Web 3.0 is said to be a term describing the future of the world wide web. It is an extension of Web 2.0 which is the form of web that we are currently experiencing.
In terms of how it differs from semantic web, I don't really think it does as such because they are both ways in how the web is evolving and becoming better. I think that they are going to work alongside one another and work together to become something that is an even better version of the web that we experience today.
I don't really know what else to say about Web 3.0 so if anybody would like to expand on my ideas the feel free to do so :)
Tuesday 15 April 2008
Week 10 - task 5 - What is the semantic web?
What is the semantic web? From what I understand from what I've read, the semantic web is an extension of the world wide web. It was thought up by Tim Berners-Lee in 2001. It can be described as a big web of data which makes it easier for computers to get hold of, and understand the information that it is being given. For example, when we're searching for something specific, because of semantic web, it means that the computer can understand this and can narrow down our search a little so that we aren't searching through pages and pages for hours and hours.
I found a link which will help explain it more because I think that it is a quite complex thing to try and explain:
http://www.w3.org/2001/sw/
I found a link which will help explain it more because I think that it is a quite complex thing to try and explain:
http://www.w3.org/2001/sw/
Week 10-task 4- Is there a potential problem being stored up for people if 'education' is tailored to fit into their cultural and personal preference
I think there is definitely a potential problem being stored up if education is tailored to fit the cultural and personal preferences of a person. Not everybody is interested in or believes in the same things and their are now so many different interests and cultures about. If education was tailored to fit every single persons cultural and personal preferences then there would be so many different styles of teaching going on and the classes would end up with like 2 or 3 or even 1 person in each class. Which would also mean that the classes would become a lot shorter, or a teachers and child's school day would become a lot longer because they'd be trying to fit everyone in. I just personally think it'd be stupid to try and cater for every bodies individual tastes and preferences.
When you're younger and you attend classes such as religious studies, you get to learn about other people's cultures and beliefs and cultural practices and it can be quite interesting to learn and you are taught to accept more people even if they do have a different culture to your own. If this wasn't the case, and education was tailored just to fit into your culture then you wouldn't be as accepting of different people to yourself and different cultures and issues like racism ad bullying would be a lot worse than they are today.
When you're younger and you attend classes such as religious studies, you get to learn about other people's cultures and beliefs and cultural practices and it can be quite interesting to learn and you are taught to accept more people even if they do have a different culture to your own. If this wasn't the case, and education was tailored just to fit into your culture then you wouldn't be as accepting of different people to yourself and different cultures and issues like racism ad bullying would be a lot worse than they are today.
Week 10 - task 2 - part b - What difference to all this might the digital divide make to global access issues across countries and regions?
With living in a developed country like ours, the UK, the majority of us will have access to the Internet or have the Internet ourselves in our homes. But, this isn't the case for all countries across the world. A lot of under developed countries won't have access to the Internet like we do. Even if they did have a place near them that had the Internet, numerous people living in third world countries won't even be able to afford to go and use the Internet. This is a major problem which is definitely creating an increase in the digital divide.
If Prensky's notion of distance learning was to become the known for education, then so many people in under developed countries would be deprived of this kind of education and possibly education in general if it was to become such a well used thing that schools are no longer needed - it is all online. There are a few places in countries in Africa that have only just got access to schools and normal, non online education. So it'd be these countries that would suffer.
I terms of regions, even some regions suffer from having no access to the Internet because they live in the middle of nowhere so the Internet signals would be weak and means that they can't use the Internet at a high speed like many of us lot do. So this could influence them to not use the Internet at all because it could take ages for an Internet page to load up, let alone connect properly. - This is again adding to the gap in the digital divide and it is a problem which might not be able to be helped.
If Prensky's notion of distance learning was to become the known for education, then so many people in under developed countries would be deprived of this kind of education and possibly education in general if it was to become such a well used thing that schools are no longer needed - it is all online. There are a few places in countries in Africa that have only just got access to schools and normal, non online education. So it'd be these countries that would suffer.
I terms of regions, even some regions suffer from having no access to the Internet because they live in the middle of nowhere so the Internet signals would be weak and means that they can't use the Internet at a high speed like many of us lot do. So this could influence them to not use the Internet at all because it could take ages for an Internet page to load up, let alone connect properly. - This is again adding to the gap in the digital divide and it is a problem which might not be able to be helped.
Week 10 - task 2 - part a - What difference to all this might the 'digital divide' make to socioeconomically related access issues within a society?
Some people can't afford to keep up to date with all the latest technologies coming out. There are some people who don't even have a computer at home. This is always going to be the case and I don't think it will ever change. I do feel though that this is a factor that is helping create a digital divide.
I remember one of my friends in school didn't have access to the Internet at home and it used to cause big problems sometimes with homework that you needed the Internet for and also she'd sometimes miss out on conversations that we'd all be having on msn and chatting about it in school the next day and she'd feel a bit left out. She could go round to her uncles sometimes and use their Internet but that meant a 30min bus ride so it wasn't always convenient. And yeah..she could use schools Internet to get her work done but that either meant staying behind after school and missing her bus home, or using up her dinner time and that meant missing out on even more stuff going on in our group.
It's situations like that which create a digital divide.
Another thing that causes a digital divide is that there are always new, better versions of laptops, mobile phones and other technologies. And because they are so expensive when they first come out, people wait until they are cheaper and then buy them but then a newer, better and more advanced technology laptop comes out and you're again missing out on something that other people have. - This creates a digital divide too because people will always be behind with all the latest technologies.
I remember one of my friends in school didn't have access to the Internet at home and it used to cause big problems sometimes with homework that you needed the Internet for and also she'd sometimes miss out on conversations that we'd all be having on msn and chatting about it in school the next day and she'd feel a bit left out. She could go round to her uncles sometimes and use their Internet but that meant a 30min bus ride so it wasn't always convenient. And yeah..she could use schools Internet to get her work done but that either meant staying behind after school and missing her bus home, or using up her dinner time and that meant missing out on even more stuff going on in our group.
It's situations like that which create a digital divide.
Another thing that causes a digital divide is that there are always new, better versions of laptops, mobile phones and other technologies. And because they are so expensive when they first come out, people wait until they are cheaper and then buy them but then a newer, better and more advanced technology laptop comes out and you're again missing out on something that other people have. - This creates a digital divide too because people will always be behind with all the latest technologies.
Week 10 - task 1 - Wenger vs Prensky
When looking at both of the notions by Wenger and Prensky, you can see that the two do connect quite well. Prensky believes that distance learning will eventually be very popular and places all over the world will have the option of doing distance learning courses. As, like with all courses, people will pick a subject that interests them. And because part of distance learning would usually involve a forum where the online lectures and seminars can be discussed, this would make the forum as CofP because as discussed in my earlier blogs I believe that our forum is a CofP. Therefore, Prensky's idea of distance learning becoming more popular would fit into Wenger's notion of Communities of Practice (CofP).
This unit that we're doing is a type of distance learning unit because our seminars take place online in the forums and on each others blogs. And I would definitely say, and have already said, that our forum and our blogs are a type of CofP because we are all heading for the same goal and the language we used on our blogs is a shared repertoire that only we'd understand where as somebody not doing out course might not understand what we're discussing in our blogs.
This unit that we're doing is a type of distance learning unit because our seminars take place online in the forums and on each others blogs. And I would definitely say, and have already said, that our forum and our blogs are a type of CofP because we are all heading for the same goal and the language we used on our blogs is a shared repertoire that only we'd understand where as somebody not doing out course might not understand what we're discussing in our blogs.
Fictional technophile student in 2020..
Amber is woken up by the sound of her digital, wireless alarm clock telling her today's date and time "It is 8am on the 22nd May 2020..wake up". As much as she loves this alarm clock it can be a right pain as the next thing that happens is it starts beeping really loudly and moving all round the room on it's little wheels so that she can't hit the snooze button without getting out of bed. At least it works though with getting her up!
She goes into the living room and has her breakfast whilst watching the plasma TV and bluetoothing her housemate via the TV who's still upstairs in bed and also needs to get up to connect to today's online lecture. Once she's had her breakfast she turns on her laptop and makes sure the built in web cam is working. She then signs in to her university portal site and connects to today's lecture. As she does this she notices her other classmates signing in too waving at each other on the web cam links. Next to sign in is her lecturer and the online lecture begins. Throughout the lecture her classmates and herself post their thoughts and answers on the lecture in their forum for the unit.
After the lecture, Amber signs off the portal and signs into msn messenger to chat to her mates back home. Her and her best friend Tori start playing a game of tennis with their new web cam virtual reality game. Amber wins the game and is extremely happy as it's usually Tori who beats her every time! Once the game has ended, Tori and Amber arrange a time to meet up later for a coffee and Amber goes to get ready.
