FYS

Education has become a prisoner to a confined system of traditional and systematic way of learning.   Our conventional system has shunned creativity and has hidden behind the popular perception that memorizing information is what conducts learning.  However, philosophical thinkers such as Illich and Papert are not willing to bow down to this type of traditional thinking.  They have inspired me in this particular project.  Deschooling Society, written by Illich, captures the limitations that our educational system creates.  He pushes the idea that students have to want to learn.  Compulsory schooling tunes out the idea that students must have this desire; mandatory learning hinders the learner. Papert then creates an actual project, Logo, that follows many of Illich’s ideas.  He creates a system for learning that truly embraces the idea that interaction is key in students learning.  I have found much truth and insight in their beliefs, though I wouldn’t consider myself a radical.  I feel that our learning facilities at this point have minimized the importance of creativity or “thinking outside of the box.”  They have mastered the setting where teachers play a single role of stating facts and students memorizing information for test preparation. In today’s environment, the status quo thought on getting “educated” needs to change.

I would like to address one particular paradigm changer to education: Twitter.  Twitter is a very recent, cost-free social networking and micro-blogging service.  It enables users to send and receive messages called “tweets.”  Each Tweet has a maximum limit of 140 characters; this limit was initially created to be compatible with Short Message Service (SMS) messaging.  It limits the user to a shorthand notation and has resulted in common SMS slang. Twitter was created in 2006 by Jack Dorsey.  In the short time from its initial introduction it has grown exponentially.  It can be justifiably described as the “SMS of the Internet”.  Twitter may very well be the modern-day educational reformer.

Taking this class has changed my whole perspective on what a classroom can and could offer.  One of the mediums that has allowed for me to embark on a new way of thinking was the introduction of the medium Twitter.  I have moved away from the idea that networking is merely for trivial socializing and amounts to little or no educational value.  The first week of class I created my own personal Twitter account; soon I was using a hash-tag to participate in class discussions to comment on our class discussions or to ask questions.  Twitter is a very important medium that could prove to be an important asset in the movement that Illich desires.  This being a movement from the classical classroom where teachers just spit out facts and popular ideas; it is becoming a system where there is no single way of doing things.  The teachers would be able to have a relationship with the students, a relationship that gives the teacher a larger role than that of a “textbook”.  The teachers would become learners with the students.

Twitter is not only a social network, but an information network.  The classroom lesson plan goal should be to not only impart knowledge, but to know how to apply it.  Twitter, as a classroom instrument, could take part in shaping the interactive structure that proves to be essential in true learning.  Twitter takes advantage of the relationship that social interaction has with learning.  It strays from the “black and white” thinking that Papert discourages.  It is a tool that takes students from passively listening to actively participating in discussion because it allows for the students to take control of their learning.  And if students engage deeper in the learning objectives I believe the SMS traffic will embrace shared understanding and peer support.  Students can take the facts and evaluate them to make a bigger picture by taking part in interactive class discussion.  Twitter can help improve comprehension through the exchange of information.

Clay Shirky, one of TED Talk’s previous guests, demonstrates the growing importance of mediums such as Twitter in the world of social media.  He points out that these mediums allow for users to get out a message, whatever it may be.  Shouldn’t every class carry a message?  Shouldn’t students be participating in a message? Clay Shirky backs up his claim that “the moment we are living through, the moment our historical generation is living through, is the largest increase in expressive capability in human history”.  He does this by addressing the four previous historical media revolutions: the printing press, telegraph and telephone, photos and movies, radio and television.  The printing press allowed for print to be provided by movable type. The telegraph and telephone allowed for two-way communication (conversation).  Photos and movies were possible through the revolution of recorded media.  Radio and television were part of the electromagnetic spectrum revolution.  Clay Shirky uses these past revolutions to lead the audience to the present revolution at hand and what makes it superior to the others.  He points out that the internet is the first of all the types of communication that is native support for many-to-many conversation.  Twitter is a perfect example of a medium that can provide all forms of communication when regarding user and audience.  The internet allows for mediums such as Twitter where the users are not only consumers of information but producers of it as well.

