Quote: “A lifelong ability to learn has given human beings all kinds of evolutionary advantages over other animals” (90). I like this quote because it demonstrates the importance of learning for the human race. Students sometimes get so caught up in their own lives, that they forget what a gift learning is, and how amazing it is that humans have developed so much technology and innovation.
Question: Many examples given by the text, such as Stephen Colbert, are comedic. The audience partakes in these collaborations for comedic effect. How can we involve the students in this way while teaching more serious matters such as a novel from the 19th century?
Connection: Students do better when they learn by doing. I attempt to engage my students in tactile learning to allow them to move around and learn through discussion with one another, or through games that really allow for the students to understand the meaning of the activities. I have noticed that the students learn a lot better if they are doing hands on activities that engage them than if they are a part of a lecture activity.
Epiphany: Students learn well through making mistakes. Offering students the chance to fail, but learn from it, is much more powerful than just telling them the answers.
Quote: “Ito and her team constructed a typology of practices to describe the way young people participate with new media: Hanging out, Messing Around, and Geeking Out” (100). This is an interesting concept on how to label people as they encounter technology. It is a learning process, and frustrating as you move through the levels. However, it is interesting how you can be lumped into a category for technological mastery.
Question: How can we as educators help students to move from hanging out to geeking out?
Connection: One obvious connection that I see from this chapter is the use of the terminology hanging out, messing around, and geeking out for our technology class. We are described in the same way as this text while we encounter new technology and work our way around it.
Epiphany: Geeking out is when you are totally comfortable with using the technology and you are trying to figure out interesting ways you can incorporate it into your everyday life.
Quote: “Imagine an environment where the participants are constantly building, creating, and participating in various databases, wikipedias, forums, and websites” (106). This is where society is heading. I think with the development of technology and the generations of technologically savvy people growing up and reproducing, soon the whole world will feel comfortable collaborating via the internet.
Question: While gaming is interesting and amazing, how much is it really contributing to learning and knowledge that is useful for you and the world?
Connection: I have played/watched World of Warcraft a lot. I think that it is interesting how people can have so much knowledge about guilds, weapons, and gaming yet no “book smarts”. As we move into a technological world, these players will become more and more valued for their collaborative skills and their digital skills.
Epiphany: Gaming can help develop skills and imagination/creativity which are some of America’s more desirable traits when compared to “book smart” countries.