The local newspaper story in Colorado provides lots of fuel for discourse. First and foremost, rather than looking at the fall of this community treasure as a tragedy, we can look at is as a challenge ripe for interjecting diverse ways of gathering and sharing knowledge and perhaps even running a failing business.
We can enhance the level of community input and community control, for instance. We can also go back to traditional ways of sharing knowledge and skills as well as wisdom, and help to overcome inherent biases for which newspapers are notorious. Newspapers allow for minimum feedback and interaction. They are typically a one-way transmission of limited facts, valid or invalid, from the journalists and editors to the readers.
Youth might fill a vacuum created by the fall of the newspaper by creating digital newspapers, digital newsletters, and other forms of digital communication (e.g., digital story telling, blogs, glogs, wikki, twitter, face book, bebo, and the like). Other members of the public can do so as well. Members of the general public can become informal journalists, finding, creating, and sharing stories themselves.
On a related note, the newspaper might also be handed over to its readers in the form of a community coop, giving the readers a bigger say in how the paper is run, what news is shared, and how it is shared.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
When All Goes Well In The Land Of Cyber Technology
In response to the educator’s blog, The Fishbowl, I too was excited by the level and diversity of technology used in the conference.
There are both pros and cons associated with such sophisticated use of technology, nevertheless. If all the technology is working well, there is no problem with technological compatibility, and all participants are proficient with its use, then it can be a very empowering approach to learning. If one or more of these factors proves problematic, however, the learning experience can have the opposite effect, i.e., it can be both frustrating and disempowering. This is why we have to ensure that our students and especially our staff are proficient in the use of this technology and that we have reliable and ongoing access to competent experts in digital technology itself.
When all is well, there are so many pluses to using such technology. For example, it allows for more extensive sharing of knowledge. It is also very interactive and flexible as well as creative and enjoyable for its users, i.e., the educators, students, and other participants. Moreover, it is able to increase the type of knowledge shared including, for instance, the wisdom of Elders and all sorts of traditional Indigenous knowledge.
Well all fails, there is nothing wrong with good old fashion face-to-face communication; it has worked marvelously for Indigenous peoples for thousands of years.
There are both pros and cons associated with such sophisticated use of technology, nevertheless. If all the technology is working well, there is no problem with technological compatibility, and all participants are proficient with its use, then it can be a very empowering approach to learning. If one or more of these factors proves problematic, however, the learning experience can have the opposite effect, i.e., it can be both frustrating and disempowering. This is why we have to ensure that our students and especially our staff are proficient in the use of this technology and that we have reliable and ongoing access to competent experts in digital technology itself.
When all is well, there are so many pluses to using such technology. For example, it allows for more extensive sharing of knowledge. It is also very interactive and flexible as well as creative and enjoyable for its users, i.e., the educators, students, and other participants. Moreover, it is able to increase the type of knowledge shared including, for instance, the wisdom of Elders and all sorts of traditional Indigenous knowledge.
Well all fails, there is nothing wrong with good old fashion face-to-face communication; it has worked marvelously for Indigenous peoples for thousands of years.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
My Personal Experiences of Using Web 2.0. Tools.
I have been following the blogs throughout this course and each time I go through all the blogs, I am amazed at all the creativity, knowledge, gifts and talents in my classmates. I am truly thankful for the knowledge that each of you shares and it helps me grow in technology. It creates in me the desire to explore more and lastly, it challenges me to use more Web 2.0. tools in the classroom.
In the past three weeks, I felt that I was very challenged and at one time, reached my breaking point when it came to exploring the Web 2.0. tools. It took me two days to create a movie and go through the whole procedure. I thought to myself, at this rate when will I ever become a movie producer. I even tried to hire a tutor and let her know that I would pay her a good hourly rate. She cancelled at the last minute; therefore, I had no choice but to do it myself with all the expertise of my classmates posting very useful information.
I forgot to mention that I am still married after all the time I have been spending on the computer. There have been many supperless nights and the laundry has finally reached its limit, “to the ceiling”. I did find out that when it comes to technology, I am more determined than I ever thought. I just refused to give up!
I enjoyed making my movie the most although it was the most challenging. I liked arranging the pictures and writing about them. I tried to do a digital storybook but the computer that I was using asked me to buy it after I was done making the storybook. I inquired about why I could not download it to my blog and found out that I am supposed to buy the program that makes digital books. I am planning to buy this program and use it with my Kindergartens to enhance their literacy skills. I think they will find reading and writing to be more fun if it relates to them and their personal experiences.
I enjoyed going on YouTube the most! I found such wonderful music and videos. I also joined Twitter and I am still getting comfortable with it. I have to remember prior to this, I never went on bebo, facebook, and ordered anything on line. My husband is getting worried because I mentioned that I could start buying things on line using kijiji and eBay. The old visa will be just smoking!
I am still planning on using a voice thread and uploading a digital storybook on my blog in the next week. I feel that I still need to learn so much more but will take more time than just three weeks to do so.
I am finding the responding to blogs a bit challenging. I go through them, read them daily, and just really enjoy what I am reading. I need to take the time to respond and let people know how much I enjoy what they have to say!
I will be working on my project starting Monday and I am looking forward to it. I find that I am more confident and look forward to the challenge.
In the past three weeks, I felt that I was very challenged and at one time, reached my breaking point when it came to exploring the Web 2.0. tools. It took me two days to create a movie and go through the whole procedure. I thought to myself, at this rate when will I ever become a movie producer. I even tried to hire a tutor and let her know that I would pay her a good hourly rate. She cancelled at the last minute; therefore, I had no choice but to do it myself with all the expertise of my classmates posting very useful information.
I forgot to mention that I am still married after all the time I have been spending on the computer. There have been many supperless nights and the laundry has finally reached its limit, “to the ceiling”. I did find out that when it comes to technology, I am more determined than I ever thought. I just refused to give up!
I enjoyed making my movie the most although it was the most challenging. I liked arranging the pictures and writing about them. I tried to do a digital storybook but the computer that I was using asked me to buy it after I was done making the storybook. I inquired about why I could not download it to my blog and found out that I am supposed to buy the program that makes digital books. I am planning to buy this program and use it with my Kindergartens to enhance their literacy skills. I think they will find reading and writing to be more fun if it relates to them and their personal experiences.
I enjoyed going on YouTube the most! I found such wonderful music and videos. I also joined Twitter and I am still getting comfortable with it. I have to remember prior to this, I never went on bebo, facebook, and ordered anything on line. My husband is getting worried because I mentioned that I could start buying things on line using kijiji and eBay. The old visa will be just smoking!
I am still planning on using a voice thread and uploading a digital storybook on my blog in the next week. I feel that I still need to learn so much more but will take more time than just three weeks to do so.
I am finding the responding to blogs a bit challenging. I go through them, read them daily, and just really enjoy what I am reading. I need to take the time to respond and let people know how much I enjoy what they have to say!
I will be working on my project starting Monday and I am looking forward to it. I find that I am more confident and look forward to the challenge.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Using my blog to learn and share the learning
Hi
This is a sample of how we could use the blog with our students to help them learn more about technology.
This is a sample of how we could use the blog with our students to help them learn more about technology.
Movie of the Week
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4nsVwEC0Zs
This is just a short movie of my home, school and community. You will need to copy and paste the URL in order to see the movie on Youtube. If anyone has a way to directly place the movie clip on my post, I am really interested in learning if there is another (easier) way than this.
This is just a short movie of my home, school and community. You will need to copy and paste the URL in order to see the movie on Youtube. If anyone has a way to directly place the movie clip on my post, I am really interested in learning if there is another (easier) way than this.
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