She goes into the living room and has her breakfast whilst watching the plasma TV and bluetoothing her housemate via the TV who's still upstairs in bed and also needs to get up to connect to today's online lecture. Once she's had her breakfast she turns on her laptop and makes sure the built in web cam is working. She then signs in to her university portal site and connects to today's lecture. As she does this she notices her other classmates signing in too waving at each other on the web cam links. Next to sign in is her lecturer and the online lecture begins. Throughout the lecture her classmates and herself post their thoughts and answers on the lecture in their forum for the unit.
After the lecture, Amber signs off the portal and signs into msn messenger to chat to her mates back home. Her and her best friend Tori start playing a game of tennis with their new web cam virtual reality game. Amber wins the game and is extremely happy as it's usually Tori who beats her every time! Once the game has ended, Tori and Amber arrange a time to meet up later for a coffee and Amber goes to get ready.
The daily frustrations of a fictional neo-luddite at university...
Paul had just started his first year at university and he was so excited. Freshers week seemed to be going really well so far, the only problem was that he didn't have a mobile phone so when the new people he met asked him for his number, he didn't have one. The next thing they'd ask him was if he had a facebook or a myspace. Paul had no idea what these things even were and he sounded like an idiot for asking, especially when he saw the look on their faces! People must have thought he was a weirdo!
The next thing that went wrong was when he went to his first seminar and he was told to set up a university email account. He'd never even had an email account before so he had no clue how to use it. Luckily his tutor helped him set up his account so at least he now had one, he just had no clue how to sign in and check his emails - this week was becoming a bit of a disaster. He later found out that all the important course information would be sent to his new email account. Great! Maybe now was the time for him to get clued up on these new technologies, even if it was the last thing he ever wanted to do.
The next thing that went wrong was when he went to his first seminar and he was told to set up a university email account. He'd never even had an email account before so he had no clue how to use it. Luckily his tutor helped him set up his account so at least he now had one, he just had no clue how to sign in and check his emails - this week was becoming a bit of a disaster. He later found out that all the important course information would be sent to his new email account. Great! Maybe now was the time for him to get clued up on these new technologies, even if it was the last thing he ever wanted to do.
Week 9 - task7C The person who threatens the notion of digital immigrant/native the most in digital culture..
I'd probably have to say it's me, or at least I'm the closest person I'm aware of when answering this question.
I have grown up surrounded by technology and I do go on the Internet a lot but that's mainly for things to do with uni as when I'm at home I don't go on it half as much. I also have facebook, myspace and msn and I do check my facebook everyday when I'm at Lincoln. But again, when I'm at home and not at uni, I don't regularly check it. I guess it just depends on my surroundings. Because at uni, if I'm not actually in uni then I tend to sit on my laptop and chat to people on msn and facebook because if your skint like I always am then there is nothing else you can really do when you haven't got much work to be doing, especially when your housemates are busy doing work. But if I'm at home then I'm always much more busy because I have a job which keeps me occupied all day and then when I'm not working I'm constantly out because I have the money to do so back home.
I guess I'm a hybrid because I could be classed as either. Sometimes I'd much prefer to read a book than read pages of the Internet! But I know how to do both and I can easily adapt to doing both.
I have grown up surrounded by technology and I do go on the Internet a lot but that's mainly for things to do with uni as when I'm at home I don't go on it half as much. I also have facebook, myspace and msn and I do check my facebook everyday when I'm at Lincoln. But again, when I'm at home and not at uni, I don't regularly check it. I guess it just depends on my surroundings. Because at uni, if I'm not actually in uni then I tend to sit on my laptop and chat to people on msn and facebook because if your skint like I always am then there is nothing else you can really do when you haven't got much work to be doing, especially when your housemates are busy doing work. But if I'm at home then I'm always much more busy because I have a job which keeps me occupied all day and then when I'm not working I'm constantly out because I have the money to do so back home.
I guess I'm a hybrid because I could be classed as either. Sometimes I'd much prefer to read a book than read pages of the Internet! But I know how to do both and I can easily adapt to doing both.
The youngest digital immigrant I know...
This is quite hard to think of actually. Everybody who I know who's my age has laptops now and are constantly on the Internet and we all have facebook, myspace and msn. And then everybody younger than me who I know, again, all have facebook, myspace and msn and are probably on the Internet a lot more than I am!
Even people who are slightly older than me couldn't be classed as digital immigrants because the majority of them are students and as students we are constantly surrounded by the Internet and computers etc. The ones who aren't students even have jobs that involve computers and other new technologies. And everybody I know these days has a mobile phone. I honestly can't think of a single person who is young and could be classed as a digital immigrant and that just proves how much our society is changing! Our generation is constantly surrounded by technology.
Even people who are slightly older than me couldn't be classed as digital immigrants because the majority of them are students and as students we are constantly surrounded by the Internet and computers etc. The ones who aren't students even have jobs that involve computers and other new technologies. And everybody I know these days has a mobile phone. I honestly can't think of a single person who is young and could be classed as a digital immigrant and that just proves how much our society is changing! Our generation is constantly surrounded by technology.
The oldest digital native I know....
Thinking about it, the oldest digital native that I know is probably my dad.
His job involves working with computers on day to day basis and this has always been the case since he was quite young. Plus..he has always grown up around new technologies coming out so he hasn't had to adapt to them as such like a digital immigrant has.
My dad loves gadgets and is constantly buying all the latest ones! His car is full of them! As is his office! It drives my mum mad! Lol. But it's not just as though this is a recent thing, it's something that has always been a part of my dads personality as he's always had all the brand new gadgets and gizmo's that have come out. Put it this way...if something goes wrong with my laptop, I always go to my dad for help and he always knows what to do and according to the theories, I'm meant to be the one who is the digital native but I'd say he's more of one than me!
His job involves working with computers on day to day basis and this has always been the case since he was quite young. Plus..he has always grown up around new technologies coming out so he hasn't had to adapt to them as such like a digital immigrant has.
My dad loves gadgets and is constantly buying all the latest ones! His car is full of them! As is his office! It drives my mum mad! Lol. But it's not just as though this is a recent thing, it's something that has always been a part of my dads personality as he's always had all the brand new gadgets and gizmo's that have come out. Put it this way...if something goes wrong with my laptop, I always go to my dad for help and he always knows what to do and according to the theories, I'm meant to be the one who is the digital native but I'd say he's more of one than me!
Should education stretch a person?
I think that education does stretch a person whether or not people want it too. Its not an option really because no matter what, education is there for the purpose of stretching somebodies mind. Without education, people will learn things if they want too and take their own time reading and learning things, but, with education, it is compulsory for numerous years of your youth and therefore you are made to learn stuff and your mind becomes stretched.
If people aren't stretched within education then what is the actual purpose of education? It would just be a waste of time if this was the case as people would not realise their true ability.
However, I do believe that it doesn't always take a teacher or a lecturer to stretch somebodies mind, it can be done by the individual themselves if they are motivated enough to do so. Personally I'd find it very hard to motivate myself into stretching my own mind because I would get far to distracted.
Although I've said that I believe people can stretch their own minds, I do feel that although this is possible, it would take people to understand the education system and education in general for this to be accomplished because you wouldn't, as a young child, be able to understand education and learning if your mind hadn't been stretched to do so in the first place.
If people aren't stretched within education then what is the actual purpose of education? It would just be a waste of time if this was the case as people would not realise their true ability.
However, I do believe that it doesn't always take a teacher or a lecturer to stretch somebodies mind, it can be done by the individual themselves if they are motivated enough to do so. Personally I'd find it very hard to motivate myself into stretching my own mind because I would get far to distracted.
Although I've said that I believe people can stretch their own minds, I do feel that although this is possible, it would take people to understand the education system and education in general for this to be accomplished because you wouldn't, as a young child, be able to understand education and learning if your mind hadn't been stretched to do so in the first place.
Monday 14 April 2008
What is 'Digital Immigration'
Marc Prensky (a gaming entrepreneur) wrote an article in 2001 about Digital Immigration and Digital Natives. This article was called 'Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants'. It can be found at:
http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf
In this article he discusses what is meant by the term 'Digital Immigrant' and also 'Digital Native'. He states in the article that there is a divide between students and teachers and how students have been brought up in a world of technology and they have always been around new technologies, where as teachers haven't been brought up (when they were youths) in a world of technology and new technologies and they are instead having to adapt to it.
'Digital Native' is used as a term for the students who have always been around technology and brought up around new technologies, because they are used to it and it is a lifestyle for them and as Prensky states they are: “native speakers of the digital language of computers, video games and the Internet.”
