Week Two Part Two (definitions)

I really look forward to seeing what other people say about this, but here are some of my ideas:

 

Learning:  Skills, facts, techniques, theories, and other knowledge transferred from short to long term memory.  I don't think knowledge is really learned unless it is understood sufficiently that it can be accessed and used appropriately in real world authentic situations.  This is the difference between authentic learning and just spitting back facts memorized for an exam.

 

Instruction:  As was mentioned in class, I don't think there's just one way to define this.  In many instances, instruction is basically telling something to someone else, either verbally, electronically, or in print.  Most instruction takes this form, and that's not bad or good.  However, instruction can also be modeling, asking questions, or providing learning tasks...Maybe instruction is simply any way that one person can encourage learning in another person.

 

Technology:  I think technology is a door.  It is harder or easier to open depending on who you are.  Are you a member of a tribe somewhere in Africa?  Then that door may be nearly shut to you.  Anyone who's had a recently arrived refugee in their class knows the truth of that.  Are you living below the poverty level and a member of a minority?  The door may be equally shut to you.  Are you young or old?  Harder or easier to open depending on how your age affects your attitude.  Some older people are able to open the door easily because they want to.  With the door of technology, we ourselves are usually the only thing stopping us from going through.  I sometimes hear people saying things that indicate they have no desire to even look through the door.  So what's on the other side of the door?  I think it's a pretty big list.  Opportunity, education, information, employment, entertainment, a faster pace of life...the future...It goes on and on.  Do we lose something if we go through the door?  I think that is why many people fear technology.  They fear they will lose many good things if they do go through.  It's a form of surrender.  Can you take "it" with you?  What is "it"?  I also think they fear failure.  They fear they will take hold of the doorknob and find they are not able to figure out how to work it.  If they don't try, then they don't have to know whether or not they're up to the challenge.  And also, some people just don't see a need to go through the door.  They're really happy with what they already have.  My dad is like that, and who's to blame him?  He's got it pretty good.

 

As far as what technology literally is, I believe Doug's list in the slides was pretty awesome and I can't presume to add to that.