Topic 1


In this topic, the scenario made me to think about the relationship of confidence and capabilities in relation to digital technologies and their usage. Personally, I feel rather confident of my capabilities with digital tools and systems. I have grown up during the time that the evolution of digital tools has been rather fast, when the mobile phones were invented, personal computers became common et cetera. I agree with the materials offered that having grown up with digital tools and apparatus does not necessarily mean I can express myself in the digital environment or use it to learn etc. I think it all comes down to what a person has used previously and what they are interested in. I have noticed that for instance kids that haven’t used computers previously/that often may find the operating logic of a computer very difficult compared to a touch screen phone or tablet.

I liked White’s classification of visitors and residents and reflecting to the scenario offered the teacher seems to be more of a visitor than resident even if (s)he said (s)he is sometimes posting staff on Facebook etc but does not comfortable sharing own classwork online. So perhaps he’s kind of in the middle of the continuum. When reflecting to my own experiences, I feel that I am more in the visitor mode than resident mode both in personal and institutional mode and actually I do not feel that I am missing out on something or that I should “take more advantage of” the web by leaving marks on social media etc, even if I do understand the benefits of the world wide web and its possibilities. For me the question is that perhaps everyone should have access (e.g., skills, tools, courage) to being a resident, but the extent to which they want to be “a resident” is for the individual to make. This view is based on individual level thoughts. If looked at from a more multi-level angle and taking into account societal level, relationships, institutional level the question of course becomes a bit more tricky. For instance onto what is my “individual choice” based on. Is it actually me or reflections of for intance my societal surroundings.

 

Resources

David White: Visitors and residents (part 1). Available at http://youtu.be/sPOG3iThmRI

David White: Visitors and residents – Credibility (part 2). Available at http://youtu.be/kO569eknM6U

Doug Belshaw: The essential elements of digital literacies. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8yQPoTcZ78


3 responses to “Topic 1”

  1. Thanks for your reflection which i enjoyed reading. I resonate with you when you say that you are personally confident with digital tools and literacies. I am the same as well in this aspect. Although i do feel confident, i am also often frustrated at times, with the constantly changing landscape. Quite often i get accustomed to using a tool, bu find that something new has now come on the scene, and its’s time to learn how to use a new tool which can be time consuming. I also think that not everyone adapts to the digital world easily, especially with the fast paced changes, and we should be patient and provide solutions for those who have issues.

  2. I agree with Suresh that getting new tools to learn is frustrating, especially when so many tools are badly designed.

    As a teacher in IT, I teach software engineering and, in the theory, there are many guidelines on how information systems should be developed. But though there are many well designed tools there are also many that are not.

  3. Interesting point you have about the skills of kids that have only used tablets or phones. I’ve had students take photos of my lecture slides, instead of downloading them, and it still puzzles me a bit as to “why?”…

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