Comments for Socially Networked

Comment on An over-dose of scepticism by The use of technology in itself | Lingüista.Es

The use of technology in itself | Lingüista.Es — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:22:22 +0000

[...] Picardo in his blogpost An over-dose of scepticism says that even though mfl amongst the school subjects has always been spearheading the innovative [...]

Comment on Schools can only ever embrace yesterday’s technology by José Picardo

José Picardo — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:52:00 +0000

The solution is two-fold: firstly champion early adoption, schools need to dither less and be more embracing of new technologies as they arise, especially if -like the web – they provide huge educational potential. Too often do schools buy into technology as it is about to become obsolete when they should have enjoying the benefits of said technology for years.
Secondly, schools must encourage and support a bring-your-own-device philosophy. Students often bring to school in their pockets technology which is much more advanced than anything they school can offer them. Make the most of this fact where it applies.Utopian? I don’t think so. Idealistic? Definitely. Where there’s a will there’s a way. Just need to find the will.

Thanks for your comment Matteo.

Comment on Schools can only ever embrace yesterday’s technology by Matteo Fumagalli

Matteo Fumagalli — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:10:00 +0000

Interesting thoughts…but the question comes spontaneous: so, what shall we do? Not consider these new innovations at all? Practically, if I was a school headteacher: should l update my ICT classroom every two years or not?

Comment on Facebook as a Social Learning Platform by Natraj Thuduppathy

Natraj Thuduppathy — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:04:00 +0000

Facebook as an educational medium – There is always an interest and debate around it.

I agree with the fact that most of the traditional learning management systems restrict communication among students. But lately I have seen institutions using wikis, Ning etc to improve the communication within their group (faculty and students).

While we were building our social learning platform – myklassroom.com , we looked at 3 mains characters for social learning work well.

1. Wisdom of the crowds

a. Be connected to large group of diverse set of people (not only your friends).

b. Matching people with similar interest – in other words try to build an interest graph rather than a social graph

2. Be the facilitator

a. Faculty needs to be a facilitator and help the learner to assimilate the information

b. Provide tools of communication & engagement with simulations, social games etc.

3. Access to information & people

a. A decade ago, information was consolidated and packaged into books or instructional material. Today, the students can acquire Information from varied sources. They take a piece, add to it, rethink and end up with some pattern that symbolizes the meaning.

b. Adapt the content and information to the individual needs.

Above all I feel the success of any of these platform depends on faculty engagement and motivation.

Comment on Yes by José Picardo

José Picardo — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:47:00 +0000

Thanks Suzi. There’s a difference between always saying yes, and just saying yes more often. I advocate the latter. Sometimes noes also help to keep you on the right track!

Comment on Yes by Suzi Bewell

Suzi Bewell — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:19:00 +0000

I think you should see the film / read the book ‘yes man!’ – think you would love it José.
Suzi

Saying yes all too often sometimes gets me into mischief though…

Comment on Yes by Frederique Lane

Frederique Lane — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:01:00 +0000

Yes!!!!!

Comment on Yes by Tim Byron

Tim Byron — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:17:00 +0000

6 years in comprehensive schools in North London mean that I whole-heartedly support your comments. I think this is why ethos and vision is so important in schools and not just something to be added on or another box to tick!

Comment on One Learning Environment by José Picardo

José Picardo — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:46:00 +0000

Which is the main thrust of my post. Those who insist in arguing that physical is better than virtual (or vice-versa less often) are, in my view, missing the point and establishing false, misleading dichotomies.

The use of contentious terms such a em>virtual, digital or social media only lead to arguments fuelled by different semantic interpretations which only serve to blur the main issue.

When that happens, the gorilla in my post – the concept of ZPD exploiting social networking technologies – goes largely unnoticed.

By the way, I’m already a convert!
Thanks for your thoughtful comment Marion.

Comment on One Learning Environment by Marion Hubbard

Marion Hubbard — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:35:00 +0000

Nice to see a discussion along psychological lines emerging here – we’ll convert you yet Jose!
I think it is interesting that a ‘dichotomy’ is being seen between ‘physical environment’ and ‘virtual’ environment. As I understand it, Social Constructionism argues that we socially construct our reality through the use of ‘tools’. Speech, written language, painting on cave walls, pens, printing or writing on virtual walls, all of these are just the tools available at the time. So what goes on in the ‘physical environment’ of school is just as ‘socially constructed’ as anything else, eg the belief that our pupils should be in our classrooms, behave in certain ways and learn certain things that we as a society value. According to Social Constructivism, this physical environment is therefore just as ‘virtual’ as the online world – so ‘real’ learning could be happening anywhere (or not, depending how you look at it)