If we look at both of Wenger’s and Prensky notions on both communities of practise and education, there would be a way in which we can relate them together.
With Wenger’s theory looking at communities of practise, what he tends to make his point more about is not that this includes hobby groups, but more of that it involves a group of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.
Whilst Prensky’s theory takes a look at how students these days are using their technology knowledge to the advantage in their educational lives.
Prensky sees that we should be letting the students do what they do well, which is the use of technology as a tool, while the teachers and faculty sit back and rather than be technology users, ‘they’re guides, question askers, quality providers, then we can get a partnership’.
So the way we can relate these two theories together is that with students, as they have to same interest in technology, they can also be classed as a community of practice with having this general interest in common with one another.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Week 9 - Digital Divide, Social-Economy and Global Access
When we look at the digital divide between digital native and immigrants, there may also be an effect on the social economy in the society we live in. For example, with the digital natives being use to using the online buying sites such as eBay and Amazon (two are the largest sites in the UK), a majority of the items they purchase is done from the comfort of their own home.
Even now with food. The day of physically popping out to the shops for the week’s food shop is over as now a large number of people are ordering from home, only to have it delivered a couple of days later.
This may have a effect on this already large digital divide, however in terms of the economy, it is only helping as more and more businesses are benefitting from this service. For example more of the brand high street shops are turning to the internet as well, to fit in with this digital age.
Where as with the digital immigrants, they still remain leaving the house and doing the jobs and shopping in person.
This is another aspect in the fact that we are losing a sense of communication between people and things we do. Such as for kids, they are turning to technology instead of going out for a kick about and most of us now use social networks and instant messaging to talk instead of in person. Now it seems it is turning to the world of economy and consumption.
If we were to look at global access issues across countries and regions, we may tend to think towards how this digital divide and advances have created opportunities to keep in contact with those we cannot reach in person.
So when we have people we know in the other side of the world such as friends and family (myself included), this new digital way of talking to one another seems to have it’s benefits.
Even now with food. The day of physically popping out to the shops for the week’s food shop is over as now a large number of people are ordering from home, only to have it delivered a couple of days later.
This may have a effect on this already large digital divide, however in terms of the economy, it is only helping as more and more businesses are benefitting from this service. For example more of the brand high street shops are turning to the internet as well, to fit in with this digital age.
Where as with the digital immigrants, they still remain leaving the house and doing the jobs and shopping in person.
This is another aspect in the fact that we are losing a sense of communication between people and things we do. Such as for kids, they are turning to technology instead of going out for a kick about and most of us now use social networks and instant messaging to talk instead of in person. Now it seems it is turning to the world of economy and consumption.
If we were to look at global access issues across countries and regions, we may tend to think towards how this digital divide and advances have created opportunities to keep in contact with those we cannot reach in person.
So when we have people we know in the other side of the world such as friends and family (myself included), this new digital way of talking to one another seems to have it’s benefits.
Week 9 - Education Tailored To Our Preferences?
In the new day and age when we all live amongst numerous different cultures, it would be very small minded to only learn issues close to the individual.
What I think is that everyone needs a general knowledge of different cultures and backgrounds. When we entre the big scary world of work, there may not be a job which is catered for all our preferences and would involve having a wider knowledge than of the one we would have which is based around ourselves.
As we have all been raised at taught different cultures and backgrounds, for instances from the right of the start of secondary school we had French or German lessons for the majority of us.
So in the end if this was to ever happen in the world of education, not only would there be a digital divide but also a educational divide as those who looked at a broader range will have a higher knowledge than those who chose what to study.
However a way of making this broad range of studying more enjoyable and tailored to some extent would be to spread of the learning to different forms of media, such as text, moving image and of course the internet.
What I think is that everyone needs a general knowledge of different cultures and backgrounds. When we entre the big scary world of work, there may not be a job which is catered for all our preferences and would involve having a wider knowledge than of the one we would have which is based around ourselves.
As we have all been raised at taught different cultures and backgrounds, for instances from the right of the start of secondary school we had French or German lessons for the majority of us.
So in the end if this was to ever happen in the world of education, not only would there be a digital divide but also a educational divide as those who looked at a broader range will have a higher knowledge than those who chose what to study.
However a way of making this broad range of studying more enjoyable and tailored to some extent would be to spread of the learning to different forms of media, such as text, moving image and of course the internet.
Week 9 - What Is Semantic Web?
‘The Semantic Web is the extension of the World Wide Web that enables people to share content beyond the boundaries of applications and websites. It has been described in rather different ways: as a utopic vision, as a web of data, or merely as a natural paradigm shift in our daily use of the Web’.
(http://semanticweb.org/wiki/Main_Page)
So when we think of semantics, we think the study of the meaning of communication, and in this case the web.
But in general, the introduction to this semantic web is to make the web a lot smarter with machines being able to read computers, which then takes the human operator out of the equation, so that they can perform more of the tedious work involved in finding, sharing, and combining information on the web.
(http://semanticweb.org/wiki/Main_Page)
So when we think of semantics, we think the study of the meaning of communication, and in this case the web.
But in general, the introduction to this semantic web is to make the web a lot smarter with machines being able to read computers, which then takes the human operator out of the equation, so that they can perform more of the tedious work involved in finding, sharing, and combining information on the web.
Week 9 - Difference Between Semantic Web and Web 3.0?
When first thinking are both the semantic web and web 3.0, they seem to be similar, however there is a difference.
They may both be (or suppose to be) ultra fast versions of the internet but the semantic web is a system which allow computers to read the internet, whilst the web 3.0 will be able to connect different items together on your personal computer or laptop through suggestion.
