Remote Access- “Education, Networks, and Informatics”
I really enjoyed this article, and the links embed within it that clarified some of the concepts that the author discussed. Fisher began by stating that “Two years ago we talked about tools. We heard educational bloggers say: wikis, blogs, podcasts, flickr. With these things we will change the world.” Three sentences in and I already have questions. Have these tools really changed the world, or is the world changing how we as individuals (and educators) look at it?
Next, Fisher moved on to discuss the pedagogical focus of the current year, and the desire to re-think one’s own teaching practice. Along with the pedagogical focus, Fisher targeted lesson design, as well as international projects for growth in the current year. Then, he quickly got to the crux of his entry… “We need to learn about informatics, about information aesthetics, information science, and viral movement.
As I read and reread this entry, I felt it best to attack the issues one by one. First, I assessed what techniques I had used thus far in my classroom, as well as techniques I still considered to be foreign. For instance, I am podcasting frequent flier, and have begun to use blogging with all my students this year. However, I have only used flickr for personal purposes, and I’ve yet to explore wikis with my students at all. And this was a focus for educational technology two years ago? Where have I been??
Insofar as networking with other classes around the globe, I honestly haven’t done that either (starting to feel like a less than mediocre educator with this posting…). But there is hope for me on this one. At Apple camp this summer I had the opportunity to meet other educators from around the globe; this has opened new doors for me in the area of creating PLNs. Although I have a strong desire to create PLNs with educators and students from other countries, my superiors may not share this desire. However, I am hopeful that it will work out.
I think one problem many educators face when trying to implement new strategies is the stumbling block of simply not knowing where to begin. I am not exempt from this, as right now I have a litany of questions popping up as I entertain the thought of collaborating with an international group of students. What mode will my students use to communicate? What hoops will I have to jump through (such as acceptable use policies and parental apprehension), and what liabilities might I face? I guess what makes the difference is how one reacts to these issues, or what will really separate who will become a digital immigrant and who won’t.
The last issue that Fisher discussed – informatics, information aesthetics, information science, and viral movement. The concepts that interested me most were information aesthetics and viral movement. It seems odd to say, but there is definitely a kinship between what is preferable to look at, and what is deemed scholarly. Furthermore, if one or the other isn’t present, it is often deemed as a less than credible source. Personally, I know I am guilty of doing this very thing. As a matter of fact, I remember in a discussion board entry, a student mentioned liking the background of this course on Blackboard. Many (or most) of us make prejudicial assumptions about websites based on how they appear at first glance. The moral here is that educators should not only pay attention to the content they present to their students, but also how it is presented. Insofar as viral movement, I’m not sure if I completely understand what he is getting at, but I believe he is referring to how trends in education and technology catch on and spread. Or simply put, it refers to what skills students come to my classroom with from their digital environment, and how I capitalize on it. Of the feeds I have subscribed to, I think I like Remote Access the best. His entries are thought provoking and intriguing.
There are a lot of times with technology where I too struggle with where to start at. I wanted to try and create a learning environment using technology for a government class, but I could not decide where to begin with it, so I went in a different direction. Its frustrating when you have a lot of ideas you want to try out and the only that stands in your well is yourself.