Title:	EMBRACING THE GLOBAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED BY WEB 2.0 APPLICATIONS: A CASE STUDY
Author(s):	Neil Marriott
ISBN:	978-972-8939-38-0
Editors:	Miguel Baptista Nunes and Pedro Isaías
Year:	2011
Edition:	Volume I
Keywords:	Technology Acceptance Model, Social Networking, Collaborative Technology, Higher Education.
Type:	Full Paper
First Page:	79
Last Page:	85
Language:	English
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Full Contents:	click to dowload
Paper Abstract:	Institutes of Higher Education across the world are responding to the challenges and opportunities presented by the availability of new Web 2.0 applications. The diffusion of technological advances and the adoption process has varied widely, with barriers to change linked more to the resistance associated with human behavior rather than the limitations of computer capabilities. However, the new generation of learners has an acceptance and utilization of technology that can be far removed from that of their tutors. This paper discusses the case study of one, relatively small, but highly innovative UK University that has embraced fully the opportunities presented by Web 2.0 learning technologies. Three years ago the university piloted and then adopted a cloud based, multi faceted collaborative learning package as part of a long term strategy of internationalization. The case study outlines the strategic imperatives and operational processes followed, detailing the lessons that can be shared with other institutions that will inevitably have already embarked on this path. In particular, the paper emphasizes the pedagogic and curriculum advances that have taken place that has led to a most ambitious project to offer a new MSc in Sustainable Development to be developed and delivered across all five continents. The paper argues that the future of higher education will be characterized by new pedagogic models and that early adopting universities will have first mover advantage in developing new funding models to reap the rewards of global learning opportunities.
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