EDN Themes: Media & Communication

Listed below are entries for the Media & Communication theme. Related entries can be found through keyword searches. For example, creativity can be found in other themes. Using Google "Search This Site" to do a keyword search for "creativity" reveals related entries in other themes.

Design: Imposed Authority vs. Communication

Peter Merholz's weblog entry Design is Easy; Organizational Politics is Hard captures a fundamental issue that I have come up against on a number of occasions in my career. It is possible that we have more than enough solutions in the world, we know what needs to be done, yet our ability to effectively implement these solutions is lacking. Peter captures the issue here...

Design: Natural Learning vs. Machine Learning

In Life is Learning: Learning Design - Natural vs. Machine Robert Paterson dovetails Christopher Alexander's ideas about natural design with learning...

Design: Rick Pan - Design is in Beta

A good friend of mine, Rick Pan, has recently returned to blogging on design Is In Beta. I had the pleasure of working with Rick on the Connected Intelligence Project. Rick is the one of the most insightful and creative designers I know. No doubt, the ideas emerging on his weblog will be engaging and thought-provoking.

Welcome back Rick!

Design: The Object of Design vs. The Source of Design

The verb design means to plan and make something for an intended use. The source of design refers us to the origin and/or originator; the object of design refers us to the intended use and/or user. What is essential to understand with respect to learning is whether people are being treated as the object of design or as a source of design. Education via curriculum [see Curriculum: The Design of the Prerequisite] and instructional design [see Instructional Design: The Propagation of Curriculum] position the student and teacher as the object of design; learning by default means that each of us is a source of design...

Design: What is Experience Design?

Interesting material on the question, What is Experience Design? can be found over at Master New Media (which, by the way, is a superb resource on all things new media). Since I wrote a book called The Experience Designer: Learning, Networks and the Cybersphere a couple of years ago, it seems like a good time to review and rethink some of the ideas...

E-Learning: "The Last Domain of Human Learning"

"These new technologies are... providing the access to the last domain of human learning."

I must have missed the previous domains.

Do statements like these make you wonder if you've missed something too? I had no idea we were embarking on providing access to "the last domain of human learning" as described in Beneath the Tip of the Iceberg: Technology Plumbs the Affective Learning Domain...

E-Learning: Do You Have a Content Problem?

Sebastian writes another interesting piece called Do You Have A Content Problem? that plays directly into a number of my own experiences. He states in the article, " I cannot help it ... but loads of people still appear to be obsessed with problems and questions around "content" or "content delivery." Learning objects here, instructional design patterns there... oh, and then let's not forget about ontologies (when and why did the tech folks nick this term from philosophy?)" A fundamental problem with e-Learning, and education for that matter, has been the kinds of obsessions Sebastian refers to...

E-Learning: The Retrieval of Past Practices

Retrieval means we are recovering the use of something or bringing it back. Marshall McLuhan explored the idea that new technologies often retrieve past practices. In other words, in spite of the introduction of new technologies we often find ourselves doing the same old thing. More simply, there is a tendency to use the new to do the old. E-Learning is a primary example of how new media serve to retrieve past practice and entrench it deeper into our sensibilities. The past practices retrieved in e-Learning are traditional notions of curriculum and instructional design. In summary, e-Learning like education is a system of mass communication...

Feeds: RSS - How to Subscribe to EDN

This entry provides: 1) a listing of the various feeds available for EDN; 2) an option to subscribe by email; and 3) a list of recommended resources about feeds. I recommend using Feedburner for managing weblog feeds...

Gaming: Agents & Actors

Here's another article called Learning: More Than Just Knowledge that promotes the idea of the game metaphor in learning:

Gaming: Pax Warrior - Decision-based Documentaries

I mentioned in my ECCO Presentation Notes that I met with the founding members of Pax Warrior, Andreas Ua'Siaghail and Sean Hopen. I notice that the list of people involved in the development of Pax Warrior are quite interesting and diverse. Yesterday, I agreed to accept Andreas and Sean's offer to become a member of their Advisory Board. I plan on following the developments of this project here in EDN and offer this introduction...

