So the last day of blogging is here!! And I must say I'm very glad!
After my 56 blogs I feel that that is enough blogging for me, for ever.
I think for this unit it has been a good way to learn about technology and communication first hand. But I most definitely prefer face-to-face interaction!!
If we did this again, I would try my hardest to comment on peoples blogs more and try to be more open minded about online learning! I still prefer normal seminars and lectures though!!!
Friday, 27 March 2009
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Week 9 and 10-- Ideas over MSN
So me and Hannah thought it would be a good idea to try and share our ideas and communicate via a chat services to try and get to grips with question 2 as we were both struggling to get to grips with it at first, we also though this is a good way to truly see the difference between face-to-face discussions and online. The main advantages we found was the flexibility, we didn't have to set a specific time and arrange when and where to meet, we just meet online, much less hassle! It also made it much easier to discuss and share research we'd found with one another, as all we had to do was send each other a link.
However the major down falls of online communicating like this is that it seem a lot harder to get my points and ideas across, it can sometimes be hard to phrase what your trying to say, where as in face-to-face communication this seems much easier. It also meant that we could interrupt what each other was saying with out meaning to, as you don't fully know if someones finished their point, also the fact of my internet crashing and the hassle of having to wait for everything to reload.
Overall I think it helped us, as it was a quick way to see what each other thought about the question and share any ideas, and I know it helped clear up my confusion surrounding the question.
Thanks Hannah!!!!!!!!!
However the major down falls of online communicating like this is that it seem a lot harder to get my points and ideas across, it can sometimes be hard to phrase what your trying to say, where as in face-to-face communication this seems much easier. It also meant that we could interrupt what each other was saying with out meaning to, as you don't fully know if someones finished their point, also the fact of my internet crashing and the hassle of having to wait for everything to reload.
Overall I think it helped us, as it was a quick way to see what each other thought about the question and share any ideas, and I know it helped clear up my confusion surrounding the question.
Thanks Hannah!!!!!!!!!
Week 9 and 10- Question 2
What difference to all this might the 'digital divide' make?
a) To socioeconomically related access issues within a society? b) To global access issues across countries and regions?
Sources:
a) To socioeconomically related access issues within a society? b) To global access issues across countries and regions?
The digital divide and socioeconomically related access issues within any society can be seen all over the world, the effects are most likely to be negative. However there are many sources that state there is actually action taking place to tackle this digital divide to try and make everyone have equal access. But today there is still a huge divide within society's, the main divide is between those who are 'digitally rich and digitally poor' and the effects that less access to technology has on people, whether it be in work, school or everyday life and the disadvantage it then leaves those people with. Its not all about access though, but what you gain from this access. The divide that we've looked into of digital natives and immigrants certainly isn't the only one out there, the socioeconomic divide is about the gap between those who have high status and those who have low status (digitally rich or poor) those who benefit more from technology, not just computers but digital televisions etc, are those who are much more affluent. It seems that the less affluent are being ignored and that companies don't bother to design technology for them as they see that there is no market, this obviously means if they can't afford to buy the technology they will have a lot less access than those who can, they will be able to access it at school or work,but not in their own time when they can look into things they want too. This then increases the divide between the two groups of people within a society. It also means that theory's such as Prenskys may not always apply, for example children who are from a less affluent family might not have the access to a computer or other forms of technology at home, therefore leaving the only time they have access to them during school, how can they then be classed as a 'digital native' if their not surrounded by technology all the time as Prensky states. This then makes the social divide between children at school bigger, its not just their class divides but their technological divide.
When thinking about it on a global scale and the access issues that there are the most obvious is the difference between countries such as the UK, USA,China and all developed countries and 'third world countries' and those that are still developing.
The problem that I think makes the global access issue more major is that it effects everyone in certain countries, its not just those who are less affluent, its in some cases everyone in that country, including those in authority. If people in some countries have little,if any access to the internet in particular, then of course they will feel disadvantaged than those that do, the fact the internet is used to find out so much information, then courses a gap and difference in knowledge between countries which increases this divide. It is the financial situation that has made this divide occur, as those third world countries just can't afford the technologies that western countries can. To me it doesn't seem fair that these countries are getting left behind, their general knowledge of everything, especially diseases (Like seen on the Africa elearning sites ) could be so much better if they had access to the internet.
When thinking about it on a global scale and the access issues that there are the most obvious is the difference between countries such as the UK, USA,China and all developed countries and 'third world countries' and those that are still developing.
The problem that I think makes the global access issue more major is that it effects everyone in certain countries, its not just those who are less affluent, its in some cases everyone in that country, including those in authority. If people in some countries have little,if any access to the internet in particular, then of course they will feel disadvantaged than those that do, the fact the internet is used to find out so much information, then courses a gap and difference in knowledge between countries which increases this divide. It is the financial situation that has made this divide occur, as those third world countries just can't afford the technologies that western countries can. To me it doesn't seem fair that these countries are getting left behind, their general knowledge of everything, especially diseases (Like seen on the Africa elearning sites ) could be so much better if they had access to the internet.
Sources:
Week 9 and 10--Question 6
How does the semantic web differ from web 3.0?
Web 3.0 is a new type of internet that is as of yet only being imagined for 2020.
Web 3.0 will be a lot smarter and will supposedly make searching for things, such as restaurants, movies , information in general much easier. "Instead of multiple searches, you might type a complex sentence or two in your Web 3.0 browser, and the Web will do the rest" It will look at the whole sentence, not just searching for words, many articles state that it may be like a personal assistant and as you search the web the browser will start to learn your interests and eventually you may not need to ask specific questions. It seems to be thought that the browser will start to know things about you much like a real person would, For example when you search for restaurants, it will remember what sort of food you like by what sort of restaurants you've searched for previously and will already know your location, therefore making everything a lot easier, along with using information taken from your personal laptop or computer and connecting and relating things when necessary.Web 3.0 is a new type of internet that is as of yet only being imagined for 2020.
When I first looked into the semantic web and web 3.0 it seemed to me that their very similar, some websites state that they are in fact the same thing and many suggest that to get web 3.0 you have to take web 2.0 and add the semantic web.
The only difference that I can find after researching is that web 3.0 is about personalising the web for each user with the use of a browser that will over time remember your previous choices and searches and take these in to consideration when you next use the search engine. Whereas the semantic web is more about giving users as many results as possible and linking all the information together through the many different databases that are within the web.
If anyone has anymore ideas about this question,please share? I found it difficult to find the difference!!!
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Week 9 and 10-Question 5
What is the 'semantic web'?
The semantic web is described by many websites as an extension of the world wide web.
Semantic means 'the meaning of' something, and the semantic web is to do with the meaning of the information that can be found on the web ( 'A web with meaning') it seems to be mesh of information that is all linked up in a certain way so machines can easily process it on a global scale.
'The Semantic Web is a web that is able to describe things in a way that computers can understand'. It appears to be about computers and machines being able to understand and process information in a much easier way allowing them to sort information in a way that is much more beneficial for users.
'Intelligent web applications could collect information from many different sources, combine information, and present it to users in a meaningful way.' Its also meant to help users in finding exactly what there looking for and "is about having data as well as documents on the Web so that machines can process, transform, assemble, and even act on the data in useful ways."
Note: I don't know if this is totally right, I struggled with this question!
Sources used :
The semantic web is described by many websites as an extension of the world wide web.
Semantic means 'the meaning of' something, and the semantic web is to do with the meaning of the information that can be found on the web ( 'A web with meaning') it seems to be mesh of information that is all linked up in a certain way so machines can easily process it on a global scale.
'The Semantic Web is a web that is able to describe things in a way that computers can understand'. It appears to be about computers and machines being able to understand and process information in a much easier way allowing them to sort information in a way that is much more beneficial for users.
'Intelligent web applications could collect information from many different sources, combine information, and present it to users in a meaningful way.' Its also meant to help users in finding exactly what there looking for and "is about having data as well as documents on the Web so that machines can process, transform, assemble, and even act on the data in useful ways."
Note: I don't know if this is totally right, I struggled with this question!
Sources used :
Week 9 and 10- Question 4
Is there a potential problem being stored up for people if 'education' is tailored to fit into their cultural and personal preferences?
If education is tailored to fit to peoples needs and preferences I think there are definitely problems that will occur but after looking into research and articles on the matter it seems there are also some positive sides to tailored education. The positives that seem to surround this idea of tailored education is that it will supposedly try to 'tackle achievement gaps between children from different social and ethnic groups', its also suggested that tailored education for every child will build their strength in basic skills 'while stretching their aspirations', this is all well a good but it seems that most of this tailored education will benefit those who are more able and have more academic success than those who struggle. Will this just be in schools that have more opportunities, private and grammar schools.
I think that if you try to tailor education to peoples personal cultural preferences they may become very narrow minded. If the youth only learn about their individual culture and are educate in either a one to one bases or put in groups with others who have the same preferences, how will they learn to accept other cultures and understand them. I think it will increase divides within society and even course more trouble for schools and parents, when their children don't understand why different religions, ethnicity's and even classes have different ways of living. Why is separating people in to groups to learn a good thing? education is all about broadening minds and to stretch people to learn new things whilst interacting with a range of other students; if your with a group that all believe and think exactly the same there's no chance in becoming more open minded and learning about new cultural things. Also those who are less academically able will be put into groups with others who are and then therefore will not be pushed as far as those who have more success, I think all students should have the same standard of education and that everyone needs to be pushed to work harder.
