A10AdamJacksonTeamAwesome

A10AdamJacksonTeamAwesome

To-Do

The paper makes this claim: “Web 2.0 is creating a new kind of participatory medium that is ideal for supporting multiple modes of learning.” For purposes of this assignment, pick a mode of learning which you consider the most important and most exciting for YOU!

Which idea/claim discussed in the article did you find most interesting?

The idea of integrating physical and digital classrooms. The example of a Harvard Law class being taught in person as well as in Second Life with open enrollment is very intriguing and opens possibilities for many that otherwise would not have had them. The question, however, is if these new resources are being utilized and how effective they actually are.

With which idea/claim do you disagree the most?

While I find the integration of physical and digital classrooms interesting, I actually disagree with the idea. Part of the reason you take college classes is to be recognized and evaluated by the University itself. A job candidate who is enrolled in or attended a University is considerably more likely to be considered for the position than another candidate who isn't enrolled in or never attended higher education even though they may have the same exact knowledge and may have even "attended" the same lectures. Furthermore, the commitment of physically attending class is more demanding than opening your computer and turning up the volume.

What learning style did you choose for purposes of this assignment?

Social Learning.

What percentage of your overall educational experience is "Learning About"?

75

What are the strengths of "learning about" from your experience?

Learning About gives many people the opportunity to learn an adequate amount of information about a very wide range of topics. As more and more lines of communication and opportunities to interact with others internationally open up, those with the most broadest scope of knowledge benefit the most from it.

What are the weaknesses of "learning about" from your experience?

Real-world task experience. When you learn everything from such a high or broad level, it can be difficult to take on very specific tasks and can require significant time dedication.

What percentage of your overall educational experience is "Learning to be"?

25

What are the strengts of "learning to be" from your experience?

Learning To Be gives individuals more relevant experience to a given field than one who simply Learns About. It allows them to go further in depth than Learning About students and gain vast experience within their own fields.

What are the weaknesses of "learning to be" from your experience?

Unfortunately, Learning To Be often has too narrowed of a focus and can actually hinder students rather than help by making them too specialized. For example, a Computer Science student who learns pure Java from start to end will be much worse off in the long run if they ever have to code in C++, Python, or LISP.

Do you agree or disagree with the following claim: “everyone is interested in something and feels passionate about it.”

Disagree.

Name something that YOU are personally interested in and feel passionate about.

Renewable Energy.

Is the following statement true for YOUR passion: “for any topic that a student is passionate about, there is likely to be an online niche community of practice of others who share that passion.”

This statement is indeed true for Renewable Energy. A Google search reveals over 19,200,000 results for a 'renewable energy' search. While most of these pages are informative and static, adding 'forums' to the search string brings up more than 1,090,000 results, any of which one could easily join and contribute to the renewable energy discussion.

If not: could it become a reality in the future?