ENC 1101-B3 & B4: Writing for Discovery
Expanding the One-Way road
Written by papa smurf on November 5, 2003 - 18:23
In John Seely Brown's Growing up Digital he supports the notion that this generation is learning and developing far differently than others before.

As mentioned in the article, the web's various functions supply many options for kids growing up. Instead up the one-way form of learning from - newspapers, books, TV, the internet offers a two way approach. To respond on the spot to a blog you just read, or having a conversation with 6 pals at a time -- everything thing is instant. No store hours, no limitations to way you can say -- it is all available.

Another aspect that differs us from other generations is the art of multi-tasking. Seely puts it well when he speaks of a teenager talking on their cell phone, IM-ing, and reading an article all at the same time. He is right in the way that it is not that our generation cannot pay attention very well (in a classroom environment), but that we are so used to having so much going on -- a teacher lecturing for an hour doesn't have the same effect as the interactive approach.

Learning Ecology was another strenght associated with the web. The fact that when we want to learn more about the... Cuban Missle Crisis -- we have a vast number of sources and opinions on the topic. With all the angles shown, the researcher can better asymble all the parts to form a solid idea of what really when on, along with how people reacted and felt. This ecology also expands throughout the regions of the world. By communicating with people from other countries, one can get a better sense of how we (as a country) are being portrayed. Compared to other generations, we are not as isolated -- instead we have the multitude of perspectives which formulate into a well-balanced knowledge. Growing up in a digital world is a great thing.
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Synthesis
Posted by cel4145 on November 6, 2003 - 15:32.
"With all the angles shown, the researcher can better asymble all the parts to form a solid idea of what really when on, along with how people reacted and felt."

Well, I'm not sure that this is necessary the case in practice, that most people can assemble massive amount of information into something useful. But it is a skill we should be teaching more in college.
Click of a Mouse
Posted by lms03n on November 6, 2003 - 15:31.
"Compared to other generations, we are not as isolated -- instead we have the multitude of perspectives which formulate into a well-balanced knowledge."

I find this to be very true. The people of our generation are able to easily view all perspectives on various subjects using the computer. It is so easy to research a topic on the internet and acquire a wide variety of information. After speaking to my parents about this article (they called me when I was reading the article...NO, I don't normally talk about school work as a topic of conversation Smiling), they informed me that it was difficult to find knowledge if you did not visit the library. In these days, we are able to receive the answers to questions with the simple click of a mouse!
Good perspective
Posted by kappa_06 on November 6, 2003 - 13:30.
I like your perspective on our "Growing up in a digital world." Even though I, like you, am also "Growing up Digital" I completely overlooked the vast amount of learning options that we have at our disposal. It's also good that you recognized the differences between one way and two way forms of information. Not that I don't enjoy T.V. or reading a good article, but the thought of actually interacting with what I'm doing would definetly take precidence over being dictated to.