor pedagogy to suit each student’s individual way of learning. The teacher must help the students discover themselves. 

The archaic teacher-centric education paradigm, where the teacher delivers the lecture and the student takes notes, is obsolete and the new student-centric interactive learning educational model is in.

The internet can be used to great effect in enhancing the learning process and elevating it to a new higher plane. 

The internet affords immense opportunities for collaborative and interactive learning by use of Web 2.0 technologies, concepts and utilities like weblogs, wikis, social networking etc.

Web 2.0 is truly a revolutionary new platform for communication and interactive and collaborative exchange of information and knowledge and I am enjoying exploring and using Web 2.0 concepts in teaching. 

I have found them most effective and the students most responsive. 

So it is time for teachers to gear up, and optimally utilize the various aspects of web 2.0 like blogs, wikis, social, academic and professional network platforms like Linkedin, Facebook, Google+ and Twitter. I have particularly used blogging very effectively as a learning tool to disseminate knowledge, share information, interact and get feedback.

If Teachers and Trainers do not want be rendered obsolescent and become relics of yesteryear they need to quickly adapt to and enthusiastically adopt the latest technologies for optimal benefit of all.  

VIKRAM KARVE 

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2012
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

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About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
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Email: vikramkarve@sify.com

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