10/8/2011
Video Reactions
Web
2.0 The Machine is Us/Using Us was quick paced; the video
literally was hard for me to keep up with! While I don’t understand the
underpinnings of technology or website creation, I am comfortable with the
internet. The pace of the video provided
a little discomfort. There is more out
there than I realize. Who is looking at
my information on the internet?
The internet is a creation all users need to take
responsibility for. As a shared space,
we are responsible for the information we share. The video did not introduced a new concept,
per say, but presented it in a new artistic way. I’m left thinking: “What was the motivation
of the author?”
The second video Ted
ideas worth spreading, children are working together in learning groups via
technology. In rural areas of India,
children have access to the internet for the first time through Sugata Mitra’s
work and teaching each other how to use it.
Mitra’s discussed students learning to change their accent and translate
languages in order to teach themselves.
The learning which occurred in groups was important to their
retention. We have similarly discussed
this concept in our cohort’s math class.
I was impressed by all the different pathways to learning that do not
involve a formal learning system. “Granny
cloud” skyping, S.O.L.E.s, google translator, and sharing computers while
working in groups were all new examples of utilizing technology. The questions becomes: “Do these pathways
remove the teacher, or does he/she have value?”
Mitra seemed to imply that assessment presented similar results between
self taught and formally taught students.
However, I do not think this exempts the important role of a teacher. Essentially the lack of teachers in areas
where they are most needed fueled this research. Our focus now should be on the power of
learning in groups and with technology.
