This stands for the meaning of something. It describes something that makes a computer understand certain things. It has been argued that how can a computer understand things as well as humans? A computer has the task of finding things out for people and a semantic web allows it to do just that.
It is from W3C director Tim Berners-Lee's vision of the web.
Is this a good thing in society? How will we benefit?
Monday 14 April 2008
web 3.0
A term that contrasts to the semantic web. Both ways that will evolve over the next few years. It is a path that will dramatise in the next years, it will transform the web into the database. Making web use quicker and easier.
This will lead to possibities in artificial intelligence. Half of me thinks that as a society, we are becoming obsessed with technology and its enhancements. The other half thinks that we need to adapt to the changes and there is nothing wrong with us becoming better off through technology. I do however, think its a little sad how much we rely on it!
What do others think?
This will lead to possibities in artificial intelligence. Half of me thinks that as a society, we are becoming obsessed with technology and its enhancements. The other half thinks that we need to adapt to the changes and there is nothing wrong with us becoming better off through technology. I do however, think its a little sad how much we rely on it!
What do others think?
Sunday 13 April 2008
Frustrations of a fictional neo-luddite
Tom wakes up to the intense shaking of his mother. Not the typical alarm clock awakening most of us are used to! Tom's mother screams at him in her strong french accent down the corridor.....'Tommy sis time to get up! Vid vid!' After a groan Tom climbs out of bed to a quiet house. His mother is standing over the stove mixing up his daily bowlful of porridge.
He looks at the only clock in the house and makes his way to school after his usual routine of getting dressed and washed in dead silence. He can hear the television of next door and can sometimes make out the words if he's lucky.
After a 20 minute walk he arrives at the University. Passing students in their own little world, with their ear pieces and on their mobile phones, he makes his way to his lecture room.
His english is still not as good as it should be and it takes a while for him to realise that the lecturer is asking him to sit down and sign into a computer. After trying a few times, he raises his hand and asks for 'elp!' 10 minutes later after pressing about 20 different buttons, he was finally logged onto a computer. Everyone around him was typing away as if they were playing a piano! He was well and truely lost and giving up was in the near distance. After staring at the screen the lecturer waved his students out of the room. Finished already? If every lecture was like this, he would most certainly fail.
At lunch, he fiddled in his pocket until he found a £1 coin, he walked to the nearest phone box (30 minute walk) and dialled the number for his mum. 'Bonjour!' she cried. She obviously hadn't grasped the idea that it was 'hello' in this country! After a quick hello, Tom couldnt help but feel upset at the sound of his mums voice. For a moment, he longed to be back in France, where talking was normal and not being unsociable with ipods!
Tom returned home that night with square eyes and a headache from so many computers. He was nervous at the thought of asking his mother for a lap-top.....he wondered if hand written essays were acceptable in this country?? Dreaming of France, he fell asleep.
He looks at the only clock in the house and makes his way to school after his usual routine of getting dressed and washed in dead silence. He can hear the television of next door and can sometimes make out the words if he's lucky.
After a 20 minute walk he arrives at the University. Passing students in their own little world, with their ear pieces and on their mobile phones, he makes his way to his lecture room.
His english is still not as good as it should be and it takes a while for him to realise that the lecturer is asking him to sit down and sign into a computer. After trying a few times, he raises his hand and asks for 'elp!' 10 minutes later after pressing about 20 different buttons, he was finally logged onto a computer. Everyone around him was typing away as if they were playing a piano! He was well and truely lost and giving up was in the near distance. After staring at the screen the lecturer waved his students out of the room. Finished already? If every lecture was like this, he would most certainly fail.
At lunch, he fiddled in his pocket until he found a £1 coin, he walked to the nearest phone box (30 minute walk) and dialled the number for his mum. 'Bonjour!' she cried. She obviously hadn't grasped the idea that it was 'hello' in this country! After a quick hello, Tom couldnt help but feel upset at the sound of his mums voice. For a moment, he longed to be back in France, where talking was normal and not being unsociable with ipods!
Tom returned home that night with square eyes and a headache from so many computers. He was nervous at the thought of asking his mother for a lap-top.....he wondered if hand written essays were acceptable in this country?? Dreaming of France, he fell asleep.
The youngest digital Immigrant I know
My mum is 42 and has no clue about technology at all!
Heres an example of how bad she is.....She lost her phone last week and went into the Orange shop for a new one. After being bombarded by the people that work there to buy the newest swakiest phone there, she chose a phone that would cost her £49.99. This is because she has no idea how to use a phone and cannot be bothered to learn! She would rather sacrifice getting a brand new phone and look up-to-date and 'cool!' and get the cheapest and easiest phone because she says she 'has no time to learn'. This proves what Prensky says, that all people over 25 are digital immigrants. Even though not all people are living up to this, my mother (bless her!) is what Prensky calls a digital Immigrant! (and an embarracment!)
