Marking ECE912 Livejournals

[jason]

I've been having some interesting thoughts while reading through the journals... I'm enjoying them a lot,though I'm shocked at how few students bothered to correct their writing problems in the selections handed in. I did deduct for spelling and grammar. But almost nothing at all.

Many students have made wonderful points and insights. That said, some have disturbed me. Some folks are upset by the idea of being creative online, writing online and communicating online. Everyone always agrees that doing things face to face is usually preferable. But most people are passive in the 'real world'. What is better: passive in the real world or creative online? Yes, perhaps creative in the real world is best, but that's not the question. Many people do not have creative opportunities in the physical world. Many people's creativity cannot be supported in the real world. Many people don't have friends withwhom they can share their creativity in the real world. Should they be left out? Personally, I write fiction in the real world, but I share it online. MY online friends are my 'real world' friends who are too far away at the moment.

My second point builds on this... why do you assume that there is one 'real world'? There is nothing in human experience that assumes this. And why do you assume that there is only one you? Experience is multiple. People change. The adult is: parent, child, worker, caregiver, lover, puritan, epicurian. The real world is: work, home, spiritual place, play space...

And much of the real world and real person is virtual... it is imaginary... what's wrong with this?

The question is, then, what does technology add or remove from all this?

Of course, diapers and cars and chairs are all technology. And you like them... so what's the problem?

Just my thoughts while reading...

And if you are reading this, why not comment... then I know you're being a good student :)

Further thoughts:
Every*thing* use in modern society were *new* technologies once. Why are they ok now? Will computers become an old technology that you don't think about any more? Like diapers?

Comments

in response

[lchapman.livejournal.com]

I think that it's not the idea of being creative on the computer rather the ways in which the computer and the virtual worlds are being used. I personally thought it was very disturbing that a person was able to be raped in one of the virtual worlds. There are enough rapes and other horrible acts that take place in this real world. I think being creative and making your own room is fine, to each there own. I really believe that's the point- we all have our opinions, concerns, questions, interests, about the MUDs (etc.) whether we've experienced them or choose not to is an individuals decision. These journals are our way of expressing the above mentioned ideas, they reflect our personalities, upbringing, our views. These opinions are just that personal opinions. People will do what they want and use computers the way they enjoy.

It's not to say computers do not help and provide beneficial uses for people, it does. But again it's the way it's used with young children. As an adult you are able to control what goes on in the virtual world, you can control who your friends are, what's being done and so forth. As young children you can never filter enough. Not every parent knows about and understands MUDs. I think the reflections are written by educators of young children not in a personal level. (these are all my own opinions)
Your second point....I believe there is only one real world and that there is only one real me. I haven't seen other wise :)

I don't believe computers will ever be forgotten like diapers because they are constantly in our faces. Computers are everywhere-diapers on the other hand are not :) lucky for us ;)

Lindsay

Re: in response

[complicittheory.livejournal.com]

In a sense the article was unfair. It talks about a dark event in an adult space. Yes, it was virtual. In real life you can have stores that are children's book stores and pornography shops. They are separated, and kids should not be allowed into pornography shops. The same goes for virtual spaces. As I mentioned in one of the classes, to access Amy Bruckman's Moosecrossing, everyone must get a letter to prove their age, and adults must go through a rigorous process. I have a different system to protect children which is surveillance of all non-student users.

In general, however, what I've noticed is that everything sooner or later becomes ubiquitous. Diapers are now a ubiquitous bit of technology, as is color TV and pushbutton phones. I remember when these were major new technologies. Microwave ovens! Gawd, 8track tapes!

Note that though there are not that many people playing muds/moos, the whole online roleplaying world is growing massively, via games like the Sims. But unlike the Sims, MOOs/Muds allowed for creativity. The Sims only allow you to fit into a pre-existing world. And that's saddening.

Thanks for your comments.

On the "real world" and "new technology"

[vkhodabo.livejournal.com]

For my part, when I refer to the real world, I speak of the world of the senses. My preference in education is for children to experience everything using all of their senses - not merely typing and clicking. Through the discussion in this course, I am slowly beginning to see the possibilities of using modern technology to support this learning, but my overall concern with the emphasis that is being put on technology today is that it is being pushed as a replacement to hands on learning. If technology can be integrated so that children do not lose out on "real world" sensory exploration, then I see no problem with including it in a significant way in the curriculum.

As for everything being new technology once upon a time - if the technology today stayed usable and wasn't constantly being upgraded or changed all together, there might be a more positive response to it from people like me.

Being creative on-line is one thing I can say that I understand. I can also understand why others may feel negatively toward partaking in this. I think it's fair to say that this experience is new to many of us and as such, can be a bit strange. In time, I expect that more people will respond positively to keeping blogs as the experience becomes more familiar. Then again, if the technology changes . . .

Vanessa

Re: On the "real world" and "new technology"

[andreapatel.livejournal.com]

I personally think that we have been told all our life certain truths that we accept as reality because it is all we know. If you take a look at Plato's parable of the cave it suggests this very idea that we accept what we see as what we know because we cannot see the truth. Keeping this in mind, I think it is important to consider these theories and challenge what we are told. I believe in expanding my mind and considering the unpossibles and the possibilities that exist. I am in no position to be a judge of what is considered real or unreal so therefore I have to assume for everything to be real whether it is the experiences of my five senses or my clicking and typing in the cyber world. I think in the future these issues we are discussing will not exist because as children are born and grow up experiencing technology in different ways than we did they will come to accept it as their realities and won't be questioning it the same we that we are. Also, I believe that change in technology is a great thing and an essential part of life. True it may be a pain for users of technology, the constant change but it is a part of life and I think that rather than backing away we need to figure how to embrace it, not be afraid and be incontrol of it otherwise it will be in control of us. Just somet thoughts.

Re: On the "real world" and "new technology"

[complicittheory.livejournal.com]

Nice thoughts. Depending on whether you're a practical or theoretical individual this may sounds silly, but as I've learned from the incessant nagging of one of my nieces, there is no externally verrifiable truth, unlike Plato's assumptions. Just stories by which we decide what is or isn't true, aka metanarratives. So, we can accept the stories, or be suspicious of them, but we end up living amid them nonetheless...

[kristenp.livejournal.com]

I find livejournals as a way to connect, people I dont know that go to my school, come up to me and feel that they can talk to me, and they cant talk to anyone else, but since I let a piece of serious self for the world to see, they feel a connection, and I think its great