Class for February 7, 2012

So we are not able to be in our classroom today ... we will hopefully find a group study room to hang out in. What we feel like we really need to do is start some discussion about what we've been reading and where that is taking us collectively. We've been reading your posts and are interested in talking through your ideas.

Occupy Learning Check

• How's it going?
• Any early insights to share?

The Videos

Let's watch this 10 minute video ... take note this has quite a bit of explicit language in it. There is a reason for this.

Some talking points:

• What's being disruptive in the video above?
• How did you view the production of your own videos as an educational task?
• Did you prepare or think about the task differently than a traditional written assignment?
• What is it about the youtube medium that deserves different types of thinking?

From McLuhan (The Medium is the Massage, 128) ... "The main cause for disappointment in and for criticism of television is the failure on the part of its critics view it as a totally new technology which demands different sensory responses. These critics insist on regarding television as merely a degraded form of print technology."

consider that in the context of our course conversation and do a little editing ...

"The main cause for disappointment in and for criticism of [youtube] is the failure on the part of its critics view it as a totally new technology which demands different sensory responses. These critics insist on regarding [youtube] as merely a degraded form of [television]."

Do you find this as out of control as we do?

We'd like you to revisit your videos and within the context of what we've discussed and see how you might reconsider your design.

Break

Synthesis Presentations

Consider this as a synthesis ...

In Class

• Discuss the video assignment
• Discuss progress on your first Occupy Learning assignment
• Share your synthesis of the three themes.

Out of Class

• Finish and post your first Occupy Learning Activity
• Read Wenger up to pg. 102
• Watch Lessig Keynote from TLT