Adventures in MET Land

Network Communities Discussion Reflection

The network communities discussion forum was very interesting. Within the discussion I started to question the use of virtual learning environments over the use of real learning situations. Hands on learning, that students could sink their teeth into. If students learn behind a computer instead of going to schools, will they learn social skills required to interact with others? Leo mentioned that he sees “education/life moving to a virtual reality” and that there are people “in some developed countries who stay in their houses/apartments for more than a month without going out”. He even has a friend who is a computer programmer, who works at home, makes “purchases through ebay, and comes out once a week for groceries and badminton.” I was and am concerned that society will go towards the way of “Wall-E” as Laurie commented “Sounds like the precursor to Wall-E J Hopefully playtime will not become secluded, behind-a-computer event. Children need more then isolation, they need activity and exercise. Technology is great, but it is not that great.”

However, there is hope. Leo pointed out that “for most of us we still want to interact and socialize everyday. Who would want to lie in a confinement?” Kathleen’s comments about her son and from her son were a great help. She mentioned that her son felt that many of his “peers around him are shy and uncomfortable socially. They prefer to be in SL.” However, unlike his peers “he does not like the world outside of the real. He strongly prefers to be engaged in RL. He believes online is not the way to go for learning. His vision is that real life is the best teacher and all of this simulation is bs.” I appreciated Kathleen’s comments as they helped to ground me. They gave me the sense that yes students are hiding behind technology more, yet there are many digital natives who decide to live in the real world.

I believe that society will reach a point when they use technology as a tool to exist, rather than coming to a point where they rely on it to survive. Education will use technology to enhance learning of the youth, rather than expect it to be the Holley grail of modern education, the saviour of education. I am starting to see that technology has its benefits within education, but there needs to be a healthy balance between it and non technology based learning. School is more than about learning course content. It is a place where we send our youth to help them learn to become good citizens. This is a responsibility mainly taken on by their parents. Us as educators just help this process by providing a safe environment for them to interact f2f. After all is said and done I am starting to believe that we will not turn into a Wall-E society.

Cheers,

D