The Web Explorer

INTRODUCTION

Learning is becoming increasingly easier due to the arrival and the evolution of many new technologies and a numerous of software. Web 2.0 is considered as the second generation of internet usage and Web 1.0 is the first generation. No longer getting one-way communication on the web; now Web 2.0 is about constructing knowledge collaboratively on the web. Web 2.0 is engaging and active compared to the passive and un-engaging Web 1.0 applications which ideal for the virtual learning. This kind of learning are made possible through advancements in technology. Web 2.0 applications (Facebook, MySpace, Blogs, Wiki’s, iGoogle, Flickr, RSS Feeds and YouTube. Etc) are effective teaching and pedagogical tools. These provide a platform for social networking through a medium that allows for sharing, informing, communicating and interacting. Web 2.0 requires active user’s participation in creating content (user generated content). In learning theories, importance of active participation, critical thinking, social presence, collaborative learning and two way communications are also underlined for quality learning (Beldarrin, 2006).

This paper is intended to give an example for how wiki could be implemented to build an online community. Building online learning community is one of the examples of web 2.0 adoption for educational purposes. A constructivist learning process occurs in online community because the characteristics of online community have similarities with the constructivism learning characteristic, for example:

· The member of the community is actively involve

· Online communities usually have democratic environment

· The content is user/member centered and the activity of the member are interactive

· Each member is encouraged to be autonomous and responsible. The community leader only serves as a moderator who manages and filter the flows of information (netiquette , unsolicited content)

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Learning process that occurs in individual is aiming to get skills, abilities and knowledge. The success indicator of learning process learning can be seen in student’s achievement that qualitatively should be better than the previous state. In order to achieve student’s learning achievement as expected, it is necessary to note several factors that affect learning performances, including: internal and external factors. Internal factors are contained in students, such as: intelligence, talent, interest and motivation. While external factors are factors that come outside of the student, such as experience, family background, school environment and so on.

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PERSONAL LEARNING THEORY

As I’ve told earlier, I work at higher education institution that uses open education as its main system. In fact, my institution is the only university that offering this system in my country. On one side, this condition gives us benefit because we do not have competitors and there are a promising demand and market for open and distance education. But on the other side this, condition is also difficult because we do not have any references that we can take or learn from domestic resources. The only ways that we can do is to learn and take other institution’s experiences from aboard then try to implement their experiences to our institution. The implementation processes often use trial and error approach. This experience also happened when I and the team were trying to implement e-learning into Universitas Terbuka’s system. It takes approximately 10 years to find the suitable E-learning platform and model that match with our institutions and student’s characteristics. I had just joined on the team in the fifth year of this project running.

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