Flattener #4
I think making the connection here between community websites and enducation is a little difficult. I certainly think that community websites are great for education, and extremely useful, but I cannot tell if Friedman is talking about community websites in a good way. Friedman talks about the community websites as being a flattener. In this case, is that so bad?
If our students can connect with students all accross the world through a community website is that so bad? No, I certainly don't think so! Community websites help answer the question, "what should our students be learning?" Students should be learning how to communicate in a world that communicates through the internet. I think using community websites would engage students in the classroom. As research and Time Magazine tell us, our students are fluent in community websites. If we bring these things into the classroom, and use them as teaching/learning tools, students might find themselves motivated to do work in our classrooms.
In the case of community websites, in my opinion, go ahead and flatten the world!
posted by Lauren at 5:14 PM
2 Comments:
I had problems figuring out with friedman's opinion of comunity sites as well. I think my trouble is what he is looking at technolgoy from an totaly economic prospective and richards is talking about it from the class room. because of that I am having a some issues seeing how the two blend into one another.
Great issue you raise--F's tone. I think he is a fan of comm. websites isn't he?
He's been criticized in some circles for being an unabashed technophile, i.e., he doesn't write about the downside of a "flat" world or pay enough attention to political/social/economic realities.
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