Education 3.0

 

1973: Global networking becomes a reality as the University College of London (England) and Royal Radar Establishment (Norway) connect to ARPANET. The term Internet is born.

1991: CERN introduces the World Wide Web to the public.

After the mid-2000s: Web 2.0 has been a term that’s been used to mark the fundamental change in how we use the Internet. Before that, the Web was treated and used as a tool. In the era of Web 2.0, we were becoming part of it and the web moved toward a more social, collaborative, interactive and responsive web.

Web 2.0 is not static anymore but is full of human interactions. With the development of social media, everyone is connected and involved in the Internet world. Imagine every time you when you finish a task you might post it online at the first moment to share with your friends on facebook. That may be an example to understand “the web influences people’s way of thinking, doing and being”(Jackie Gerstein). Everyone can write online and make their voice heard, no matter through blogs or twitters. Everyone can post comments online and communicate with people all over the world. Everyone creates contents for the Web. That explains “people influence the development and content of the web”(Jackie Gerstein).

Then what is Web 3.0? Are we ready with it? Has it already arrived?

Web 3.0 in one saying came in 2015 with the increasing popularity of mobile internet devices and the merger of entertainment systems. Not only the Web keeps developing at a fast pace but also the devices we are using to get access to the Internet expose in a tremendous abundant way.

The mobile devices (cell phones, smartphones, pocket PCs ) we use for entertainment and work lay the importance of the internet in our daily life. Internet becomes a necessity in our lives. No matter at work, at home, out for travel, out for dinner, the internet shaped how we live and interact with the world.

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Here brings up the question, as education is an important part of life,  how education changes with the evolution of the Internet?

“The evolution of the web from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 and now to Web 3.0 can be used as a metaphor of how education should also be evolving, as a movement from Education 1.0 toward that of Education 3.0.”(Jackie Gerstein) 

In the era of Web 2.0, the changes that the Internet has brought to education, which we may call Education 2.0, focused on two aspects according to the changes that the Internet has brought to human life. Firstly, educational pedagogy has been greatly changed by the interacting Internet. Chalks and blackboard are replaced by high-projectors and smartboards; textbooks can be replaced by more environmental friendly e-books and online materials; videos can be easily displayed in the classrooms; Online and distance learning is possible and offers more choices for learners. Secondly,  learning contents have involved and been shaped by new contents brings along by the Internet. Students will be living and working in the networked environment so that the school curriculum must cultivate their ability to manage, create, and communicate online content. This lays new requirements for school educational outlines.

Web 3.0 means hyperconnectivity. Everything is connected through the Internet. “The Web, Internet, Social Media, and the evolving, emerging technologies have created a perfect storm or convergence of resources, tools, open and free information access.” (Jackie Gerstein) Education 3.0 is coming together,  I don’t know the answer to the question that what exactly will be the feathers of Education 3.0, but the things I believe for sure is that the trend started in Education 2.0 with Web 2.0 is going to maintain and achieve greater development. What’s more, every educator and student are together writing the new chapter.

     In this historical shift process, teachers who get continuous training incorporating the development of Web era, and can apply tools into the school curriculum meeting the expectations of the modern-day learners will be privileged. However, teachers and students in rural areas that lack access to technologies, or educators insisting traditional concepts will be greatly disadvantaged and stay out-dated in this process.