In contrast, 'Digital Immigrant' is used because, like immigrants coming to a country, people who could be classed as this have to adapt to the new technology and new environment. To explain this better he says: "The digital immigrant accent includes going slowly, going step-by-step, using outlines for organisation, reading manuals, going to the Internet second rather than first. Digital natives find this accent and approach very hard to deal with"
I feel that Prensky's attitude towards both the digital immigrants and digital natives is that the digital immigrants may need to change the way in which they teach to adapt even more to the digital natives, but then again is that right? Or should they both find a common ground?
http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf
In this article he discusses what is meant by the term 'Digital Immigrant' and also 'Digital Native'. He states in the article that there is a divide between students and teachers and how students have been brought up in a world of technology and they have always been around new technologies, where as teachers haven't been brought up (when they were youths) in a world of technology and new technologies and they are instead having to adapt to it.
'Digital Native' is used as a term for the students who have always been around technology and brought up around new technologies, because they are used to it and it is a lifestyle for them and as Prensky states they are: “native speakers of the digital language of computers, video games and the Internet.”
In contrast, 'Digital Immigrant' is used because, like immigrants coming to a country, people who could be classed as this have to adapt to the new technology and new environment. To explain this better he says: "The digital immigrant accent includes going slowly, going step-by-step, using outlines for organisation, reading manuals, going to the Internet second rather than first. Digital natives find this accent and approach very hard to deal with"
I feel that Prensky's attitude towards both the digital immigrants and digital natives is that the digital immigrants may need to change the way in which they teach to adapt even more to the digital natives, but then again is that right? Or should they both find a common ground?
Website URL's
Website 1:
Debating Digital Immigration
By Chris Brauer
http://www.blogscholar.com/content/view/72/
Website 2:
Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants: Some thoughts from the Generation Gap
By Timothy VanSlyke
http://www.wisc.edu/depd/html/TSarticles/Digital%20Natives.htm
Website 3:
Reconsidering Digital Immigrants...
By Henry Jenkins
http://www.henryjenkins.org/2007/12/reconsidering_digital_immigran.html
Website 4:
Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants
By Marc Prensky
http://www.learnerstogether.net/digital-natives-digital-immigrants/53
Website 5:
Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives
http://www.elearnspace.org/blog/archives/003055.html
Debating Digital Immigration
By Chris Brauer
http://www.blogscholar.com/content/view/72/
Website 2:
Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants: Some thoughts from the Generation Gap
By Timothy VanSlyke
http://www.wisc.edu/depd/html/TSarticles/Digital%20Natives.htm
Website 3:
Reconsidering Digital Immigrants...
By Henry Jenkins
http://www.henryjenkins.org/2007/12/reconsidering_digital_immigran.html
Website 4:
Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants
By Marc Prensky
http://www.learnerstogether.net/digital-natives-digital-immigrants/53
Website 5:
Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives
http://www.elearnspace.org/blog/archives/003055.html
Week 8 - Task 3 - website 5
The fifth website I found is a very basic blog. The layout is simple which makes its usability easy but its just really really boring to look at! There are no bright colours on the site which make it quite dull. There is only white and black and a really boring grey used for the colour scheme.
However, it terms of content, what the blog topic actually is and discusses is very useful to the subject of digital immigrants and digital natives. The person writing the blog discusses how and why they don't like the terms 'digital native' and 'digital immigrant'. It is quite a similar discussion to the one I found on website 3 actually. This blog even has a link to that blog which I thought was interesting and I like how two of the websites I've found actually link together. However, I do feel that this persons blog was kind of a re-worded version of website 3's blog and not many new ideas were introduced. For this reason, in the sense of this being a useful article for academic useful sources, I don't think it would be a very useful source to use because there is no information making it evident that this person has any prior knowledge in the sense of academic writting or even good, useful information or ideas of their own about new media cultures.
I did however like that people have commented on this blog so that a discussion is formed about the ideas and things stated within the blog itself.
However, it terms of content, what the blog topic actually is and discusses is very useful to the subject of digital immigrants and digital natives. The person writing the blog discusses how and why they don't like the terms 'digital native' and 'digital immigrant'. It is quite a similar discussion to the one I found on website 3 actually. This blog even has a link to that blog which I thought was interesting and I like how two of the websites I've found actually link together. However, I do feel that this persons blog was kind of a re-worded version of website 3's blog and not many new ideas were introduced. For this reason, in the sense of this being a useful article for academic useful sources, I don't think it would be a very useful source to use because there is no information making it evident that this person has any prior knowledge in the sense of academic writting or even good, useful information or ideas of their own about new media cultures.
I did however like that people have commented on this blog so that a discussion is formed about the ideas and things stated within the blog itself.
Week 8 - Task 3 - website 4
For my fourth website, I found a website which contains an article directly discussing what it means to be a digital native or a digital immigrant.
The website layout made it's usability easy with links to other websites and related articles and topics down the top right hand side. These hyperlinks were also easy to follow and they were relevant to the actual article itself. For example there was a link to an article titled 'Teaching - Connection! Connection! Connection!' which was an article about teachers connecting with their students, and this goes onto discuss forums that help them connect and how teachers must now know what interests their students in order to connect with them such as students using the Internet on a daily basis and watching TV a lot in comparison maybe to their tutors. - This I feel relates well to the gap between digital natives and digital immigrants because this is what the gap is about - digital natives easily understanding and using new technology where as digital immigrants don't and aren't known to use it like digital natives do because they are still trying to adapt to it.
The actual content of the article on the website is again very useful. Without giving too much away, although it is taken from an article originally published in 2001, it is a reliable source and I think you will know why when I publish what the website actually is and what the article is properly called.
The website layout made it's usability easy with links to other websites and related articles and topics down the top right hand side. These hyperlinks were also easy to follow and they were relevant to the actual article itself. For example there was a link to an article titled 'Teaching - Connection! Connection! Connection!' which was an article about teachers connecting with their students, and this goes onto discuss forums that help them connect and how teachers must now know what interests their students in order to connect with them such as students using the Internet on a daily basis and watching TV a lot in comparison maybe to their tutors. - This I feel relates well to the gap between digital natives and digital immigrants because this is what the gap is about - digital natives easily understanding and using new technology where as digital immigrants don't and aren't known to use it like digital natives do because they are still trying to adapt to it.
The actual content of the article on the website is again very useful. Without giving too much away, although it is taken from an article originally published in 2001, it is a reliable source and I think you will know why when I publish what the website actually is and what the article is properly called.
Week 8 - Task 3 - website 3
For my third website I found another blog style post about digital immigration.
This was quite a fancy website. I liked it. The hyperlinks were easy to follow and as I found in the first website I looked at, there were hyperlinks embedded within the actual text itself which linked to sites and articles which would back up what the writer of the blog was saying. Overall, in my opinion, the usability of this website was easy, straight forward and effective.
What I also liked about this blog was that the writer of it has a few published books out about blogging and culture. Which therefore leads me to believe that the writer of the blog has good understanding of the world of new media cultures and therefore the site is a good one to look at for people like us doing a unit of new media cultures.
Within the blog itself he discusses how he is uncomfortable with the labelling 'digital native' and also 'digital immigrant' because he feels this labelling exaggerates a gap between adults and youth. He feels that this gap isn't good because it creates the picture that adults are helpless with new technology and that youth today are no longer influenced by adults as such and that youth just see adults as naggy and having nothing useful to say of interest. I found this interesting because in some respects this is how I feel sometimes when my gran starts chatting about some stuff that I just don't really think has much relevance to me personally and my lifestyle and yet she is clueless to why we all have things like blogs instead of diary's etc. There is a major divide in some respects, but maybe we, as the youth, shouldn't have such a negative view point of the older generations and their views to technology.
This was quite a fancy website. I liked it. The hyperlinks were easy to follow and as I found in the first website I looked at, there were hyperlinks embedded within the actual text itself which linked to sites and articles which would back up what the writer of the blog was saying. Overall, in my opinion, the usability of this website was easy, straight forward and effective.
What I also liked about this blog was that the writer of it has a few published books out about blogging and culture. Which therefore leads me to believe that the writer of the blog has good understanding of the world of new media cultures and therefore the site is a good one to look at for people like us doing a unit of new media cultures.
Within the blog itself he discusses how he is uncomfortable with the labelling 'digital native' and also 'digital immigrant' because he feels this labelling exaggerates a gap between adults and youth. He feels that this gap isn't good because it creates the picture that adults are helpless with new technology and that youth today are no longer influenced by adults as such and that youth just see adults as naggy and having nothing useful to say of interest. I found this interesting because in some respects this is how I feel sometimes when my gran starts chatting about some stuff that I just don't really think has much relevance to me personally and my lifestyle and yet she is clueless to why we all have things like blogs instead of diary's etc. There is a major divide in some respects, but maybe we, as the youth, shouldn't have such a negative view point of the older generations and their views to technology.
