Michael Wesch brings a discussion of how technology and the internet has created new opportunities for people and students to interact, collaborate and create digital products that have a wide and lasting impact. This ability formerly belonged only to those in the media (e.g. TV and radio) but the internet has democratized the flow of information. We no longer need to simply know content and material, we need to know how to use it and how to make a difference with it. All of the world's knowledge is at our finger tips, now what are we going to do or create with it?
This topic really resonates with me as my work with environmental activists relied on a distributed network of people all over the country who were able to collaborate and share ideas using technology. I especially like Wesch's example of Ushahidi, as I've used their tools to create a couple sites where anyone in the world could share information on environmental issues in their neighborhood. The Ocean Illness site uses a crowd-sourced map of places that people are getting sick from exposure to polluted water.
In the classroom, these technologies allow for easy collaboration on group projects, letting every student contribute and participate in the creation process. The key would seem to be providing them with clear guidance on expectations and tracking their progress. This sort of work can help to prepare students for future careers. As we're reading in Wagner's book "The Global Achievement Gap" the types of skills that are needed and expected by today's employers are very different from what we have traditionally taught our students. It's up to us as educators to prepare students for the world they will actually live in.
This topic really resonates with me as my work with environmental activists relied on a distributed network of people all over the country who were able to collaborate and share ideas using technology. I especially like Wesch's example of Ushahidi, as I've used their tools to create a couple sites where anyone in the world could share information on environmental issues in their neighborhood. The Ocean Illness site uses a crowd-sourced map of places that people are getting sick from exposure to polluted water.
In the classroom, these technologies allow for easy collaboration on group projects, letting every student contribute and participate in the creation process. The key would seem to be providing them with clear guidance on expectations and tracking their progress. This sort of work can help to prepare students for future careers. As we're reading in Wagner's book "The Global Achievement Gap" the types of skills that are needed and expected by today's employers are very different from what we have traditionally taught our students. It's up to us as educators to prepare students for the world they will actually live in.