Tag Archives for education

Information Overload | April 12, 2012

This installment of IO is science & technology themed!

Lots of good stuff in the news this week, so I’m doing another IO to share some of the best.

Can journalism be more scientific? | Read Write Web

I really like this article because it’s something I think about often. As an academic whose research is primarily on science and technology, and also as an environmental journalist, I am constantly trying to ensure that the science I report on and write about is accurate. But as a journo, it’s also part of my job to convey ideas to a general readership who are probably not all experts in science. However, I think that if journos can approach their work with a researcher’s mentality—since I consider journalism to be another facet of research anyway… hence how I found myself as a journalist…—we can ultimately hold our readership to higher standards, and have more in-depth conversations about science.

Etsy Narrows the Gender Gap with a Coding Scholarship for Women | Good.is

This is so awesome. Good job, Etsy! I really think that these kinds of projects are going to help balance the gender gap in programming and computer science. I would kill to go toHackerSchoolfor three months; alas, I don’t get that much time off of work.

Build Your Own VPN to Pimp Out Your Gaming, Streaming, Remote Access, and Oh Yeah, Security | Lifehacker

Thinking about setting this up at home. Do you have a system like this? The setup seems pretty straightforward. I’m totally lazy when it comes to web security so it’s probably time that I step my game up a bit.

The First Universal Quantum Network | Slashdot

This is… kind of amazing, and kind of mindboggling.

8 things Instagram did right | Read Write Web

Count me in as an Instagram fangirl. I really do enjoy this app, but we’ll see what happens now that it’s in Facebook’s hands. Is anyone else getting really tired of Facebook? I want to stay connected to people, but the interface of Facebook feels so outdated compared to much snazzier apps and social networking sites available.

Information Overload | Where to go on the web, Part I

So I flaked on doing an Information Overload last week. To make up for that, I’m doing a two-parter this week. But instead of just sharing articles, I’d like to share some of my favorite websites and apps I use to access and read the news, since I think that the outlet is often just as important as the content.

My favorite websites have three components:

  • Well researched—but approachable—writing on a variety of topics.
  • A nice, clean design, that offers options to share
  • Regularly updated content

Pretty straightforward, right? I’m a journalist, so I’m pretty well versed in the inside secrets of publishing, but it also means that while my standards are minimal, they are set pretty high.

Without further ado, here is part I of my favorite places to read news.

Technology/Education

Good.is

This is the first site I visit every day because it tackles topics from across the board. However, I especially enjoy it for their articles on education and technology. Given that it’s my academic field, I’m usually pretty in-the-know about innovations, but Good.is is always introducing new topics that I then spend hours researching. Their staff writers are great, and this website is packed full of great content every day. If I could only read one website for the rest of my life, it’d be this one, hands down.

ArsTechnica

AT has a great assortment of articles related to technology, but I like that they don’t just report on specific gadgets or things—they critically analyze the impact that technology has on society. I think they also do a good job of being pretty technical; often, technology websites stay away from getting to the nitty gritty of it in an effort to make it more accessible by non-techies, but AT has a knowledgeable staff that is able to look at technology not just as writers who fanboy over it, but as journalists who study it.

Politics/World News

Alternet

Alternet is my go-to site for political news, and for saying that I’ll probably be called out for being a lefty, which should probably be common knowledge by now. I like Alternet because they cover different topics and also share news from other sources. This is a good site for critical arguments on hot political topics.

Think Progress

TP is similar to Alternet, but I like their website design a bit more. Their writers aren’t afraid to be harsh, honest and well-researched critics. This one is also accused of being a lefty site, but I find a lot of their posts to be pretty objective, and they always include video clips or references directly in their articles, which is very helpful.

Huffington Post

Because they have so many writers, HuffPo is a hit or miss, but it’s a great one-stop-shop for breaking news across the spectrum. I like that they have people other than just trained journalists writing articles (like doctors, teachers, artists, etc). Their website design leaves a lot to be desired for me though, and I suggest reading the comments sections at your own peril.

Environment

TreeHugger

I visit TreeHugger often because they have succinct stories on many environmental topics, including food, transportation, technology, etc. Their articles are pretty straightforward—and sometimes extremely short, which isn’t always a bad thing—and they aren’t afraid to get political (especially since environmental issues are so tied to politics). There’s also always new content every time I visit, which can be several times in one day. My biggest problem with it, though, is there is a huge site-wide bias in favor of vegetarianism/veganism, as if those lifestyles can’t be wasteful (even though they can be just as much as any other). I’d like them to at least open up discussion for those of us who are carnivorous and still eco-conscious.

Inhabitat

I fell in love with Inhabitat the first time I visited. They are similar to TreeHugger, but their website has a better design, and their articles are usually better edited. The whole focus is on “design,” which often translates better as innovation. Cool, interesting content.

