Freedom to ask

It has been a few weeks since my last post and I wanted to update you on adventures in reading my two email lists that I have joined

Educause

•    One of the first emails that I read this time was about how to make distance learners feel more a part of the intellectual community that was the college or university that provide the distance course.  I found this very hearting because so many times being isolated and very individualized we forget what we are apart of and do not take pride in being a part of a certain community.  These discussions were all about drawing them in, connecting them to the university.
• There was still alot of concern about some face-to-face connection even though ti was limited there was still the need for that social interaction that provides the sense of community
• The phrase "Ed talk comes first tech talk comes second" was brought up by a very enthusiastic IT director.  She was responding to a previous post on how to use a new technology in their department.  The director insisted that before jumping in and planning on how to use technology in courses one should first see if that technology would even benefit the course objectives and learning outcomes.  I would like you to know that I actually chimed in on this conversation and posted my own response cheering on the Director for bringing it back to education!  Go me I contributed to an email list!
• One thing I was so excited to see was a lot of "help me questions".  I love it all those different perspectives available to give you suggestions when you are stuck and really could use another opinion.
• Overall I am enjoying my readings through Educause's listserv although I still have no clue most of the time what they are talking about, by the way does anyone know what DragMath is?  Oh well I suppose I could always google it.

ITFORM

• I particpated in a survey, how about that!  It involved what did I think a University was.
• I really like the free thinking attitutdes in this listserv expecially the paper discussion weeks.  There is room for erros, or simple questions which when you think about it so many times when you discuss research the questions are even more complext then the research itself so those trying to begin learning on a topic are lost even before they begin.
• Dr. Herman van der Merwe response about including students, faculty, and ID's in seeing how mobile technoogy would impackt teaching and learning was inspiring.  So many times i see programs and projects developed without consuliting all the people affected.
• Goo point brought up about Mobile Learning- "Regional cultural, language, and traditions explained to a broader global audience".  To many times there is a barrier between my bosses and myself because of our cultural and language differences.  One being from England and the other being from New York.  I of course being raised in teh south tend to use a lot of phrases that are indigenous to Alabama and the southern US.  If mobile learning as it was asked "shrink the world"  I wold think that wold be a big score up for communication and learning!- On a side note- really mobile learning?- ITunes U look out!
• Question brought up in AIL 604 about Kindles, eBook, readers, Nooks, and iPADS.  I wondered how they would start to be effectively incorporated into the classroom other then repalcing the hard texts.  Laptops have jsut started replacing pen and paper for the majority of our undergraduate classes here at the University.

Question of the Day: If technology is at our fingertips, and learning is now at our fingertips, what role does the educator play in today's high tech world?