One of the most striking quotes from Chapter 9 this week are that the increase in our society’s mobility has amplified the lack of community, inspiring us as a society to look for something to hold on to or to connect (Renninger and Shumar, 2002). I think this statement explains the huge popularity of social networking sites such as Facebook. We seek to belong. Human beings are social by design. The loss of connection to a place, people, family, a religion, a vocation, even an idea sometimes leaves us feeling empty and alone. A connection made online may be maintained wherever our lives take us. If in the military and stationed half-way around the world one can still maintain connections within her online community through social networking sites. Change happens so rapidly in today’s world. Our communities barely have time to recover from the impact of one change before another larger one occurs. I consider the place I moved from this summer. The economy there has been so damaged by the recession, as well as the shift away from a manufacturing based society.Individuals have been forced to simply leave the area in order to support their families.The dot com bubble of the 90s that rapidly burst at the beginning of the millennium is another example of rapid economic change. We are training our children for jobs we don’t even know yet to exist. We have no idea what the economy will look like for future generations.How do we prepare for a vision we have yet to have? We may lose our community, neighborhood, vocation but we can still maintain contact with the people and places that matter to us- online.
The impact of information seeking online has been large.In the past, one might consult a friend or family member for advice on relationships or parenting. Now one may consult complete strangers by posting to a member board on a specific site. I think the challenges of this type of information gathering are much the same as any advice, knowing what is good for use and what should be disregarded. Readers should use caution when heeding advice from unknown sources. The common public distrust in government agencies presents challenges for some reputable sources of information (Renninger and Shumar, 2002). The internet can be a source of misinformation, for instance, the continued press attention given to Jenny McCarthy, an actress who is the mother of an autistic child versus the CDC who continues to maintain the safety and efficacy of vaccinations. McCarthy is not a scientist, but a mother who believes immunizations caused the development of Autism in her child. This makes her a sympathetic figure in a very controversial topic. Although the evidence strongly supports the safety of vaccinations, the public perception is still the government is hiding something. This is not a completely undeserved reputation considering Tuskegee (CDC, 2010). As educators, working within public institutions for higher learning, it is important to understand these conceptions to know the barriers our audience may have in accepting information.
The possibilities for change online are endless. One may join a weight loss or fitness community, enhancing one’s own health. An individual may continue his education online, acquiring a higher degree. Resumes are delivered in online communities. Moves to other areas are planned.Research into various topics of interest all done online. Educators need to be at the forefront of using technology to enhance learning. If there are not good sources of desired information online, rest assured less than desirable sources will fill the gap for that knowledge.
Understanding the life cycles of online learning communities is important for educators. Though the stages may not be completely defined but educators need to plan for the basic stages of their own online learning experience. Without adequate planning, time may not be sufficient to accomplish learning objectives. The experience related in the reading about the zero-G project was interesting. Even more interesting was the lack of interest by some faculty to utilize the learning experience. Online learning takes time which is not always affordable in public school settings. It may be more conducive in college settings or with adult learners.
I think the future is wide open for online learning. The day may come when our children are learning Mandarin from Chinese students who are simultaneously learning English from them. Giving people the opportunity to teach in one of the greatest enhancements to learning we can provide. I know my students have taught me way more than I have them. Teaching forces one to do research and experiment with theories.
What an amazing world we live in and an exciting time to be alive! Technology has made a world of knowledge accessible that remained hidden from those of us who could not travel extensively.I am looking forward to what comes next in the world of education. Additionally, the world of research and theory development is wide open for online learning. Those of us currently expanding our knowledge may develop or research effective online educational tools marking a path for future generations. Sometimes, the readings for this class are overwhelming to me. I struggle to utilize the technology myself. I’ve been frustrated to the point of tears with some of the glitches in creating and utilizing an online learning community. However, when I think of the possibilities for my own children I am encouraged to continue to press forward. This is an exciting time to be a nurse educator. I look forward to what comes next.
Works Cited
CDC. (2010, June 7). U.S. Public Health Service Syphilis Study at Tuskegee. Retrieved February 10, 2011, from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
Renninger, K. & Shumar, W(2002). Building Virtual Communities. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Hi Tanya, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this weeks readings. I found your comments related to the celebrity similar in nature to the commentary in this week's readings about society becoming a "risk society" that holds authority figures in contempt and instead seeks to learn from others via the web in virtual self-help communities. This could be positive or negative depending on whom they perceive as correct. I enjoyed reading about the different types of communities and after reading chapter 12 wonder how the CILT community will do and whether or not they will survive.
ReplyDeleteTanya,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog on this weeks readings! I like your example of Jenny McCarthy, and her campaign against vaccines because of the risk of development of Autism. Like you said, she is not a researcher and has no credible scientific evidence to back her claim, unlike the CDC. Her actions can actually cause more harm than good, so the public must be careful on what information they should trust when searching the internet.
I agree with you on the Zero-g Project, in which I was also surprised that some of the teachers dropped out of the project due to time pressures, shortage of computers, or anxiety related to technology. The Project had adequate support for the teachers, so I think if they expressed their concerns/difficulties early on in the Project, perhaps they could have been successful. This ties into your last paragraph, where you have been frustrated to tears in designing/using technology, however, you persevere because in the long-run it will only benefit you and your students. Good for you!
Thank you for sharing,
Karin