Web 2.0 & Multiple Selves | W10 Q1 | Discussion

I found Greenhow et al.’s (2009) call for research on online identity formation most persuasive. It’s an important topic of research because traditional structures that assisted identity development (e.g., physical hangouts, family structures) are less influential than before. Increasingly learners’ identities are evolving in online spaces, which afford opportunities to experiment with different identities (p. 251). This has implications for education, as students are not just developing social identities. They’re engaging with content in these environments and as a result “develop their identities… as writers, scientists, artists, and citizens” (p. 252). Thus, it is important to know how identity development in these domains carries over into school settings. Interestingly, Crook (2011) noted that students perceived some aspects of Web 2.0 as not fitting with the demands of school, which is consistent with Greenhow et al.’s (2009) argument that learners have multiple selves existing in different settings. Knowing how identity formation crosses from informal to formal learning environments (or vice versa) is necessary to understand how students learn.

On the other hand, I was less convinced by Greenhow et al.’s (2009) ideas related to social scholarship. Although I generally agree that Web 2.0 has the potential to bridge formal and informal scholarship practices, most of the discussion surrounded the use of tools like online bibliographies. I wasn’t convinced these tools were revolutionizing the way researchers build professional identities, versus simply disseminating information more efficiently and quickly.