Sources used:
If education is tailored to fit to peoples needs and preferences I think there are definitely problems that will occur but after looking into research and articles on the matter it seems there are also some positive sides to tailored education. The positives that seem to surround this idea of tailored education is that it will supposedly try to 'tackle achievement gaps between children from different social and ethnic groups', its also suggested that tailored education for every child will build their strength in basic skills 'while stretching their aspirations', this is all well a good but it seems that most of this tailored education will benefit those who are more able and have more academic success than those who struggle. Will this just be in schools that have more opportunities, private and grammar schools.
I think that if you try to tailor education to peoples personal cultural preferences they may become very narrow minded. If the youth only learn about their individual culture and are educate in either a one to one bases or put in groups with others who have the same preferences, how will they learn to accept other cultures and understand them. I think it will increase divides within society and even course more trouble for schools and parents, when their children don't understand why different religions, ethnicity's and even classes have different ways of living. Why is separating people in to groups to learn a good thing? education is all about broadening minds and to stretch people to learn new things whilst interacting with a range of other students; if your with a group that all believe and think exactly the same there's no chance in becoming more open minded and learning about new cultural things. Also those who are less academically able will be put into groups with others who are and then therefore will not be pushed as far as those who have more success, I think all students should have the same standard of education and that everyone needs to be pushed to work harder.
Sources used:
Week 9 and 10- Question 1
How might Wenger's notions on practice communities relate to Prensky's on education?
Wenger suggests that Communities of practice are "groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly"(Wenger), so a group of people that have the same interests in one particular thing will learn more about it and how to participate better the more they all work together and interact. The effects of this can be seen within education and the groups that are formed.
Wenger suggests that Communities of practice are "groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly"(Wenger), so a group of people that have the same interests in one particular thing will learn more about it and how to participate better the more they all work together and interact. The effects of this can be seen within education and the groups that are formed.
Prenskys ideas around education is where the 'digital divide' comes to the forefront, with the main issue being around the difference between teachers and students and the digital language they speak. The issue is that teachers have to learn before they can communicate to the students they teach."Our Digital Immigrant instructors, who speak an outdated language (that of the pre-digital age), are struggling to teach a population that speaks an entirely new language" (Perksy) Students of today that belong to the digital native group have a completely different way of thinking and this courses problems for the digital immigrant teachers, as the students 'have little patience for lectures, step-by-step logic, and "tell-test" instruction', students want the information/education 'faster'. Prensky even goes on to suggest why not have video games as an educational tool.
When looking at the link between the two when you think about students grouping together to learn through the use of technology and the fact they want to use it to enhance their learning experience. These groups that are formed are examples of communities of practices as all the students have an interest in common, as long as the teachers can relate to the students then their is no problem, but when they can't this is where the use of video games is suggested my Prensky to eduacte both students and teachers at the same time, putting them into the same group.
Saturday, 21 March 2009
Week 9 and 10- Describe the experience of a fictional technophile student in 2020.
A technophiles is someone who has a great interest and enthusiasm in technology, mainly for new technology.
Trying to think what technology will be like in next 10 years is very difficult, its obvious to everyone that it will change and advance with haste. And it seems that pretty much anything is possible to happen over the space of the next ten years.
A student will no doubt experience live very differently to any student in today's society.
I think that most lectures and seminars will be held online, Elearning in general will play a much bigger part within education. I think face-to-face education will slowly disappear, although in 2020 there may be some sort of rule that all students have to meet tutors in person at least once a week and meet their groups for group projects, but the actual lectures will just be viewed online, i think webcams may play a bigger role and you may be able to record lectures to use for further reference and maybe even use webcams to talk to lectures.
I think there will be some kind of product that incorporates everything needed by the everyday student, so including a computer, phone, webcam, internet etc. This all allows students to study from the comfort of their own room, no need to actually get up before a lecture!
I think the need for library such as the one here will be a lot less as all the books and information you will need will be online and Ebooks will be used much more. There will be no need to go to the library to use the printer as all work will be submitted online, essay will be emailed in before deadlines and there will be no need to fill out a sheet like at the faculty office, all your simply do is email your name and student number with your essay attached.
Thinking about all these things will mean Universities wont have to be that big, and in some case you may not even have to live in the same place as the campus, as you can just do everything online.
But who knows what live at university will be like in 2020, we'll just have to wait and see!
Trying to think what technology will be like in next 10 years is very difficult, its obvious to everyone that it will change and advance with haste. And it seems that pretty much anything is possible to happen over the space of the next ten years.
A student will no doubt experience live very differently to any student in today's society.
I think that most lectures and seminars will be held online, Elearning in general will play a much bigger part within education. I think face-to-face education will slowly disappear, although in 2020 there may be some sort of rule that all students have to meet tutors in person at least once a week and meet their groups for group projects, but the actual lectures will just be viewed online, i think webcams may play a bigger role and you may be able to record lectures to use for further reference and maybe even use webcams to talk to lectures.
I think there will be some kind of product that incorporates everything needed by the everyday student, so including a computer, phone, webcam, internet etc. This all allows students to study from the comfort of their own room, no need to actually get up before a lecture!
I think the need for library such as the one here will be a lot less as all the books and information you will need will be online and Ebooks will be used much more. There will be no need to go to the library to use the printer as all work will be submitted online, essay will be emailed in before deadlines and there will be no need to fill out a sheet like at the faculty office, all your simply do is email your name and student number with your essay attached.
Thinking about all these things will mean Universities wont have to be that big, and in some case you may not even have to live in the same place as the campus, as you can just do everything online.
But who knows what live at university will be like in 2020, we'll just have to wait and see!
Week 9 and 10-Describe the daily frustrations of a fictional neo-luddite at university now in the UK
To spend a day at a university as a Neo-Luddite would make everything so much more difficult, especially with the increase of technology within education.
A Neo-Luddite is some one who is opposed to technology and thinks that its not necessarily for society to function.
So your a Neo-Luddite and you get up to go to University ready to go to your first lecture, with out the use of a computer in your room/home you would not be able to check emails or black board to see if there has been any changes to the days schedule, therefore a lecture could be canceled or a room change could of occurred, leaving you standing outside the lecture room not knowing of any kinds of changes. So once you realise its either been canceled or moved, you decide to head to the library to kill some time before the next lecture.
You get to the library and have difficulty using the search engine to find the books you need, the books you should have gotten out last week to read for this next seminar. After spending ages trying to work the university search engine you go to get help from a library assistant, after them having to explain it to you for the second time, you finally find the books.
So you head to the next lecture ready to get on with what ever is required, however its not that easy, your lecture is in a computer room and you are expected to know how to work a computer, you go in any everyone is either on facebook or myspace, not really knowing what these sites are, You ask the person next to you, they just look at you like your crazy and laugh.
You see your friends you made from the previous weeks lecture, there all talking about the night out they had, which you where not invited to, as no one knew how to contact you. Therefore you feel left out of the conversation. Your homework for this week is to read an online article and write notes about it, to discuss next week. Meaning another long day will have to spent in the library trying to work the computers and find the source your meant to read.
You have one more seminar before you have an hour break for lunch, you arrange with your friends to meet them all at the pub on campus after your seminar. You show up and can't see them anywhere, you stand around for ten minutes and give up and go home, your friends decided to go into town instead but had no way of telling you.
So you decide to go home rather than wait about on your own, as you feel rubbish and let down, you then get a headache and don't go to your afternoon seminar, but can't email the lecture or text your friends to ask them to tell the teachers. All in all its a pretty rubbish day.
This shows just a few of the difficulties a Neo-Luddite would run into in a normal day at University and there are hundreds more that could occur. Its not just the communication aspect that would become a big problem, but the actual learning for the course, I.e. the online sources that have to be read, the use of computers and different software in seminars and practical meetings.
A Neo-Luddite is some one who is opposed to technology and thinks that its not necessarily for society to function.
So your a Neo-Luddite and you get up to go to University ready to go to your first lecture, with out the use of a computer in your room/home you would not be able to check emails or black board to see if there has been any changes to the days schedule, therefore a lecture could be canceled or a room change could of occurred, leaving you standing outside the lecture room not knowing of any kinds of changes. So once you realise its either been canceled or moved, you decide to head to the library to kill some time before the next lecture.
You get to the library and have difficulty using the search engine to find the books you need, the books you should have gotten out last week to read for this next seminar. After spending ages trying to work the university search engine you go to get help from a library assistant, after them having to explain it to you for the second time, you finally find the books.
So you head to the next lecture ready to get on with what ever is required, however its not that easy, your lecture is in a computer room and you are expected to know how to work a computer, you go in any everyone is either on facebook or myspace, not really knowing what these sites are, You ask the person next to you, they just look at you like your crazy and laugh.
