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In this article Sweeny discusses the “Network Society” and the power that has been opened up to the world through the internet. Today’s digital technology has created endless “interconnected abilities” for individuals across the world allowing us to connect and communicate at speed of light with whomever and wherever, as well as whenever, we so chose.
I remember a commercial I once saw where instead of a classroom having pen-pals with children from other countries they were meeting over skype with a classroom of students in China
On my very own cell phone I instant message via skpye (for free might I add) with my own friends in Germany , China , and cousins in Spain
Information is also now only a click of a button away. When my niece was born my brother-inlaw showed up with the sweetest crocheted hat, when I asked him about it he said he made it. I laughed, “knowing” perfectly well he does not know how to crochet…but I was wrong, he had looked it up on you tube, followed the steps and crocheted a beautiful babies hat. Incredible when you think about it.
So now how do we take this incredible new age digital network of the internet and visual media culture and use it to our (and our students benefits) with the classrooms?
Skpye for one I do believe is a very useful and interactive means that should be taken advantage of. Interviews with artist or art classrooms from other parts of the world can be connected into a lesson.
Virtual tours are also a possibility and offered by many museums today.
Through this Network Society which Sweeny discussed, there are endless possibilities, it is now up to us to reach out and find them.
Here is an example of a virtul tour of Saatchi Gallery in London.
I think this was a great idea to focus on as something beneficial that was discussed in the Sweeney article. I found the idea of using social networks to create connections something that would help students and teachers in any classroom setting and I chose to focus on this idea as well. With the amount and variety of social networking sites that all have different purposes there is surely at least one site out there for each person and each discipline through a classroom setting that can be utilized. It will be interesting to see how networks can be integrated into the classroom.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of using social networking and visual systems, like Skype or Oovoo, to connect classrooms across the world is a really interesting idea. It's a great way to not only open students to a more culturally diverse experience/environment, but also makes it pretty close to first hand while incorporating technology at the same time! Having two class rooms, oceans apart from each other, work collaboratively on an art project together is a pretty incredible opportunity and a great way of getting to know the technology of social networking and its benefits.
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