katemrob.blog-city.com

George Siemens Presentation

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posted Wednesday, 21 May 2008

            This was an interesting (but LONG) presentation.  I enjoyed hearing George Siemens perspective on Web 2.0.  I find the idea of “Web 2.0” to be a little abstract, and it was nice to get more insight into it.  Prior to listening/watching this presentation, I didn’t realize that Web 2.0 involved so many layers.  I strongly agreed with Siemens’ statements about the internet being a platform. 

            Siemens’ statements about the disconnect between they way children learn, they way we teach them, and the ever-changing technology was especially interesting.  I’ve always felt that “constructivism” was a positive and progressive term, yet Siemens used it as a restricting and limiting way of teaching.  I initially disagreed with his ideas about thoughts existing in time and space, and I don’t know if I’m entirely sold on the idea, but his explanation definitely made a lot of sense.  His explanation of how we think about the war in Iraq was a great example.  I think it’s important for teachers to recognize the disconnect that Siemens talks about, and try to make a stronger and more logical connection between they way they teach and the technology they use and incorporate into the classroom. 

            I felt Siemens “vacuum” comment was too true.  I find that in so many conversations I have I witness this and I am guilty of this.  With the busy schedules people have it is so much easier to cut out anything that takes time to process and/or that goes against what we think we believe. 

            The Future VLE sounds amazing.  However, in the last year I have observed many classrooms and all of the classrooms I’ve visited were so far from this new view of learning that I can’t imagine them reaching this point at any time in the next few years.  I guess it’s important to increase awareness about the problems and promote this new idea to any fellow educators.    


comments (3)


1. Terry Smith left...
Sunday, 25 May 2008 1:57 pm

Kate,

You said: "I find the idea of “Web 2.0” to be a little abstract, and it was nice to get more insight into it." Many people share this view. Web 2.0 is a term that many say is just a buzzword but has no substance. It really is a name to represent a variety of new tools available for teachers to use in social learning situations. Siemens is something of a controversial character in that he holds that the networking is more important than the content in many case. On one of his blogs, he made this statement in regard to connecitons:

"The pipe is more important than the content within the pipe. Our ability to learn what we need for tomorrow is more important than what we know today.”

Even if we disagree with some of his theories, we do know that "information and knowledge do not only lie in human brains, but in electronic networks that are constantly moving and being shaped."

I agree with your statement that classrooms are far form the ideal in using technology and making connections. Personally, I'm not really sure where all of this is going, and how future implementations might really look based on the realities of our educational system.


2. jackrich25 left...
Wednesday, 11 June 2008 11:27 pm

Kate,

Most of the blogs I have read, people feel the same way about Web 2.0. Although his presentation was a tough read even for me. He made so interesting points that most of us in the class could agree with. For example the "vacuum" that he mentions where people are not listening to outside ideas because of time. I find myself having to sort, take out information when I talk to people just to get down to something that I value or could learn to value that I just let it go out of one ear. Sometimes when I have time I thing back investigate and decide whether or not it is something that I can believe. I think about this program we hear and are exposed to new learning everyday. I wonder how much is really sticking.


3. peter2964 left...
Thursday, 12 June 2008 1:37 am

Kate,

I couldn't agree with you more in regards to the "constructivism" comment that you made. I felt very confused at this point in the presentation, but by listening on his definition definitely cleared the air. I also thought it was cool how George peeled back all of those layers to the "web 2.0" to really delve into the meat of it. When reading Terry's comment I was not surprised to read that George is kind of a "controversial" person. What did you think about his idea of networking? I would be interested in hearing.