You see your friends you made from the previous weeks lecture, there all talking about the night out they had, which you where not invited to, as no one knew how to contact you. Therefore you feel left out of the conversation. Your homework for this week is to read an online article and write notes about it, to discuss next week. Meaning another long day will have to spent in the library trying to work the computers and find the source your meant to read.
You have one more seminar before you have an hour break for lunch, you arrange with your friends to meet them all at the pub on campus after your seminar. You show up and can't see them anywhere, you stand around for ten minutes and give up and go home, your friends decided to go into town instead but had no way of telling you.
So you decide to go home rather than wait about on your own, as you feel rubbish and let down, you then get a headache and don't go to your afternoon seminar, but can't email the lecture or text your friends to ask them to tell the teachers. All in all its a pretty rubbish day.
This shows just a few of the difficulties a Neo-Luddite would run into in a normal day at University and there are hundreds more that could occur. Its not just the communication aspect that would become a big problem, but the actual learning for the course, I.e. the online sources that have to be read, the use of computers and different software in seminars and practical meetings.
Week 9 and 10-A person known to you who most threatens the notion of native/immigrant in digital culture.
I Think my Granddad threatens the notions of digital immigrants and natives, He has just recently turned 70 and therefore should most definitely be under the digital immigrants category according to the general concepts established by Prensky.
He works as a graphic designer and has done ever since I can remember, he used to work for a company but is now self employed and does many different types of design jobs, such as photo editing, magazine and book lay outs. He knows how to use both PC's and Mac's and owns both, he uses photoshop and knows how to use it better than anyone I know who falls under the typical digital native, i.e anyone from my generation. His accent is much more digital native than mine, especially when it comes to computers, their software and the internet, I will quite happily ask my granddad for help when I need help with my computer software and if I ever want to use a good photo printer I always go round and use his! He's always using email to keep in touch with people as well as his mobile phone.
It is obviously true that like anyone of his age (Digital Immigrants) he has had to learn how to use all this equipment, but the fact that he knows more about it than most of digital natives I know, means that he must therefore fit into the digital native category as well....??? Should it really all be down to your age as to which category you are put under.
He works as a graphic designer and has done ever since I can remember, he used to work for a company but is now self employed and does many different types of design jobs, such as photo editing, magazine and book lay outs. He knows how to use both PC's and Mac's and owns both, he uses photoshop and knows how to use it better than anyone I know who falls under the typical digital native, i.e anyone from my generation. His accent is much more digital native than mine, especially when it comes to computers, their software and the internet, I will quite happily ask my granddad for help when I need help with my computer software and if I ever want to use a good photo printer I always go round and use his! He's always using email to keep in touch with people as well as his mobile phone.
It is obviously true that like anyone of his age (Digital Immigrants) he has had to learn how to use all this equipment, but the fact that he knows more about it than most of digital natives I know, means that he must therefore fit into the digital native category as well....??? Should it really all be down to your age as to which category you are put under.
Week 9and 10- The youngest digital immigrant you know
The youngest digital Immigrant that I know myself, I would say is my auntie. She was not bought up with technology and doesn't seem to care about learning to use it!
She rarely uses the computer that is in her house, she doesn't work with any sort of technology as she is a councilor, she doesn't even have an email account and thinks if people want to get in touch with her they'll ring her house phone, same goes for her mobile phone, its only used for emergency and she turns it off most of the time, as she really doesn't see the need for it. She obviously falls under the age for a digital immigrant as she is 40, however there are many 40 year old who have learnt to use the technology and know it better than digital natives of 20 etc. But her lack of understanding and use of technology makes her with out a doubt a digital immigrants.
She rarely uses the computer that is in her house, she doesn't work with any sort of technology as she is a councilor, she doesn't even have an email account and thinks if people want to get in touch with her they'll ring her house phone, same goes for her mobile phone, its only used for emergency and she turns it off most of the time, as she really doesn't see the need for it. She obviously falls under the age for a digital immigrant as she is 40, however there are many 40 year old who have learnt to use the technology and know it better than digital natives of 20 etc. But her lack of understanding and use of technology makes her with out a doubt a digital immigrants.
Week 9 and 10- The oldest digital native you know.
The oldest digital native I know, if you think of digital natives as being those bought up with technology such as prensky states, would have to be my cousin who has just turned 25, shes has grown up with technology and using it through out her education. She uses facebook and chat services such as MSN to keep in touch with the family and with friends, she works in an office and therefore has to use computers everyday and know how to work them! She has the same accent as I do and speaks the digital native language that prensky talks about.
However if you look at digital native in the sense that the person knows way more about technology and has the knowledge to be classed as a digital native, I would say that my granddad would come in this category, he is obviously a digital immigrant by his age (70) however he knows how to use computer and software far better than I do and knows the language to use.
However if you look at digital native in the sense that the person knows way more about technology and has the knowledge to be classed as a digital native, I would say that my granddad would come in this category, he is obviously a digital immigrant by his age (70) however he knows how to use computer and software far better than I do and knows the language to use.
Friday, 20 March 2009
Week 9 and 10-Question 3
3) Should education 'stretch a person do you think? (What do you mean by 'stretch'?)
I think education should stretch a person and that it's one of the main purposes for education, its all about learning new things and increasing your knowledge. To me stretch means to push to the limits and expand something, education should push people and make them use their full potential and increase their understanding and broaden their knowledge. Education sets goals and targets for students to meet, for example essays and exams to see if they have expanded their knowledge on specif areas and topics, allowing students to create their own opinion on matters they may not have thought about if it wasn't for education.
If you didn't want to learn new things and push your potential to the limits you wouldn't bother with education at all would you? I know I wouldn't , the reason to continue in full time education is to increase my understanding and knowledge of specific things and to try and test myself to see if I can achieve these limits and get the best out of myself. Its all about challenging yourself.
I think education should stretch a person and that it's one of the main purposes for education, its all about learning new things and increasing your knowledge. To me stretch means to push to the limits and expand something, education should push people and make them use their full potential and increase their understanding and broaden their knowledge. Education sets goals and targets for students to meet, for example essays and exams to see if they have expanded their knowledge on specif areas and topics, allowing students to create their own opinion on matters they may not have thought about if it wasn't for education.
If you didn't want to learn new things and push your potential to the limits you wouldn't bother with education at all would you? I know I wouldn't , the reason to continue in full time education is to increase my understanding and knowledge of specific things and to try and test myself to see if I can achieve these limits and get the best out of myself. Its all about challenging yourself.
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Week 8 and 9 Question 5
Article 5: Abstract
This extract looks at the general idea and term of 'digital natives', it is very brief but still covers a wide range of ideas. It describes a digital native, states why digital immigrants are some what threaten and intrigued by their behavior. It goes on to list the terms used to describe the generation of digital natives and how their 'information seeking' behavior differs from their digital immigrant co-workers ways of working.
Week 8 and 9 Question 5
Article 4: Abstract
This article looks into the ideas of gaming and how they have changed the way people, and family's act. The author talks about her own family and how their 'XBox' is the main conversation and bonding time the family have together. It shows how the 'digital natives' have changed the traditional family way of live. It goes on to discuss a so called digital gaming 'literacy club', it looks into who can be and is part of it and why some people in today's society just can't be part of it!
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Week 8 and 9 Question 5
Article 3: Abstract
This article reviews the book, 'Born Digital' by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser which is about the social transformation in this digital era. It tries to help people come to terms with this digital native and prepare them for what may be to come. It goes on to discuss the nature of 'digital natives' and a concept that has been at the for front of controversy in this digital era, illegal downloading. The article touches on many different areas surrounding 'digital natives', such as identity and how its different for the new generation.
Week 8 and 9 Question 5
Article 2: Abstract:
This article looks at how the so called 'digital natives' are living in a world of 'empowered consumers' and how we have much more of an input and control over the content we have access to. The main product it focuses it argument on is the mobile phone. The author suggests that the mobile phone allows users to create their own means of consumption and content, it goes on to say how mobile phones have the same technology as everything else, e.g. cameras,video, radio etc. and soon you'll be using them to watch TV. It goes on to look at the idea that anyone can be a publisher these days, with the technology available.
Monday, 16 March 2009
Week 8 and 9 Question 5
5) Each student write your own abstract for each article. (5 abstracts each)
This article looks into education in this digital era and the idea of students being 'Digital Natives' and how they have changed from previous generation. It looks into the difference between teachers and students and how they have completely different ways of thinking, and how schools, colleges and universities have had to incorporate technology into their curriculum, such as google applications. It focuses on one particular programme ('Advanced Placement Language and Composition'), that is trying to incorporate technology much more in order to keep students interested, mainly looking at Google.
Article 1: Abstract:
This article looks into education in this digital era and the idea of students being 'Digital Natives' and how they have changed from previous generation. It looks into the difference between teachers and students and how they have completely different ways of thinking, and how schools, colleges and universities have had to incorporate technology into their curriculum, such as google applications. It focuses on one particular programme ('Advanced Placement Language and Composition'), that is trying to incorporate technology much more in order to keep students interested, mainly looking at Google.
