An Exploratory Study in the Use of Modern Pedagogical Knowledge Portals with Traditional Lectures

Abstract

The typical freshman college student is proficient in the use of Web 2.0 technologies. Many students have personal computers prior to entering college. The use of social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and various other social networking sites is increasing exponentially. Facebook alone grows at a rate of 3% per week. This single site now boasts over fifty-nine million active users. Over half of the members use the site daily and spend an average of twenty minutes per day logged in. Facebook was launched as a networking site for students at Harvard University in February 2004. It soon grew to include other Ivy League schools and then expanded to college networks in general. In September of 2005, it expanded to include high school networks, again in May 2006 to include work networks, and finally in September of 2006 to allow for open registration. Today's students are comfortable with technology. They maintain communication with friends with PDAs and mobile phones. They are one of the only age groups that regularly use many of the features of their multi-function digital devices. Many students find virtual world communication fun and worthwhile This paper reports the results of the use of several pedagogical techniques (Facebook, Course Wikis, and Second Life) in undergraduate and graduate public administration courses at the State of Georgia's Public Liberal Arts University.