Twitter, as with everything else, has many opponents to its introduction in the classroom.  Critics have claimed that Twitter would be a mindless distraction that would result in classroom disruption.  A major reform requires the compliance of teachers to participate in a gradual shift away from traditional school practices. It would take teachers that are willing to give their students power.  Power, if used correctly, that would result in a classroom working as a vessel.  If students were given more control they could individually work towards an education that encompassed self-learning.  Students would not only form a relationship with the medium; they would be given the open opportunity to form possible connections with other classmates, teachers, and even others in their networks.  This reform would create teachers that could perform the duty of a guide rather than a highbrow.  Twitter also allows for teachers to delve deeper into the question of “what is going on in my students’ minds?”  Students would be given the choice to share opinions, questions, or just thoughts on classroom topics without having to worry about disruption or embarrassment.  If teachers made a medium such as Twitter part of the classroom, I feel they would be able to evaluate their class in a more effective way.   The internet is understandably a scary thought for teachers when involving the freedom of my age group; however, I believe that the computer has the ability to not only enhance every classroom but distribute a more efficient balance between teaching and learning.

Haha, well at least in SecondLife they do.  A three-dimensional subreality for users to experience at their own expense.  However, FYS class has become introduced to this “world” to observe virtual interaction and ultimately the change that the internet and social networking has introduced.

Today was my first time to experience SecondLife (the main grid) personally. Age had caused previous prevention…..but as the class knows that was resolved this past weekend.  I really enjoyed creating my avatar, the choices seem to be unlimited.  This was a neat personalizing tool for me! 

SecondLife communication really embraces meta-communication.  Not only can you interact through your avatar physically, but obviously through dialogue whether it is vocal or keyboard-chat.  The exchange of ideas and thoughts are far from limited on SL.  You are not isolated to one way of discussion.  It does a great job of embracing real life interaction, but in a SecondLife kind of way!

I really enjoyed class in SL, even with the few complications that we encountered.  Overall, it seemed to be quite a success.  It was just like the tangible classroom that we conduct learning in; however, it allowed for us to experience the core of our material in a first-hand manner.  Instead of just talking about the web and networking, we were in it (sounds a little recursive).  Probably because it is!  We were in a network talking about networks. 

What better way to learn than to not only discuss the material but experience it?

I knew that Trevor’s presentation would be insightful, and delightful all the while.  He definitely did the reading justice, and was able to bring out the dimensional nature of video games.  Not only in a modern day sense, but stretching back to the past and allowing for comparison to demonstrate the growth and changes that have taken place over the years.

I had a sense of appreciation for video games after this presentation, in a certain aspect.  Video games are not only another way to escape reality, but they can be beneficial in allowing for strategic growth and creativity.  As time goes on, technology continues to grow.  This technology also leads to change in things such as video games.  This is made very obvious when comparing a game such as Pacman to a modern-savvy game such as Halo.  Complexities and variability continue to arise.  Games are not limited to a “black and white” arena.  They are able to venture out and explore!

Before the presentation I tweeted “I’ve always been closed-minded about video games. I’ve always thought of them with a negative connotation.”  However, this class has expanded the openness of my mind on a daily basis.  It is ironic that I tweeted this close-minded thought on a medium that I initially did not appreciate.

I think that video games could be very beneficial to the learning process if they were appropriately made with that purpose in mind.  Though they serve efficiently as entertainment for many.  Now that I think about it, isn’t entertainment always a form of subreality?

I can’t tell you how many times I have asked someone what something was like.  Millions and millions of times.  Or how many times someone has asked me what something was like.  Yes, we are all capable of giving a description but can we really ever fully recreate a scenario, a feeling, a setting, etc without the actual experience?

My answer is no.  There’s something that lacks, something that is missing when we try to recreate.  We want the original, the answer, the exactness. A great example is one that Dr. Campbell asked the class to think about: a senior high school student asking us to tell them what college is like.  I can give them a description of my professors, my schedule, my grades, my activities, my friends, but these are MY opinions and MY experiences.  I cannot tell them in all reality what it is LIKE in fullness. That’s something that we all have to experience ourself firsthand to fully grasp.  YOU have to BE in the situation.   

