“Using that as a point of departure I see my new level 1 course (30 points – technology) as being aimed at the people using Facebook and Twitter and Plurk now but not yet hooked into studying with the OU. The course will include study skills ranging from the traditional notetaking, critical thinking, active reading, etc to the “web 2.0″ study skills around using SNS for collaboration and finding and developing your circle of FOAF. In terms of content I think I’d plug in some systems stuff, maybe using web 2.0 apps for systems diagrams. I’d fold in some basic programming concepts using tools like Boolify and Sproutbuilder and I’d feature stuff about Smart Mobs and that Rheingoldian culture of sharing and experiential learning and the idea of the group going and experiencing the world and then coming back to virtual chautauquas where we share and interpret what we’ve found (I’m using the term here in the way Pirsig uses it rather than as a musical entertainment). The place to advertise – in addition to the usual channels – is Amazon, Facebook, etc and we might talk to Amazon and others about co-funding.”

That’s how Martin’s first level course (T171) changed the face of online stuff for the OU; 50,000 students on an “online only” course over five or so years meant that we had a lot of students who were “up for it” around CMC and they wandered off to other courses (and faculties) and pushed for online support. Perhaps we need a web 2.0 level one course?