1.What implication does this have for your teaching?
Excitement
When I see info-graphic movies like these I get excited for what teaching will be like in the coming years. Like Moore’s law, technology advances exponentially and what was a startling statistic 4 years ago is commonplace now. To be honest, I was hesitant to even bother viewing Did You Know 2.0 since I knew the data from this video was already outdated (e.g. MySpace saw its demise right after peeking in 2007). Even though Did You Know 4.0 was made in 2009, it still felt a bit stale in its relevant data and statistics. However, the overall message from all four videos was clear: Educators need to understand, embrace, and effectively implement modern technology both inside and outside the classroom. Did You Know 4.0 pointed out, social networking is a powerful tool for sharing information. I can already envision a classroom that is not only connected at school, but when they are at home has well. The lessons and discussions no longer have to end after the bell, but can continue via the class Facebook page. Of course, this is all within the realm of the user generated content of Web 2.0 .
The problem with web 3.0 and the semantic web
Although I agree with the conclusion of Evolution 1.0, Web 2.0 to Web 3.0, in that, ultimately the semantic web will be able to personalize and tailor our entire lives through “the cloud,” I believe we are still a few years out from this goal.
As Eli Pariser explains, much of the content generated by algorithms from Google or Facebook often keep the individual users inside a personal “filter bubble” and away from new and challenging ideas. Of course, these algorithms are still being developed, but within education I want my students to be able to find differing ideas from their own. It is easy to get wrapped up in our own little world of friends and ideas, but I think it would be a disservice to the potentiality of the Internet if we were all relegated to what the computer thinks we like.
2.How is this different from your prior thoughts about our role as a teacher?
Earlier this year I read Milton Chen’s Education Nation: Six Leading Edges of Innovation in our Schools where he envisions an optimistic future for technologies’ role in education. Prior to reading this book I had a hard time understanding the impact of technology and how it will affect my pedagogy. Like most educators I liked technology, but didn’t really understand its capabilities outside of research and presentation. I agree with Chen’s premise that the role of the educator will no longer be the lecturer, but the coach or project manager. Ideally, the teacher will facilitate the learning experience instead of controlling it. In other words, we can actually help students learn, not act as their personal encyclopedia of knowledge.
3. What did you learn from these videos?
I gained a better understanding of Web 3.0 and the future of technology from the first video. With the advent of cloud technology it makes sense that computing will eventually be able to provide new services based on our interest and location.