Week 8 - task 3 - website 2
The second website I found was a publication of The Michigan Virtual University. As did the first website I found, this article related back to the original discussion of digital immigration by Marc Prensky. The article actually refers back to Prensky's article throughout the whole of this article and the writer dis cuss's it and relates it to his own experiences. I guess it could be classed as a kind of review of Prensky's article. By referring and relating back to Prensky's article, it helps to strengthen what Prensky thought and it also helped me to gain better understanding of what it means to be a digital native or a digital immigrant. I therefore felt that this website is a useful one.
In terms of usability of the website it was a very simplistic website with everything being on the same page where you had to scroll down to read the entire article. There were a set of hyperlinks available but further down the page if you were about half way through reading the article which I found a bit odd because they weren't in a prominent place. The hyperlinks were useful though, especially one in particular which was a link to related articles.
Overall I feel that as a website it was constructed a bit odd, but the article itself was very useful in terms of content and helping readers gain more understanding of digital immigration and digital natives.
In terms of usability of the website it was a very simplistic website with everything being on the same page where you had to scroll down to read the entire article. There were a set of hyperlinks available but further down the page if you were about half way through reading the article which I found a bit odd because they weren't in a prominent place. The hyperlinks were useful though, especially one in particular which was a link to related articles.
Overall I feel that as a website it was constructed a bit odd, but the article itself was very useful in terms of content and helping readers gain more understanding of digital immigration and digital natives.
Friday 11 April 2008
Week 8 - Task3 - Website 1
For my first website I found a website By using All The Web that was a blog about Digital Immigration.
In terms of usability of this website I found that it was quite easy to use. In the actual blog itself about Digital Immigration, there are links to other useful information that you might need to know. For example, the words 'digital native' and 'digital immigrant' are hyperlinked to other websites that give the actual definitions of these terms, which would be very useful if you didn't really know what both of these words meant. Overall navigation of the site was also quite easy to use as the headings and subheadings were very clear and could direct you in a straight forward way to other blogs and latest news from the site.
The original article by Marc Prensky was referred to in this blog which I feel makes it quite a reliable source because there are links to Marc's article meaning you can go and read the original discussion on this topic. Another reason why I feel the article is a reliable source is because it was published in June 2006, meaning that it is only just under 2 years old and therefore fairly up to date.
There isn't too much discussion on this blog (in terms of other bloggers commenting on the blog) on Digital Immigrants/Digital Natives but the links provided do provide you with more understanding of the topic and there is a link to an actual blog where there are comments.
In terms of usability of this website I found that it was quite easy to use. In the actual blog itself about Digital Immigration, there are links to other useful information that you might need to know. For example, the words 'digital native' and 'digital immigrant' are hyperlinked to other websites that give the actual definitions of these terms, which would be very useful if you didn't really know what both of these words meant. Overall navigation of the site was also quite easy to use as the headings and subheadings were very clear and could direct you in a straight forward way to other blogs and latest news from the site.
The original article by Marc Prensky was referred to in this blog which I feel makes it quite a reliable source because there are links to Marc's article meaning you can go and read the original discussion on this topic. Another reason why I feel the article is a reliable source is because it was published in June 2006, meaning that it is only just under 2 years old and therefore fairly up to date.
There isn't too much discussion on this blog (in terms of other bloggers commenting on the blog) on Digital Immigrants/Digital Natives but the links provided do provide you with more understanding of the topic and there is a link to an actual blog where there are comments.
Thursday 10 April 2008
Week 7 - China - Distance Learning
http://www1.worldbank.org/disted/Technology/broadcast/tv-02.html
I quite like the idea of this...learning your degree through a TV programme..brilliant! I'm a right tele addict and I am definitely a visual learner so this would be perfect for me. I can see the TV aspect of this working quite well in general though, especially for fellow visual learners. The radio side of it would also be beneficial but personally its the TV for me.
I also think that this would be a good idea because television and radio are popular forms of media in today's society so a lot of interest would be gained through this style of learning and it would be effective. With it being TV based, you could rewind bits you need to re-hear, where as with f2f learning you can't really stop the whole lecture and ask the tutor to repeat themselves because that could be a bit embarrassing.
What I do really like though is that they do still offer a f2f teaching too. So you can still see your tutors f2f and discuss problems with them properly in depth rather than just communicating over emails etc.
I guess there are positive and negative aspects of everything really when you think about stuff but in my personal opinion there are more positive aspects for this course as technology nowadays is being a major and crucial part of society.
What does everybody else think about this style of distance learning?
I quite like the idea of this...learning your degree through a TV programme..brilliant! I'm a right tele addict and I am definitely a visual learner so this would be perfect for me. I can see the TV aspect of this working quite well in general though, especially for fellow visual learners. The radio side of it would also be beneficial but personally its the TV for me.
I also think that this would be a good idea because television and radio are popular forms of media in today's society so a lot of interest would be gained through this style of learning and it would be effective. With it being TV based, you could rewind bits you need to re-hear, where as with f2f learning you can't really stop the whole lecture and ask the tutor to repeat themselves because that could be a bit embarrassing.
What I do really like though is that they do still offer a f2f teaching too. So you can still see your tutors f2f and discuss problems with them properly in depth rather than just communicating over emails etc.
I guess there are positive and negative aspects of everything really when you think about stuff but in my personal opinion there are more positive aspects for this course as technology nowadays is being a major and crucial part of society.
What does everybody else think about this style of distance learning?
Week 7 - Deakin Uni - Distance Learning
http://www.deakin.edu.au/future-students/online-offcampus-studies/
I think that this online, off-campus method of learning set up by Deakin University is a good idea. As the website states 'Off-campus study (or distance education) is fast becoming the preferred way to combine study with work or family commitments.' This is a good point that has been made because it allows you to work where ever you want to and at a time that you feel is a good working time for you rather than when your timetable states. For example, personally I feel that I can work better later on at night rather than in the mornings, so this online unit for me has been a bit better as I can do my work at night rather than me trying to get up in the mornings and treck into uni and not necessarily being fully awake or alert in the lectures or seminars.
I also feel that because today's society is evolving and there is a major emphasis being placed upon new technologies and new media cultures (such as the UK becoming digital in 2012), this online way of learning is helping to prepare students for what is maybe to come later on in life. Many office jobs now are based around people sitting at computers and doing various tasks, so I feel that this online unit for us is helping us in many ways as for a start its made me more computer aware and its made using computers and website forums and blogs a lot easier to use. So therefore using this scheme, the students at Deakin Uni will benefit as we have benefited.
However, I do feel that f2f learning does have major benefits also, especially with making people interact more on a f2f basis with other members of the course, and also I feel it is easier to get in touch with tutors when you are seeing them on a daily basis in your lectures and seminars so if you have any problems you can ask them directly about it right there and then. Debates and discussions that occur sometimes in seminars will also be missed out on during an online course so this is a disadvantage of courses like the one at Deakin University but overall I feel that this is a good scheme.
I think that this online, off-campus method of learning set up by Deakin University is a good idea. As the website states 'Off-campus study (or distance education) is fast becoming the preferred way to combine study with work or family commitments.' This is a good point that has been made because it allows you to work where ever you want to and at a time that you feel is a good working time for you rather than when your timetable states. For example, personally I feel that I can work better later on at night rather than in the mornings, so this online unit for me has been a bit better as I can do my work at night rather than me trying to get up in the mornings and treck into uni and not necessarily being fully awake or alert in the lectures or seminars.
I also feel that because today's society is evolving and there is a major emphasis being placed upon new technologies and new media cultures (such as the UK becoming digital in 2012), this online way of learning is helping to prepare students for what is maybe to come later on in life. Many office jobs now are based around people sitting at computers and doing various tasks, so I feel that this online unit for us is helping us in many ways as for a start its made me more computer aware and its made using computers and website forums and blogs a lot easier to use. So therefore using this scheme, the students at Deakin Uni will benefit as we have benefited.
However, I do feel that f2f learning does have major benefits also, especially with making people interact more on a f2f basis with other members of the course, and also I feel it is easier to get in touch with tutors when you are seeing them on a daily basis in your lectures and seminars so if you have any problems you can ask them directly about it right there and then. Debates and discussions that occur sometimes in seminars will also be missed out on during an online course so this is a disadvantage of courses like the one at Deakin University but overall I feel that this is a good scheme.
Week 6 - task 4 - CofP's
I never really thought about our forum being part of a CofP. But when it was brought to my attention that it could be classed as a CofP I do actually agree.
The main reason I think that it can be classed as a CofP is because there is a clear joint enterprise. In terms of goals, we all have the same overall goal - to complete the work that we have been given and to the best of our ability so that we get a mark that means we complete our degree.