‘In a little over a decade, according to the engineers building the internet of tomorrow, the web will be able to connect every aspect of our digital lives - be it a website, an e-mail, or a file on our PC - to every other aspect. It will know, for instance, when you are typing an e-mail, what the subject of the e-mail is, and be able to suggest websites and books as well as documents, photos and videos you have saved that may be relevant to that topic.’
(http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article2726190.ece)
Although there seems to be some confusion to what the different between the two are. Many have classed the two as the same thing. With both under development and wont be released for another decade at the same point. However with the speed experts say the web 3.0 will develop, this will rely on the semantic web as it will be run by other computers to match the speed, as a human operator will not be able to manage such a task.
They may both be (or suppose to be) ultra fast versions of the internet but the semantic web is a system which allow computers to read the internet, whilst the web 3.0 will be able to connect different items together on your personal computer or laptop through suggestion.
‘In a little over a decade, according to the engineers building the internet of tomorrow, the web will be able to connect every aspect of our digital lives - be it a website, an e-mail, or a file on our PC - to every other aspect. It will know, for instance, when you are typing an e-mail, what the subject of the e-mail is, and be able to suggest websites and books as well as documents, photos and videos you have saved that may be relevant to that topic.’
(http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article2726190.ece)
Although there seems to be some confusion to what the different between the two are. Many have classed the two as the same thing. With both under development and wont be released for another decade at the same point. However with the speed experts say the web 3.0 will develop, this will rely on the semantic web as it will be run by other computers to match the speed, as a human operator will not be able to manage such a task.
Monday, 23 March 2009
Week 9 - Should education 'stretch' a person?
When we think of putting a person through education, I think the concept ‘stretch’ wouldn’t be the right terminology to use.
If I used an ordinary child as an example of being put through education, of course we want them to do the best they can to their ability. However the concept of stretched makes it sound as though they are being forced into it by the parent.
I’d say that education should challenge the child a little more so as results seem to be growing higher every year, which simply shows the level of intelligence in young individuals is rising (and not that silly theory that key stage exams are getting easier).
Although I’d only say ‘stretch’ is a strong word for that example for those of a young age.
If we were to look at undergraduates like ourselves, this would be more appropriate. With the majority of degree’s lasting three years, the student should be pushed or stretch to the best of their abilities. The whole idea of university is to prepare them for a better career/life and if a bit of extra momentum will help that, then more the better.
However it’s not just with the work load that can stretch a person’s education. With this unit titled ‘new media’, it can stretch a persons ability to use programs and gain further knowledge through different sources. What I’d mean here would be the online resources such as the portal, blackboard and e-learning. This would certainly be useful in this digital age we are entering and living in and certainly an advantage to those who are classed as digital immigrants and have to compete with natives who are already use to these technological advances.
If I used an ordinary child as an example of being put through education, of course we want them to do the best they can to their ability. However the concept of stretched makes it sound as though they are being forced into it by the parent.
I’d say that education should challenge the child a little more so as results seem to be growing higher every year, which simply shows the level of intelligence in young individuals is rising (and not that silly theory that key stage exams are getting easier).
Although I’d only say ‘stretch’ is a strong word for that example for those of a young age.
If we were to look at undergraduates like ourselves, this would be more appropriate. With the majority of degree’s lasting three years, the student should be pushed or stretch to the best of their abilities. The whole idea of university is to prepare them for a better career/life and if a bit of extra momentum will help that, then more the better.
However it’s not just with the work load that can stretch a person’s education. With this unit titled ‘new media’, it can stretch a persons ability to use programs and gain further knowledge through different sources. What I’d mean here would be the online resources such as the portal, blackboard and e-learning. This would certainly be useful in this digital age we are entering and living in and certainly an advantage to those who are classed as digital immigrants and have to compete with natives who are already use to these technological advances.
Week 9 - The Oldest digital native
I’d have to say the oldest digital native I know would be my own father. Having recently hit the big 50, he is still well aware to today’s modern digital advances and can work with them, most of the time!
With his job constantly working at a computer designing new fitting for building and other things like that, he has had to gain an understanding of what else comes with the computer package such as e-mailing.
He may not have started with the computer software, (as it was done on huge draft boards) but he can work very well with it. In many ways he prefers this new digital version of work as it can be done a lot quicker and cleaner.
Not only with computers has he manage to change the way he takes everyday by now, but also in the world of phones. Having to make and receive dozens of calls a day and travelling around the country to different jobs he has had to summon himself to the world of mobile communication. Which again has seem to not affected him at all (what can I say, it’s me who can’t even work his blackberry!).These are the main two things in this digital world that is associated with him but at least these count for something as computers and mobiles seem to be the two main digital media which have taken oven our lives and the world in this new digital age
With his job constantly working at a computer designing new fitting for building and other things like that, he has had to gain an understanding of what else comes with the computer package such as e-mailing.
He may not have started with the computer software, (as it was done on huge draft boards) but he can work very well with it. In many ways he prefers this new digital version of work as it can be done a lot quicker and cleaner.
Not only with computers has he manage to change the way he takes everyday by now, but also in the world of phones. Having to make and receive dozens of calls a day and travelling around the country to different jobs he has had to summon himself to the world of mobile communication. Which again has seem to not affected him at all (what can I say, it’s me who can’t even work his blackberry!).These are the main two things in this digital world that is associated with him but at least these count for something as computers and mobiles seem to be the two main digital media which have taken oven our lives and the world in this new digital age
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
