Weblogs and Wikis: Potentials for Seminars at University
Abstract: The use of web 2.0 tools is becoming increasingly important and common place in communication and collaboration in the workplace. However, they also have great potential in university settings. How can these tools be integrated? The seminar “New Learning with New Media” is an example of an attempt to didactically integrate web 2.0 tools into seminars at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. This integration requires the students to accomplish two tasks. First, to make a lifecycle analysis to see how new media are used by people at different points in their lives. Second to explore the use of new media for themselves by writing in wikis and blogs. The advantages and didactic possibilities of blogs as well as wikis are fundamental as a shift away from traditional teaching patterns is being made. The students developed their organizational and collaborative skills and improved their ability to assume responsibility.