So, this Maxine is quite a character.  She’s frightened.  She deals with her fears with a very common defense mechanism- denial.  Denial goes hand and hand with it’s little friend, alcoholism.  Another characteristic of the lovely Maxine.  Not only is she afraid of the the superior race, the future and the change it brings, but herself in all actuality.  She tries to cover up her fears just like many of us do.  This may be a totally different setting and unfamilar situation, but the internal make-up of these humans (their minds) remain the same.  Maxine may be dealing with some funky extraterrestial issues, however she is experiencing the feeling of misunderstanding and confusion.  Two emotions that we are all undeniably familar with.  Maybe we aren’t so different than the characters in this story?  The bottom line is that she is scared because she does not understand.  She does not understand her powers and the things going on around her.  Change scares us.  Being different scares us. Not understanding scares us.  I can guarantee you that a great percentage of humans slip into the same habit as Maxine (alcoholism) because of the same emotional struggles.  I am also sure that a great many would handle the situation in the same manner as Maxine- denial and drinking.  It’s human nature which is very rarely unpredictable as a whole.  When things scare us we naturally want to run away from them, just as Maxine does.  She runs to a little thing called simplicity; simplicity is comfortable.  Bishop points out that she doesn’t give herself a chance because she is so AFRAID of being laughed at.  She is scared of the question WHY?

Aren’t we all?

Arpit’s presentation was quite eye opening for me.  It has given me the extra push and first-hand experience to really delve into my final project.  My final project, as you all know, revolves around the medium Twitter.  Though his presentation was not directly linked to Twitter, it gave me some insight on the interactive classroom.  It made me aware of some of the drawbacks; these are not necessarily negative.  However, they must be considered. 

I am indeed a promoter of interactive classrooms.  I am committed to the idea that interactive communication- the sharing of ideas- is key to true learning and understanding.  However, I noticed that interaction did interfere with Arpit’s presentation.  Is this a bad thing?  I feel that these interferences intermingled and expanded the topic, but became extremely time-consuming.  I think that if classes did evolve into strictly interactive environments it would take away from certain necessary aspects of the classroom.  I think that Dr. Campbell does a great job of keeping that balance that I am trying to get at.  If he didn’t reserve some sections of the class to initiate topics and give his insight then the class could get quite chaotic.  I will not use the word “random”, because I have learned and applied that this term is not applicable to the ways of humans.  I think keeping balance allows for a very efficient and meaningful exchange.

Twitter is a wonderful example of something that has to keep that balance to be useful to the class’ goals.  The whole concept of utilizing hashtags has given our class that balance.  Yes, we can still use our Twitter accounts for personal satisfaction apart from the class but we have reserved the hashtags for information that relates and benefits the class as a whole. 

My point is that balance is key in everything we do.  Even the small things are not excluded from this principle.

First of all, I am sorry that I haven’t been as actively involved as usual in FYS this week.  I have been ULTRA sick and exhausted- and spent my Thursday in a lovely hospital. 

Onto a more positive note, I have reflected on my final project quite a bit.  I’m still working out specific strategies and techniques to use for my presentation.  My main goal is to bring out the usefulness of the Twitter medium, which will ultimately diminish any ideas that Twitter is inefficient. 

I think it is essential that the class participates in Twitter during my presentation.  This would be a great way to demonstrate the usefulness firsthand.  I would like the Twitter stream to be projected.  I also intend on my presentation not only being informative, but very socially interactive.  It is important that we are able to discuss the medium as a class, since we have been majorly exposed to it during the semester. 

I want to focus in on the type of communication and conversation that Twitter utilizes.  To delve into the active and passive aspects of it’s components.  My main focus, however, will be the beneficiary aspects of Twitter in the classroom as an educational tool.  I want us all to be aware of how important social interaction is in learning and the advantages that a computer can bring to every class.  Twitter is a wonderful way to interact without disturbances or interruptions to the class.  It can be used as a notetaker, a social playground, a planner, among many other things. 

I will explore what Twitter offers the classroom and its impact on the class’ interaction.  I will use past examples and hopefully examples that the class produces while I am presenting.

“a violation of the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, especially since no filter is perfect and some over blocking would occur.”

A topic that came up that interested me was the whole debate on Internet filters. Here at Baylor, our Internet access is regulated. Which means that the material we are able to view is regulated by overseers. Basically, anything they find obscene is censored by means of blocking software.

Do I agree with this? Personally, no. We are all at the age of accountability. We as young adults should be given the leverage to regulate what we choose to see and not to see. The filter may keep us from looking at it here on campus, but it doesn’t change that it’s still there. I’ll keep my tangent on Internet filters to a minimum.