Week 8 and 9 Question 4
Article 1:
Adams, D. (2008) "Gaga for Google in the Twenty-First Century Advanced Placement Language Classroom" Clearing House.Vol. 82, Issue. 2. p 96-98
Article 2:
Salz, P. (2008) "We Are All Publishers" Agile Mind, Vol. 31 Issue 10, p14-14.
Article 3:
Taussig, D. (2008) "The rules of the digital era aren't clear, even to the generation that has grown up in it"Open Society. Vol. 40 Issue 11, p49-51
Article 4:
Norton-Meier, L. (2005) "Joining the video-game literacy club: A reluctant mother tries to join the flow". Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy. Vol 48, Issue 5, (pg. 428-432)
Article 5:
Ojala, M. (2008) "Social Media, Information Seeking, and Generational Differences" Online. Vol. 32 Issue 2, p5-5
Week 8 and 9 Question 2
Okay so here are five links to website/ pages of websites that deal with digital immigrants and digital natives, some deal with both issues and other with only one or the other:
Website 2: 'Of Digital Immigrants, Power Browsing and Bouncing Out'- Open education.
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Week 8 and 9 Question 1
Digital Immigration
Okay so prier to us having to answer this question I had no idea about digital immigration!
The opposite to a digital immigrant is a 'Digital Native', some one has grown up in a world full of digital technology and who is a 'native speaker of the digital language' (Perksy,2001:1) namely our generation.
It seems that a major issue that surrounds this digital immigration debate is that education. Teachers are generally part of the immigrant side, whereas the students are most definitely digital natives, they know far more about the internet, gaming consoles, mobile phones etc than their teachers,"our Digital Immigrant instructors, who speak an outdated language (that of the pre-digital age), are struggling to teach a population that speaks an entirely new language" (Perksy.) The issue arises when the teachers have to be taught before they can even think about teaching their students and the fact that students have completely differently ways of thinking and have changed during this digital era. Teaching today can not be the same as what it has been for previous generations.
These are some of the sites and online sources I used to further my understanding of this topic:
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=2&hid=115&sid=d1f99f8e-c7d7-4110-a785-ffe6ded05e93%40sessionmgr102
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=2&hid=15&sid=ca3519b5-fb64-4a6b-91f8-8ccaeec4b939%40sessionmgr109&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=bwh&AN=4KB520080601025259000
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=2&hid=12&sid=9876bfd8-59e8-4e33-86a5-57a06f080839%40sessionmgr2
http://www.learnerstogether.net/digital-natives-digital-immigrants/53
Week 8 and 9 Question 6- Article 5
Article 5:
Right this is the final article/journal I have looked at for this week, it is a lot shorter than the others so I doubt I'll wright lots! Its talks about digital natives and their information-seeking behavior, and questions how this will stand up in the workplace and how its putting digital immigrants under pressure and seems to make them feel uneasy. Much of this article I think its right, however the idea that us 'digital natives' would rather find out the information need through a friend or a way that is quick and easy, surly that's how everyone would rather find out information, its not just us youngsters who would rather have something straight away than go through loads of information, its everyone! Why would you spend ages trying to find the answer to something if you knew one of your family members, colleagues or friends new the answer, wouldn't you just ask them????
Week 8 and 9 Question 6- Article 4
Article 4:
This article looks into the effects of video gaming and the difference it has for digital natives and immigrants.
Much of what this article said on the area of the 'digital divide' is the same as all though other articles I've found and looked at. But this is the first one to look into video gaming and the idea of a literacy club when it comes to gaming.
The article talks about a family where the children are constantly on the 'XBOX' and the mother can't understand why they spend all their type on it. It talks about why the children can understand the game better and the concept of it, compared to the mother. No one can argue with the fact that children play more video games than the majority of adults, its just a known fact, its who the games are aimed at so of course children will play them more. However I disagree with the idea that children (Digital Natives) can pick up any game and work out what is happening and adults (Digital Immigrants) can't. I know myself that games confuse me! And many other natives I know! And I'm generally quite rubbish at video games and some digital immigrants I know are brilliant at it and can play any game, considering the digital immigrants are generally considered to be over 30, and isn't one major part of the gaming world men over 25. Many games are specifically aimed at this category, so how can it been right that all so called digital immigrants are incapable of playing video games?....
Much of what this article said on the area of the 'digital divide' is the same as all though other articles I've found and looked at. But this is the first one to look into video gaming and the idea of a literacy club when it comes to gaming.
The article talks about a family where the children are constantly on the 'XBOX' and the mother can't understand why they spend all their type on it. It talks about why the children can understand the game better and the concept of it, compared to the mother. No one can argue with the fact that children play more video games than the majority of adults, its just a known fact, its who the games are aimed at so of course children will play them more. However I disagree with the idea that children (Digital Natives) can pick up any game and work out what is happening and adults (Digital Immigrants) can't. I know myself that games confuse me! And many other natives I know! And I'm generally quite rubbish at video games and some digital immigrants I know are brilliant at it and can play any game, considering the digital immigrants are generally considered to be over 30, and isn't one major part of the gaming world men over 25. Many games are specifically aimed at this category, so how can it been right that all so called digital immigrants are incapable of playing video games?....
Friday, 13 March 2009
Week 8 and 9 Question 6- Article 3
Article 3:
Right so here is the third journal. Its written by Doron Taussig and was published in 2008 and is therefore quite up to date.
The journal goes straight in to the idea of social norms, rules and values not being adequate for today's 'digital era'. This is obviously a big statement to make. Of course with the increase of digital communication society has changed, but has it really changed so much that the values and rules we're socialised into become completely irrelevant....? I don't think it will ever get to the point were normal human beliefs of what is wrong or right, or the way we behavior we change that greatly.
It the goes on to say that 'many Digital Natives that downloading music is "stealing." In the digital age, people are just not going to have the same understanding of intellectual property.' I know and everyone else I know who belongs to the digital native group, that illegal downloading is a form of stealing, we all know the artist or film company are losing money due to downloading which can then have an effect on whether bands can afford to release more music and whether new release make enough money, and we know its the small bands, the ungrounded ones and the films made by small,indie companies that suffer the most. So I don't think its fair to say we're completely oblivious to what we're doing if we illegal download, and I know many people my age who would rather buy music to help their favorite bands and who like to own the CD and who go to the cinema as you get better viewing quality. So I disagree with this part of the arguement.
It the goes on to say that 'many Digital Natives that downloading music is "stealing." In the digital age, people are just not going to have the same understanding of intellectual property.' I know and everyone else I know who belongs to the digital native group, that illegal downloading is a form of stealing, we all know the artist or film company are losing money due to downloading which can then have an effect on whether bands can afford to release more music and whether new release make enough money, and we know its the small bands, the ungrounded ones and the films made by small,indie companies that suffer the most. So I don't think its fair to say we're completely oblivious to what we're doing if we illegal download, and I know many people my age who would rather buy music to help their favorite bands and who like to own the CD and who go to the cinema as you get better viewing quality. So I disagree with this part of the arguement.
Week 8 and 9 Question 6- Article 2
Article 2:
The second academic journal I have looked at 'dealing with the notion of young people's facility with the new world of converged media' was again found on the Ebsco search engine. The journal is much shorter than the first. It looks into the idea of the 'empowered consumer' and namely the mobile phone and they can do most things every other technology can, and that soon even Television and radio will be watched and listened to via a phone. The main disagreement I have with this journal is that mobiles do play a major part in most digital natives lives, but it isn't the most important. Yes you can go online on your phone, but most of the time, you can't see what you want to with the tiny screen and would rather wait until you have a computer at hand and surly the same goes for watching things on a phone. Its good that you can, but again the size of the screen surly must put people off, you don't get the full quality. Although phones having the ability to incorporate various other types of media such as cameras, internet and according to this article soon to include TV, do you not just think people will continue using their computers and their actual Televisions?
I do!
(Don't know why but my font wont change and somehow is two different types!)
I do!
(Don't know why but my font wont change and somehow is two different types!)
Week 8 and 9 Question 6- Article 1
Article 1:
This first journal that I found through the Ebsco database mainly looks into the idea of education and how it incorporates technologies due to the ways the students think and use things out side the school. The main focus is that of google and the effect it has had on schools, colleges and universities.
The journal states that 'Google affords the students a powerful free, robust system that balances synchronous and asynchronous communication in a decidedly twenty first- century classroom.' However power google is, is it as much of a big deal for us digital natives as this author makes out? I don't use google for a chat service, I use MSN or Facebook chat and the suggestion that students can continue their chat outside the classroom via google doesn't seem that realistic to me. Don't we just all talk after lectures? Text our friends about university matters? Or create a thread on facebook to discuss work? I know its what everyone I know does. It also goes on to say 'In our classes it has become the only search engine we use', but how true is this????
We all know that we're told over and over again not just to rely on one search engine and that to find academic work is best to use something like the elibrary search etc. And in today's society don't most, especially digital natives know there are a lot more search engines available...
I'm not saying Google isn't the one most people first think of, but especially when it comes to in the classroom don't we all know is best to do a wider search?
This first journal that I found through the Ebsco database mainly looks into the idea of education and how it incorporates technologies due to the ways the students think and use things out side the school. The main focus is that of google and the effect it has had on schools, colleges and universities.
