01.12.06
Views on Web 2.0 in Education
The possible implications for education with Web 2.0 (or the loosely related set of technologies that comprise it) are endless. Only our own creativity will limit what we might be able to do. Still, like all technologies, there may be a dark side. Most technologies, no matter what they are, have four characteristics in common:
- They have obvious benefits
- They have hidden benefits that are often not recognized until after they are implemented
- They have obvious drawbacks or negative aspects
- They have hidden drawbacks or negative aspects that are often not recognized until after they are implemented
These technologies share these characteristics with all other technologies, past, present, and future. Most often, the obvious benefits tend to attract our attention and seem, at least at first, to far outweigh the obvious drawbacks.
As educators, we need to progress methodically with these technologies, as with any new technologies, and research their efficacy to uncover both the hidden benefits and the hidden drawbacks before we plunge wholeheartedly into an abyss from which there is no return. Implementing technology is more like a ratchet than a path. On a path, you can turn around and reverse course. Once a ratchet has moved forward, it cannot be moved back. I am 100% in favor of exploring, being creative, and testing new ideas. But lets make sure we test them thoroughly and objectively before we massively adopt and undertake a paradigm shift.
