dean

Read an article last week about Google and I began to think, “Wow,” so much of what we do on the web is guided by what Google tells us–or doesn’t tell us. How much of what we do and see is driven by what we find doing a Google search? That’s scary! In education we talk so much about digital literacy and how important it is for us to teach it to our students, but every day, I do Google searches and don’t think much about what’s being presented to me. I filter out sites that I don’t think are good or appropriate, and I often refine my searches, but I’m sure there are sites that don’t even show up because of Google’s algorithms. When you think about it, they have an a lot of say in what you see and don’t see. It concerns me that they are branching out their services more and more each day and it scares me to think how dependent we’ve become. What would life on the Internet be without Google. I think it would be quite strange these days. I wouldn’t have Gmail, wouldn’t have Google Docs, wouldn’t be able to search with Google, and who knows what else. Who knows what else? Well, I better do a search (a Google search) to see all the other things that Google does that I would be missing out on.

dean

When I think of my own children, I want to know that they will behave responsibly, that they will be able to leverage the Web for school and later for work, and the only way I can do that is to give them access to “The Tool.” Will they need my guidance and mentoring? Absolutely! Will they make mistakes and need to be corrected. I expect so. Will that stop me from teaching them. No!

dean

I have decided to continue to use the blog that I use for classes and other things. The reason…I think there is value is capturing my thoughts in one place.

It’s hard to believe that a new semester has started. I’m excited to be taking this class on emerging technologies. It was great to gain a perspective on everyone’s definition of the term “emerging technologies.” I shared that an emerging technology to me was one that had no real application in the field of interest. I’m not sure how many of you have heard of or used an app on the iPhone called Daytum. A friend told me about it and I quickly rushed to download it. After launching it, I couldn’t really figure out how I would use this app. I told him, “This might be BIG!” because I don’t have a clue what practical use it has. It’s the same thing I said about Twitter when it first came out. Who the heck would want to share what they’re doing and who the heck would care. Well, it certainly was an emerging technology and one that many cannot live without today. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Elluminate.

dean

techtiki

One thing I noticed this past week reading articles for my annotated bibliography assignment was that many of the topics were similar when it comes to the use of virtual online environments for education – at least the ones that I read. What particularly stood out for me was the consistent mention of the feeling of “presence” when in-world and how much it enhances learning.

The other thing I’ve been thinking about is the whole idea of the lines blurring between the real and virtual worlds. But what intrigues me even more are what its going to look like as the lines start to get clear again – not because we can tell the difference between real and virtual, but because there won’t be any difference. That’s wild! In what ways will technology need to progress to get us closer to that reality? Could a trip somewhere or experience be more “real” in the virtual world than in the real world? Stay with me on this one. Could our experiences in the virtual world touch more of our senses than if we traveled there in person? Right now, I think not, but maybe, just maybe in future that might become a reality – a virtual reality.

So before I go, here’s one more experience I had involving my avatar. Markieparkie (aka Mark), who knows me in the real world said to me the other evening when we were meeting in world, “Hey, I didn’t know you had a mustache.” Mustache, what mustache? When I turn around to look at myself (sort of a virtual look in the mirror) I noticed that I had a mustache. How the heck did I get that. You mean I need to shave in the virtual world, too? Seriously, I wanted to get rid of it and to change my shirt at the same time. It seems like everyone else in class is going to the virtual mall and buying new clothes each week and I wanted to do the same. Well, I was already in class, so I felt like I needed to excuse myself to the first floor where no other avatars were so I could get rid of my mustache and change into something new. I teleported to the first floor and was just about to change my appearance when Kekoa came by. I stopped what I was doing and chatted for a while. Once our conversation was over, I felt like I needed to wait till she was gone before changing my shirt. So now I ponder, if I didn’t know that Kekoa (SL avatar) was actually Deanna (real world), would I have waited till he/she went away? Hmmm… Is techtiki (my SL name) more than just an avatar that I created in some virtual world? Is it actually becoming an extension of me, one who I rely on to interact with others in world, and one who I need to complete this class? Okay, this is getting kind of wierd. Hang in there with me. I’m sure you’re interested to know where this is going, too. I know I am.

dean

I’m finding that the sessions have been rich and equal to many face-to-face classes that I’ve had in the past. For me, one of the greatest advantages of having class in Second Life, beyond the fact that I get to be at home, is the interesting worlds that we can visit. When we talk about breaking down the classroom walls, I never did think of it in this sense, however, I’m finding that the more sessions I attend in world, the more I see a future for this method of delivering instruction. I wonder what it’s going to look like in five years when computer processors get even faster and 3D technologies further evolve and mature.

A couple of observations…co-presence or ambient awareness – the sense of being there and connected, is really evident when we’re in Second Life. I mean it literally seems we’re meeting face-to-face when we’re in class and meeting with our groups. I wonder if it’s because, subconsciously, we know that someone is controlling each avatar we see in class? It was funny when Mark, Cheryl and I met a few nights ago in Second Life. At the end of our meeting both Mark and I complemented Cheryl on the dress she was wearing – her Second Life dress. It was a beautiful dress! The lines are getting blurred. Are we beginning to interact with avatars in Second Life or are they merely a window to the person behind the avatar? That would be an interesting study – to see who we begin to associate more with when we’re in a virtual world, avatars or the people who create and control them? In our minds, do we acknowledge a difference between the two or are they one in the same? Is Techtiki and Dean the same? Do people in class think that Techtiki and Dean are the same, think the same, act the same, etc.? I think the methods of communication impact our perceptions. I believe it’s easier to represent yourself differently if you only use local chat and IM. It’s harder to do so when you use audio. Not sure if I’m making sense, but I’d like to follow this train of thought throughout the class and see how I feel at the end. Stay tuned….

One thing that is definitely different between class in SL and class in Elluminate – class in SL is more engaging to me. I guess it’s because of the multi-sensory stimuli which simulates “real” life. Okay, I need to find a good term for the “real world” versus the “virtual SL world.” For now, I’ll simply refer to my life outside of SL as the “real” world and life in SL as the “virtual” world.

As one of this week’s reading mentioned, the one difference between learning in a virtual world and with multimedia programs is that you interact within the environment with less boundaries in a virtual world. I like that. I’m interested to see how comfortable I am at the end of the class with regards to learning in a virtual world. Right now, I love the potential that SL offers in the way of learning, but am still undecided on how effective this type of environment is for learning. Looking forward to the weeks ahead.