Social Networking, Second Life & VR

            In recent years, social networking has become a cultural phenomenon. Almost everyone in some form or another, uses social networking. However, social networking also has value in an educational setting. Teachers can use social networking to communicate with students and parents. Furthermore, some social networking websites like diigo, provide opportunities for educators to advance their knowledge of instruction.

In addition to social networking, web sites like second life allow students to interact in a virtual environment. Second life utilizes avatars, which are virtual characters representing people. Users of second life can explore the second life world, interact with other users, and participate in individual and group activities. As second life is intended for people over the age of 13, teachers can only utilize it in learning environments with students over that age.

In Second Life: an overview of the potential of 3-D virtual worlds in medical and health education, the authors examine virtual worlds and the potential impact that they could have on medical environments. The authors acknowledge the potential second life could have in the medical field; however, they acknowledge that it is a relatively new technology. “Indeed, 3-D virtual worlds offer great potential to creative medical and health educators and librarians, but more research is needed into their use in medical and health education (also as the technology underpinning 3-D virtual worlds develops and matures over the coming months and years).” However, in the medical environment the authors note several situations where second life is useful in preparing and educating medical professionals.

In addition to second life, educators can utilize virtual reality simulations to reach their students. These tools are useful in reaching learners who do not respond to other teaching methods. Furthermore, virtual reality simulations can be used to enhance the learning of all students. Virtual reality utilizes computer-simulated environments that can simulate activities in places in the real world. Virtual reality tools are especially useful in environments where actual practice in the area if not practical. For example, a law enforcement officer cannot obtain real life practical experience in a shooting situation. However, virtual reality simulations allow them to gain experience in situations like the one described.

As discussed in Virtual Reality Can Improve Design Skills in Younger Generation, younger learners have become so used to having technology in their lives, it has almost become necessary. The author says, “A University of Missouri researcher says a widening gap is occurring between educators and students due to the difference in how older and younger generations approach evolving technologies.” The same study also found that students working in virtual reality environment exhibit improved spatial skills, including kinesthetic and logical abilities.

While social networking has the ability to expand education outside of the classroom; the common conception is that technology is distracting and causes people to withdrawal from social interaction. While my opinion if that social networking can provide a distraction to students. In Social Interaction and New Technology the author says, “Internet use does not pull people away from public places. Rather, it is associated with engagement in places such as parks, cafes, and restaurants, the kinds of locales where research shows that people are likely to encounter a wider array of people and diverse points of view.”

Social Development Theory

 I decided to review Vygotsky’s Social Development Theory. This theory is rooted in the idea that social interaction plays an important role in development. Vygotsky (1978) states: "Every function in the child's cultural development appears twice: first, on the social level, and later, on the individual level; first, between people (interpsychological) and then inside the child (intrapsychological). This applies equally to voluntary attention, to logical memory, and to the formation of concepts. All the higher functions originate as actual relationships between individuals" (p. 57). This theory also focuses on the idea that people develop as they participate in social interaction with others. Furthermore, complete cognitive development is not possible without social interaction. Vygotsky discusses the example of a child pointing their finger. This gesture initially has no meaning. However, as it begins to illicit a reaction, it develops a meaning in the child’s mind.

Initially, I struggled to find a way to relate a theory centered in the idea that social interaction in necessary for human development to distance learning. However, with the technology that is available today, the two things are interrelated. Educators, especially in technology based courses, are able to utilize technology to allow students to communicate and develop by socializing with one another. As we think back on this semester, we as students have been able to communicate effectively while participating and organizing our projects. Students now have technology tools allowing them to socialize with other students and instructors that were never before available. For example, when delegating the responsibilities for our group project, we were able to communicate using the message board, e-mail, as well as skype.

To encourage cognitive development via social interaction in courses that incorporate internet-based applications, teachers should require students to utilize technology that will allow them to interact with other students. Teachers can utilize message boards to allow students to discuss issues with one another. Furthermore, they could utilize instant message services like AIM, Facebook’s Messaging Service, or Yahoo Messenger to communicate in real time. There are also services like Face Time and Skype that allow students to have face to face communications. With most colleges, and even some high schools utilizing distance learning, it is important that teachers continue to involve and utilize the best technology that is available to encourage social interaction among students.

In addition to courses that are completely distance learning, teachers can utilize these technologies in the classroom as well. For example, a teacher could use Skype to allow their students to communicate with students in other areas, or even other countries. In a foreign language course for example, teachers could allow their students to chat live with students in that foreign country to develop their language through socialization with the student in that country.

Social Media

I joined the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) group. I joined this group because the focus of my coursework and education is education in the workplace, training and developemt, performance technology, etc. I felt that it would be beneficial to receive information and be able to network with others from this agency. I think the appeal of networking tools like Diigo is that they provide an easy, cost effective environment for professionals, students, teachers, etc. to meet and discuss their profession or field of study. Without networking tools like this, it would be hard for these professionals to all be in one place together.

If used in a classroom, networking websites could positively affect teaching and learning by providing a new avenue for information sharing. Also, students and teachers could link to each other, and receive and share the same information from outside sources like journals, professional societies, etc. Networking websites can negatively affect teaching and learning by removing the interpersonal aspect that the classroom provides. Students and teachers in distance learning courses rarely meet with one another, or experience the interaction that only a classroom can provide.

Most of the time I spend on networking sites is spent on sites like Facebook or Twitter for the purpose of interacting with friends, family, and co-workers. The benefit is that I can easily communicate with people close to me, or people that I may not have seen for an extended period of time. The drawback is that it may be a waste of time, or a distraction from more important things.  Also, it seems as facebook, text messaging, blogging, and email have become more prevelant in our soceity, the level of actual social interaction in conversation, phone calls, etc. has decreased.

