I wrote about some Exotic Tools when we first started out here and I’m not sure the list has changed much here either. These are tools that can be used to augment the tools that already exist, or in some cases to provide a specialize function.
Podcasting is one of the new tools to make it into the educator’s lexicon — if not the way I’d like to see it. I wrote up an explanation of what the issues are back in ‘06.
Podcasting didn’t exist before September, 2004. I first got interested in the technology in November of 2004 when I started listening to Adam Curry’s “Daily Source Code.” At the time, there were, maybe 200 podcasters. Today, there are thousands.
Podcasting
My biggest problem with educational use of the term “podcast” is that mostly they’re not podcasting. They’re just using digital audio archives to augment instruction. This is a good practice and I approve of it, but it’s not podcasting. I have some experience with podcasting on a personal basis and my problem with the way educators use the term is that by ignoring the reality of RSS delivery of content, they’re forgoing the benefit of using that distribution channel — which is really where the power of podcasting resides.
The use of immersive environments is another tool that I think many educators get wrong.
As we consider spaces like SecondLife, or Oddessey the value of those spaces is not as “virtual classrooms.” Remember that my belief is that classrooms are for teaching and not for learning. The last thing I want to do is take these opportunities for interaction and turn them into lecture halls. There is no value in creating a 3d space with 3d desks where 3d avatars (digital puppets) can sit and see a 3d teacher use a 3d projector to put a 2d PowerPoint-analogue on a 3d screen at the front of the 3d room. This is just pointless. It’s such an egregious misuse of the technology that I just don’t understand why so many educators believe that this is a Good Idea.
Immersive Environments
There’s a lot of information in that post about MUDs and MOOs that some of you might be able to use.
Finally, tools are tools. Their effectiveness is directly related to two aspects and both aspects need to be taken into consideration when selecting and using them. First, how suited is the tool to the task. Driving screws with a hammer is possible, but not recommended. Likewise trying to use a screwdriver on a nail can be a frustrating experience. Second, how proficient you are in the use of the tool makes a huge difference on the effectiveness of that use. It doesn’t matter how well suited a Bridgeport Milling Machine is to the creation of an aluminum fitting if you have no idea how to program the Bridgeport to do what you want. The difficulty here is one of incremental understanding. Most of you wouldn’t attempt to use a Bridgeport because you’d have a hard time finding the on switch. Your understanding of that particular tool is so low as to preclude your attempting to use it. What about other tools? Do you really know how a blog works? What we do with it to foster learning? How about a threaded discussion? Or a whiteboard? Or a textbook?
Are you sure?
September 28th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Personally, I think some people think that all computers are equal, particularly ones that promote some stuff. Extreme Example: A BBC Micro is not a Quad Core 64-Bit Windows 7 Computer.
Case from the UK: There was a Promotion during the late 90’s for several years. Get Vouchers for the Local school to get a Computer. That was fine, except the first issue is that the computer is the standard Home PC package from the partner company. Fine, if you’re primary School(ages 5-11), computers are not a required for a qualification. It was good usable for them.
The Issue is that most Secondary schools (for ages 11-16) have their own computer suite, and is quite probably incompatible with the Network. The Software on it is MSWorks, and you’re to teach MS Office, which is on just the Network PCs, for the IT GSCE for 16 year old qualification. The Teachers ended up only using it for certain IT based Projects, outside the usual IT qualifications, with that “strange” Kid. (If you’re wanting to know, that kid was me, it got me a Pass in art.) It was in the day of Multimedia being the Buzzword, and with no head phones, and built in Speakers, not good for classrooms. So you’ve got over 1000 kids to bring Vouchers, costing £50 of shopping each, for a Tool that they won’t use.
Sometimes I end up seeing some nice hardware collecting dust as is No one around is trained to use the equipment, and the person who is, does not teach any more. I’ve taught more than one teacher in IT Side of things.
I can see why some people think “3d Class room” is a great idea. Some people as far as I can tell think that the only way to Teach is to do in a recognisable Class room. Personally, if I can’t tell if anyone is actually paying attention or not, is built in (and hard to remove), is not a way to teach.
As far as I can tell Training is expensive, but not using the tools correctly or all, due to lack of training is MORE expensive.
September 28th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
I agree that podcasting in the classroom is not being used correctly. I think it is because most teachers don’t understand how to implement podcasting effectively. In my district, very little PD, or general knowledge, is offered on how to use it in the classroom. I hope to learn more about podcasting so I can use it with my high school students.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:43 am
Absolutely agree with you on the pointless development of passive 3D education environments. It’s at best a lazy approach to one of the most exciting developments in computer-assisted pedagogy in the past 10 years. We’ve found in our collaborative work with leading educational planner Dr Kenn Fisher and Nick Peacey’s team at the Institute of Education in London, UK, that 3D spaces developed for teaching have to engage through full interactivity, real-time communications (text, voice, video) and ‘gameplay’, that is, a strong element of fun provided in a serious context through the ability to explore, engage and change the environments. Dr Fisher and the IOE are using Archi-Me (www.archi-me.com) because it gives them the ability to saves time and costs by transforming already constructed 3D models of teaching spaces (buildings) into fully interactive 3D environments, explored and changed by avatars.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Well podcasting is something that is not used regularly in my building. I do know that much. This year, my school did offer some pd on podcasting, but they really didn’t know much about it either so I learned very little. That is how far from technology that my district is. Hopefully we will get more in touch as time passes.