I'm going to relate this quote to Web 2.0, a.k.a. "the participatory web." Marshall McCluhan would have us set aside the thoughts and ideas conveyed in the multitude of blogs, podcasts, and wiki's that exist all over the internet and instead asks us to examine the overall effect Web 2.0, as a medium, has on our society. After a few hours research, I'm most intrigued by this medium's propensity to become a living, breathing and ever-growing collective intelligence. I'm immediately reminded of movies like 'The Matrix' and 'The Terminator' where man has been overtaken by his own technology. I definitely agree that the information sharing put forth through this medium is invaluable. I admire the spirit of collaboration and cooperation it inspires in the academic arena. However, reflecting on Mr. McCluhan's quote has made me realize that, indeed, often times the medium ultimately has much more societal impact than the message. The advent of television has definitely proven this. Are we giving enough thought to all the possible ramifications that might come from the existence of such a dynamic, international, and interactive information network? By it's very nature this particular medium's growth can only be characterized as exponential. Will the tremendous educational benefits bestowed upon our society be nullified by the initiation of a paradigm shift that is incompatible with the human psyche? Can our finite biological intellect exist in a newly created digital environment that trancends the physical boundaries between mind, space, and time? I think Marshall McCluhan's quote, "the medium is the message" is more relevant today than ever. I don't think we can overestimate the potential consequences this medium may have on our society. In fact, is it not our duty to monitor this oh, so powerful medium? We should consider every possible theoretical permutation on how this thing might evolve. Yeah, I'm probably getting a little too 'science fiction-y' here, but does anybody think that television hasn't had a lot of negative impact on society? Television is child's play compared to the world wide web. Not since we first split the atom has anything so powerful been released.
Now to the more mundane task at hand. My lesson plan is about converting fractions into decimals and percentages. A specific way that I could use technology to enhance my instruction would be to incorporate one or two clever teacher generated videos found on http://www.teachertube.com/. Here's a specific video I like because the audio portion is spoken by a student while visually, a simple animation graphically illustrates the process. So what better way to engage your students than putting them "right at home" in a familiar You Tube-like environment combined with all the advantages of peer tutoring. Take a look if you like; http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=be6613daea643a7706a4
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Interesting comments on this quote.
Thanks for including the teacher tube website. I took a brief look at it!
Very thoughtful--and thought provoking--post, Mark. Marshall McLuhan would be proud. You raise a lot of very pertinent points. I share your basic concerns, and wonder how, indeed, this will all play out. Information being collaboratively constructed...definitely a paradigm shift. Scary? Reckless? Not sure where I will come down on this yet. (Ironically, while trying to catch up on the Chronicle of Higher Education today I came across a moving final lecture of a professor who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer...he addressed this idea in a way which gave me even more pause. I'll send the link if anyone's interested.)
As far as controlling the medium by anticipating all possible consequences: Do you think that's possible? Anyone else have any thoughts?....
Post a Comment