Subject: [IFETS-DISCUSSION:979] Observations on Newer Technologies
From: Martin Owen (mowen@rem.bangor.ac.uk)
Date: Sat 27 Jan 2001 - 13:17:38 MET
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2001 12:17:38 +0000 Subject: [IFETS-DISCUSSION:979] Observations on Newer Technologies From: "Martin Owen" <mowen@rem.bangor.ac.uk>
In response to Alejandro (¡Hola Alejandro long time no contact!).
I was recently ata presentation deom Prof, Aramndo Trinidade of the
Portugeue Open University. He reminded us that learners are changing in
the way the learn.
This has resonances for me for the work I have been doing looking at the
post Vygotsyan and post Batesonian ways of looking at the socio cultural
formulation of our use of technology. I offer this as an anecdote (based
on being the parent of an 17 and 20 yr old offspring) concerning the use
of the mobile phone (with 66% penetration in UK adults and nearly everyone
between 18-25).
The use of the device is extremely interesting.
a) it is a major tool for coordination for sub communities, they
facilitate the formulation of communities of practice
b) it is a tool they use for instant counselling and problem solving
c) Text messaging is as popular as voice, thus as the range/capability of
devices increases I imagine so will the styles of usage.
I appologise for the brevity of what I say: but in Gregory Bateson's terms
I think we are witnessing LEARNNIG 111. This is happening in a spotaneous
way. It is not been lead by our old structures of education, indeed it is
subverting them, and I don;t think we can make an adequate response other
than observe , analyse.... and follow.
Our old structures will not be able to cope with this istantaneousness,
especially as we (certainly in the UK) have had layers of managerialism
and spurious quality control mechanisms placed upon us. By the time the
documentation and bureaucracy is in place, the game has moved on. And this
game thrives on lack of extrinsic control.
Martin Owen
University of Wales, Bangor
---------------------------------------------------------
List address to send message to everyone:
ifets-discussion@catfish.valdosta.edu
Details of current discussion: http://ifets.ieee.org/discussions/discuss.html
Forum website: http://ifets.ieee.org/
Forum's contact person: kinshuk@massey.ac.nz
Info on Join/Leave List: http://ifets.ieee.org/maillist.html
---------------------------------------------------------
This archive was generated by hypermail 2a24 : Sun 28 Jan 2001 - 05:16:20 MET