Comments on: “Seat time” 2.0 http://www.tommarch.com/ozblog/2007/12/29/seat-time-20/ Bright Ideas for Education from Tom March Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:54:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: tom http://www.tommarch.com/ozblog/2007/12/29/seat-time-20/#comment-21409 tom Fri, 04 Jan 2008 20:32:59 +0000 http://www.tommarch.com/ozblog/2007/12/29/seat-time-20/#comment-21409 Hi Scott, I haven't been bitten by the virtual world bug, although I've cruised around Second Life a little. Without doubt, the amazingly lifelike environments in games like Crysis will provide a compelling experience, but I think the challenge (and reward) for our era is finding joy in the real. I turn to psychology here and the research that shows a meaningful life comes from developing expertise, serving something outside ourselves and caring about whatever it is we do. It's just that we won't always make these investments in life when a "second life" is so willing to please. All the best, Tom -- Hi Scott,
I haven’t been bitten by the virtual world bug, although I’ve cruised around Second Life a little. Without doubt, the amazingly lifelike environments in games like Crysis will provide a compelling experience, but I think the challenge (and reward) for our era is finding joy in the real. I turn to psychology here and the research that shows a meaningful life comes from developing expertise, serving something outside ourselves and caring about whatever it is we do. It’s just that we won’t always make these investments in life when a “second life” is so willing to please.

All the best,

Tom –

]]> By: Scott Kahler http://www.tommarch.com/ozblog/2007/12/29/seat-time-20/#comment-21275 Scott Kahler Thu, 03 Jan 2008 03:32:39 +0000 http://www.tommarch.com/ozblog/2007/12/29/seat-time-20/#comment-21275 What do you think of Second Life? What do you think of Second Life?

]]> By: tom http://www.tommarch.com/ozblog/2007/12/29/seat-time-20/#comment-21089 tom Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:06:09 +0000 http://www.tommarch.com/ozblog/2007/12/29/seat-time-20/#comment-21089 Hi Scott, Thanks for your comment. I'm not crazy about using the WiFi buses to "get more work done," but I <em>do</em> like that the walls of the classroom are coming down a little. The fact that an educational system acknowledges that real learning can happen flexibly is a step in the right direction. I also agree that requiring a laptop/child widens the digital divide between social classes, but when I look at the ubiquity of phones (even in the Third World), the divide that concerns me most in the one between an assembly line education and personal learning. Without students feeling that their learning is personally meaningful, I'll bet that the WiFi buses are full of kids playing World of WarCraft, Runes and chatting on MSN. When I look at the number of students affected by this kind of excapism, innovations toward engaging and authentic learning are a positive. This is all just my opinion, obviously. Thanks again for commenting, Tom -- Hi Scott,

Thanks for your comment. I’m not crazy about using the WiFi buses to “get more work done,” but I do like that the walls of the classroom are coming down a little. The fact that an educational system acknowledges that real learning can happen flexibly is a step in the right direction.

I also agree that requiring a laptop/child widens the digital divide between social classes, but when I look at the ubiquity of phones (even in the Third World), the divide that concerns me most in the one between an assembly line education and personal learning. Without students feeling that their learning is personally meaningful, I’ll bet that the WiFi buses are full of kids playing World of WarCraft, Runes and chatting on MSN. When I look at the number of students affected by this kind of excapism, innovations toward engaging and authentic learning are a positive.

This is all just my opinion, obviously.

Thanks again for commenting,

Tom –

]]> By: Scott Kahler http://www.tommarch.com/ozblog/2007/12/29/seat-time-20/#comment-21054 Scott Kahler Mon, 31 Dec 2007 22:34:49 +0000 http://www.tommarch.com/ozblog/2007/12/29/seat-time-20/#comment-21054 It is great that these kids have the ability to get more work done. However, many kids are over worked now. Will the education system now expect the students to work using this tech? Also, many people can't afford to eat much less afford a laptop. Will we expect all children to have a laptop for a bus? Just my option on the subject. The digital divide is a topic not spoken about in many circles. It is great that these kids have the ability to get more work done. However, many kids are over worked now. Will the education system now expect the students to work using this tech?
Also, many people can’t afford to eat much less afford a laptop. Will we expect all children to have a laptop for a bus?
Just my option on the subject. The digital divide is a topic not spoken about in many circles.

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