Friday, March 28, 2008

Learningtown

Some Q/A from the website: http://learningtown.ning.com
As we grow older (and hopefully wiser), I think that we come to understand the complexities - and appreciate the uniqueness of people. We want to label things and people, to be able to easily describe and communicate the association of a character or trait. I think that this is fine - in general. But you have to take the broad assertions in context. And that is where we mostly fail.

1. What do you see as substantial differences in how the Boomer generation learns from other generations? The tools being used, cultural environment, amount of people in classrooms, and newer technologies (may refer to tools).

2. Is there enough difference between those born 1946 to around 1955 and those born from 1955 through 1964 to warrant different discussions? I dont think so. I think its less about age groups, and more based around the environment of the learners (see above (tools, technology, etc.)).

What are the range of costs of producing a PodCast -- both internally and through an external vendor? First, I think that developing just for audio (a PodCast) is limiting your audience. If you develop for video (like youtube), you will have a greater opportunity for an audience, and more options as a medium. From that video, you can create a seperate audio file - and serve it up to users that want just that. Internal: $75 per hour (pc, webcam or mic $60, recording time, editing time (free editing apps are out there), review, changes, posting on server). (does not include user tracking). External: $200 per hour" _joinprompttext=""> What are the range of costs of producing a PodCast -- both internally and through an external vendor? First, I think that developing just for audio (a PodCast) is limiting your audience. If you develop for video (like youtube), you will have a greater opportunity for an audience, and more options as a medium. From that video, you can create a seperate audio file - and serve it up to users that want just that. Internal: $75 per hour (pc, webcam or mic $60, recording time, editing time (free editing apps are out there), review, changes, posting on server). (does not include user tracking). External: $200 per hour

What circumstances make a virtual world appropriate/beneficial to the learning space? Directly, where aspects of the environment is what your are trying to learn or understand. Preparing for a crisis, emergencies, or disasters... dealing with a garden(plants), animals(zoo)... creating a road, working in a nuclear plant, working in space, and more...
Why is Second Life always so empty? Because it is so involved (complex). Its not something that you can easily get in and out of like a phonecall. You have to prepare yourself to be immersed into the 3D world.

Do we, as a professional body subscribe to academic validation versus real life experience? I think both are valid - and have a place.
As to the question of "papers", you have to look at who controls the power. Just because a college or university give/require degrees, just furthers their business. A popular misconception is that they have the final say on whether a person is qualified.

As an employer, they want a fast route in the interview process to know that you are trustworthy. Hence "papers" from a college can help in this - but a good portfolio of work, in combo with many testimonials will work just as well.

As for small phones/PDAs? The market is still so new - but rapidly forming into groups. In creating for these, you have to look at the leaders (and new technologies) of the industry: Blackberry, Apples iPhone, and the (possibly this fall) Google Android. Consider the audience, portability, and future paths of that technology.

PS. I can only hope that all generations have the trait - the challenging of convention.

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