Comments on: 21 Web 2.0 Tools for Lecturers

By: Savannah

Savannah — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:18:34 +0000

Awesome blog! I thought about starting my own blog too but I'm just too lazy so, I guess I'll just have to keep checking yours out. LOL,

By: pete

pete — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 07:53:52 +0000

thanks for the comment Ben
I have spent a bit of time over the weekend discussing this with a friend, and we both agreed that a lot of IT students are introverted, so their personality does not often encourage them to openly engage in conversation or get out there in the community(online or real)
Twitter does give another opportunity at engagement, and if some students who would not normally comment or participate start to contribute, then this tool does have some value – but definitely agree that is is best used as an addition to other tools
Perhaps as a reference type tool (e.g linking to more detail), or information distribution tool again referring to other areas

By: Ben McCallum

Ben McCallum — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 06:54:28 +0000

Hey pete,
Nice post. I think you’ve compiled a great list there.

I agree that it is pleasing to see lecturers like Jason Watson trying to actively engage the students via tools such as those you’ve listed. Take for instance the Twitter conversation students were having in the lecture with the librarians.

I fear however that using online tools like Twitter in that way can also have a negative affect on students. Being an IT student, it is somewhat sad that students are often shy and not willing to engage themselves in class discussion. I suppose the online Twitter conversation gave students otherwise unwilling to offer a contribution an outlet to do so, but it also gives them the ability to shy away even more instead of being brave and speaking out.

What do you think?

-Ben McCallum