I bet you thought that this was a picture of a fire. I wonder, if you take some time and look at it, can you see that it is the setting sun hitting the clouds, or did you have to read this to see that? And once you’ve read that, does it change your feelings about the picture?
I have just spent 38 minutes watching a wonderful video by Wilson Miner that discusses our perceptions of the world and how different inventions and innovations alter the way we see, use and exist in the world.
Miner relies heavily on Marshall McLuhan in this video, quoting among other things, «The extension of any one sense displaces the other senses and alters the way we think, see the world, and ourselves.»
This is an important thought to take with us when we work on creating virtual exchanges. In the previous post I write a bit about the confusion and stagnation my colleagues and I have felt as we embarked on the EVOLVE course. And the subtitle of this blog «Can virtual exchanges make you homesick?» also points to displacement. A physical exchange challenges all your senses (extends your senses as it were), and I think we need to create a virtual learning environment that does the same thing, although it will do it in a different way.
Deconstructed lemon meringue pie
Lemon meringue pie
Like my pictures of lemon meringue pie, we need to turn things somewhat inside out to make ourselves «aware of our perception by having it slightly altered» to quote Wilson Miner.
When we create a virtual exchange we are limiting our senses – our students are not immersed in the sounds, smells and tastes of another culture. We are also reminded again and again about how important it is to make sure that things run smoothly. The apps need to work, the connections need to work and our equipment needs to work. So we are limiting our senses, and taking away as much frustration as possible.
Are we losing too much of the exchange, or am I trying to hard to force a virtual exchange to be something it is not?