High Country News

This website (and magazine) has a good range of opinion and news stories from the west coast. They have some really beautiful essays, and they get pretty thorough about the political issues they choose to cover. I just wish more of their content was accessible without a subscription, but I’ll probably splurge and get one anyway.

Websites I frequent often but don’t necessarily recommend

Reddit

So I’m an avid redditor and spend way too much time on this site, but it’s hard to always recommend it. The key to using Reddit is seeking out subreddits on topics you enjoy. I have the best experience and discussion in niche subreddits, rather than the main ones that seem to attract the most sexist, ignorant people on the planet. I don’t want to give Reddit an unfair reputation, but there are a lot of douche bags on it. It’s kind of a weird, self-inflicted subculture. Some days it’s an excellent resource and community. And on others, it’s a self-righteous mob. That being said, I use it constantly.

Gizmodo/Gawker/io9/etc.

I have such mixed feelings about this whole market of websites. They all post interesting, approachable stories, but even though they are all on different topics (gaming, technology, sports, hacking, etc.) there seems to be a lot of crossover. That’s fine, but I don’t really understand why they aren’t just separate websites. Sometimes, their journalism is just flat out bad, outwardly biased and sensationalized. If you’re going to use any of them, use LifeHacker. That one seems to be the best, and they have some cool tips and ideas.

Apartment Therapy

AT seems to have a cult following. I used to read it religiously, but it started to wear on me after a while. I love home design and lifestyle blogs and websites, and AT often has cool articles that feature neat people with neat homes. I don’t like it as much since they consolidated all of their other websites like Unpluggd and Re-nest (both of which I loved) but it’s still worth checking out. The thing I most dislike about AT is that they sometimes seem to feature the same kinds of people–young white people with a decent amount of money (enough to live in swanky lofts and whatnot in big cities) who work as freelance web designers or something. It gets kind of monotonous to see Ikea furniture and Apple computers. Also, the people who comment on the site can be extremely picky about silly things and it all seems frivolous if I spend too much time on there. But I do like a lot of their posts.

Favorite aggregators

Feedly.com

(yes, we still use Windows XP at work)

I am addicted to Feedly. I almost always have it open when I’m at work or at home. I love the design and the options to change the layout. For instance, if I have a category where a lot of the blogs/websites are heavy on art, I like to use the mosaic layout that shows tiles of different images. But for another category that’s more focused on journalistic content, I like the magazine or full content template. I also like its compatibility with my smartphone. A must-have if you like your feeds to have a bit of style.

Google Currents

This Android app looks really slick. Because I use Feedly so much, I don’t use Currents as much as I’d like to, but it’s a cool looking resource and easy to use. It’s a big step up from Google reader which, while it was user-friendly, was often too cluttered for my place. I subscribe to aLOTof websites, so I need something with a lot of options to catalog everything. However, I wish I knew how to change the favicons on my personal site since Currents often just pulls the first image from the website and uses it, which can be misleading for new readers.

Pulse

Before I got my smartphone, I usually just used my Nook Color tablet for mobile news. I don’t use Pulse that much anymore, but I really really like it. One of the reasons I don’t use it is because they don’t have a desktop version like Feedly does, and I’m on my computer a lot more than I’m on my phone or tablet. But Pulse has some great recommendations for cool websites and also has a nice, clean interface. On the tablet, you can categorize blogs and websites by page, so if you swipe over, you can view a new category. It’s pretty cool. Now I want to use it again…

Stay tuned for Part II coming soon. What are your favorite websites?

Information Overload | February 3, 2012

Eek! I almost forgot to do an Information Overload this week. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t been keeping up with news on the web like I usually do, but here’s a few articles that were most memorable.

GAMING

Oklahoma lawmaker proposes tax on “violent” video games (andUltimate Card Games) | Ars Technica

I’m biased because a big part of my livelihood is research video games, this kind of stuff makes me rage. Instead of targeting video games, we should be working with people to ensure that they don’t become needlessly violent and act out, and taking an honest look at why our society is making people violent in the first place. I’m of the belief—and research supports this—that people who act violently are people who would have done so with or without video games. Research also supports that violent games are a way to safely express natural violent urges that reside in most human beings. Many are divided on this issue, but I stand firm that censorship is never an effective way to deal with larger societal problems.

SCIENCE

Study of deadly flu sparks debate amidst fears of new pandemic | Ars Technica

It’s hard to say at this point how serious this may be, especially since the H1N1 hysteria a couple years ago got a bit out of control. However, I do take these kinds of studies seriously and this is why vaccination is IMPERATIVE—preventative measures save lives.

Nuclear Fusion | Do the Math

Really thorough and interesting read on nuclear fusion. Some of the math is a little over my head since I’m still totally inept at math, but I found this an engaging post on a complex topic.