CofP's, as Wenger's model states, have shared interests, which for us in the sense of our forum is an interest in our degree, our course and the unit of New Media Cultures. This shared interest is shown through us by posting on the forum and following links to each others blogs so that we can read and gather more understanding on the unit from reading the blogs. - Our blogs can be used as an aid of learning to the other members on the course and this is definitely furthering our knowledge of the New Media Culture unit.
We definitely have a shared repertoire of vocabulary on the forum as we used 'P' followed by a link to show that we have posted a post on our blog. But maybe if you weren't a part of our course and had no prior understanding of blogging and forums, then you wouldn't really know what that 'P' meant as such.
When thinking about who are the 'experts' in the forum, it is obvious that the tutors are of course the experts, but students who have researched in depth into this unit and have done all the recommended readings could also be classed as an expert of New Media Culture in comparison to some students who aren't as clear on the subject.
The main reason I think that it can be classed as a CofP is because there is a clear joint enterprise. In terms of goals, we all have the same overall goal - to complete the work that we have been given and to the best of our ability so that we get a mark that means we complete our degree.
CofP's, as Wenger's model states, have shared interests, which for us in the sense of our forum is an interest in our degree, our course and the unit of New Media Cultures. This shared interest is shown through us by posting on the forum and following links to each others blogs so that we can read and gather more understanding on the unit from reading the blogs. - Our blogs can be used as an aid of learning to the other members on the course and this is definitely furthering our knowledge of the New Media Culture unit.
We definitely have a shared repertoire of vocabulary on the forum as we used 'P' followed by a link to show that we have posted a post on our blog. But maybe if you weren't a part of our course and had no prior understanding of blogging and forums, then you wouldn't really know what that 'P' meant as such.
When thinking about who are the 'experts' in the forum, it is obvious that the tutors are of course the experts, but students who have researched in depth into this unit and have done all the recommended readings could also be classed as an expert of New Media Culture in comparison to some students who aren't as clear on the subject.
Tuesday 8 April 2008
Week 6 - task 3 - CofP's
When thinking about communities online that have a joint enterprise I couldn't think of a site that I actually go on that I haven't already mentioned in one of my other blogs, and I didn't want to continue using the same ones so I researched and found another site:
http://ukwindsurfing.com/
The UK Windsurfing Association (UKWA) website is a site dedicated to people who are interested in, or take part in, competitive windsurfing. There is an obvious joint enterprise (i.e an overall shared goal), that being the goal of competing in competitions and finding out where the latest competitions will be held.
There is a forum on the website which allows the members to discuss different issues. The forum is split up into different categories: 'Announcements', 'General', 'Events', 'Equipment' and 'Technique'. I feel that these different categories show that the UKWA is actually a CofP because the members, especially within the 'Technique' section of the forum, can help other windsurfers improve their technique which is emphasising the idea of learning through your actions. They can also discuss their love of windsurfing in general with the use of the forum. It is the forum which creates the strong sense of an online community.
Another reason I believe it is a CofP is because they definitely have a shared repertoire as they use vocabulary to do with windsurfing that we might not understand if we are not windsurfers or know nothing about windsurfing.
In relation to the hierarchy structure within the website, on the forums there will be people who are classed as more experts than other members and who are more well known throughout the site. I also suppose that the chairman of the UKWA would be classed as having the most power and thus highest up in ranks.
http://ukwindsurfing.com/
The UK Windsurfing Association (UKWA) website is a site dedicated to people who are interested in, or take part in, competitive windsurfing. There is an obvious joint enterprise (i.e an overall shared goal), that being the goal of competing in competitions and finding out where the latest competitions will be held.
There is a forum on the website which allows the members to discuss different issues. The forum is split up into different categories: 'Announcements', 'General', 'Events', 'Equipment' and 'Technique'. I feel that these different categories show that the UKWA is actually a CofP because the members, especially within the 'Technique' section of the forum, can help other windsurfers improve their technique which is emphasising the idea of learning through your actions. They can also discuss their love of windsurfing in general with the use of the forum. It is the forum which creates the strong sense of an online community.
Another reason I believe it is a CofP is because they definitely have a shared repertoire as they use vocabulary to do with windsurfing that we might not understand if we are not windsurfers or know nothing about windsurfing.
In relation to the hierarchy structure within the website, on the forums there will be people who are classed as more experts than other members and who are more well known throughout the site. I also suppose that the chairman of the UKWA would be classed as having the most power and thus highest up in ranks.
Monday 7 April 2008
Week 6 - task 2 - CofP's
How is an organizational unit different to a CofP? As Wenger states "These 'communities of practice' are mostly informal and distinct from organizational units". I agree with this statement as when I think about what differences there are between the two, I see a CofP as a more informal, more social, group of people who have joined together being members of something which they all like and have a shared interest about and are working towards the same goals. Where as I see an organizational unit as more of a working kind of environment which is a lot more formal and people may be working towards different goals.
In other words I see organizational units as more of a business like practice, where as I see CofP's as more leisurely practices.
I feel that organizational units have the overall goal of having a positive outcome for the organization (the business) as a whole rather than for the individual people within the organization. Where as in comparison, I feel that CofP's are more concerned with the individuals and helping them achieve their own goals (which are usually shared goals) this I feel is because CofP's are more of a teacher and learner set up. For example, in a CofP such as a dance school that I have already mentioned, the instructors purpose is to teach the members dance routines so that they can achieve their goal. Where as in a business, the boss (who could be related to the teacher in a dance school), has the purpose of ensuring the work is done, rather than teaching the employees how to do their work.
The structures between the two practices are different. Organizational units have a much more pre-defined structure than CofP's. For example, the hierarchy within a business creates boundaries to members of staff who are not as high up in the hierarchy as say a supervisor and it would not be as easy for the general member of staff to go up to their boss and suggest something which they think would be better due to these boundaries. Where as in a CofP the boundaries as Wenger states are "more flexible than those of an organizational unit". For example, in the dance school I attended, the instructors were open to suggestions on improving the dance routines and we often had discussions as a group on how we could improve the routine.
In other words I see organizational units as more of a business like practice, where as I see CofP's as more leisurely practices.
I feel that organizational units have the overall goal of having a positive outcome for the organization (the business) as a whole rather than for the individual people within the organization. Where as in comparison, I feel that CofP's are more concerned with the individuals and helping them achieve their own goals (which are usually shared goals) this I feel is because CofP's are more of a teacher and learner set up. For example, in a CofP such as a dance school that I have already mentioned, the instructors purpose is to teach the members dance routines so that they can achieve their goal. Where as in a business, the boss (who could be related to the teacher in a dance school), has the purpose of ensuring the work is done, rather than teaching the employees how to do their work.
The structures between the two practices are different. Organizational units have a much more pre-defined structure than CofP's. For example, the hierarchy within a business creates boundaries to members of staff who are not as high up in the hierarchy as say a supervisor and it would not be as easy for the general member of staff to go up to their boss and suggest something which they think would be better due to these boundaries. Where as in a CofP the boundaries as Wenger states are "more flexible than those of an organizational unit". For example, in the dance school I attended, the instructors were open to suggestions on improving the dance routines and we often had discussions as a group on how we could improve the routine.
Sunday 6 April 2008
week 6 - task 1 - CofP's
Community of Practices (CofP), from what I understand, are where members of the CofP share the same interests and goals and they will have similar experiences. It is where people can further their knowledge of that practice. As Wenger states, the members of the CofP will hold discussions about topics that are directly linked to the CofP.
Even though I am not a part of a dance school anymore, this is my chosen CofP to discuss because it has played a large part in my life and I have only just recently stopped attending.
Whats is it about (joint enterprise): The people attending the dance school go there with the same goal: to learn a dance routine and dance steps to perform in competitions and within shows and also exams. This, I would say, is the main joint enterprise which the members of the CofP associate with. Within my CofP there are set members which attend every week. During the classes discussions between the members of the CofP are based around the dance steps and how we could improve our dancing techniques. Even when we used to walk to the shop to get our lunch, the conversation was usually based around dancing and our up coming shows. We even used to dance our way down the street trying to help each other improve our steps!
How it functions: Thinking about how the dance school functions as a CofP this is in reference to the relationships of mutual engagement that bind the members together into a, as Wenger states, "social entity". The dance school I attended, bound its members into a social entity as we were all there to learn the same routine and to perform together in exams, shows and competitions and if one of us went wrong then this may affect the others routine. We were a team who had a shared purpose for being there.
In addition to this there is a form of hierarchy within the dance school. The lady who runs the school is obviously the one with the most power and therefore at the top of the hierarchy. Then there is our individual dance instructors who each have higher experience and knowledge with dancing than the girls attending the school and classes. We are there to learn the routines that they have created, they are our teachers and are therefore in a higher position of power than us going there to learn.