The journal states that 'Google affords the students a powerful free, robust system that balances synchronous and asynchronous communication in a decidedly twenty first- century classroom.' However power google is, is it as much of a big deal for us digital natives as this author makes out? I don't use google for a chat service, I use MSN or Facebook chat and the suggestion that students can continue their chat outside the classroom via google doesn't seem that realistic to me. Don't we just all talk after lectures? Text our friends about university matters? Or create a thread on facebook to discuss work? I know its what everyone I know does. It also goes on to say 'In our classes it has become the only search engine we use', but how true is this????
We all know that we're told over and over again not just to rely on one search engine and that to find academic work is best to use something like the elibrary search etc. And in today's society don't most, especially digital natives know there are a lot more search engines available...
I'm not saying Google isn't the one most people first think of, but especially when it comes to in the classroom don't we all know is best to do a wider search?
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Week 8 and 9 Question 3-Website 5
Website 5:
Right so the final website I am going to look at is a research publication site and its regularly updated and the article I've chose to look at by Lee Rainie was published in September 2008, so much like the others I looked at is very up date and as already mentioned therefore more reliable when it comes to looking and discussing today's society.
Like website 4 this article looks in to digital natives and the work place, and what impact they are having.
I very much like and agree with this quote,"Their preference is for sharing, staying connected, instantaneity, multi-tasking, assembling random information into patterns, and using technology in new ways. Their challenge to the established way of doing things in the business world has already started." Stay connected is such a large part of my life, and the majority of digital natives I know, maybe more than we want to admitt. But staying incontact with my friends and family is very important to our generation.
I like how this article takes the life of someone at the time of it being written being 21 and going through the process and technologies that have been introduced and what the normal 21 year old would have experienced. This shows how much has developed, technology wise, in the last 10 years and lets you think about what we've grown up with and taken for granted and kind of shows how daunting it must be for digital immigrants.
....I want to add more to this if I have time.
Like website 4 this article looks in to digital natives and the work place, and what impact they are having.
I very much like and agree with this quote,"Their preference is for sharing, staying connected, instantaneity, multi-tasking, assembling random information into patterns, and using technology in new ways. Their challenge to the established way of doing things in the business world has already started." Stay connected is such a large part of my life, and the majority of digital natives I know, maybe more than we want to admitt. But staying incontact with my friends and family is very important to our generation.
I like how this article takes the life of someone at the time of it being written being 21 and going through the process and technologies that have been introduced and what the normal 21 year old would have experienced. This shows how much has developed, technology wise, in the last 10 years and lets you think about what we've grown up with and taken for granted and kind of shows how daunting it must be for digital immigrants.
....I want to add more to this if I have time.
Week 8 and 9 Question 3-Website 4
Website 4:
Right the fourth website I've chose to look at even confused me! The general lay out of the site seems to be very busy, its no where as simple as the previous three I've looked at. The content of the site suggest its for much more the digital native than the immigrant, due to the main purpose of the site being blogs and podcasts, very much a new native medium. Allowing anyone, anywhere in the world to have their say. The actual page I'm concentrating on is a post from November 2008, again meaning it is very much up to date and concerned with the present. The post looks in to the new emergence of digital natives with in business and how although many don't realise and just see them as lazy and trying to do anything but work, i.e go on facebook! that they may actually help buisness. However it would seem the post is their to convince digital immgrants why to except the new digital navties, but if blogs are part of the digital native culture how will the digital immgrants see the post?
It suggests that being consently coneceted, which is a major part of being a digital native, is part of their personality and that work places that try to ban this, by banning sites such as facebook will suffer and not get the best from their staff.
It suggests that being consently coneceted, which is a major part of being a digital native, is part of their personality and that work places that try to ban this, by banning sites such as facebook will suffer and not get the best from their staff.
The sort of question answer lay out they've losely used makes the actual post easy to understand and follow and I think it makes it easier to relate too.
Week 8 and 9 Question 3-Website 2 and 3
Website 3:
The third website its very much up-to-date and therefore more reliable than some that were writing much earlier on. The article is by Derek Law and was written in June 2008. He again like most looking at this topic refers to Marc Prenscy who introduced the terms and follows on from what he discussed. The main focus here is on digital natives and how their behavior is different from his. One thing that neither of the previous websites and articles have looked into is that of digital natives wanting instant gratification, they want results immediately and generally cheaply! And that they don't look for help from librarians, teachers or peers but from the internet, namely Google and that this has changed students behavior towards everything, especially work. He suggests that if we can't find it straight away then we think that its obviously not there! I think that in the case of some students that is how they look at things, if its not found on the first page of Google then it can't be found. However I don't think all natives think like that, I know at University its drilled into students not to rely on google and that you should always check a lot further than the first page of results! I still use books from the library as a source to understand and find out information, so does that mean people who still use books are not natives? or our we somewhere in the middle?
This page discusses the difference between digital natives and Immigrants and gives a clear example to show these differences. The idea that the digital immigrants don't understand the way the natives chose to learn and in this case try to change them, shows the exact difference they have when it comes to learning and education in general.
The article is well written and easy for anyone to understand. Its main focus is looking at the way a digital native studies and how its very different from the traditional way of a digital immigrant who would see studying as only requiring a book on the subject being looked at, where as a native would chose the internet as their first choice and have many other technologies in use will studying. I think this example is classic in showing the divide between parents and their children when it comes to ideas of which is the best way to study.
One thing about the website in general that I found was that its not laid out in the easiest and simplest ways, especially when its trying to appeal to everyone, 'open education, free education for all'. This particular page is trying inform digital immigrants about the way others tend to work, but if the website is difficult to navigate will they find the page? Although the actual lay out of the article resembles the lay out of a newspaper and is very simple.
Website 2:
This page discusses the difference between digital natives and Immigrants and gives a clear example to show these differences. The idea that the digital immigrants don't understand the way the natives chose to learn and in this case try to change them, shows the exact difference they have when it comes to learning and education in general.
The article is well written and easy for anyone to understand. Its main focus is looking at the way a digital native studies and how its very different from the traditional way of a digital immigrant who would see studying as only requiring a book on the subject being looked at, where as a native would chose the internet as their first choice and have many other technologies in use will studying. I think this example is classic in showing the divide between parents and their children when it comes to ideas of which is the best way to study.
One thing about the website in general that I found was that its not laid out in the easiest and simplest ways, especially when its trying to appeal to everyone, 'open education, free education for all'. This particular page is trying inform digital immigrants about the way others tend to work, but if the website is difficult to navigate will they find the page? Although the actual lay out of the article resembles the lay out of a newspaper and is very simple.
Week 8 and 9 Question 3-Website 1
3) In your blog criticise each website (without giving details that would send a reader directly there) in terms of up-to-dateness, usability and practicing what it preaches.
This website looks at teaching and learning together and incorporates elearning which we've previously looked at as well as various case studies. The specific page I'm looking at for this question is the article by Marc perksy, who is an author of Digital Game-Based Learning. The article was published in March 2002.
The article looks into what he calls the 'least understood and least appreciated notion among those who design and deliver education today' that students having changed, that they think about things in a different way to those who are teaching them. Due to the difference in society that they have grown up in. Technology is everywhere in students lives, whereas there teachers are having to learn to keep up!
The article is fairly update seen as it was only written in 2002, even though technology has changed since then, life for this generation is still pretty much the same, meaning readers are less likely to question the up-to-dateness and therefore the reliability.
The website its self is laid out in a very simple fashion and it seems to be that anyone could navigate round it, this has a lot to do with the search engine making it easier to find exactly what you want as a user.
However the article goes on to say that all 'digital immigrants' have the same sort of knowledge when it comes to technology and they think the same way 'The “Digital Immigrant accent” can be seen in such things such as turning to the Internet for information second rather than first; in reading the manual for a program rather than assuming that the program itself will teach us to use it; in printing out our emails' But I don't think this is true, Of course if you've grown up with something your more likely to use it or pick it up quicker, but some digital immigrants have more knowledge on certain aspects of technology than many natives. For example, my granddad does graphic design work and has done for many years and he knows far more about 'photoshop' and computer software than I do and than many natives I know. I think it depends on the technology you look at and if its someones career they don't always know less than a digital native. Is this theory prejudging everyone?
Website 1:
This website looks at teaching and learning together and incorporates elearning which we've previously looked at as well as various case studies. The specific page I'm looking at for this question is the article by Marc perksy, who is an author of Digital Game-Based Learning. The article was published in March 2002.
The article looks into what he calls the 'least understood and least appreciated notion among those who design and deliver education today' that students having changed, that they think about things in a different way to those who are teaching them. Due to the difference in society that they have grown up in. Technology is everywhere in students lives, whereas there teachers are having to learn to keep up!
The article is fairly update seen as it was only written in 2002, even though technology has changed since then, life for this generation is still pretty much the same, meaning readers are less likely to question the up-to-dateness and therefore the reliability.
The website its self is laid out in a very simple fashion and it seems to be that anyone could navigate round it, this has a lot to do with the search engine making it easier to find exactly what you want as a user.
