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Technology vs Evolution

Simon Robinson — Thu, 21 May 2009 02:50:32 +0000

This doesn’t have much to do with anything. In fact “random!” may a word that shouts out in your head. Actually that’s a bit of a stretch. I could link to the steady progress of technological innovation, draw parallels with evolution then leave you with dreamy predictions about “where will we be in one hundred years let alone 1 million…” Meh!
Watching a little program on television the other day (yes, it happens!) and this guy is banging on about different animals and their tres cool (as the French would say) adaptations. Now I don’t usually get too excited about biology but we’re talking a beetle that has this little chamber in its body where it mixes two chemicals together causing a highly exothermic (lots of heat) reaction. This raises the pressure in the chamber very quickly so the chemicals then shoot out the only hole in the chamber at great velocity. Squirt! The hole is usually pointed at a predator or something else the beetle has taken a disliking to.
The best for me though was the horseshoe crab. I did not know that its blood contains copper (unlike humans which has iron) and is hence blue. The crab not being a mammal lacks an immune system so instead its blue blood coagulates very quickly on contact with bacteria (anything that’s non-sterile) of which the ocean is choc-a-block. This is extremely useful for humans as it provides a very simple way of testing solutions for sterility. The “Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) test” is used by hospitals and pharmaceuticals world wide.
Evolution beats technology hands down.
If you’re interested in finding out more about the horseshoe crab…
PBS Nature episode
The Ecological Research & Development Group (ERDG)

Terminology and acronyms

Simon Robinson — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:16:02 +0000

I have decided I don’t like the term LMS (Learning Management System.)
It just implies that its all controlled and stuff.
I feel that online learning spaces as they are currently viewed by most (i.e LMS or CMS system) is fundamentally flawed (for high school students at least.) The names themselves “Learning Management System” implies a level of control that stifles rather than encourages curiosity, exploration and ultimately powerful learning. In my opinion, customisable, personal spaces for participants that can be easily connected with others in the learning community offers more opportunity and the freedom of expression that most young (and old?) people seek. The democratic power of technology is perhaps what ultimately scares traditional educational structures. I think we need to embrace that fear (anyone read Dune by Frank Herbert?)

Technology Mastery Day 2

Simon Robinson — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:27:11 +0000

The presentation slides from the workshop can be viewed below. Follow along during the workshop as there are active links on the slides which will take you to the sites being discussed. Hopefully that will save you a lot of pain. You’ll need QuickTime to view it.

Download

School is comfortable

Simon Robinson — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:41:12 +0000

Mathew Needleman has a site focussed around digital storytelling and the use of video in the classroom for primary school. There are lots of creation, planning and production tips including assessment rubrics that can be used along the way. Great resource. His current interest appears to be clay-mation (see the podcast). I’ve embedded a short film from TeacherTube created by Mathew. A whimsical look at 21st century skills and contemporary learning.

Download Video: Posted by videointheclassroom at TeacherTube.com.

It’s not all about the pedagogy

Simon Robinson — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:54:31 +0000

Came across this post by George Siemens via John Larkin’s blog. I enjoyed it.

Connectivism Blog

We need to have priorities here. Let’s tame technology and focus instead on what we already know and are comfortable with. Let’s ensure that technology does not get away from the tried and true method of containing innovation and new approaches.

It resonated a bit because I brought up some similar points in a presentation I made last year at the conclusion of some elearning research we had been conducting. I think my statement was “it’s not all about the pedagogy” meaning that the tools available for you to use (lets face it, the ballpoint pen was cutting edge technology once) can profoundly alter the learning environment and sometimes you can’t see all possibilities until you actually start using them. So start. Have a crappy first draft. Heck have a crappy second or third? I know I have.