Dianne Fulton
Edpsy –490i
The Levin et al. article summarizes many teachers' ideas about what the World Wide Web is. What is your own metaphor about the web? More generally, what is the value of metaphors for generating understandings?
The Levin el al. article suggests
that the various metaphors ascribed to the World Wide Web are as numerous as
the personalities that use the Web. The
summary conclusion, “The most striking (finding) in the diversity of mental
modes that people have, both for the Internet and for its uses. The second is that experts differ from
novices not in the kinds of models they have, but in having multiple, detailed
models that they switch between in the process of using the network to
accomplish tasks.” Those with more
Internet experience are aware of its potential and comprehend the very vastness
of the World Wide Web. Those just
beginning to use the Internet (novices) develop an ever increasing awareness of
its possibilities on a daily, but may remain “tangled” in the vast “strings” of
the web until the newness wears off. As
Levin’s indicates, it is easy to identify those who do not appreciate the web
(i.e. those who call it fungus) and those that do not comprehend it (i.e.
consider it an encyclopedia). The metaphors
evolve as one becomes more familiar with web resources. The metaphors indicate the attitude of the
personality and at what level of instruction (about technology) is appropriate.
Experience demonstrates that it
takes more than one class about technology for classroom teachers to become
familiar with use of its various tools.
Not only do teachers require a general understanding of technology, they
must know how to apply it to the student’s needs, experience, and skill
levels. Availability, time constraints,
and computer capability are some of the practical considerations for the
application of computer training in the classroom. Educators no longer have the latitude to avoid such
considerations; however, some school districts are failing to keep abreast of
the rapid advances in technology. This
evidence arises in District 186 by the absence of any IBM-based computers in
the elementary schools. Maybe this
indicates what metaphor might be that the technology directors have for
technology at that level.
It's been said that a metaphor is the only way to take a learner from what is known, to what is new. Arguably, every computer application and interface makes some use of existing understandings in the form of metaphors. Consider for instance the graphical interface metaphors built around 'office' concepts - such as desktops, internet-delivered 'mail,' 'paint pallettes' in graphic design programs. What are some of the more successful (or less successful!) examples of metaphoric borrowing you have seen on the web? What do/don't you like about them?
Metaphors are useful as comparisons. Learning occurs when there are associations with experiences or prior knowledge. Some examples of metaphor use on the Web, is with Netscape-one “navigates” with their system. This is an adequate term for a beginner since many feel that they navigate through a new sea of discovery. Shockwave employed for an Interactive Game for the major project provided some interesting metaphors. This program uses a musical score to compose the program. The contents of each page are the “cast,” and so on. Obviously, this is someone’s idea of a good analogy and visual representation. Since metaphors are useful as memory triggers and attitude indicators, their use for the vastness of technology is helpful with the higher levels of cognizance and focus needed to perform many of the tasks. One needs to analyze, understand, categorize, and employ the information obtained.
Brent
Wilson (Metaphors for instruction:
Why we talk about learning environments) states that, “The ‘information
superhighway’ metaphor, now widely used to convey the implications of
high-performance computing and communications, is an inadequate analogy.” Many of the metaphors are contained in the
names of many of the software products solely for marketing proposes. As a result, many are very misleading. Consider, as examples, “Word Perfect, Opera,
Yeah Write, Outlook, Power Point, etc.”
Which one came close to what it was indicating in its name? One cannot help but wonder what Microsoft
now has up their sleeve with their new XP products. Is it really an eXPerience, a crossing point, or a gross
marketing error?
Considering
the progress made to date, my current metaphor is that the World Wide Web is
more than a superhighway, it is an ever expanding universe of bodies of
knowledge, high-speed transfer, inner communications, communication to other
galaxies of humans and technologies, and open to infinite possibilities. We are the early explorers and pioneers on an
adventure if not on the Internet, at least, in getting our schools “wired” and
“on-line.”