Author: Ana María Rodera Bermúdez
Programme: Doctoral Programme in Education and ICT (e-learning)
Language: Spanish
Supervisor: Dr Elena Barberà Gregori
Faculty / Institute: eLearn Center
Subjects: Higher Education, Universities
Key words: Innovative pedagogies, e-learning 2.0, Web 2.0, Education, Social web
Area of knowledge: e-Learning
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Summary
The purpose of this thesis is twofold. First, to analyse three dimensions developed in Spanish universities, namely, organizational, teacher training, and the educational use within a social web context. Secondly, to make an improvement in the criteria guiding the design and implementation of: dynamic institutional support, professional teacher development, and methodological application of Web 2.0 tools in Spanish universities. To achieve the above objectives, five research questions have been raised: 1. What are the major organizational changes that lead to educational use of Web 2.0 in universities? 2. How should a technical and pedagogical assessment department service in the university work? 3. How should offers concerning teacher training about the educational use of the social web be considered? 4. In what way have educational activities facilitated with social software been designed in university classrooms? 5. What "innovative" roles must university teachers play in implementing a "pedagogy 2.0" in their classes? It has followed a mixed methodological approach to triangulate the results based on four research methods: 1) interviewing experts in educational technology (with semi-structured and online interviews), 2) participant observation conducted in the educational technology services (UC Berkeley ) and the process followed to design and develop an "unconference" (Cal EduCamp 2011), 3) non-participant observation on educational activities 2.0 reported by Spanish university teachers and based on information obtained in 4) the online questionnaire. Through the process of analysis a set of criteria to strengthen the educational innovation in tertiary institutions has been established. These criteria encourage the change in different dimensions and actors of the teaching-learning process, criteria being linked to the educational implementation of the social web. The criteria developed at the institutional level seek to help to develop organizational, systematic, strategic, and supporting actions for the introduction of the social web within the universities. These criteria affect attitudes in order to promote educational integration "in" and "of" ICT in managerial, political, and organizational departments of universities. Regarding teacher training and teachers' professional development, the fixed criteria which affect those activities that allow considering, designing, and adapting teacher education "in" "on" and "with" social technologies. In the teaching-learning processes developed in classrooms, the criteria focus on promoting appropriate educational use of the social web, or its methodological application. This research wants to further the design and development of educational programs. These programs are aimed at facilitating and improving the educational integration of the social web in Spanish universities. In this sense, it is expected that consolidation will inspire innovative universities to promote good quality and easily accessed comprehensive education for all citizens – thanks to the social web technologies.