What capability has it produced: Within the dance school there is a shared repetoire of communal resources that the members have developed over time. Firtsly, most of the members know the same routines (unless of course you joined the school a bit later and maybe missed out on learning one of the routines). Secondly, the language used to discuss the different dance steps is something that you'd only understand if you had knowledge of dancing or if you were a dancer and knew the steps. For example, some of you probably wouldn't know what a 'chasse' is, but if you were a part of the dance school this would be common knowledge to you and a second language of yours. It is also common knowledge within the group that if you don't train hard or stay focused upon the dancing, then you won't do as well in your dancing exams and sometimes you may not be chosen to take part in a show.
If somebody leaves the CofP or is no longer a member, then the CofP doesn't collapse, it continues to exist because there is new members joining all the time. I am no longer a part of the dance school but it is still a dance school today with new members filling in the gaps of where you have left. Members leave all of the time because of things like starting university and having to move away, or not having the time to continue dancing but it is such a popular interest that I am pretty sure there will always be members at the dance school I used to attend.
Even though I am not a part of a dance school anymore, this is my chosen CofP to discuss because it has played a large part in my life and I have only just recently stopped attending.
Whats is it about (joint enterprise): The people attending the dance school go there with the same goal: to learn a dance routine and dance steps to perform in competitions and within shows and also exams. This, I would say, is the main joint enterprise which the members of the CofP associate with. Within my CofP there are set members which attend every week. During the classes discussions between the members of the CofP are based around the dance steps and how we could improve our dancing techniques. Even when we used to walk to the shop to get our lunch, the conversation was usually based around dancing and our up coming shows. We even used to dance our way down the street trying to help each other improve our steps!
How it functions: Thinking about how the dance school functions as a CofP this is in reference to the relationships of mutual engagement that bind the members together into a, as Wenger states, "social entity". The dance school I attended, bound its members into a social entity as we were all there to learn the same routine and to perform together in exams, shows and competitions and if one of us went wrong then this may affect the others routine. We were a team who had a shared purpose for being there.
In addition to this there is a form of hierarchy within the dance school. The lady who runs the school is obviously the one with the most power and therefore at the top of the hierarchy. Then there is our individual dance instructors who each have higher experience and knowledge with dancing than the girls attending the school and classes. We are there to learn the routines that they have created, they are our teachers and are therefore in a higher position of power than us going there to learn.
What capability has it produced: Within the dance school there is a shared repetoire of communal resources that the members have developed over time. Firtsly, most of the members know the same routines (unless of course you joined the school a bit later and maybe missed out on learning one of the routines). Secondly, the language used to discuss the different dance steps is something that you'd only understand if you had knowledge of dancing or if you were a dancer and knew the steps. For example, some of you probably wouldn't know what a 'chasse' is, but if you were a part of the dance school this would be common knowledge to you and a second language of yours. It is also common knowledge within the group that if you don't train hard or stay focused upon the dancing, then you won't do as well in your dancing exams and sometimes you may not be chosen to take part in a show.
If somebody leaves the CofP or is no longer a member, then the CofP doesn't collapse, it continues to exist because there is new members joining all the time. I am no longer a part of the dance school but it is still a dance school today with new members filling in the gaps of where you have left. Members leave all of the time because of things like starting university and having to move away, or not having the time to continue dancing but it is such a popular interest that I am pretty sure there will always be members at the dance school I used to attend.
Friday 29 February 2008
Website analysis - STA Travel - part 3
In relation to the communication aspects of the website, there isn’t really a major part of the website dedicated to users communicating with one another. The main reason behind this is that it is not a social networking site like Facebook or MySpace, it is a site meant to guide you through planning your journey. The only form of communication that I have found on the website is the Travel Blogs sections of the site. This is where you can read other peoples blogs from when they have been travelling, and you can also respond and comment on their blogs. I think that this is a major negative aspect of the STA website because a forum would be extremely useful on a site of this nature because you can discuss better with people what route they took and you can ask them questions to help you plan your own route. (http://blogs.statravel.co.uk/)
If any of you have been on this website yourself, do you think a forum would be a good idea too?
A major positive aspect of the website is that the information found there is extremely relevant and very useful in helping you plan your trip. The site does make planning your trip a lot easier and it gives you info so you can contact the STA operators so you can get even more information.
My final thoughts on my analysis of the STA Travel website are that it is a successful new media form of website because the user can interact with the website at I feel, an effective level. It is therefore taking on the requirements of the interactive culture that is popular in today’s society. I however, don’t think it is taking on the communication aspect of today’s new media society because there is not forum available on the website so the users cannot interact with one another as greatly as they could do.
If any of you have been on this website yourself, do you think a forum would be a good idea too?
A major positive aspect of the website is that the information found there is extremely relevant and very useful in helping you plan your trip. The site does make planning your trip a lot easier and it gives you info so you can contact the STA operators so you can get even more information.
My final thoughts on my analysis of the STA Travel website are that it is a successful new media form of website because the user can interact with the website at I feel, an effective level. It is therefore taking on the requirements of the interactive culture that is popular in today’s society. I however, don’t think it is taking on the communication aspect of today’s new media society because there is not forum available on the website so the users cannot interact with one another as greatly as they could do.
Website analysis - STA Travel - part 2
The homepage of the website is fairly busy but filled with relevant information to help get you browsing the site efficiently and effectively. In the top left had side, there is a search engine box where you can enter possible flight details your thinking of, find relevant bus passes for your journey, and also find hostels and hotels to stay in whilst you are travelling. Also found on the homepage on the top right hand side is a flash box containing deals. This flash box changes about every 6 seconds showing about five different deals. Towards the bottom of the homepage there are hypertext links to important parts of the website such as travel visas. You can also find important contact information such as the STA hotline telephone number and the email address. Across the top of the homepage there is a bar full of hypertext links to the different sections of the website.
The colours found throughout the website are fairly basic but fit in with the STA travel logo. The background colour for each page is white, with the STA travel logo in each left hand top corner. The other major colour uses are different types of blue ranging from light to dark. I feel that the choice of colours on each page help make the navigation easier on the site a bit easier because the white pale background makes the images on the site stand out more and therefore your attention will be drawn into relevant information and places that you are wanting to know more about.
Overall, I feel that navigation on the site is fairly simple to use at the start because it’s easy to find out which section you want to go to from looking at the hypertext links at the top of the homepage. However, once you go into each section it becomes a bit trickier as there are lots of different hypertext links and it all becomes a bit too complicated and confusing of where you actually want to go, especially when looking at the different treks and trails as I found I kept ending up on pages I’d just looked at when I thought from the hypertext link that I was going to a different page. I would say that this is a bit of a negative aspect of the website.
The colours found throughout the website are fairly basic but fit in with the STA travel logo. The background colour for each page is white, with the STA travel logo in each left hand top corner. The other major colour uses are different types of blue ranging from light to dark. I feel that the choice of colours on each page help make the navigation easier on the site a bit easier because the white pale background makes the images on the site stand out more and therefore your attention will be drawn into relevant information and places that you are wanting to know more about.
Overall, I feel that navigation on the site is fairly simple to use at the start because it’s easy to find out which section you want to go to from looking at the hypertext links at the top of the homepage. However, once you go into each section it becomes a bit trickier as there are lots of different hypertext links and it all becomes a bit too complicated and confusing of where you actually want to go, especially when looking at the different treks and trails as I found I kept ending up on pages I’d just looked at when I thought from the hypertext link that I was going to a different page. I would say that this is a bit of a negative aspect of the website.
Website analysis - STA Travel - part 1
STA Travel website analysis
Its quite hard trying to decide which website is my all-time favourite as I look at so many so often, but at the moment I’ve been spending a lot of time on the STA Travel website. The URL for this site is: http://www.statravel.co.uk/ STA Travel was founded in 1979. It is the largest travel organisation for students and young people.
Has anybody looked at this website before?
The basis of STA Travel is to help people considering travelling to set up their journey. The journeys featured on the website are: around the world travels, travelling in Europe and also specific set country travels. The site allows you to explore different country travel options and you can create your ideal trip from looking at the different activities happening in each country and also which hostels are on offer and which flights would be best for you. There are also sections on the website that offer you the latest deals and travelling discounts, a community section where you can read peoples travel blogs and interact with each other, and there is also a section upon working whilst you travel.
The target audience for this website is preferably students and young people aged between 18-26 years old. This is apparent because the STA Travel Company is a student-based company and deals with gap year students and graduate students who want to travel either before uni or after uni before settling down in a career. The target audience is both men and women who are interested in travelling.
