The Static to Dynamic continuum is an interesting topic of discussion and is truly mapping our progression into the future of learning. Static means not changing and indicates where technology has come from, and Dynamic basically means changing, or not static.
In information systems we talk about Dynamic services or content as coming from databases or real-time feeds of data. This means that as systems change, the information shared between the users of the data changes as well.
This is pertinent in modern learning systems, because a pdf generated from a word document today may not be relevant tomorrow. Text books stating Pluto is a planet became outdated as soon as the decision to make it a dwarf planet was reached. However eTexts that are fed from databases could all be changed at one time with a single change in a classification field.
Real time simulations and multi player game environments are good examples of dynamic environments in which both teacher and learners can become part of the same environment and explore context driven information. An interesting blog for Sloodle, a way to assess learning in Second Life within the Moodle open source learning environment, indicates the trend for bringing information and wayfinding together for relevant information.
We have a brave new world ahead of us and I am beginning to emerge from one who fixes and scales technology to one who develops learning and relevance. I often find myself developing mostly static content, however I am always drawn to dynamic collaborative learning. We live in exciting times.
Britt, R. (2006). Scientists decide Pluto’s no longer a planet. MSNBC. Retrieved from:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14489259/
Bloomfield, P.(2010).quizHUD cited in WCC2010. retrieved from:https://www.sloodle.org/blog/?p=213
Tom,
ReplyDeleteI am not familiar with the acronym MMORPG....what is this?
Thanks,
Dave Harms
Hi Tom,
ReplyDeleteTechnology has certainly changed the educational landscape. Encyclopedias have become extinct. The students can log onto to encyclopedia.com or answers.com and get quality information about any given topic. Like you said, this information can be changed almost instantly when situations change.
I too use and develop static technologies but am drawn to dynamic technologies. It is so hard to keep abreast of the latest and greatest! It is also hard to find time to interact with those technologies so that you can teach with them.
Thanks for your insight!
Janelle
@Dave - MMORPG is the term for Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. Virtual worlds where there is a theme and the ability to play as different characters. For anyone who has played one, it is amazing what happens with social dynamics. In the early 2000s I played extensively and lead several "guilds." It took as much energy and leadership skills as any management or board position I've been in.
ReplyDelete@Janelle - I am extremely excited about the open education initiatives. With so much dynamic content and the tools that are developing to make the best use of it I am hoping the ability to access that information will just get easier.
My husband is studying healthcare IT systems for his MSN degree and has commented frequently about the need for dynamic information retrieval for the healthcare system. Many problems arise with patients when one doctor does not know what another doctor has prescribed because their medical records are not interconnected and do not instantly update. When you spoke of the backlog of information, such as in the case of "Pluto", I thought of how relevant the need for correct information is for everyone today. One of the examples I often gave my students regarding reliability of sources stems form Wikipedia. A few years back someone changed an entry on Penguins to say that Penguins were indigeonous to Massachusetts. The information remained for over 18 weeks before the error was corrected. For 18 weeks, people everywhere were fed wrong information. How can we take the best of dynamic learning and information and not get trapped by unscrupulous sources?
ReplyDeleteI noticed you mentioned "Tweetdeck" as one of your communication elements. How does "Tweetdeck" differ from "Hoot"?
ReplyDeleteElaine Gagne
Hi Tom,
ReplyDeleteWhere would RSS feeds fit on the continuum, then? While the content is static, the way it is delivered is not. Can students use it dynamically?
Best,
April