Yesterday, I did not appreciate being interrupted constantly by the outside world. I wanted to disconnect like I saw in movie called Hang Up or something like that.
Today, after reading through a few fellow classmate's blogs, thanks to Tim for the notice on the Web 2.0 video which I understood and to Brent for the link to a George Siemens's Talk for A.Couros's class on Blip T.V. on "Connectivism and CCK08", I am glad for their filters and their sharing of the loot so to speak, for them connecting to us. I was wondering if that was an Elluminate conversation because it seemed very similiar to the concept of Classroom 2.0 I took on Sat.
Just by listening in on this taped class , I got the message. Connectivism is so much more than the 'broadcast model' that Siemen's spoke of where only one had control of the "packaged message of influence" . Now participants are 'participatory' and can have conversations in many different ways connecting terms, philosophies and tools at any time and in any place.
Siemen's spoke of the trends in Connectivism that impact education:
"Global- from glob. warming to aging to econ. markets
Social/political- Obama's new social policies reflect a very different view of we can choose to interact. Just look at the audiences he reached and influenced using the net!
Technology-He said that there is an "ideological slant in the messages sent because it reflects the viewpoints of the designer/user" that it is not neutral...
Education- Social constructivist theory, social learning theory impacts the educat. process"
Siemen's summary of his theory of connectivism was clear and to the point:
He spoke of the plane crash on the Hudson River as an example that the news was to the minute, up to date by the participants in that event. It was 'networked and distributed' quickly. If it wasn't for technology, we wouldn't have been given such a clear picture of what occurred. He also added that the "experience of learning is on the forming of new neural, conceptual and external networks."
The world is a complex, chaotic shifting space and "technology extends our ability to relate to each other and helps us remember."
I appreciated his discussion on the "symmetry between the domains of the neural/conceptual/external and social levels of networked learning." He took into the account the big picture and how the smaller parts connect to create a larger picture. So often we hear of specialists only considering their knowledge to fix the symptoms rather than consider all possibilities and try to eliminate the source of the problem. Points of symmetry had to do with 'clustering of connections which create meaning combined with short average distances between elements, and small world attributes.'
It was great to hear him reiterate that even at the grad level , or at higher levels of learning, 'conceptual mapping' still is important for learners to express their understandings of what they are learning and to help them have a sense of 'pattern recognition' which is to determine similiar ideas in our era of "info overload."
He said our education systems still uses a step by step model to teach. We should be teaching students to analyze, think critically,determine understanding, how to determine if content is accurate, to see patterns like a good chess player who wins by seeing particular patterns as opposed to practising a step by step version of learning the winning moves. William Gibson is an authority on pattern recognition.
Dr. Couros added that we are in a 'new knowledge landscape' which is ever changing and no longer supported by one theory.
Another new term I learned was 'viral video'- (popular videos on Youtube)But one has to be aware that video and information can be misleading and that the added bonus of being connected is that we can determine as a group what is valid and transparent.
My concern with connectivism and the hold that media has on people with their powerful messages and 'product placement'ads which many don't even realize is occurring is that our societies have thousands of displaced youth, not in school and not privy to rules of safety and or skills like critical thinking. Gangs take advantage of these children to sell drugs, steal, so that they the leaders can purchase that which the media deems you must have to be successful, up and coming, or powerful. Music, movies,and video all have a steel handed grip on even the poorest child. How do we reach out to teach and provide an environment for this segment of the world to learn how to see with a 'critical eye' and make sound decisions with a clear understanding mind?
I Am Healed
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I am healed, I know who I am, and I know the work God has called me to do.
This is a big deal. I have spent the past three decades as a largely broken
and ...
2 weeks ago
Cheryl, you pose an almost impossible question at the end of your blog. How do we compete with media, peers and culture who may have different values than what we're trying to teach? I did my project on Place-Based Education which tries to engage students in learning about ecology and their community. I wouldn't say it's an answer, but I think it's a step in the right direction to empower students and engage them meaningfully.
ReplyDeleteIf you're interested check out Place-Based Education by David Sobel, (2005).
When I read your last post the thought 'Power to the people' ran through my mind. Children thrive and ac cell when they are given the slightest opportunity to become leaders. I think with these powerful media tools their stories will engage people with more power than those who presently oppress and control. I appreciated the 2.0 classroom, but my value for balance ultimately provides a physical caring example for the students to engage with. By creating an amalgamation of the media, our positive attributes, and our ability to mentor leadership the youth will demonstrate "sound decision making." I remember your presentation about using a multi-sensory approach and the evidence demonstrated consistent positive learning outcomes. I feel we really have to place trust in our ability to reach students and attract them with our best qualities. The first of these best quality being our belief in a hopeful pedagogy.
ReplyDeleteadmirably yours Pam Sanderson
As this process demonstrates we are upon a change in our vocubulary. The increase of words is substantial in the past decade. Only two centuries ago effective communication was limited to text and verbal. Now I can't fathom all the names of tools we use for communication. Peoples knowledge of these tools though vary from person to person. Some people feel comfortable with technology but many lack the vocabulary needed to implement universal connectivity.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion being plugged in needs to be limited in order to not let the media control the moral development of an individual.
Thanks for your comment Brent. Perhaps it is an impossible question for the moment. But aren't all questions impossible to fathom at some point along our historical time line? Ex. Do you think man will ever be able to walk on the moon? or "I wonder if it would be ever possible to do surgery in utero?"
ReplyDeleteI believe we use media's tools and "hooks" to send our messages but we still need the human touch/connection. How many of us have seen siblings or friends sitting next to each other, texting each other!
I totally agree Pam that we cannot forget or forego the human need to have close contact.
ReplyDeleteHi "Biggles",
ReplyDeleteThank-you for your comment.
I read somewhere but can't remember where that Shakespeare had access to approximately 10 thousand words in his time or something like that and Eminem has access to about a million. It almost doesn't seem fair...
I agree about the moral development. When you look back through the ages, morality has been affected. Someone would say more negatively than others but values are a key element to consider, I think. Do we change our definition or broaden our perceptions of what values we hold true for ourselves as we move through this era.
When we cite an online author today, we can't be sure that the info will be there tomorrow but the his idea might remain. Is repect for the original author eliminated if we cannot find the source or is our honesty questioned when in our blog we write what we believe and then someone else questions it or quotes it as God's truth?
You raise a good point when referring to the safety and positive upbringing of children (people)in this age of technological impact.
About 10 years ago, my father purchased a pair of running shoes for his granddaughter who was about to enter Nursery. On the day she received them she loved the flowers and the colors on the canvas Keds. When she returned home after school, she told her grandma she wanted checkmark shoes. When she showed my mom what she meant by referring to a magazine picture, she meant a Nike swoosh mark. Ad placement and media control is a monster designed to kidnap the very young who have their parents and grandparents at their mercy. This was an opportune time for old world values of hard work, patience and effort to come into place. My neice then received a list of jobs to do if she wanted to earn those checkmark shoes and she gladly started 'working'. Adults still do have to be present in their child's life to be witness to the change and to be the moderator in the youngster's life.