Sunday 24 February 2008
Week 4 - task 1 - study guide tasks
User-generated content is refering to various kinds of media that are publicly available. The term reflects the expansion of media production through the use of new media technologies that are affordable and easy to access by the general public. In simplier terms I believe it means content from websites that you can get for free and it is not illegal because the content is not copy-righted..as said in the lecture..it is instead copyleft where the creator leaves the material open to people.
Social networking sites are a good example of user-generated content. MySpace (www.myspace.com) is a very good example of this. MySpace is free to sign up to and it is a good way to communicate free of charge. Another reason why it is a good example of user-generated content is in the example of music. There is a whole section on MySpace that is dedicated to music and bands. In this section you can view bands profiles and listen to their material. If you like a particular song of theirs you can add that song to your profile and it will be played whenever somebody views your profile. This is a good example of user-generated content because, although the song isn't created by you or isn't officially yours, the creators and producers of the material are allowing you to use their material for free.
I know MySpace isn't as popular with us lot anymore because we are all obsessed with Facebook lol, but did anybody or does anybody often change their profile song and use this free material? I know I did. I used to love changing my profile song..sad I know..but you had to keep it updated with which songs/bands you loved at that time. lol.
Also.. does anybody use MySpace now purely as a way to listen to material from bands and artists to hear new stuff by them? I sometimes do because facebook doesn't have a music material like myspace and when Im bored I like to go and listen to some new bands.
Emily xx
Social networking sites are a good example of user-generated content. MySpace (www.myspace.com) is a very good example of this. MySpace is free to sign up to and it is a good way to communicate free of charge. Another reason why it is a good example of user-generated content is in the example of music. There is a whole section on MySpace that is dedicated to music and bands. In this section you can view bands profiles and listen to their material. If you like a particular song of theirs you can add that song to your profile and it will be played whenever somebody views your profile. This is a good example of user-generated content because, although the song isn't created by you or isn't officially yours, the creators and producers of the material are allowing you to use their material for free.
I know MySpace isn't as popular with us lot anymore because we are all obsessed with Facebook lol, but did anybody or does anybody often change their profile song and use this free material? I know I did. I used to love changing my profile song..sad I know..but you had to keep it updated with which songs/bands you loved at that time. lol.
Also.. does anybody use MySpace now purely as a way to listen to material from bands and artists to hear new stuff by them? I sometimes do because facebook doesn't have a music material like myspace and when Im bored I like to go and listen to some new bands.
Emily xx
Week 1 - task 3 - study guide tasks
Technological determinism is a theory that suggests technology is the force which shapes society. In Lister et al technological determinism is looked at differently by different theorists. Some argue that technology does infact drive society, where as some argue that technology is interwoven into our society. What do people think? I think that technology is a force which shapes society, or at least influences and shapes some major parts of society. The invention of television for example has had an influence on the way we live today. Before television society was a more get out there and doing society where leisure activities were going for walks, reading books, doin crafts, etc. However, now instead of going for a walk or reading a book, the majority of people I know watch television as a way of relaxing. Television has become their leisure time activity. Another example of where new technology is shaping and changing our society is with the invention of telephones. Before telephones were invented, people used to write letters as a way of communicating to one another, but now letter writting is a form of communication that is dying out because people find it a lot easier and quicker to make a phone call than to write a letter. I know I definetaly prefer to phone people than writting to them! However even after saying this, I find that now that instant messaging and emails are becoming more popular in our society..phone calls are not as frequent as they used to be and people use websites such as Facebook to keep in contact with one another...do people agree with this? And therefore this is a way in which new technology is radically changing the way we live?
Emily xx
Emily xx
Tuesday 12 February 2008
Week 3 learning journal task
I thought because I quite often go on the Lost forum to see whats being discussed, I may as well use this forum as my example.
The url for this forum is: http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/index?pn=mb&cat=33026
In the Lost forum, are discussions about peoples theories of what is going to happen or what is happening on Lost. People sometimes also post spoilers of info they have found out about what is to come on the particular season in question of Lost. However, I think that these posts might now be banned from being published on the forum because of something the writters said or did. If you went onto this forum and was to read a post and you had no prior knowledge of Lost or you hadn't seen the show, then you wouldn't really understand what was being said and some of the things being discussed really wouldn't mean anything to you. It would however make sense to a group of Lost fans because this is a forum especially for them, not just general chit chat.
A way in which people in the forum present themselves as a Lost fan to the other fans in the forum is by their username. The majority of the people posting in this forum have names related to the show itself or characters within the show. For example 'Sayidlover' and 'DriveshaftAreFab'.
The form of interaction taking place is done in the form of threads. If somebody wants to reply to somebodies elses post then they click on the discussion topic and can read what other people have replied saying and then they can add their own post to the thread. Threads can become rather long in the Lost forum as people are costantly replying to the discussion topics posted and then this sets off other postees ideas and thoughts.
The forum is set up in a way that influences people to reply to posts and it is easy to use because there are headers at the top of the forum which clearly say 'Topics', 'Posted By', 'Replies', 'Views' and 'Last post', all of which enable a quick and easy way of seeing if say your posted topic has a new reply, or if a topic has a lot of replies it might be of interest to the other forum users because this could suggest that it was a good topic starter.
Emily x
The url for this forum is: http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/index?pn=mb&cat=33026
In the Lost forum, are discussions about peoples theories of what is going to happen or what is happening on Lost. People sometimes also post spoilers of info they have found out about what is to come on the particular season in question of Lost. However, I think that these posts might now be banned from being published on the forum because of something the writters said or did. If you went onto this forum and was to read a post and you had no prior knowledge of Lost or you hadn't seen the show, then you wouldn't really understand what was being said and some of the things being discussed really wouldn't mean anything to you. It would however make sense to a group of Lost fans because this is a forum especially for them, not just general chit chat.
A way in which people in the forum present themselves as a Lost fan to the other fans in the forum is by their username. The majority of the people posting in this forum have names related to the show itself or characters within the show. For example 'Sayidlover' and 'DriveshaftAreFab'.
The form of interaction taking place is done in the form of threads. If somebody wants to reply to somebodies elses post then they click on the discussion topic and can read what other people have replied saying and then they can add their own post to the thread. Threads can become rather long in the Lost forum as people are costantly replying to the discussion topics posted and then this sets off other postees ideas and thoughts.
The forum is set up in a way that influences people to reply to posts and it is easy to use because there are headers at the top of the forum which clearly say 'Topics', 'Posted By', 'Replies', 'Views' and 'Last post', all of which enable a quick and easy way of seeing if say your posted topic has a new reply, or if a topic has a lot of replies it might be of interest to the other forum users because this could suggest that it was a good topic starter.
Emily x
Goebbels on radio - task 2a - week1 study guide
Ok so I haven't done a blog for a while now..eeek. so I better get cracking again lol.
I found the Goebbels reading quite interesting. For Goebbels the radio was there to keep the masses up to date with the current situations happening with the war and other essentail developments but it was also used as a way of influencing the German population of the thoughts and beliefs of Goebbels Nazi government in the form of propaganda.
In my opinion, this was a good method of using the radio because the radio in those days was a good way and better way of contacting the masses. However, in my opinion, in this current day, television is probably a lot more powerful at contacting the masses than the radio as the majority of the population are probably more likely to turn on the television for important news than tune into the radio. Am I right? Is this a common shared view? I know I watch the television a lot more than I watch the radio anyway lol.
The only major thing in this current day that radio is 'good for' is for entertainment whilst travelling about in cars etc. This is the main time that I listen to the radio anyway because I cant watch the television but I want something to keep me entertained whilst im on the move. Do other people listen to the radio more than I do?
Emily x
I found the Goebbels reading quite interesting. For Goebbels the radio was there to keep the masses up to date with the current situations happening with the war and other essentail developments but it was also used as a way of influencing the German population of the thoughts and beliefs of Goebbels Nazi government in the form of propaganda.
In my opinion, this was a good method of using the radio because the radio in those days was a good way and better way of contacting the masses. However, in my opinion, in this current day, television is probably a lot more powerful at contacting the masses than the radio as the majority of the population are probably more likely to turn on the television for important news than tune into the radio. Am I right? Is this a common shared view? I know I watch the television a lot more than I watch the radio anyway lol.
The only major thing in this current day that radio is 'good for' is for entertainment whilst travelling about in cars etc. This is the main time that I listen to the radio anyway because I cant watch the television but I want something to keep me entertained whilst im on the move. Do other people listen to the radio more than I do?
Emily x
Friday 1 February 2008
More blogging
My eyes are starting to go funny sat on my comp now so I will blog more tommorow so keep checking if you want to read more.
Emily x
Emily x
Task 1 - week1 study guide
Im on a roll people lol...heres Task 1...
Emails: Emails are a quick form of communiaction which enables you to send a message to anywhere in the world, quickly and for free (unlike telephone calls to say Australia). Emails can be sent to many people at a time so if you want to send the same message to many different people this can be done easily. I often use emails to communicate with people from back home like my parents and also my family in Canada because it costs a lot less than ringing them all the time!