Gaming: Self-esteem, Games and Macromedia Flash

I came across Self-esteem Games via an ABC News feed. I thought the title was referring to playing games (in the negative sense) with self-esteem, but what I found were online games designed to increase self-esteem. These games have been designed in Macromedia's Flash Player and make the claim...

Interactivity: "Dialogue - A Proposal" by David Bohm, Donald Factor and Peter Garrett

In 1991, David Bohm, Donald Factor and Peter Garrett published an interesting article called, "Dialogue - A Proposal." The ideas embraced are strongly influenced by David Bohm. After reading the article it became clear to me that Dialogue - A Proposal laid down the foundational ideas for a number of further publications. That is, subsequent authors on the topic of dialogue have been strongly influenced by this article. I am reproducing a copy of the article here (with permission) to serve as a resource and reference point for other entries in EDN...

Interactivity: The "Wisdom" of Crowds?

James Surowiecki has released a book called The Wisdom of Crowds. There is a trend toward placing more and more emphasis on ideas about the collective, and safe to say that finding ways to help people learn more effectively together is important. We can see ideas like this being captured in ideas like collective intelligence, connected intelligence, smart mobs, and now the wisdom of crowds. Collective - connected - smart - wisdom. Yet, there is a possibility that these ideas can be taken to extremes...

Internet Culture: Digital Natives vs. Digital Immigrants?

Sometimes the conclusions about the use of technology in business leave me wondering... well, just wondering. The article Capturing the Value of "Generation Tech" Employees outlines differences between two fictional entities called digital natives and digital immigrants. In an earlier entry I referred to Douglas Rushkoff's opinion that many so called cultures or generations are "a crock" designed by marketers. I believe he is correct, and his criticism applies equally well to these unfounded and frankly misleading notions of digital natives and digital immigrants...

Language: "New" Approaches to Learning

If we are to understand learning, I believe one important strategy is to think about how we learned the things we value the most. Of course, there are some challenges with this. Values can be illusive and are context driven. The phrase "thinking about" can also provide a challenge - is this mere recollection of some important past events, or is this thinking a means to improve our lives. And if it is a means to improve our lives, then what improvements are we talking about, why are we talking about them, and how do we make them happen. Thinking is obviously necessary, but not in itself enough. Lisa Galarneau has written an insightful entry called "New" Approaches to Learning, and what I think is most important about the title of this entry are the quotation marks around the word "New"...

Language: Definitions of Learning

Words do not exist in isolation, they are part of an environment. We use words to define words and in this sense all words are metaphors for the experiences we communicate. They are not the actual things we are attempting to describe, but instead a representation of it, and this is a very enticing proposition. Language is at the foundation for much of what we say, do and think throughout our lives. Words are a kind of raw material that can be shaped, moulded, tuned, refined, designed, played with and explored in order to express ourselves. We can use a single word in a variety of ways, but they can also be used in very limiting ways.

Learning is a word that captures a wide variety of ideas and perspectives. It is not a simple word to develop an understanding of. Without assuming a basic position on it's meaning, however, discussing it coherently becomes difficult. But what is this basic position? ...

Language: Learning - A Maze of Adjectives

I recently read an article that was recommended on another site. What struck me was not the message being promoted but the various uses of the word "learning." This isn't a comprehensive list, but here's what I found in the article:

Language: Literacy & Online Gaming

There is an interesting exchange taking place at TerraNova. There is much to explore here and I was especially interested in the ideas about literacy in relation to "ingame play as the construction of a new kind of "nonlinear, multi-authored narrative." Ideas about literacy, especially as they relate to something called "the basics" in the education sector, have been the centre of a great deal of [circular] controversy here in Canada, so it is refreshing to see literacy being explored in new contexts. The author of the entry, Constance Steinkuehler, has captured the essential piece here...

Language: Why Should I Read?

What is the value of reading?

