Hi All,
An interesting two weeks I think. Here are my thoughts and comments:
Comments
I am quite interested in this topic as I do agree with the tutorial notes from this week that says that sometimes the emphasis is too much on the practitioner and the design/designer (Sharpe et al.), but what about the student, the learner? What is technology doing for them/us? Is it helping the learner, is it just a tool, is it a lifestyle? Interesting questions. Let’s see where this week brings me.
After reading the introduction I wrote a couple of things in my notebook:
The net-generation is digitally literate (Oblinger & Oblinger, 2005): a comment which covers in my opinion a lot of research
Use of and familiarity with technology based tools is far from universal amongst first year students (Kennedy et al. 2008): digital dissidents or digital divide?
Two patterns of use of particular technologies: the first pattern shows use of core technologies like the internet, using pc to create documents, learning portals, chat and access to university admin. The second pattern is more divergent: using RSS feeds, social networking, PDA use (Kennedy et al. 2006): quite interesting as there seems to be technology which everyone uses and use of technology on an individual base/need.
LEX project: Students made extensive use of personally owned technologies including mobile phones, laptop computers, personal digital assistants and memory sticks. They personalise and appropriate the technologies to their own preferred ways of working and communicating – mixing standard office tools, institutional technologies and freely available web-based services.
LXP Project: The LXP study found that the Web is unequivocally the first port of call for students to find information of relevance to their studies.
The key picture that emerges is that students are appropriating technologies to meet their own personal, individual needs – mixing the use of general ICT tools and resources with official course or institutional tools and resources.
They didn’t see the technology as anything special, but as just another tool to support their learning.
Is this any different from the video?
I don’t think so. The comments on the flash cards showed that the message so far in the tutorial isn’t that different from what the students are saying.
Average class size of 115, 18% of my teachers know my name
Too much emphasis on the design: I complete 49% of the reading assigned to me, only 26% relevant to my life.
Using core technologies (pattern one): I will write 42 pages for class this semester and over 500 pages of email.
Using the 2nd pattern (more divergent): I will read 8 books this year, 2300 web pages and 1281 face book profiles. I facebook most of my class.
LEX project: I spend 2 hours on my cell phone per day
LPX project: I spend 3,5 hrs per day online. I bring my laptop to class but I’m not working on class stuff
The Net generation: I am a multi tasker ( I have to be)
Digital Divide: I am one of the lucky ones. This laptop costs more than some people in the world make a year.
How important is the medium and the technologies themselves in terms of conveying messages about this research area?
I think it is very important. It is obviously and pointed out by research that the net generation uses technology as a tool to support their learning. Using the medium and technology itself is then in my opinion a sensible way to convey messages.
What are the implications for your own practice?
As a learner I benefit from new technology. I consider myself as someone from the net generation as technology is not something special to me, but something I use on a daily basis....... I don’t really understand this question actually..I might give it a try tomorrow. I’m knackered...it has been a hard day.
Cheers,
Eugene