Web 2.0 is allowing higher education to expand the ways in which online information is made available to students, faculty and website visitors. College students today are more tech-savvy than ever and demand information access anywhere, any time.
And, while your teaching staff may not revise an exam based on students' demands, the way in which students expect information to be delivered digitally and online is just one challenge universities will have to give in on. And why not?
Students will listen to their iPods, check their Facebook, and upload cell phone pictures to Flickr anyway. The great news is that these don't have to be just distractions. The Internet is raising a generation that expects a total tech integration: the same technologies that entertain and make it easy to stay in touch with friends are the same tools students want to use to enhance classroom learning, collaborate on group projects, and stay informed of campus events. It's not a matter of getting down to the students' level; it's a matter of catching up!
As places of learning, colleges and universities have an obligation to stay on the cutting edge. The challenge is discerning between what is just a fad, and what is evolutionary, in relation to creating a better college experience for students, staff and visitors. It's not true that time alone will tell. You can spot a fad because they rely on gimmick, while the true cutting edge of technology has the power to change the way students learn.
Web 2.0: New Challenges & Opportunities to Expand the College Experience
A lot has been written about the opportunities Web 2.0 affords, from multimedia podcasting to social networking. Using podcasts, professors can offer their lectures or class discussions for download, and even augment their arsenal of teaching tools with multimedia. Providing materials in a portable format also demonstrates an understanding of and respect for students' limited time and multiple obligations.
Social networking tools offer ways to collaborate that were unheard of before Web 2.0. MySpace and Facebook are the well-deserving poster children for social networking, but it really encompasses any type of online communication and collaboration tools. It offers a way to bring discussions outside the classroom, and allows students to interact and work together on their own time.
Web 2.0 also provides unlimited ways to connect disparate departments and processes across campus. As students integrate more of their lives online, they expect the same sort of integration in their schools. Wouldn't it be great if students could peruse the course catalog, sign up for their classes, and then actually begin to interact with other students in the same classes before school even starts - all in one seamless interface? The technology is there--it just takes a bit of coordination between departments.
Just because the technology is available, however, doesn't mean it's easy to implement. Universities are big organizations, built around many departments and individuals that need to agree both on the vision and the strategy of any major change. And when you're trying to bring together departments that are used to working independently on their own projects, you not only have to agree on what should be done, you have to work out new systems of cross-departmental operation.
Reality Check: Balancing Time & Budget with Realistic Improvement Expectations
As with any new technology, there's an initial investment and a learning curve. All this adds up to time and money - both of which are most likely in short supply! It's great to talk about all the improvements and changes you could make, but it's important to be realistic about what's actually possible. Big changes will take time, and it's important to have a long-range plan - though keep in mind that by the time you get around to taking advantage of all that Web 2.0 has to offer, you'll probably be reading articles about Web 3.0 and wondering how anyone can keep up.
Even when all the issues are worked through, everything is approved, and you've actually begun to implement your ideas, there's the challenge of attrition. If people don't enjoy the new tools you've provided, or they don't understand them or see their value, they won't use them. And then it's all been a waste.
