This week's articles were interesting and good food for thought. I'll figure out the RSS thing later but I'll try to get my thoughts down now. Let's call this part one!
Early impressions: I think a blog could be a useful tool. Of course many people use blogs and have used them for a long time. I have two other blogs that I've started...one has one post and one has three! That being said, given how students take to technology, a blog might be a great way to motivate writing for students that avoid the task as much as possible. It's also an excellent way to disseminate information and see/hear what others are thinking/doing on any given topic. The RSS feed seems like it could be useful as well - sort of like a bookmark system for things I want to read and discover. I had some difficulty setting it up however, I guess I want more directions than I saw on the screen in front of me. Honestly, outside of this class, I'm not sure how much I would use Google Reader, I don't tend to do a lot of browsing.
As far as where does all this fit into the Cone of Experience: While I see computer technology and the internet in general being like a television medium - lots of creative potential, covers all periods of time, can show details of events you might not otherwise experience; the specific tools we are using seem to fall into the radio, recordings, and still picture level and above. Obviously with a blog we are using the written word, verbal symbols. I imagine that the different feeds I will follow will mainly be written information, however if I pursue areas of interest I may find videos, demonstrations, and possibly even something similar to a contrived experience. I may also be inspired to go on a study trip or see an exhibit. In many ways then, this is an example of technology opening up many avenues of learning for me - or my students.
Finally in regards to computer imagination - I believe any medium has the potential for creative and imaginative use. I could see using a blog as a kind of internet pen pal system. This allows students from very different places and experiences to communicate and exchange information. In addition, the process of creating a blog gives ample opportunity for creativity on the part of the blogger, including layouts, colors, pictures, links, etc. Taken all together it might be a way to encourage writing that appeals to students who dislike the actual task of writing. (I have a 14 year old with this issue!) While he doesn't enjoy the process, both organizationally and physically, of writing; a format that allows him to work creatively might motivate him to spend more time and advance in the skill.
RSS feeds I feel are a little more difficult to design imaginatively. This may be because I don't have tendency to "surf the net" and don't foresee myself using them that much. The system reminds me of the Delicious system I used a year ago. It was fun to set it up and I did use it occasionally to find a website I had been using, but overall I didn't utilize it often. I do think perhaps the RSS feed could be a good tool for people who were learning to use the internet however. In this age of technology many people, primarily adults, have difficulty making the transition to using the internet. I know many people who voice fears about banking online, using credit cards online, or being online in general. They talk about confusion and frustration frequently and often end up giving up on the idea. I think as people are more and more required to make the transition from paper and pen to computer and RSS feed could assist in introducing them and guiding them through the basics of internet use. They would be able to compare notes with other people and hear (or read) first hand what has and hasn't worked. Best of all, it is all in one place so very little need to search around for it and maybe end up somewhere they don't want to be. This would be a convenient and safe way to introduce people to the convenience and potential that the internet holds for them.
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