However the article goes on to say that all 'digital immigrants' have the same sort of knowledge when it comes to technology and they think the same way 'The “Digital Immigrant accent” can be seen in such things such as turning to the Internet for information second rather than first; in reading the manual for a program rather than assuming that the program itself will teach us to use it; in printing out our emails' But I don't think this is true, Of course if you've grown up with something your more likely to use it or pick it up quicker, but some digital immigrants have more knowledge on certain aspects of technology than many natives. For example, my granddad does graphic design work and has done for many years and he knows far more about 'photoshop' and computer software than I do and than many natives I know. I think it depends on the technology you look at and if its someones career they don't always know less than a digital native. Is this theory prejudging everyone?
Friday, 6 March 2009
Week 7- Task 3
For the third task for this week, we had to find another example of distance learning. The website that I'm going to look at is that of Athabasca University in Canada and their site named 'The centre for Distance Education' or 'CDE'. Link available below.
http://cde.athabascau.ca/
This site is specifically for the Universities Distance learning and is a link of their main University home page.
Athabasca University is Canada's Open University and is one the leading in the country.
It teaches over 37,000 students from across 87 different countries all over the world. This shows the extent to which this distance education scheme is working, not just for those in Canada.
They have an open admission policy, being they take on students regarless of their educational background. The only criteria they have is that all students must be 16 or older, so they take school leavers and anyone else. This means so many more people have the oppurtinity to further their education.
CDE has 12 core faculty members and then one research chair.
The students can have the chance to work along side many researchers and professors from all over the world. Which you wouldn't get if this wasn't a distance learning course.
The Centre for Distance Education offers graduate-level credentials:
Athabasca University is Canada's Open University and is one the leading in the country.
It teaches over 37,000 students from across 87 different countries all over the world. This shows the extent to which this distance education scheme is working, not just for those in Canada.
They have an open admission policy, being they take on students regarless of their educational background. The only criteria they have is that all students must be 16 or older, so they take school leavers and anyone else. This means so many more people have the oppurtinity to further their education.
CDE has 12 core faculty members and then one research chair.
The students can have the chance to work along side many researchers and professors from all over the world. Which you wouldn't get if this wasn't a distance learning course.
The Centre for Distance Education offers graduate-level credentials:
Doctor of education in distance Education
Master of Distance Education
Graduate Diploma in Distance Education Technology
Graduate Diploma in Instructional Design
Graduate Ceryificate in Instrucational Design
The course run throughout the year and you can start them in three different semesters. They don't last as long as conventional courses at Universities. But this again allows those who have less time the chance to further their studies. There are over 19 different courses avaliable. See Link - http://cde.athabascau.ca/syllabi/list.php
The University has a social networking site of its own, so students studying the online course can interact with other students, along with many other forms of online communication between students. Such as the student Cafe and the me2u social software system- which links you to students with similar interests, keeps check on your work, as well as enabling the use of a blog! There is also the chance to meet other students every year, which I think is good as it gives students to actually meet their peers and discuss the course and work face-to-face.
I think this Open University offers a lot to a wide range of people and the fact anyone over 16 can join is a brilliant thing, the fact students don't necessarily have to have A levels means those who left straight after school get another chance. The forum and social networking site they offer would seem to make it much easier for the students as they are ensured to have some form of interaction.
Week 7- Africa
Africa and elearning.
After looking at the above link and taking the time to look at many different areas of the website, not just the page the link above goes to, I can see how much of an important role elearning can have, for countries such as Africa.
When looking at the problems Zambia has with cholera and flooding and the on set of affects it has to the education system, elearning seem like the best possible was to help children continue with their studies. The fact many schools in towns and villages are forced to shut due to out breaks of cholera for long periods of times means many children are not being educated at all when others in the region are continuing their studies and therefore ahead of those who are not, this is especially seen with those taking exams, all children sit the same exam at the end of the year, but those in cholera affected will not be as ready. It is not only outbreaks of disease but floods and extreme weather conditions can also course schools to close, if they had the option for elearning students would not have to miss out on school and that pupils would be able to access their teachers from either an internet cafe, home or any convenient place that can be arranged. Allowing those students who may not have access to the internet the chance to keep up with their work to.
Not only the fact elearning would be able to keep students up to date with work, it would also help to boost awareness of diseases like cholera and help both parents and children find out way of preventing it.
There is a radio programme available to lower level students named Taonga market, which is broadcast ever day for around two hours, this is obviously a good step forward but needs to be made bigger and on a much wider scale.
Another area that is effect in africa is that of farming, farming is a major part of Africa's economy and plays a big part in many lives. Due to the lack of knowledge farmers in kenya are really struggling to keep their crops and live stock to the best standard and therefore not making a very good living.
The BioVision Foundation, along with international and local scientists, have 'developed an information portal, infonet-biovision.org, to aid in the dissemination of quality information that is relevant to farmers’ needs and their respective agro-ecologies'. Infonet was launched in Kenya in 2007 to help farmers identify threats to farm yards, such as pests, diseases and declining soil fertility. With this kind of information available to as many farmers as possible Africa's economy will benefit a huge amount.
Elearning and the internet in general have a huge effect on Africa and the capabilities of the county, with out this information and sources they would not be so aware of spreading diseases, threats to farming, as well as the help it gives to the education system when other problems arise.
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Week 7- Task 1.
China: Its Distance Higher-Education System.
http://www1.worldbank.org/disted/Technology/broadcast/tv-02.html
After taking a look at the above link, I learn't a lot about distance learning in china, and how it has changed the way their higher-education system works, it was enlightening to find out about other types of universities and that there is more ways to learn than the standard face-to-face lectures and seminar set up which is mostly used.China was the first country to use radio and television for higher education. It was in 1960, just after TV broadcasting had developed in China that the first Television Universities (also known as TVUs) were formed, this seemed to be due to the demand for adult education all across the country. The first were formed in Beijing.
In 1960-66 8,000 students graduated from Beijing and some what over 50,000 completed single courses.
The however was an interruption to this growing rate of students, during the 'Civil Revolution' (1966-76)
A major advantage with the TVUs is the fact they need far fewer funds than a normal university and can train a lot more people in a shorter space of time. This is the main reason for funding from the state councils, especially for the radio and television University in 1978 also in Beijing. (RTVU)
In October 1986 TVU teaching programmes were transmitted via a satellite everyday from 4:50pm to 11:00pm.
CRTVUs a ran at 5 levels:
- Highest level- is under the leadership the state.
- Second level- under the provincial government.
- Third level- under the profectuarl and civic government
- Fourth level- Under the district and county education bureaux
- Lowest level- Directly with TVU Students.
TVUs are multimedia based and use radio, television and printed material, along with this audio and video cassettes if there was not a lot of time, or it needed to be made up. Every year 1 million visual copies of teaching materials are produced and sent out. This is obviously a huge amount.
There is still opportunities for face-to-face meetings, generally when students want to ask questions directly and insure an immediate response.
The students these universities want are 'In service adults', secondary school graduates and young school leavers, there is also students known as 'freeviewers and listeners', these are students who take part with out the acknowledgment of the universities, but have to pay to take the final exams to get some sort of qualification. Where as all other students do not have tuition fees.
Like most universities full time students have to graduate within 2-3 years, part time students are allowed 3-6 years and those who take part in their spare time, have up to ten years to gain the credits they need to graduate.
There are examinations at the end of ever term to check up on students progress.
TVU systems budget comes from a variety of sources, such as state education commission.
These universities have helped in prove China's higher-education system a huge amount, and increased the amount of people with qualifications. This has then gone on to help the economy and social development if China. Obviously the amount of people in China is much more than the UK, so I don't know how much of a difference this system would make over here, I know there are some places available that do distance learning, such as the OpenUniversity, but the advertising is so small that not that many people will know about them.
I think these types of Universities and courses should be much more publicized than what they are, I didn't really know much about them before reading the article on the website. The flexibility of the studying, the wide range of courses, the price compared most universities are all things that I think make it appealing. I think there a great Idea for people who want to do something else whilst studying or have decided in a carrier change and want to study again,
but have to work at the same time.
However there may be some down falls to distance learning, some where mention on the website. Such as limited transmission times and delayed distribution. Along with this the information they are being taught could be very biased and there is also the problem with not having little or any contact with other students through out the educational experience. Can this work? Do you think we need to interact with each other? Hear each others thoughts etc.
Friday, 27 February 2009
Week 6 Tasks.
6.1) Think of a CofP to which you belong (or have belonged) explain in your seminar forum how your example fits into Wenger's model.
Wenger describes Communities of practice as being "groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly" and stated that there are many different types of communities of practice and that people are involved in a lot more than they may realise. A 'COP' which I belonged to was my school orchestra back when I was thirteen to sixteen. Everybody was in the orchestra for the same reason, they wanted to play their instruments and make music. The interest of everyone was the same, their aims were the same, the contribution people had obviously differed, the conducted and teacher obviously had the leadership role or the 'expert' role as Wenger and Lave describe it. The purpose and the goal of the orchestra was to become a well tuned and coordinated group and to play concerts to as many people as possible.