Usenet and Bulletin Board Systems: I didn't actually know what these were so I had to research them. Im guessing that they are quite similar to forums? Anyway this is the definition I got of a Bulletin Board System when I researched it:
A Bulletin board system, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to dial into the system over a phone line (or Telnet) and, using a terminal programme, perform functions such as downloading software and data, uploading data, reading news, and exchanging messages with other users.
Hmm they are only slightly similar to forums then because you can read news and exchange messages with other users. But this is a system where you can also download software and data. Hmm I am still a little confussed here. Any1 actually know what they are that can help me out?
IRL's, Chat rooms and messenger services: I know what these are lol. This is a form of instant communication (well if the person/people you are contacting or talking to are actually online at the same time as you). A popular form of messenger service is MSN Messenger. (I bet most of you have msn) On msn you can chat to your contacts instantly and its like being on the phone to them appart from you don't actually get to hear their voice, its text that appears on the screen in your 'converstaion window'. I use msn all the time! Its a good way of chatting to my friends and family back home or my other uni mates who don't actually live with me. On msn you can play games with each other, send each other pictures and files. Its great!
MUDs and MOOs: Again, I didn't have a clue what these things were so I had to research online to get some answers and I also had a nosey at other peoples blogs to see if they knew and thankfully a few of you did :) MUDs are otherwise known as Mutli-user Domain. And MOOs are MUD Object Orientated. This means that people can online game and also chat to the other users online at the same time. (This can be found in a few Xbox 360 games I think cause Im pretty sure my friend is always playing games where this is a feature). I have never actually played a game like this or used this myself but I have seen somebody play a game where this was a feature.
Websites: There are millions of websites! Websites can be used to do lots of things. You can find out information, chat to others in chat room websites, find out TV schedules on websites like Channel4.com, play online games, discuss things in forum, listen to the radio online, you can now even shop online. Websites are surely the basis of new media cultures? I use websites all the time. They're great. I mainly spend my time shopping online, downloading music online, streaming TV shows from websites...you can practically do everything!
Well thats about all my knowledge for task 1. If any1 can help me understand better what Usenet and Bulletin Board Systems are then please comment me.
Thank youuuuu,
Emily x
Emails: Emails are a quick form of communiaction which enables you to send a message to anywhere in the world, quickly and for free (unlike telephone calls to say Australia). Emails can be sent to many people at a time so if you want to send the same message to many different people this can be done easily. I often use emails to communicate with people from back home like my parents and also my family in Canada because it costs a lot less than ringing them all the time!
Usenet and Bulletin Board Systems: I didn't actually know what these were so I had to research them. Im guessing that they are quite similar to forums? Anyway this is the definition I got of a Bulletin Board System when I researched it:
A Bulletin board system, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to dial into the system over a phone line (or Telnet) and, using a terminal programme, perform functions such as downloading software and data, uploading data, reading news, and exchanging messages with other users.
Hmm they are only slightly similar to forums then because you can read news and exchange messages with other users. But this is a system where you can also download software and data. Hmm I am still a little confussed here. Any1 actually know what they are that can help me out?
IRL's, Chat rooms and messenger services: I know what these are lol. This is a form of instant communication (well if the person/people you are contacting or talking to are actually online at the same time as you). A popular form of messenger service is MSN Messenger. (I bet most of you have msn) On msn you can chat to your contacts instantly and its like being on the phone to them appart from you don't actually get to hear their voice, its text that appears on the screen in your 'converstaion window'. I use msn all the time! Its a good way of chatting to my friends and family back home or my other uni mates who don't actually live with me. On msn you can play games with each other, send each other pictures and files. Its great!
MUDs and MOOs: Again, I didn't have a clue what these things were so I had to research online to get some answers and I also had a nosey at other peoples blogs to see if they knew and thankfully a few of you did :) MUDs are otherwise known as Mutli-user Domain. And MOOs are MUD Object Orientated. This means that people can online game and also chat to the other users online at the same time. (This can be found in a few Xbox 360 games I think cause Im pretty sure my friend is always playing games where this is a feature). I have never actually played a game like this or used this myself but I have seen somebody play a game where this was a feature.
Websites: There are millions of websites! Websites can be used to do lots of things. You can find out information, chat to others in chat room websites, find out TV schedules on websites like Channel4.com, play online games, discuss things in forum, listen to the radio online, you can now even shop online. Websites are surely the basis of new media cultures? I use websites all the time. They're great. I mainly spend my time shopping online, downloading music online, streaming TV shows from websites...you can practically do everything!
Well thats about all my knowledge for task 1. If any1 can help me understand better what Usenet and Bulletin Board Systems are then please comment me.
Thank youuuuu,
Emily x
Interactivity in websites...(hopefully I actually understand now lol)
Ok so I think I might finally be getting my head round this whole blogging thing.
In relation to the learning journal tasks here is my attempt at the tasks for week 2...
From sites that I look at and often go on, I find that both Myspace and Facebook have a major form of interaction taking place. These are sites that are there for you to create your own personal profile where you can explain abit about yourself and add your friends profiles to your friend list and interact with them. The major interaction is in the form of what facebook calls 'wall posts'. This is where you can chat to your friends and leave them a post on their wall so that they can later respond. (it is kind of similar to msn messenger but it is not as instant as that). Another major form of interaction on Facebook is that you can share pictures. If you upload your pictures onto your profile in a folder there is a thing called 'tagging' where you can tag pictures of your friends and that then alerts your friends that there is a picture of them and therefore they can find it and get the picture themselves. My facebook url is...http://unilincoln.facebook.com/profile.php?id=786600541 hopefully that'll work lol. Who else has got a facebook?
Another form of interactivity online is through the use of forums because forums are based upon interactivity. Forums (although we all now know this lol) are where people can discuss points online. Where a discussion has many replies it is known as a thread. A forum that I often look on (because im a geek and love Lost lol) is the Lost forum. Its quite a good forum because Lost fans can dicuss their theories of what they think Lost is all about and it can get you really thinking about what on earth is actually going on on that messed up show lol. Go and have a look if you like... http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/index?pn=mb&cat=33026 Does any1 look at that forum anyway?
Hmmm..now for the 2nd part of the task...hypertext...
...How does hypertext shape the experience of using the World Wide Web? Well in my opinion I think that it enables us to find information that we require or are interested in a lot quicker. And also in the form of text being link highlighted it means we can also gather more information on the topic we are actually looking for.
(I hope I actually understand what hypertext is because I was struggling for abit...it is things like the navigation bars on websites isn't it? Would appreciate it if any1 would help me out here.)
Thanx for reading,
Emily x
In relation to the learning journal tasks here is my attempt at the tasks for week 2...
From sites that I look at and often go on, I find that both Myspace and Facebook have a major form of interaction taking place. These are sites that are there for you to create your own personal profile where you can explain abit about yourself and add your friends profiles to your friend list and interact with them. The major interaction is in the form of what facebook calls 'wall posts'. This is where you can chat to your friends and leave them a post on their wall so that they can later respond. (it is kind of similar to msn messenger but it is not as instant as that). Another major form of interaction on Facebook is that you can share pictures. If you upload your pictures onto your profile in a folder there is a thing called 'tagging' where you can tag pictures of your friends and that then alerts your friends that there is a picture of them and therefore they can find it and get the picture themselves. My facebook url is...http://unilincoln.facebook.com/profile.php?id=786600541 hopefully that'll work lol. Who else has got a facebook?
Another form of interactivity online is through the use of forums because forums are based upon interactivity. Forums (although we all now know this lol) are where people can discuss points online. Where a discussion has many replies it is known as a thread. A forum that I often look on (because im a geek and love Lost lol) is the Lost forum. Its quite a good forum because Lost fans can dicuss their theories of what they think Lost is all about and it can get you really thinking about what on earth is actually going on on that messed up show lol. Go and have a look if you like... http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/index?pn=mb&cat=33026 Does any1 look at that forum anyway?
Hmmm..now for the 2nd part of the task...hypertext...
...How does hypertext shape the experience of using the World Wide Web? Well in my opinion I think that it enables us to find information that we require or are interested in a lot quicker. And also in the form of text being link highlighted it means we can also gather more information on the topic we are actually looking for.
(I hope I actually understand what hypertext is because I was struggling for abit...it is things like the navigation bars on websites isn't it? Would appreciate it if any1 would help me out here.)
Thanx for reading,
Emily x
Friday 25 January 2008
Lister et al
I still haven't got my head around this thing yet. So Im going to read the Lister et al pages this weekend and look more at the rules of engagement so that I get the hang of how to use this thing.
Tuesday 22 January 2008
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