(via George
Siemens) Now I know I’m kinda strange, but the premise of this
article from Educause seriously gives me chills:
What
do we wish for? That every citizen, at birth,
will be granted acradle-to-grave, lifetime personal Web space that will
enable connections among personal, educational, social, and business
systems.
Ok, now I know that’s a lot to wrap your
brain around, especially on a Friday afternoon. But if you are at all
interested in the potential of the read/write Web and what it might
evolve into, I think this is must reading. The paradigm shift is
staggering, and the pedagogical foundation its build on is still pretty
rickety, but think about some of this, for starters:
The
LPWS will store
searchable content (personal, educational,social, business) that was
important in a user’s past and make it accessible for future use, as
well as current projects. Since technology changes over time, the older
sections of the Web space (for example, K–12 grade content) might be
technologically less sophisticated, but would connect nonetheless to
newer additions (such as postgraduate work activities).The primary user
would decide whether
a cell is private or public (potentially functioning as an e-portfolio
or Web site) and who will
be permitted to enter various parts of the structure. Some cells may
be off-limits (even invisible) to all but the primary user. Moreover,
the user will decide which cells connect to others and which do not. As
the user matures, an analysis of the types and numbers of connections
might assist in setting goals and strategies for subsequent personal
and professional development.
Um, whoa. I seriously want one of these. And the benefits:
Few students maintain ready access to both the content and products
from their K–12 years. College students typically sell their books and
lose access to their collegiate course management Web sites. While an
e-portfolio provides ready access to selected work products, intent and
effort are required to transport content between separate, often
incompatible systems. The LPWS construct will enable users to preserve
more knowledge over time and to forge richer connections between their
academic and work endeavors.
Read the scenario that’s included. In fact, read the whole thing. What
a concept.I think the reason this idea connects so strongly for me is
because of what I’ve been mentioning recently about this being a
learning log, and probably the most educational experience of my life.
It’s really wild when I think about it. For me, blogging just clicked;
maybe I had the gene, or maybe it was because I always wanted to write,
or that I’m an info junkie or a hundred other reasons. But I have
sampled the Kool-Aid, and I really do believe. In some really strange
way (remember, I am sorta out there…) it’s like my recorded life
began three years ago, and I really wish I had a more historical
archive. Should have started earlier.
Anyway, this is what the
read/write Web makes possible for us and for our students. We just have
to grab it.
Hmmm… makes me think of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Robin Williams’ new film, Final Cut. The idea that our memories/experiences can be digitized, and later recalled. Hmmm… either very cool or very scary…
Personally, I think if we have the option of public and private
memories, I think it’s extremely cool, and I would love to work on an
idea like this for students. I think one of the things that is so
frustrating about the read/write Web in schools topic right now is that
I STILL don’t think there is anyone out there really integrating these
tools into a package or a LPWS for students. I just think the potential
is HUGE. Hmmm…maybe it’s time to shop the idea more seriously.
Reminds me a lot of Jason Kottke’s webos and
Jeff Jarvis’ “a
place for my stuff” thoughts applied to the education space.
Great stuff.
I’ve been considering doing something at the elementary level.
I’d love to see every child get a blog when they come in to the
school. Throughout their time here, they could use it as a
journal, a portfolio, a tool for collaboration, essentially a true home
on the web. Just imagine being a graduating 8th grader and being
able to review your entire educational life, all the way back to
Kindergarten. We’d obviously have to find some way to export it
for them to take with them as they go. I just love the idea of
students being able to keep everything in one central location that
documents their educational journey.