The Internet increases both the quantity of potential reading material available to us as well as the speed at which text-based material can be produced and published. A wide range of questions emerge that invite discussion about both the quantity and pace of reading:

• Do the linking abilities of the Internet really change the nature of reading?
• How do we deal with the increasing amounts of reading material available?
• Can we accelerate our reading habits to effectively cope with the accelerated production of text?
• Are the tools we are using facilitate the production of text facilitating or denigrating the experience of reading?
• Are there other technological tools we can develop in order to better sort through oceans of text in order to bring us only the most potentially relevant information we seek?
• If we change the media surround for text, do we assume we also able to change and update our mental capacities for reading?

A great deal of commentary about new forms of text-based communication focus on questions of what to do and how to do it. While there is value in pursuing these questions, the most important question each of us can ask ourselves with respect to reading is, "Why should I read?" This question helps us to step outside of the what and how of new tools in order to provide a foundation for integrating reading into our lives...

Learning: The Medium Is The Message

In Probe: Learning Environments and the Ecology of Learning I explored some possibilities for exploring an ecology of learning. Another lens that is often used as a metaphor for learning is new media. Through this lens we embrace ideas about learning through connectivity, networks, digital communication systems, and a wide range of other new media technologies. In a similar manner to an ecology of learning, a new media learning environment invites us to probe and explore some of the underlying assumptions about education. The phrase "the medium is the message" refers to McLuhan's probe into the pervasive nature of new media environments on our sensibilities and provides a useful point of departure...

Movies: Film Reflecting Life - Looking for Angelina

Two friends of mine, Sergio Navarretta and Alessandra Piccione, are in the midst of creating a movie called "Looking for Angelina." Sergio (Director) and Alessandra (Producer) own and operate Platinum Image. I find their ideas about film in general and their approach to film-making to be extremely interesting. Their work is now becoming better known as evidenced in the recent coverage of their new film "Looking for Angelina" in the National Post (May 6, 2004). The approach they take to film production is notable and offers insight into the learning process...

Networks: Connected Intelligence Training and Development

The CITD (Connected Intelligence Training and Development) program is a synthesis of Derrick de Kerckhove's ideas about Connected Intelligence with the learning model developed in The Virtual Community Project. This document was the foundation for a network-learning project that took place in Madeira, Portugal between 1998 and 2001.

[This entry connects back to an earlier discussion on network learning environments.]

Introductory information to the Madeira Project...

Networks: Global Attention Profiles & Witness

Through Ken's post Mapping The Silence I became aware of a project called Global Attention Profiles. The idea of mapping has certainly come into prominence with social network analysis. The challenge is to develop a mapping system that is as much in people's minds as it is on a screen...

Networks: Mobile Learning - What's Moving?

The idea of mobile learning, or m-Learning, frequently leads us into thinking about how the emerging forms of mobile technology will impact communication patterns in education. We might just as easily attach the idea of mobility to another are such as marketing (m-Marketing). New forms of technology frequently invite us to inquire into our exisiting situations and circumstances in the light of new and different ways of communicating. The results of these creative inquiries have ranged from minor variations on exisiting practices through to new visions and prophecies of transformation. One line of thinking partly inspired by the idea of m-Learning is the decline of traditional physical locations for learning, an idea that is misleading and potentially unhelpful...

Networks: Smart Mobs and ad hoc Learning

This is a long blog. Perhaps we could call it a blong or an oblong. Hopefully I won't receive a flogging for my blogging.

I just finished reading Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution by Howard Rheingold as well as exploring the Smart Mobs Blog and thought it might be interesting to connect a few of the many interesting ideas presented to some thoughts about learning. The first part outlines some interesting ideas about Smart Mobs and the second part begins exploring some connections to learning...

Other Features

A listing of other features available on EDN:

References

Listed below are specific references to books, music and movies. Related weblog entries in EDN can be found by searching for the name or title.

