For those of you who asked, here’s a link to the Wayback Machine, the webpage that archives snapshots of every webpage. The Internet Archive is also an incredibly useful resource.
February 27, 2007
Wireless Laptop Classrooms
I just finished reading this topic and felt really good about it. It mainly talks all about the use of Laptops in the classromms. Before reading this topic, I was alittle bit nervous how to establish such an enviroment in the classroom that I will be teaching in Afghanistan since there are not computer lapbs. In other words, I have also decided to write my paper about the learning situation in Afghanistan and how to implement this system there and was thinking that I may not succeed to do such a great work there. Now, this chapter helped me to think of bringing laptops in the classrooms as it is wireless. I am sure that most of the people have their own laptops and it would oversimplify it. I am very happy for this and I keep reading this because I know that there are good points concerning the pedogogies of wireless classrooms.
The Pit Breakup
Interesting video of a UNC student breaking up with his girlfriend in front of a thousand other students. Within days, the video had been viewed by hundreds of thousands of people.
As the Charlotte Observer reports, the video is a hoax, but it is interesting none the less. I wrote a longer entry about this story on my personal blog.
Wireless Laptop Classrooms
The use of laptops or computers is a great way to run a classroom as long as members of the group don’t loose sight of the reasons why they are there. Both students and teachers need to take ownership in order to get the most out of the class. Instructors should remember the content of the class, laptops or computers should not be a substitute for instruction, rather they should supplement instruction. In other words, the computer should not teach the class, it should help the instrutor teach the class. Students should also take ownership in ensuring they get the necessary content from the class. They should come to class and be prepared to work and participate versus using the laptop or computer to surf the internet or email friends. The computer should not be a place to hide behind for students or instructors. Instructors should move around the room and have class discussion or even move out of the computer room setting ocassionally as suggested by our very own instructor. In environments like this, once a classroom culture is set up and everyone learns their role, the class runs smoothly. Students get the information they need and teachers get to do what they love doing.
The Online Community
The point that the computer-based learning environment is a close connection of classroom, technology and community in which teacher acts as a “community builder” impresses me most in this article.
The online community is characterized as “a community of shared interests usually bounded by the topic under discussion that can lead to a communal spirit and apparent social bonding” (Fernback; Thomson). Its characteristics are very similar to the definition of earlier non-web-based community, which has “constructed boundaries or social hierarchies, established histories and rituals, shared space, values and norms, and mutual interests”. Although they are quite similar, I think the online community has an edge over the common discourse community. Since the online community is more overt and much faster. People who are interested in a common topic can discuss through a shared online space easier and instant, such as using blog, we can discuss and share opinions with the writer of an entry through the comment space. With the continuous adding of comments, the topic can be developed much deeper and broader. Later when we want to relate to it, instead of referring to a pile of relevant books or articles, we can get it immediately online. However, the reliability and authority of the online discussion are doubted. So some people turn to the published books and articles for more authentic and authoritative information when writing something formal.
Therefore, online community has its advantages and disadvantages compared with the earlier common discourse community. I don’t know if my understanding about this point is right or wrong, so please post your comments.
February 25, 2007
Types of blog posts
Has anyone else noticed that there seem to be types of posts? Some are critical, others provide summaries, others helpful links. I find that most of mine are critical. For planning for such a class (one that uses blogs in an academic setting) would it be advisable to require the students to post several of each type, or should entirely free rein be given? Just wondering what opinions are out there, as a blog would be helpful in many different classroom situations.
“Wireless” comments
The article discussing classroom problems which revolve around the differences and uses of laptops in the classroom is one I bookmarked for future use. It seemed very conscientous of many different needs and concerns which come from using laptop computers in the classroom. I particularly thought that having a non-computer related activity to start the class was wise so that latecomers and those with slow computers can have time to prepare.
February 24, 2007
Net Neutrality Video
While I haven’t specifically introduced the concept of net neutrality in our course, this video, by the filmmakers behind the independent feature film, Four Eyed Monsters, is a pretty good primer on the basics of “net neutrality” and the reasons why it is such an important political issue.
February 22, 2007
The Great Wikipedia Debate
Just wanted to mention an update on the Middlebury College Wikipedia story we discussed a few weeks ago. Cross-posted on my personal blog:
Via Altercation: A New York Times article on the decision of the Middlebury College history department to ban students from citing Wikipedia in their papers and exams. While I recognize that Wikipedia has its limits, I’ll join the chorus of those who think this policy is a bad idea, but this debate illustrates the degree to which educators will need to rethink how they teach academic research.
Like Jason Mittell, who is heavily quoted in the article, I think the history department’s policy misses a tremendous opportunity for thinking about changes in research methods and knowledge acquisition. In fact, like Jason, I have assignments in one of my classes requiring students to participate in a course blog and wiki. In my case, I have asked students to contribute to a course wiki rather than editing or adding to an existing wiki such as Wikipedia (others are obviously welcome to participate in the blog and the wiki). While the blog and wiki are relatively rudimentary, I think its useful to consider how these forms can inform our goals as educators and researchers. Such activities seem far more effective in thinking about information literacy than an outright ban on using certain sources.
That being said, I encourage students to think critically about such sources as Wikipedia, namely its status as an encyclopedia that offers very little in the way of specialized knowledge and one that may be more subject to factual errors than other encyclopedias. But banning Wikipedia prevents us from having some valuable conversations about how these online tools can be used.
Update: Here’s a Washington Post article by University of Chicago professor Cass R. Sunstein on Wikipedia. While he doesn’t mention Middlebury College by name, it’s clear that he is addressing similiar debates.
