[publication] How Web 2.0 Enhance Knowledge Construction in Civil Engineering

Our research article about the use of Web 2.0 technologies in Civil Engineering Education “How Web 2.0 Enhance Knowledge Construction in Civil Engineering” has been published.
Abstract:

At Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) lots of experience using multimedia or internet based applications in higher education has been gathered. Especially in the field of civil engineering we can refer to a seven year long practical employment. During the very first e-Learning boom at universities in Austria in 2001 some projects in the field of civil engineering have been started in order to investigate the possibilities of web-based education. Nowadays a radical change of the Web, often called Web 2.0, offers possibilities, which can change the e-Education dramatically. The use of Wikis and Weblogs lead to a more collaborative teaching and learning process. Podcasts, in the same way as web based software helps to support the learner of today in a much more efficient way as in the years before.
This paper will discuss how modern technologies can be used in the field of Civil Engineering Education and will show a lot of practical examples of today’s effort in this field at TU Graz. The authors conclude that e-Education will play a very important role in the future of higher education. Bearing in mind that learners of today are the working society of tomorrow this change leads to arbitrarily new situations. Has industry to prepare for a new kind of generation?

Reference: Ebner, M. (2009) How Web 2.0 Enhance Knowledge Construction in Civil Engineering, A. Starcic and M. Kovac (ed.), University & Industry – Knowledge Transfer and Innovation, WSEAS Press, Athen, 2009, p. 77-101

Here you will get the Draftversion.

[iPhone] Logbook – Eventmanager on iPhone

We started to develop an application for the iPhone called “Logbook“. The main goal is to collect data of one particular event and synchronize this data with a web interface.

Logbook is the prototype of an event management application for the iPhone in combination with a web service. Its purpose is to demonstrate the realization of the idea of gathering information bound to an event by the time of its creation. The information, in the implementation referred to as “Resource”, in this prototype includes images only.

The first prototype can be found here “Logbook – iPhone Eventmanager” or directly here.

[presentation] E-Learning – Trend oder Notwendigkeit?

Im Rahmen einer internen Veranstaltung an der Technischen Universität Graz zum Thema “Trends in der Lehre” halte ich heute einen Vortrag zum Thema “e-Learning – Trend oder Notwendigkeit?“.
Trends in der Lehre
Ich versuche aufzuzeigen, dass die digitale Technologie zukünftig im Lehr- und Lernbereich meiner Meinung nach unumgänglich ist bzw. was heute schon umgesetzt werden kann. Hier die entsprechenden Folien (Pocast wird noch folgen):

[publication] Introducing Live Microblogging

Mein Artikel, in welchem ich den technischen Aufbau und den realen Einsatz von Twitter während der letztjährigen ED-Media Konferenz beschreibe, ist nun online verfügbar.
Die Publikation mit dem Titel “Introducing Live Microblogging: How Single Presentations Can Be Enhanced by the Mass ” ist im Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching erschienen.
Abstract:

Web 2.0 technologies pervade our daily life as well as educational settings. A fairly new approach is communication through so called microblogging channels. Mobile devices with Internet access can be used to send short messages from a microblog. Combined with social network environments, applications such as Twitter, Jaiku, Pownce, and Plurk enrich our ways of communication. At Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) some research work has been done to investigate using microblogging tools to improve face-to-face lectures. The study described in this paper took place at a large international conference on e-learning, where a Twitter channel was established for discussion among the participants of the conference and those from outside. This stream was also used to “tweet” (post on Twitter) statements during the keynote presentations. By viewing the tweet-channel via an additional projector, the audience was able to follow the live-blogging session synchronously to the ongoing speech.

Referenz: Ebner, M. (2009), Introducing Live Microblogging: How Single Presentations Can Be Enhanced by the Mass, Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching, 2(1), p. 108-111, ISSN
Artikel als [.pdf]

Digital Natives – a thing of the past? M. Prensky suggest the term Digital Wisdom

Mark Prensky der für seine Aufsätze rund um “Digital Natives und Digital Immigrants” für Aufsehen und seither auch für viel Diskussion sorgte, kehrt diesen Begriffen (wie er selbst schreibt) ein wenig den Rücken. In einem Journal Article (Journal of Onlice Education) bringt er den Begriff Digital Wisdom ein:

In 2001, I published “Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants,” a two-part article that explained these terms as a way of understanding the deep differences between the young people of today and many of their elders (Prensky 2001a, 2001b). Although many have found the terms useful, as we move further into the 21st century when all will have grown up in the era of digital technology, the distinction between digital natives and digital immigrants will become less relevant. Clearly, as we work to create and improve the future, we need to imagine a new set of distinctions. I suggest we think in terms of digital wisdom.

Mehr soll nicht verraten werden, aber ich bin mir sicher, dass er damit wieder für Zündstoff gesorgt hat und wir als Forscher nun wieder schauen müssen, wie es denn sich wirklich verhält.

Referenz: This article was originally published in Innovate (https://www.innovateonline.info/) as: Prensky, M. 2009. H. sapiens digital: From digital immigrants and digital natives to digital wisdom. Innovate 5 (3). (accessed February 3, 2009).