Research Archive: Media & Communication

A list of Media & Communication resources powered by Furl, Feedburner, and Feed2JS:

Technology: Technorealism

Technorealism is a loosely-coupled organization with a mandate of exploring the intersection of technology and values:

In this heady age of rapid technological change, we all struggle to maintain our bearings. The developments that unfold each day in communications and computing can be thrilling and disorienting. One understandable reaction is to wonder: Are these changes good or bad? Should we welcome or fear them?

Of particluar interest are the eight principles that define the mission of the Technorealism community...

Video: Witness - Video as a Lens on the World

WITNESS is a human rights organization rooted in the principle that “a picture is worth a 1,000 words.” By partnering with local organizations around the globe, WITNESS empowers human rights defenders to use video as a tool to shine a light on those most affected by human rights violations. Since its founding in 1992 by musician and advocate Peter Gabriel, WITNESS has partnered with more than 200 human rights groups in 50 countries, bringing often untold stories and unheard voices to the attention of key decision makers, the media, and general public to create lasting change.

As a WITNESS online activist, you can view video documentation of human rights violations in countries like Burma, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, for example, and sign online petitions to end those practices...

Web 2.0: Is a Tag The Same Thing As A Word?

Is a tag the same thing as a word? At first glance this may seem like a rather flimsy question. On the surface, a tag is a word that is used as a label to group and categorize content that is perceived to have something in common. Perhaps they are a means to help find and share content in socially driven web environments. In writing Tagging: The Numbstance of the Technological Idiot I ranted on about the intellectual frailty of tagging. So after a rant, it is always good to start having a closer look at the situation and begin experimenting with the environment to see if anything can be gleaned from it...

Web 2.0: TagCloud and Bloglines Subscriptions

I am trying an experiment with TagCloud and Bloglines. The idea is to transition my blogroll into a a series of tags that allow me to access the various RSS Feeds I read through tags. Here is what it looks like...

Web 2.0: Tagging - The Numbstance of the Technological Idiot?

Warning - rant ahead. After reading the help page at del.icio.us I quickly realized that I was one of those people still saying, "Yeah, but I don't get it." Some relief came in the subsequent helpful sentences, "That's ok, you don't have to. It's pretty intuitive and takes a bit of practice to fully understand. Just try it and experiment a bit!" Frankly, it's well beyond my intuition and after a little bit of practice I still don't understand it. That is, I understand what it does, but I don't have any understanding of why we would want to use it. The whole experience reminded me of...

Weblog Design: Blogroll

Experience Designer Network Blogroll: A listing of interesting weblogs. This entry is updated automatically via Bloglines as new weblogs are added. The Experience Designer Network Blogroll can also be viewed at Experience Designer Network @ Bloglines...

Weblog Design: Furl - Effective Use in Writing

In a previous entry Weblog Design: Furl - Social Bookmarking I outlined various links that serve to connect the Experience Designer Network to the Experience Designer Network Furl Archive. It seems to me that the real question around Furl is not as much about how it works, although understanding that is necessary, but how it can assist the weblog author in the writing process...

Weblog Design: Furl - Social Bookmarking

Furl: Social Bookmarks: The Experience Designer Network Furl Archive maintains a listing of websites related to the various themes in this weblog. Listed below are ways of accessing the Furl archive...

Weblog Design: Tracking Incoming Links

Incoming Links To EDN: From time to time it is useful to check incoming links to weblog entries. I find it interesting to discover how entries are included in other contexts. Listed below are some link tracking tools that can be used with any weblog...

Weblog Design: Weblog Development Tools

A list of weblog development tools via: A) EDN Internal Site Tools @ del.icio.us; and B) EDN Internal Site Tools Blogroll @ Bloglines...

Weblog Design: Writing Process

What is an effective writing process for a community weblog authors? Of course, there isn't one kind of writing process nor is there one purpose for writing. I sense that there are a number of strategic concerns an author needs to consider that have a direct impact on the design of a weblog. The source of design in a weblog, for me, refers more to the purpose, nature and character of the writing itself - or what we often refer to as the "content." But the content is interconnected with the tools used to create it...