Communities of practice is a 'group of individuals participating in communal activity, and experiencing, continuously creating their shared identity through engaging in and contributing to the practices of their communities'. The identity that is created by others when being involved in groups such as a school orchestra is being a 'Band geek', 'Uncool' and just generally being a 'nerd'! This obvioulsy depends on what sort of school you go to, mine was far to into the music side of things, so the identity that was put upon you wasn't to negative!
Wenger describes Communities of practice as being "groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly" and stated that there are many different types of communities of practice and that people are involved in a lot more than they may realise. A 'COP' which I belonged to was my school orchestra back when I was thirteen to sixteen. Everybody was in the orchestra for the same reason, they wanted to play their instruments and make music. The interest of everyone was the same, their aims were the same, the contribution people had obviously differed, the conducted and teacher obviously had the leadership role or the 'expert' role as Wenger and Lave describe it. The purpose and the goal of the orchestra was to become a well tuned and coordinated group and to play concerts to as many people as possible.
Communities of practice is a 'group of individuals participating in communal activity, and experiencing, continuously creating their shared identity through engaging in and contributing to the practices of their communities'. The identity that is created by others when being involved in groups such as a school orchestra is being a 'Band geek', 'Uncool' and just generally being a 'nerd'! This obvioulsy depends on what sort of school you go to, mine was far to into the music side of things, so the identity that was put upon you wasn't to negative!
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Week 6- Website Analysis....
The website I am going to look at for our brief website analysis is gigsandtours.com a well know and used online ticket distributor and music event promotion site. I chose this site as I use it every time I want to find out what bands are playing, artists tour dates and to purchase tickets to see my favorite bands. The site is one that is used by thousands of people everyday and is certainly one of the major site used for purchasing music event tickets.
I shall look in to the following aspects when analysis the website.
The structure and the general navigation, the 'Culture' of the site and finally the appeal for me as a user and anyone else that may use this site.
Any website needs to be well structured in a way so users can understand and work their way around the site, the information and content needs to be laid out in a logical way and an easy navigation system must be in place, normally in the style of a search engine. Links should be easily visible and clear on what they are linking the user to.
When loading on to the homepage of gigsandtours the first thing I tend to notice is the contrast in colour, the black and red really stand out against one another and secondly I notice the scrolling text along the top, which gives names of various other artists who have tickets available. The front page changes regularly depending on whether or not other well know artists have released ticket for tour dates. The page has a search engine down the left hand side where you would expect to see one, allowing users to find the artists or band they want with the littlest amount of effort that is required, along with links to the other available pages just above, such as 'Artists/Gigs A-Z' and 'Order Tracker'. The names and pictures of the latest artists to release tickets that are on the home page are also direct links to their list of dates, Lister et al states that hypertexts "[guide] the reader beyond the immediate text to necessary contextualising information" (2003:23) gigsandtours is full of these links, the majority of all the text visible is a link to further information.
The information on the website has a 'sequenced' structure and is very much organised in an orderly fashion and in a way you would expect.
I feel the most important section of the site is that or 'Artists/Gigs A-Z' (As seen above) due to the fact the main purpose of the site is ticket purchasing and this page allows you to find the artist or gig (E.g festivals, concerts.) that you are looking for. This page is laid out in an alphabetical format, and again has many links to other pages showing various artists under their alphabetical letter. This allows users to find the artist they are looking for with total ease, and come across other artist that are listed under that letter. Each artists name is a link to another page where it shows the dates and places they are playing as well as allowing users to see if there are still tickets available. I think this website is easy enough for anyone to navigate around.
The culture of this site is very much that of 'music culture' the site is for music lovers, about music and allowing users to get the chance to see their favorite band or artist live. The interest of the users will be that of music, there is however no specific genre that the site caters for, it advertises every type of music from commercial pop, indie, alternation and folk.
There is always a question of trust when it comes to websites, can you trust what you are reading? can you trust the people who have control of the website? Users of this website put their trust in the site and those controlling it every time they visit it. If the site states a show has sold out, users take this information and don't question it, but how do they know this is the truth. The site its self is a leading ticket distribution site and therefore user take what is say as the truth. I think the ability to trust the website is made easier due to the fact that it is not an open website i.e. the users are not able to contribute to the site. Also the content is licensed, as site selling gig tickets have to have the correct licensing and have to have gone through the correct legal processes to sell items such as this. There is no need for copyright issues as all the information provided is trade marked and licensed accordingly. There is small print at the bottom of every page, showing who controls the website and that all images and text has been given permission to be used. It also states that the information on the site is correct at time of publishing, this almost provides them with a back up in case a users attempts to purchase an item, when it has in fact sold out.
There is no element of produsage with in the site, due to the fact tickets are sold legally by the company, users are not able to contribute to the site and there is not type of forum or interactivity in place.
The appeal of the website for myself is due to my interest in music, I love music in general and I'm always looking to see who's playing a gig somewhere near. The fact that the website is update regularly tends to mean I check it quite a lot to see if any new bands or artists have released tour dates. The site appeal to anyone who likes music, anyone who wants to take the time to go and see a band, I would guess that the majority of the users are teenagers and young adults due to the fact the artists listed on the site are very contemporary. The site obviously lists the artists and then shows you where there playing, what time the gig starts, who is supporting the band (If there is a support act) and the age of the show, the price of general admission ticket and the terms and conditions, all this information is what a user wants to know before purchasing a ticket, this gives an informational and professional feel and appeal to the website making the user feel more at ease about the reliability of the site.
I shall look in to the following aspects when analysis the website.
The structure and the general navigation, the 'Culture' of the site and finally the appeal for me as a user and anyone else that may use this site.
Any website needs to be well structured in a way so users can understand and work their way around the site, the information and content needs to be laid out in a logical way and an easy navigation system must be in place, normally in the style of a search engine. Links should be easily visible and clear on what they are linking the user to.
When loading on to the homepage of gigsandtours the first thing I tend to notice is the contrast in colour, the black and red really stand out against one another and secondly I notice the scrolling text along the top, which gives names of various other artists who have tickets available. The front page changes regularly depending on whether or not other well know artists have released ticket for tour dates. The page has a search engine down the left hand side where you would expect to see one, allowing users to find the artists or band they want with the littlest amount of effort that is required, along with links to the other available pages just above, such as 'Artists/Gigs A-Z' and 'Order Tracker'. The names and pictures of the latest artists to release tickets that are on the home page are also direct links to their list of dates, Lister et al states that hypertexts "[guide] the reader beyond the immediate text to necessary contextualising information" (2003:23) gigsandtours is full of these links, the majority of all the text visible is a link to further information.
The information on the website has a 'sequenced' structure and is very much organised in an orderly fashion and in a way you would expect.
I feel the most important section of the site is that or 'Artists/Gigs A-Z' (As seen above) due to the fact the main purpose of the site is ticket purchasing and this page allows you to find the artist or gig (E.g festivals, concerts.) that you are looking for. This page is laid out in an alphabetical format, and again has many links to other pages showing various artists under their alphabetical letter. This allows users to find the artist they are looking for with total ease, and come across other artist that are listed under that letter. Each artists name is a link to another page where it shows the dates and places they are playing as well as allowing users to see if there are still tickets available. I think this website is easy enough for anyone to navigate around.The culture of this site is very much that of 'music culture' the site is for music lovers, about music and allowing users to get the chance to see their favorite band or artist live. The interest of the users will be that of music, there is however no specific genre that the site caters for, it advertises every type of music from commercial pop, indie, alternation and folk.
There is always a question of trust when it comes to websites, can you trust what you are reading? can you trust the people who have control of the website? Users of this website put their trust in the site and those controlling it every time they visit it. If the site states a show has sold out, users take this information and don't question it, but how do they know this is the truth. The site its self is a leading ticket distribution site and therefore user take what is say as the truth. I think the ability to trust the website is made easier due to the fact that it is not an open website i.e. the users are not able to contribute to the site. Also the content is licensed, as site selling gig tickets have to have the correct licensing and have to have gone through the correct legal processes to sell items such as this. There is no need for copyright issues as all the information provided is trade marked and licensed accordingly. There is small print at the bottom of every page, showing who controls the website and that all images and text has been given permission to be used. It also states that the information on the site is correct at time of publishing, this almost provides them with a back up in case a users attempts to purchase an item, when it has in fact sold out.
There is no element of produsage with in the site, due to the fact tickets are sold legally by the company, users are not able to contribute to the site and there is not type of forum or interactivity in place.
The appeal of the website for myself is due to my interest in music, I love music in general and I'm always looking to see who's playing a gig somewhere near. The fact that the website is update regularly tends to mean I check it quite a lot to see if any new bands or artists have released tour dates. The site appeal to anyone who likes music, anyone who wants to take the time to go and see a band, I would guess that the majority of the users are teenagers and young adults due to the fact the artists listed on the site are very contemporary. The site obviously lists the artists and then shows you where there playing, what time the gig starts, who is supporting the band (If there is a support act) and the age of the show, the price of general admission ticket and the terms and conditions, all this information is what a user wants to know before purchasing a ticket, this gives an informational and professional feel and appeal to the website making the user feel more at ease about the reliability of the site.
Friday, 20 February 2009
Week 5- Meikle reading Cont.
