We were prompted by our professor of OLTD 503 to design an image that represented our experience with Online Teaching and Learning so far. As I reflected on what image could be a good representation, I thought back on my experiences with the Internet, and the magical world we have available under our fingertips; how amazing it is to be able to reach and create these meaningful connections with each other, so far away. In my experience, relationships through the Internet can be even more real than face to face, as the defenses and facade we often hold up are removed and we are able to relax. We hear a lot about faking things on the Internet, but in my experience, people can be very sincere and honest through the Internet, and you can get to know a whole lot about someone very fast -- things that you would normally learn very slowly. Creating connections through the Internet often drives people to tell a great deal about their ideas and inner considerations, something we are very guarded naturally to do face to face.
This image came to mind:
This image came to mind:
Connections
This is a simple collage of several images I found on the Internet -- I thought that was apropos :)
Online, each one of us is the master puppeteer of our own learning; we only get as much as we want. But with every keystroke, we make connections with other real individuals out there. Our thoughts and ideas become interlinked, like a giant cat's cradle, and everyone contributes to the knowledge base. In a way, we are all teachers and students; we should encourage our students to get "entangled", to create content, to interact and explore. Without getting their fingers "tangled" on others' thoughts and work, without the interaction between people, then all we are left with is a boring database, with no soul. I am looking forward to encouraging meaning-making and connections between my students, so that they can become excited about their own learning.
** Sources for images are as follows:
Keyboard: http://masterblog.front.lv/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/benkey_2.jpg
Hands: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q3sPesSK44c/TgFTqLR2pyI/AAAAAAAAASw/MhQBgQwdVzM/s1600/grabbing-hand-psd19419.png
World: https://adjustingcourse.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/blog-pic-11.jpg
Online, each one of us is the master puppeteer of our own learning; we only get as much as we want. But with every keystroke, we make connections with other real individuals out there. Our thoughts and ideas become interlinked, like a giant cat's cradle, and everyone contributes to the knowledge base. In a way, we are all teachers and students; we should encourage our students to get "entangled", to create content, to interact and explore. Without getting their fingers "tangled" on others' thoughts and work, without the interaction between people, then all we are left with is a boring database, with no soul. I am looking forward to encouraging meaning-making and connections between my students, so that they can become excited about their own learning.
** Sources for images are as follows:
Keyboard: http://masterblog.front.lv/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/benkey_2.jpg
Hands: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q3sPesSK44c/TgFTqLR2pyI/AAAAAAAAASw/MhQBgQwdVzM/s1600/grabbing-hand-psd19419.png
World: https://adjustingcourse.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/blog-pic-11.jpg
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