Web 2.0-Based E-Learning - Call for Chapter Proposals

Web 2.0-Based E-Learning:
Applying Social Informatics for Tertiary Teaching

A book edited by:
Mark J. W. Lee, Charles Sturt University, Australia
Catherine McLoughlin, Australian Catholic University

CALL FOR CHAPTER PROPOSALS

Proposal Submission Deadline: October 5, 2007
Full Chapters Due: February 15, 2008

Introduction

“Web 2.0” (O’Reilly, 2005) is a term used to describe an apparent second generation or improved form of the World Wide Web that emphasizes collaboration and sharing of knowledge and content among users. There has been a burgeoning interest in Web 2.0, both in mainstream society as well as in education, with tools such as blogs, wikis, RSS, social networking sites, tag-based folksomomies, and peer-to-peer (P2P) media sharing applications gaining much popularity and traction in all sectors of the education industry. In particular, Web 2.0 is seen to hold tremendous potential for addressing the needs of large numbers of students typical in college and university classes, enhancing their learning experiences through customization, personalization, and rich opportunities for networking and collaboration. However, a number of questions need to be answered, such as the following, which the book will attempt to address:

Does Web 2.0 represent a major conceptual or paradigm shift in how we conceive and make use of the Internet as a means of delivering teaching and learning?
Do the new technologies actually have anything new to offer us in the way of improving our pedagogy? How to avoid falling prey to a “technology-driven pedagogy” (Salaberry, 2001)?
Is the emergence of Web 2.0 changing the culture of, and/or redefining the competencies that are needed by, teachers and learners?
What are existing examples of “best practice” and “good principles” in this area, if any, and how can we learn from them?

Mission and Objectives of the Book

The mission of the book is to disseminate knowledge on both the theory and practice of Web 2.0 based teaching and learning, and to promote scholarly inquiry and the development/adoption of best practice in this area. Its main objectives are as follows:

To provide novice readers with an introduction to the major issues surrounding both the theory and practice of Web 2.0-based tertiary teaching and learning;
To supply an avenue for the publication of cutting-edge research that will inform both novice and expert readers about leading and emerging Web technologies and their applications to tertiary teaching and learning;
To showcase examples of current and emerging practice in innovative pedagogy, and demonstrate models of the integration of Web 2.0 technologies in tertiary teaching, learning and assessment;
To contribute to the development of best practice through the evaluation and documentation of the successes and pitfalls of various techniques, approaches, and strategies;
To analyze and critique recent trends and nascent technologies, in order to propose an agenda or “roadmap” for future research and development in the area of e-learning scenarios and tools (Web 2.0 and beyond) for tertiary teaching and learning.

Target Audience

The prospective readership of the proposed book is broad, ranging from university/college teachers and administrators to social and educational researchers interested in the use of Web 2.0 for enhancing teaching and learning at a tertiary level. The book may also be adopted to support educational technology and e-learning courses at a postgraduate level.

Through a combination of theoretical pieces as well as practical cases or examples of “best practice” in the field, the novice reader will benefit from expert knowledge and learn from the experiences of both researchers and practitioners. Experts will stand to gain from reading the book to stay abreast with the latest developments and trends in this still nascent area, and to obtain exposure to diverse perspectives and approaches to Web 2.0 based tertiary teaching and learning.

Organization of the Book

The book will be divided into three parts, each consisting of between 5 and 7 chapters, for a total of approximately 20 chapters.

Part 1: Pedagogy 2.0? Emerging paradigms and innovative theories in web-based tertiary teaching and learning (6-7 chapters)
Part 2: Towards best practice: Case studies and exemplars of Web 2.0-based tertiary teaching and learning (8-9 chapters)
Part 3: Web 2.0 and beyond: Current implications and future directions for web-based tertiary teaching and learning (5-6 chapters)

Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

Web 2.0 and social informatics in the tertiary classroom
Web 2.0 and social informatics in distance and blended learning environments
New/emerging paradigms and theoretical/pedagogical models for e-learning research and practice
Instructional uses of blogs, wikis, RSS, podcasting, P2P media sharing in tertiary education settings
Pedagogical implications of social software and social network environments
Student-generated content in tertiary teaching and learning
Web 2.0 and mobile technologies / mobile collaborative learning
Massively-Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) and networked learning
E-moderation in Web 2.0-based tertiary teaching and learning
Implications of Web 2.0-based e-learning for tertiary teachers and learners
Institutional issues related to Web 2.0 and social informatics (e.g. strategy, policy, infrastructure)
Web 2.0 and learning management systems
Case studies using Web 2.0 and social informatics in tertiary teaching and learning
Success factors and pitfalls in the implementation of Web 2.0-based tertiary teaching and learning
Beyond Web 2.0: Future directions for web-based tertiary teaching and learning

IMPORTANT: Potential contributors should note that successful proposals/chapters will not focus merely on the technical aspects of Web 2.0 and social informatics, but rather will engage deeply with pertinent questions and issues from a pedagogical, social, cultural, philosophical/epistemological and/or moral/ethical perspective. Chapters that simply use rhetoric as the basis for making arguments, or which rely solely on anecdotal evidence to draw conclusions, are not likely to be accepted.

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE

Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before October 5, 2007, a 2-5 page manuscript proposal clearly explaining the mission and concerns of the proposed chapter. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by November 5, 2007 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter organizational guidelines. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by February 15, 2008.

All chapters will be subject to a double-blind peer review process. Authors will also be asked to peer review another chapter submitted for the book and will have one month for the review process, which is anticipated to take place in February/March 2008.

The book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global, formerly Idea Group, Inc., in 2009.

Inquiries and submissions can be forwarded electronically (Word document) to web2.0ishere@gmail.com or by mail to:

Mark J. W. Lee
P.O. Box 1321
Darlinghurst, N.S.W. 1300
Australia

Tel: +61-417 841188
Fax: +61-2-9261 3085