Reflections on Week 1 Resources, EDCMOOC
Definitely on the theme of dystopias (Bendito, New Media) and utopias (Inbox, Thursday).
But seems most focused on the ideas of breaking down society or bringing people together.
I guess it opens the discussion on what technologies, particularly computer-based technologies, are either taking away or bringing to us.
>>The notion of separating vs bringing together people is somewhat moot, as it does both. Consider how Skype, email and YouTube provide access to people we might not otherwise see or communicate with. Flipside: obsession online means decrease in local-level personal connection.
>>In terms of education, there is often less nervousness or shyness when not confronted with the physicality of others. Thus, people may be more open to sharing and expressing in virtual settings vs physical settings.
>>Bedito Machine III made me laugh, in that it reminds me of folks here in Singapore when a new Apple product comes out. Suddenly, the previous model is considered passe and you cannot find anything for it anymore. Impermanence. Buying a new laptop, the clerk was extremely shocked to discover that my current laptop has lasted nearly 10 years with minimal maintenance. It seems more throwaway - technology will continue to carry on forward, so no need to recycle or reuse. Most people don't see the underpinnings of how programs build on each other - how earlier models are the foundation of later things. Thus, "old" is just "outdated" is just "garbage."
>>I found Inbox charming - not sure if there is a dystopian side to it, except why haven't these two found significant others in their lives prior? I think there is a connection in here for cyberbullying - what you put into that "inbox" can profoundly affect the receiver. (Think: crumpled paper project) I guess the dystopia could be if Priya hadn't thought to go to the store, when Karthi's bag had ripped and no longer worked its magic. Without that bag, they had no way to communicate. If communication is limited thus, then I can see there would be implications.
>>Chandler has a section on resistentialism, with excerpt from Paul Jennings' story. I found this very amusing ... it is true that we anthropomorphise our "things." There is a strong emotional reaction - one way or another - to technology and its advances. Few people are sitting the fence on tech use - most people are pro or con, full users or wary users.
>>Implications for education: there is still a strong need for human interaction, for education. It's the sharing of ideas face to face that really generates some sort of spark. I can read a lot of material but more often than not it is in talking it over with someone else that I both achieve greater understanding and a better handle on my position vis-a-vis the ideas presented. While internet provides a huge leap in terms of sharing and collaborating, there still needs to be a live person at each end of the connection, I think. There also needs to be some real-time interaction.
>>Higher Education: I am pondering the limitations of, expenses of, and elitism of "higher education." Self-paced learning, particularly online and MOOC variety, offer affordable and timely opportunities - but still limited. Given my location, I can't always participate easily in online chats, webinars, etc. Also, I have to split focus when studying from home given my children and household needs (not to mention my work needs, when not studying on holidays). Academia doesn't suit everybody - this is clear in middle school, and also the fact that different learning styles are needed as not all students can adjust to suit one type or another. Do our personalities, talents and interests at our younger ages profoundly influence or affect our careers and abilities later on? Do people pursuing their career and wanting to push their knowledge further still need "insitutions of learning" or not? Can online learning truly take place of onsite learning? How will this divide our societies further - or will it even things up for the less advantaged so they are able to achieve learning and ply trades? Which areas are learnable online ... and will this cause an imbalance in our labor forces globally (if I can only access XYZ courses on ABC subjects, given my location and economic situation, then I will be competing with all the others in similar scenarios ... thus, if computer programming is something readily learnt online will there not then be a glut of this particular worker? How will this shift things?)
CONNECTION: Writing in the 21st Century
This video prompted me to think about the need to redefine "writing" and how it is taught - how it is, in fact, handed in or presented.
No comments:
Post a Comment