Gaming

I think that there is an appropriate place in the classroom for gaming. If used properly, gaming can be effective in reaching students who do not respond to other forms of instruction. Gaming can also provide students a fun way to do educational activities. Furthermore, it can also be useful in simulation activities.

Simulation gaming can be used to experience and walk through situations where learners may not be able to prepare for a situation any other way. For example, someone preparing to fly an airplane would more reasonably be able prepare to do so in a simulator as opposed to an actual airplane. This would provide for an effective, cost-effective training session.

Channel 4 learning is a site for young people to participate in science games and activities. I think this site is beneficial because it provides students a fun way to participate in science activities. Things that may usually be boring the students can be perceived to be fun, this would increase the learning quality.

SimSchool is a classroom simulator for educators. This offers a great benefit in educational environments because teachers can become acclimated to the classroom environment without actually standing in front of a group of students. This is beneficial as teachers can hone their skills and continue to evolve without having to do it in front of a group of students.

Industryplayer.com allows a potential business person to simulate management of a company. I find this website to be valuable for many reasons. First, it always someone who is pursuing a career in the business field to simulate real world activities. Many of these activities and experiences would be difficult to obtain in an internship or work setting.

Open Content

Open content information is placed on a public domain where anyone with an internet connection can access it. Open content has some effect on any of us who access information over the internet. Most of us access writings, research, entertainment mediums, movies, and music through open content forums. It is important to consider that when information is copyrighted. It cannot be accessed, or edited by anyone other than the copyright owner without permission, payment. However, as discussed in the What are the Licenses Within Creative Commons Article, there are organizations such as Creative Commons that allows owners of copyright to place them in a public domain (or common area) to allow other people to build, improve, and reuse their works.

As explained in the What is Public Domain? writing, public domain allows copyright owners to essentially give their works to a public domain. This allows others to view, alter, and change these works. While, this seems overall to be a positive idea; it could also make the claim of an original work to be blurred. For example, if someone posts something in a public domain, someone else can take the work, alter it, and submit it as their own.

In the 2010 Horizon Report, the emergence of E-Books is discussed. Not only are these books being used by people to read their favorite books at home, but now, they are making their way to college campuses. In addition to this, there are several companies (Amazon, Sony, Barnes and Noble, etc.) now offering E-Book platforms. However, as referenced in the 2010 Horizon Report, they’re still obstacles to get past. The biggest being that there is still some limited availability of textbooks on electronic format. Although, it seems that this will be less of a problem as more books become available in the electronic format.

As we continue to evolve as a society that utilizes technology, I think e-readers will eventually become the primary mode for the use of textbooks in the classroom. This will effect education as people will be able to download their textbooks remotely, not have to visit the book store, and hopefully the price of these books will lower once companies no longer have to pay for the high cost of production. However, students will no longer have a hard copy of their book to hold, read, highlight in, etc.

Cloud Computing

When I began this assignment, I was not familiar with cloud computing. However, after reviewing the material, I was intrigued by the topic. “The cloud is the term for networked computers that distribute processing power, applications, and large systems among many machines” (2009 Horizon Report: The K-12 edition). However, I was not aware that I use these services everyday.

YouTube is an application that allows users to post and view videos over the internet. In my opinion, this service has revolutionized the internet, and instructional videos. In this course for example, videos are posted on the class wiki (like the one on cloud computing this week) for us to view. This is a great tool for educational environments because teachers can easily post videos allowing their students to view them from home. Also, teachers could record their lectures and place them on YouTube for absent, or distance learning students to view.

Google also uses the cloud as it’s platform (2009 Horizon Report: The K-12 edition). It seems like everyone is using Google to share information, email, research scholarly articles, or any of its other seemingly endless uses. In an educational environment, students and teachers can use the Google Scholar function to research scholarly writings. They can use Google Talk to communicate with each other. Or, search Google to find another students email address.

There are also cloud based applications like Splashup or JayCut that make it easy to edit photos or videos (2009 Horizon Report: The K-12 edition). This would be beneficial for a student who is studying visual arts to edit their work for class. Instructors who post video lectures, pictures, or other interactive media online for students to view.

Blogging & Twittering

Prior to this week’s readings, I was not all that familiar with blogging. However, I did have a twitter account previously, and do again. But, I never considered it a “micro-blog”; I always thought of it more like a facebook status. After learning more about the topic, I guess they are both “micro-blogs”. I have learned that both of these tools (blogging and twittering) can be used in some academic settings.

Blogs and micro-blogs can be beneficial in an academic setting. Students can create a blog relatively quickly, and with a little effort they can post their writings and ideas for their teacher and other class members to view. As discussed in the 2010 Horizon Report, this also allows students and teachers to work collaboratively in an online environment more effectively. Blogs can enrich the learning environment, especially in courses with a pure distance learning platform. In these courses, it can be difficult to develop a relationship with the instructor and other students while completing your assignments. Blogs make it possible for students to express their thoughts, reflections, and opinions on readings, and assignments. Blogs benefit teachers by making the learning environment mobile. Teachers can post their lectures, and ideas about material over the internet to provide a platform for students to access the material 24/7 from remote locations.

As discussed in the 2009 Horizon Report, schools are beginning to embrace instant messengers and micro-blogging as a learning tool and not a distraction. For example, I coach wrestling for a local school system. This season one of our coaches created a Twitter account to notify wrestlers and parents of practice schedules, cancellations, upcoming matches, etc. Some teachers are now accessing micro-blogging applications that allow them to send communications to their students. I plan to follow a few networks on Twitter. The first I plan to follow is Judy Lambert. I would like to get information on the course and I know I will do so by following her. I also plan to follow Michigan Football, because I am a fan.