Just another Edublogs.org weblog

To be honest, very little has been taught to kids about copyrights of materials extracted from the Internet. Especially so are photos that are often used by students in their own presentation. In fact it is a common notion that so long we credit the source, everything will be fine.

Image: nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

But thanks to the Teachers Challenge in Edublog, I have learnt new knowledge about Creative Commons. Now I realised that it is never a case of simply quoting the website address but rather to give due credit to the creator of the pictures. It is kind of a hassle to put in the acknowledgement, but I guess, it is should not be worse than what the creator has undergone to produce images that we took for granted. At the end of the day, put them in our shoes when the roles are reversed, we would definitely like others to do the same too.

So why not start by building up our own resources of images by taking snapshots of the world around us. In fact, I took the opportunity to snap a photo of my kids going on a Learning Journey in some parts of Singapore.

At least I need not acknowledge myself? I guess I better start buying a goo digital camera and start building up my imaging bank.

Never has encyclopedia been so interesting and so collaborative in nature. Yes I am talking about Wikipedia and not those traditional book bound type (those still sitting in the Library!). Ever since Wikipedia gone online, learning has become so convenient and so less “serious” looking. I remember I did my research when I was still a 17 year old kid working on my first major project “The Apartheid”. I remember how I struggled in 1986, alone in the library and photocopying pages of information and tried to cut and paste (yes! I am referring to those scissors and cutting and not the computer ones) them into a report. If I had Wikipedia then, I would have a much easier life!

At that moment in 1986, if I were to draw a Network Diagram of Learning, it will probably look like a pair of nodes (me and encyclopedia)
But with Wikipedia, the Network Diagram will probably look like a complicated mesh of connected nodes.

Wikipedia has built its strength as being a collaborated knowledge building platform. But again the quality of the information is very much dependent on the quality of the inputs. You may argue that although there is a tremendous amount of learning interaction within the network, but often these network relationship does not talk about the quality of the learning. But rather as a platform to learn beyond what we have been learning traditionally within an enclosed environment like in the classroom. So ultimately it depends on what you are aiming for. Are you aiming to expand your learning beyond just yourself? Are you trying to learn more “sharply” from the mutual interaction between “nodes” (learners)? Or are you valuing accuracy or credibility more than any other things? That I believe everyone will have their own answers and with it their own method of learning.

I thought it will be nice to show you an interesting video that describes the changes of Wikipedia. Enjoy!

Was reading a blog entry by one of the fellow participants of CCK11 which is Nicholas Carr – 3 Technologies that Changed our Brain. Nicholas Carr mentioned 3 technologies that changed how the way we have been thinking which is namely, the maps, mechanical clock and printing. He mentioned that the maps began to allow us to visualise the place that we are in and how we move around as compared to description through words. With the advent of the mechanical clock, we began to be able to view time differently and we began to use time in various ways like scheduling, planning meetings, etc. But what it has done is it changes the way we do things as compared to the age old technology of reading the stars. Finally with the invention of printing, books began to be the way we have stored information and deliver information from one to another. More interesting is that it (quoted by Nicholas Carr) “shields us from distraction” and we begin to pay attention to knowledge in that manner.

But more specifically to Connectivism is that fact that the technology that changed the way we learn is none other than the Internet. Because of the technology and the strength and ubiquity of the Internet, we began to connect with others for knowledge beyond what we traditionally think that we may limit ourselves to. So I began to think what will be the next technology that will start to change the way we think, the way we feel, the way we carry out our lives? Till then I think we must embrace this technology and try to reap its benefits which is unimaginable maybe even 20 to 30 years ago.

Another new day and another new insights to connectivism. Thanks to Abdullah from Turkey, I have picked up more knowledge about Connectivism through his facebook group creation. Today an interesting video on Networked Students was shown and it allows me to think about how our 21st century students learn and how we as educator need to shift our paradigm of teaching to this mode of “knowledge connection”. I was particularly focused on the part in the video where the teacher is no longer a teacher but rather “Learning Architect”, :Learning Concierge” or even “Network Sherpa”. It brings me to the thought that if our learners today are learning in this way, what then are our values as teachers? But I still believed that although this is the way our 21st century learners are learning, the face to face interaction is still an important element in learning.

I was speaking to one of my colleague about how to infuse technology into his lessons and how I mentioned to her that although we can ride on technology as a multiplier for learning but not everything can be learned over the internet or looking at other people’s blog. Still I feel there is a natural need for human to be socially connect in real life and not in cyberspace. But I do not deny that there are inherent advantage of learning through the virtual world over the real world. So there is no fear that we will be deem as “unnecessary’ in the years to come.

So for those who are interested in the mentioned video, you can view it over here too. Enjoy!

Have started my journey into professional development for almost a week. The first challenge that I have committed is to start a blog and that is blog number 2. I have also commenced my first online course which is “Connectivism and Connective Knowledge”. Was attracted to understand my Connectivism is all about especially so when I was trained in classical learning theory like cognitivism and behaviourism to name a few. Was gently surprised that the reading was very heavy going. But was glad that the video was a much easier pill to swallow.

I do agree with some of the concepts that was brought across in some of the readings is that as technology evolved, classical learning theory seems to be less and less able to stand on their own two feet. But I am amazed to the fact that learning is about making connection and not so much about “learning” it. As more and more knowledge is being carried out through the internet and learning seems no longer familiar in a classroom context. But more and more learning is about seeking information sources and making connection develop the bond of connection deeper as time goes by.

Traditional teaching and learning happens in a very didactic way of building up knowledge. With the emphasis on independent and self directed learning, more and more incentive is being placed in learners seeking their own information rather than seeking in in traditional manner. In my country (Singapore), national movement is to encourage our pupils (learners) to be independent learners who are confident and discerning. More and more emphasis is also going to be relating real life context to link knowledge so that it stays relevant and useful.

I hope tis course that i am taking helps me to better understand how the learners’ learn so that me as a teacher can be more effective in my teaching so that the learning process can be enhanced and improved. I hope I make sense so far…..will look forward to some exchange of opinions and discussion.

Lately, I have been spending tons of hours reading other educators’ blog. It has been a desire within me to want to blog what I feel in the course of my teaching and also to share with others how I feel about education especially in the area of technology.

Lets hope this is a good start to good things to come. See you all soon!