50 things that are being killed by the internet

Sukhtinder
1:35pm 7 September 2009

Great cloud, can't wait to read the comments

Phillip
2:01pm 7 September 2009

• Exam Blue books (is that an American thing?)
• Grades posted on corridor bulletin boards
• 3x5/A7 index cards
• 3-ring binders
• Phone booths

Gráinne Conole
2:03pm 7 September 2009

@Phillip gosh yes remember standing in fear of geting results with other students. Mind you am not much less terrified when I now get an email saying "Your assignment has been marked.." but at least I can do it in private!

Sheila Counihan
11:52am 8 September 2009 (Edited 11:58am 8 September 2009)

Hi Grainne/Philip

I would add Travel Agents to the endangered species list

You raise some interesting points (and memories). I would suggest however that, results on corridor bulletin boards and submitting hard copy assignments in person are still very much a part of life in areas where  internet coverage is not very good, such as in Ireland, particularly in areas away from Dublin, and I understand there are similar problems in rural some parts of the UK as well as many other parts of the world.

My main point here being that we sometimes overlook the fact thet the internet and its' use, while ubiqutious, is not yet pervasive, but I'm sure we are getting there.

I certainly don't miss the index cards!!!!

Sheila

Gráinne Conole
12:00pm 8 September 2009

Yes who an earth uses travel agents nowadays and why would you? Dunno about you but I find increasly that I am taking account of  the recommendations and reviews on places as well.

Re: access yes very good point - it is too easy when you are in a previledged HE-environment to think that everyone is at the same level of skills and has same type of access.

Sheila Counihan
12:19pm 8 September 2009

My point exactly, we need to remember that we are indeed very priviledged and pretty well informed (I hope).

I'm particularly thinking about nursing (and healthcare education in general) where thare is often a significantly wide bridge to cross in getting the students (and some academics) to see that in addition to their patent focus they also need to be more open to using  internet/IT tools that are available and can help in delivering health care or education in the future.

Gráinne Conole
12:33pm 8 September 2009

Yes and the problem is, particularly with web 2.0 tools, you don't get them until you use them and have your own "ah ha" moment and of course these means you need the time and confidence to explore them.

Sheila Counihan
12:37pm 8 September 2009

You are reading my mind!!!

I'm trying to figure out how to 'Follow' people on here, this is the first time I've used Cloudworks so I'm still a way off that 'Ah Ha' stage!!!

Gráinne Conole
12:40pm 8 September 2009

You can follow both people and cloudscapes. You will get an automatic email alert for anything you are following and it will appear in your personal cloudstream which is avalable from the red drop down box with your name on it on the home page. You can also change email preferences from there if you want. Hope this helps!

Sheila Counihan
12:46pm 8 September 2009

Ah Ha!!!!

Found it! I have to say I was beginning to feel totally stupid, but by opening the persons profile, there is a button to click to follow them, hopefully now I will ge able to make better use of it, as you said, it takes time and confidence, but I think I'm getting there,

Thanks for the help, 

S

Bob
2:40pm 8 September 2009

Learning in an authority-led vacuum. Today, students can engage  much more readily with live data. This used to be the preserve of doctoral students, but now you can get a 7-yr old using the French version of Google Maps to learn to use basic instructions like 'Tournez a gauche'.

(I wish I'd had this opportunity at shool.)

b

Gráinne Conole
2:43pm 8 September 2009

Yep @Bob - kids today don't know how lucky they are! ;-) But in my experience they are cynical and not beguilded by the technologies per se, they want evidence that engagement with the technologies is going to be of value.

Julie Carle
7:07am 22 December 2009

Old teaching practices - If they haven't disappeared - they need to.

As quoted by Sugata Mitra in his TED presentation on the Hole in the Wall Arthur C. Clarke said "a teacher than can be replaced by a machine should be". http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/sugata_mitra_shows_how_kids_teach_themselves.html

Look at the Ceibal project in Uruguay 380,000 internet connected laptops to all primary school children. http://blogs.worldbank.org/edutech/category/countries/portugal

Teachers need to be prepared to adapt and embrace IET otherwise they will disappear.

Gráinne Conole
10:13am 22 December 2009

Totally agree with Sugata's quote, we need to focus on good teaching, good pedagogy and always remember that ultimately its about trying to enhance the learner experience.

WikiRandy Fisher
8:49am 6 April 2010

Regarding Grainne's comment

Yes who an earth uses travel agents nowadays and why would you?

I have heard a 'use' for them. As they've moved away from providing a 'commodity' service, many now add additional value - in finding connections that would be hard to find when on one's own, and also being available in case of emergencies - like when you're stuck in the middle of nowhere, and you just can't get out, the travel agent - a good one - is there to help.

All of which speaks to me of the importance of having value-added services in education - it's not just the content which has value, but the services around the content - such as instructing, guiding, feedback, coaching etc. When you add in a real-time component, then it becomes all the more compelling.

Interesting forum you've got here! (That from a dyed-in--the-wool WikiEducator!)

- Randy