The Machine is Us/ing Us (Final Version)

I just had to share this really interesting video from Professor Michael L. Wesch from Kansas State University. He is profiled in a Chronicle of Higher Education article about a cultural anthropology course where students are doing an ethnography of You Tube. Really great article, but what is interesting is the very thoughtful way Professor Wesch is using You Tube as a teaching and learning tool. Check out the video interview from the Chronicle article. The video linked here reflects on what has become to be known as Web 2.0. Using this video format, he raises all kinds of great questions about how we use technology, what relationship we have to that technology and the ways in which it can serve as a means for connection (or disconnection). I just though the video was so interesting, I wanted to share it.

I just may experiment with video blogging in the next version of HCOM 310!

End of the semester!?

Well, here we are at the end of the semester and I wanted to just thank all the seminars in the HCOM 310 class this semester. I really enjoyed working with you and realized, as I do everytime I work with students, how much I learn from all of you! This week's dialogue projects have been a great example of that. With our last seminar going tomorrow, I just wanted to make sure to capture what I was thinking. Each topic has really made me think about a new issue. I hope you won't mind if I steal one or two of these topics for next spring's HCOM 310 class!

I also want to compliment each of our seminars for creating such interesting (and unique) learning communities. Just listening in or sometimes participating has been a great experience for me as a teacher. Sometimes we don't just get the chance to let you all "drive the bus" so to speak, and Its a great experience to see what happens when you do. I was first introduced to seminar learning as a student at Muhlenberg College. It was such a small school, most of the classes in my major (history) were seminars. I had at least two that I remember that were research seminars. It is also typical in grad school as well as a method to learn from each other. For these experiences, I really learned the value of taking responsibility for engaging others in dialogue. I have to say, however, that it is a rare experience, typically only possible in private schools. For example, the picture above is a seminar from St. John's College which bases all of its courses on the seminar. I guess what I want to say is that having been a student in seminars, taught seminars at Sonoma State (in the Hutchins School--which also uses seminar based learning) and having researched student learning in seminars as part of a year long research project, I can truly say you all did a fantastic job of using the best techniques seminars offer to their advantage. Kudos to all of you. Have a great summer!