I started asking myself in class Thursday- where would I be today without school? My twelve years of grade school has given me structure and support in pushing me off into the direction of college and a future career. However, does this mean that this is the only “right way”? At first, I thought yes. Then the class started discussing arranged marriage. This idea seemed absolutely ridiculous to the majority of us, because in America we marry for “love”. To those that practice arranged marriage I’m sure our idea of what’s right is just as equally foreign and “weird”. The ideas that we practice and follow are based on our environment and those in it. If we had grown up in a place where arranged marriage was practiced this would seem absolutely normal. This brings me to strongly feel that our environment has everything to do with what we perceive as “normal” or “right”. This can be related to the whole idea that structured schooling is absurd and destructive in allowing us to gather knowledge on our own accord. For the love of learning. In my case, I feel that schooling has allowed for a foundation and strengthened my knowledge database.

This is a great idea to keep in mind when we apply it to technology. We have to keep our minds open to the new and the strange. After all, we would be quite selfish to think that our way is the ONE AND ONLY right way. Especially when you consider the rate of divorce in America, where marrying for “true love” is the moral-based concept.

We have to realize that society shapes our mindset in extreme amounts. If we could really grasp that, then we would definitely have a boost in the right direction. The direction of applying an open-mind to endless possibilities. I feel that our close-mindedness and societal outlooks hinder us in excelling towards advancements in things such as technology. We have this narrow perspective and we don’t even realize how much it is affecting us as a whole.

This is what really caught my attention today, during Ariadne’s seminar presentation.  She showed us a clip that was introduced with the word extension.  It gave examples- wheels being extensions of feet, a book being an extension of the eye, clothing being an extension of the skin.

I started thinking about the relationship between all the things surrounding me.  The relationships between the things near me.  Well, I came to the conclusion that everything is in some way or form an extension of something else.  Whether it is tangible or not.  My facial expressions are an extension of my emotions, my words are extensions of my ideas, ear phones are an extension of audio, etc etc etc.

But then a big idea sparked!  What does that make the computer? Well….an amalgamated extension.  It is a combination of extensions of our senses for one.  Our vision, our touch, our hearing.  We interact with it in many ways that we interact with others.  Therefore, it is in many ways an extension of a person.   Yet again, tangible and intangible resources.  The keyboard being a tangible one, and ideas being an intangible one.  The computer incorporates so many aspects of ourselves.  It branches off in so many extensions!

Another concept that I began thinking about was the types of communication we use in our daily life.  Two words came to mind- active and passive.  We engage in so many conversations- and they are all conversations whether active or passive, direct or indirect.  However, there is a fine line between active and passive in many mediums.  Text messaging can be either, social networks incorporate both, etc.  Then you have active communication such as phone conversations, talking in person, or something such as chatting.  Where the dialogue or text is being shared directly and getting responses or interaction at the present time- NOW. I think of active as NOW, and passive as LATER.  Then of course there’s many exceptions, and these are called the NOW and LATER’S. 

Anyways, I know I didn’t say much in class today.  I blame my biology class and my malfunctioning sinuses. However, Ariadne had a lovely presentation!

Pretty set on doing my final project on Twitter.  I think that this conclusion is quite funny considering my first thoughts on Twitter.  When I set up my account my room mates had enjoyed a great laugh.  Yes, indeed I was setting up a Twitter account for my class.  I’m pretty sure that I took part in the laughter as well. 

This initial idea that Twitter was ridiculous has definitely been rejected throughout this semester.  I have been faithfully dedicated to Twitter and have utilized it to a point that I never would have imagined at first.  I have learned to appreciate it to quite an extent.  I absolutely love having it incorporated in our class; it’s a great way to share my thoughts.  Whether it is for my own personal growth or for others to look at and comment on.

Anyways, I’m pretty glad that I have been exposed to Twitter.  I think if the idea of using Twitter in the classroom was more widespread that it would turn out to open up many more doors.  Basically, I adore it.

We learn material for the sake of passing tests. It’s temporarily stored. Do we truly benefit from this type of learning?

We as students have all used this technique through high school and in many ways I feel it hasn’t escaped us in college.

I have been told several times that memorization is the lowest level of intelligence. I think this can be applied to the kind of cramming that many of us students do in order to pass a test. Then we throw away that material and never think about it again.

So how do we begin to break from this type of pattern? I think a great way is to learn better ways to interact the newly obtained knowledge. We need to apply this knowledge in ways that stresses the facts; ways that give the knowledge meaning to us.   More meaning than merely passing a test.  That is why I am a strong advocate of hands-on learning.

My seminar presentation is based on the reading “Mindstorms”. I think the ideas that Papert stresses about using computers to have a more dimensional learning can be applied to a variety of things; these things not only relating to using a computer to learn.