Heres an example of how bad she is.....She lost her phone last week and went into the Orange shop for a new one. After being bombarded by the people that work there to buy the newest swakiest phone there, she chose a phone that would cost her £49.99. This is because she has no idea how to use a phone and cannot be bothered to learn! She would rather sacrifice getting a brand new phone and look up-to-date and 'cool!' and get the cheapest and easiest phone because she says she 'has no time to learn'. This proves what Prensky says, that all people over 25 are digital immigrants. Even though not all people are living up to this, my mother (bless her!) is what Prensky calls a digital Immigrant! (and an embarracment!)
The oldest digital native I know
My grandparents are so madly up to date when it comes to technology. It actually puts me to shame!!
They know so so much about technology and how it changes so rapidly. I can go round there and ask them anything about computers and my nan says, 'shouldnt you be the one teaching me?' They are right! However, whose to say thats how it should be? I always learn so much from my grandparents and them teaching me about things 'i should know' shouldn't stop them! They are always keeping up to date with technology and my Grandad has a cupboard full of gadgets and other silly little technological thingies!! They could actually open up a technology shop! They would earn loads! Maybe it's because they dont want to be behind the times and seen as old...or maybe its because they have nothing better to do! Either way....I think its great!
They know so so much about technology and how it changes so rapidly. I can go round there and ask them anything about computers and my nan says, 'shouldnt you be the one teaching me?' They are right! However, whose to say thats how it should be? I always learn so much from my grandparents and them teaching me about things 'i should know' shouldn't stop them! They are always keeping up to date with technology and my Grandad has a cupboard full of gadgets and other silly little technological thingies!! They could actually open up a technology shop! They would earn loads! Maybe it's because they dont want to be behind the times and seen as old...or maybe its because they have nothing better to do! Either way....I think its great!
Week 9- education being tailored to fit into their preferences
If teachers were there to fit their teaching methods to students preferences there would be problems in the long run.
The question is where do you draw the line?? If a child with cultural preferences wishes to make a change in the way a teacher is teaching, whose to say then that another child may have a problem with that?
This is a similar argument to when rules and regualtions are made and are changed because of peoples culture. At my secondary school, we were not allowed to wear jewlery, however, those religious people were able to wear a tiny cross. I agree, that there should be respect for others cultures and religion. But also, people should respect rules and reguations of a school. They are there for a reason. Its all about adapting to other cultures too.
I think that when it comes to teaching, students need to respect the authority of an educator and accept their teaching methods. What do others think?
The question is where do you draw the line?? If a child with cultural preferences wishes to make a change in the way a teacher is teaching, whose to say then that another child may have a problem with that?
This is a similar argument to when rules and regualtions are made and are changed because of peoples culture. At my secondary school, we were not allowed to wear jewlery, however, those religious people were able to wear a tiny cross. I agree, that there should be respect for others cultures and religion. But also, people should respect rules and reguations of a school. They are there for a reason. Its all about adapting to other cultures too.
I think that when it comes to teaching, students need to respect the authority of an educator and accept their teaching methods. What do others think?
Week 9- Should education stretch a person?
This is a difficult question to answer? What do we mean by 'stretching' a person?
There are many factors which are needed to take into consideration here. Age, sex, capability, background.
A younger person is there to learn how to learn. If a teacher is pushing a student from a young age, it will make the resent education and work in the long run. I think if you see potential in a child from a young age, encouragement is the way to deal with him/her.
Girls and boys both learn and grow up differently. Different teaching methods are used to each individual child to suit them. For example it is known that girls prefer to do essays and present their work sufficently. Whereas boys, would rather get it out the way with less hassle. This is why girls outperform boys when it comes to coursework, however, boys seem to do better in exams (national statistics online).
As a child gets older, it is important to stretch them a little further, simply because you do not want them to get into the idea that they are better than anyone else. I went to school with a girl who was always praised from a young age. By the time she was doing her GCSE's, she thought she was better than everyone, so didnt do any revision. Because of this she failed her exams. The teachers were focussing all their attention on rewarding her, they forgot to stretch her mind more. It is important to praise students, but too much of this could lead on to other negative outcomes.
What do others think? Do all the factors ive stated affect if a child should be stretched? Or can you think of more?
There are many factors which are needed to take into consideration here. Age, sex, capability, background.
A younger person is there to learn how to learn. If a teacher is pushing a student from a young age, it will make the resent education and work in the long run. I think if you see potential in a child from a young age, encouragement is the way to deal with him/her.
Girls and boys both learn and grow up differently. Different teaching methods are used to each individual child to suit them. For example it is known that girls prefer to do essays and present their work sufficently. Whereas boys, would rather get it out the way with less hassle. This is why girls outperform boys when it comes to coursework, however, boys seem to do better in exams (national statistics online).
As a child gets older, it is important to stretch them a little further, simply because you do not want them to get into the idea that they are better than anyone else. I went to school with a girl who was always praised from a young age. By the time she was doing her GCSE's, she thought she was better than everyone, so didnt do any revision. Because of this she failed her exams. The teachers were focussing all their attention on rewarding her, they forgot to stretch her mind more. It is important to praise students, but too much of this could lead on to other negative outcomes.
What do others think? Do all the factors ive stated affect if a child should be stretched? Or can you think of more?
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