Rob Stillwell, Dr Neil Witt, Dr Anne McDermott

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Experiences of using Web2.0 with Foundation
Degrees

• Rob Stillwell, Dr Neil Witt, Dr Anne McDermott
• HELP CETL, University of Plymouth

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What is Web2.0?

• Web2.0
• Term was used in 2004 at a conference by OReilly
  Media
• Characterises the new generation of web
• user control of content
• increase in the amount of data
• the ability to interconnect applications
• the ability to form meaningful communities and
  collaborate

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What is possible with Web2.0?
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Do we need Learning2.0 to use Web2.0?

• Web2.0
• A range of tools and approaches
• We need to use Web2.0 in a pedagogical framework
• All learning must be designed around the
  learners needs
• Learning2.0?
• Learning2.0 is a current buzzword
• How to we get from Learning1.0 to Learning2.0?

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Learning2.0

• Characteristics

• Constraints caused by time and geography are
  removed
• Collaborative learning takes place between
• Teacher and learner
• Learner and learner

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Not re-invention of the wheel but re-using the
wheels to make a better vehicle
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What is UsPaCe?

• UsPaCe is a regional, cross-institutional,
  collaborative project that will investigate the
  application of suitable Web 2.0 technologies to
  support
• Foundation Degree (FdSc, FdA and HNC) learners
  engaged in Work Based Learning (WBL)
• Learners progressing from Foundation Degree to
  the final year of an Honours degree
• WBL mentors

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What is UsPaCe?

• From any computer with Internet access users will
  be able to
• Keep a diary of their thoughts experiences
• Set reminders for important dates
• Spaces to work alone or set up groups to work
  with others
• Keep documents
• Tell others what they are doing see what others
  are doing
• Tell others when they find a good website or
  webpage and see what others have found
• Have bookmarks that they can access from anywhere
• Message the tutor or fellow students
• It will be the users choice who they share these
  things with.

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Who?
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What for?

• To enable
• Social Tagging via Del.icio.us
• Group work and community formation via The
  Community
• Social networking via The Community
• Resource sharing via Mediawiki and Del.icio.us
• Resource creation via Wiki, Del.icio.us and
  GoogleDocs
• ePortfolio creation via The Community

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UsPaCe
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How?

• Develop the user access space using iGoogle to
  allow users to create a personalised learning
  experience. (may also be accessed using mobile
  technologies)
• Develop tutor support materials on the use of
  UsPaCe
• Host outputs from the activity space within the
  UPC HELP CETL repository

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Focus Groups / User Focused Design
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UsPaCe
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Noticeboard
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Noticeboard - gadgets
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Community Portfolio
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Community Friend(s)
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Community File Storage
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Community - Messages
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Community - Feeds
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Community links to Noticeboard
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Collaborative workspace
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Collaborative workspace
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My Web Favourites
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Linking UsPaCe and UPlaCe
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Preliminary Findings
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Preliminary Findings
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Preliminary Findings
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Preliminary Findings
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Conclusions

• Design around user needs
• Get Feedback
• Embed dont impose
• Timing is critical
• EVALUATE, EVALUATE, EVALUATE.

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Do Drop By

• Robert.stillwell_at_plymouth.ac.uk
• Neil.witt_at_plymouth.ac.uk
• Anne.mcdermott_at_plymouth.ac.uk
• Please do come and visit us at
• http//www.uspace.org.uk/
• Also on Facebook