D)Para 18 Is open news quality news?
I don't think that all open news is quality news, although it does allow us to see a large amount of information and get a lot of different views on various matters, but sometimes people may not have their facts write, the idea that 'everyone a journalist' is all well and good, but it does allow the chance for people to read incorrect information. There is also the problem mentioned in para 18, where stories can be replaced by other stories so fast that people may not even have chance to read them, it anyone can access the site to change the 'news' peoples opinions on whats the most important story might not be the same. The news is always changing and theres always a newer story.
I don't think open news will ever be completely open manly due to the fact anyone can contribute, anyone can add a story or change one that has already been posted, but how will we as an audience know if what they are saying is totally true. I think any open site you should be careful with when it comes to using it as a source to find out facts, as there is no way of knowing if what your reading is true, unless its on a closed professional specialised site.
I don't think that all open news is quality news, although it does allow us to see a large amount of information and get a lot of different views on various matters, but sometimes people may not have their facts write, the idea that 'everyone a journalist' is all well and good, but it does allow the chance for people to read incorrect information. There is also the problem mentioned in para 18, where stories can be replaced by other stories so fast that people may not even have chance to read them, it anyone can access the site to change the 'news' peoples opinions on whats the most important story might not be the same. The news is always changing and theres always a newer story.
E) Para 19 Can open news ever be completely open? Do people take different (possibly unequal) roles in collaboration?
I don't think open news will ever be completely open manly due to the fact anyone can contribute, anyone can add a story or change one that has already been posted, but how will we as an audience know if what they are saying is totally true. I think any open site you should be careful with when it comes to using it as a source to find out facts, as there is no way of knowing if what your reading is true, unless its on a closed professional specialised site.
Week 5- Meikle reading.
A) para. 7-9 What do you think constitutes ‘news’ on the Web?
After reading through the reading and concentrating on these paragraphs, the concept of 'news' on the web has some what changed over the years, the introduction of Robert Burnets term 'informational news' (para 7)changed the whole idea of the news, stating that there has been a transformation with the news online and that the users have become much more involved in creating the news. The fact there is a much wider range of news to discover on the internet and how its become much more of a search for information. 'News is a wider search for information by web users' (para 7). People don't just look to BBC news or ITV news anymore they search the internet to find out about things that otherwise they may not have know about, their not just getting one persons/corporations view they can get as many as they please, 'audience members are transformed into researchers' they find their own news.
B) Para 9 Are there 'new kinds of journalist' online? If so, how so?
With the change of News Online and the amount of news there is, journalism has changed somewhat, and it seems that anyone can be an online journalist, with the use of blogging and with sites like the wiki sites where anyone can contribute, 'newsgroups and Weblogs are considered as additional sources for information retrieval', the internet has changed the concept of a journalist and any one who sees them self as a bit of a writer can publish their work online allowing everyone to see it. I do think people still tend to trust sites, like the bbc and professional news site more than blogs ect for gaining information, but it time this may very well change.
C)Paras 14-15 Are those who want to make DIY news online, best thought of as part of an alternative culture (that also exists offline) or is it more diverse than that?
Thinking about this question had confused me and I'm not to sure about my answer! But here goes!!!
DIY Culture is described in para 14, by George Mckay as 'youth-centred and -directed cluster of interests and practices around green radicalism, direct action politics, new musical sounds and experiences', this to me suggest that its a culture that wants to be heard and that wants to be taken notice of. I think that this DIY news online and the whole DIY culture is part of an alternative culture, that are trying to get the idea of anyone being able to tell their opinions and be a journalist, I guess its part of the online culture and the idea of being whatever you want to be online...... Ideas on this question would be great?!
After reading through the reading and concentrating on these paragraphs, the concept of 'news' on the web has some what changed over the years, the introduction of Robert Burnets term 'informational news' (para 7)changed the whole idea of the news, stating that there has been a transformation with the news online and that the users have become much more involved in creating the news. The fact there is a much wider range of news to discover on the internet and how its become much more of a search for information. 'News is a wider search for information by web users' (para 7). People don't just look to BBC news or ITV news anymore they search the internet to find out about things that otherwise they may not have know about, their not just getting one persons/corporations view they can get as many as they please, 'audience members are transformed into researchers' they find their own news.
B) Para 9 Are there 'new kinds of journalist' online? If so, how so?
With the change of News Online and the amount of news there is, journalism has changed somewhat, and it seems that anyone can be an online journalist, with the use of blogging and with sites like the wiki sites where anyone can contribute, 'newsgroups and Weblogs are considered as additional sources for information retrieval', the internet has changed the concept of a journalist and any one who sees them self as a bit of a writer can publish their work online allowing everyone to see it. I do think people still tend to trust sites, like the bbc and professional news site more than blogs ect for gaining information, but it time this may very well change.
C)Paras 14-15 Are those who want to make DIY news online, best thought of as part of an alternative culture (that also exists offline) or is it more diverse than that?
Thinking about this question had confused me and I'm not to sure about my answer! But here goes!!!
DIY Culture is described in para 14, by George Mckay as 'youth-centred and -directed cluster of interests and practices around green radicalism, direct action politics, new musical sounds and experiences', this to me suggest that its a culture that wants to be heard and that wants to be taken notice of. I think that this DIY news online and the whole DIY culture is part of an alternative culture, that are trying to get the idea of anyone being able to tell their opinions and be a journalist, I guess its part of the online culture and the idea of being whatever you want to be online...... Ideas on this question would be great?!
Week 5 - Research into Blogs continued.
Blogs Part 2
After looking closer into the ideas and concepts of blogs I've decided to look at a few to try and understand their uses and different ways 'bloggers' try to get their opinions across.
Firstly I looked at a 'Vlog' that I found on youtube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pdNLY5-wCY&feature=related) its a blog by the actress Kat Dennings. I chose to look at her blog due to the fact it incorporates the previously mentioned celebrity theme. She uses her blog very light heartedly and as a way for her to mess about and tell her fans about her life, I also think she uses it as a way to show of her acting abilities, as in a few of her blogs she pretends to be other people and puts on fake personas, which I guess is quite clever for her to do so.
I then looked at blog specifically for music, there are many websites dedicated to music blogs for example, http://www.livemusicblog.com/ , http://www.musicblog.ro/ and http://topsites.blogflux.com/music/ each site has millions of blogs to look through, many concentrating on specific genres of music, there's something for every taste! The blogs allow users to talk about their favorite bands, genres, albums ect as well as talking about concerts allowing bloggers to give a review, along with discussing upcoming events. I looked closer at one music blog http://www.themodernmusic.com/ Which I think you should all have a look at, the way its set out and the types of music is talks about suggests that it could appeal to a very wide rang of people. The blog is used to review albums, give track listings and rate the music, it also looks at new videos and artwork that have been released, it gives links to other websites that relate to the artists, such as their websites, myspace pages and last.fm, this is a good way to get artist out there and heard of. The use of attaching images, audio and videos is used consistently through out and seems to be a typical feature of music blogs.
Political blogs were another area I looked into; they are obviously much more serious and tend not to be so visual as other blogs, their all about the information.
http://www.voidstar.com/ukpoliblog/ This is one example of a political blog that I came across while researching, a lot of it is users commenting on what they've heard politicians or groups say and giving their opinion on the matters that they have arisen, they talk about policies and there is even blogs for specific areas of the country, allowing people to feel like they are invovled when it comes to their local policies.
Firstly I looked at a 'Vlog' that I found on youtube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pdNLY5-wCY&feature=related) its a blog by the actress Kat Dennings. I chose to look at her blog due to the fact it incorporates the previously mentioned celebrity theme. She uses her blog very light heartedly and as a way for her to mess about and tell her fans about her life, I also think she uses it as a way to show of her acting abilities, as in a few of her blogs she pretends to be other people and puts on fake personas, which I guess is quite clever for her to do so.
I then looked at blog specifically for music, there are many websites dedicated to music blogs for example, http://www.livemusicblog.com/ , http://www.musicblog.ro/ and http://topsites.blogflux.com/music/ each site has millions of blogs to look through, many concentrating on specific genres of music, there's something for every taste! The blogs allow users to talk about their favorite bands, genres, albums ect as well as talking about concerts allowing bloggers to give a review, along with discussing upcoming events. I looked closer at one music blog http://www.themodernmusic.com/ Which I think you should all have a look at, the way its set out and the types of music is talks about suggests that it could appeal to a very wide rang of people. The blog is used to review albums, give track listings and rate the music, it also looks at new videos and artwork that have been released, it gives links to other websites that relate to the artists, such as their websites, myspace pages and last.fm, this is a good way to get artist out there and heard of. The use of attaching images, audio and videos is used consistently through out and seems to be a typical feature of music blogs.
Political blogs were another area I looked into; they are obviously much more serious and tend not to be so visual as other blogs, their all about the information.
http://www.voidstar.com/ukpoliblog/ This is one example of a political blog that I came across while researching, a lot of it is users commenting on what they've heard politicians or groups say and giving their opinion on the matters that they have arisen, they talk about policies and there is even blogs for specific areas of the country, allowing people to feel like they are invovled when it comes to their local policies.
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