CULTURE

Hating on the ladies: The real backlash against Pinterest | Good.is

I’ve been using Pinterest lately, and I actually quite like it. I’ll admit that I do bookmark things for my future wedding, so the diagram made me laugh. I use it a lot more than I use Tumblr, because I have my blog here at WordPress which works better for blogging, and I think Pinterest is a better digital version of a bulletin board. Re-pinning something on an interface like that makes more sense to me. In any case, this is a good article. Most of my friends who use Pinterest are stay-at-home mom types, but what’s wrong with that? I like that, as a woman, I can plan for my future wedding and compile all of the awesome Skyrim screenshots I see around the web, all on one site. Not to mention, I had pinned a picture of my Altoid phone charger and it got a ton of repins, so I don’t think everyone on there is only interested in domestic stuff. And even if they are—who cares? If anything, I see tons of ideas for DIY projects.

EDUCATION

Teachers in Bankrupt Pennsylvania School District Pledge to Work for Free | Good.is

This article is a few weeks old and somehow I missed it. These teachers are wonderful, and that’s how you know people love what they do—when their paycheck is taken away and they still want to work. However, these teachers shouldn’t have to do this. We should be supporting educators, not requiring them to do a really hard job for nothing. Would you do this for your job? I would. :)

INFORMATION

Very complex complexity in graphics—sexy too? | Visual Journalism

I love Tatiana Plakhova’s artwork, but I like this blog post because it addresses a huge problem with infographics—that they end up being more about the graphics than the info. Infographics, when done correctly, are great ways to efficiently share information, but they should always be evaluated critically. In any case, her artwork is beautiful, so I’d check it out anyway. ;)

Information Overload | January 27, 2012

So I’ve decided to do Information Overload on Fridays as well, because by the end of the week I’ve probably read more cool stuff that I want to share, and I had a lot of fun doing the installment on Monday. It’s like an annotated bibliography! (Why am I excited about that? Can you tell I’ve been in academia mode?)

If you have any cool articles you think I’d like, send ‘em my way by visiting my contact page!

CURRENT EVENTS

Remembering January 25 in Egypt and on Twitter | The Daily Dot

It’s been a year since the Tahrir Square protest in Cairo, Egypt. It was a revolution that shook the world awake and has resulted in countless other protests throughout the globe, including America’s ongoing Occupy Wall Street. This article features people commemorating the Arab Spring anniversary.

The world’s biggest ever strike, India, 28th February 2012 | Libcom

Speaking of collective action, India is planning the world’s biggest strike on February 28th. Sounds like a call for some global solidarity. A large stone dropped into a lake sets off some big ripples…

EDUCATION

EdCamp turns teachers into grassroots idea hackers | Good.is

I’ll read pretty much anything with “education” and “hackers” in it, so this article struck my fancy almost immediately. I love the notion of educators “hacking” ideas—that’s what they should be doing! I also think the “unconference” idea is interesting and I’d like to participate in something like that sometime. If I end up doing my PhD soon, I’d like to get more involved with EdCamp. I’m pretty convinced that bridging education with hacking culture is what will save our schools, because we’ll end up deconstructing everything that isn’t working and forming a new way of approaching learning—hopefully with an open source mentality. :) (On a somewhat related note, Good.is’s Education section is one of the best on the web. The editor Liz Dwyer tackles a ton of great topics. I highly suggest subscribing to her new’s feed if you’re at all interested in the future of education.)

Google says Chromebooks now in hundreds of schools | Hack Education

Later this weekend I’ll be sharing an essay about why Apple’s announcement about textbooks on the iPad isn’t a big deal at all, and this is a good reason why. As an open source advocate, I think that digital textbooks are an excellent way to reduce the financial and environmental burden of physical textbooks, and can be used to make interactive, innovative texts from which students can learn and actually interact with. Inexpensive—or even free—technology should be a huge focus of educators and investors looking for a project in which to invest, because it makes knowledge and information accessible to students who may never have had access to it before. I like that Google is encouraging an open platform that can be adapted to fit particular schools. It’s nice to see this kind of tech in classrooms.

ENVIRONMENT

Saving Food From The Fridge: It Will Taste Better, May Even last Longer, And Reduce Your Energy Bills | Treehugger

Aside from the snarky comments toward technology—I’ll never understand why technology and the environment have to be regarded as separate… even the most basic tools our ancestors made are technically considered “technological”—I think this is a really interesting approach to storing food. My boyfriend and I are always stressing about our produce going bad in our fridge, so sometimes we leave certain items out on the counter (which doesn’t always help either). I would love another way to store—and display!—my food, because I think vegetables are terrific and deserve to be seen in a home. I agree with the point that when beautiful and colorful produce is displayed, people are more likely to pick it up and chomp on it. I am always tempted to bite into radishes when I’m at the market. Mmm. I’m really interested in the science behind food decay, which I think would help people better understand how to compost and store their food.

TECHNOLOGY

Human-like Autonomous Robot Made From Recycled Parts for Under $500 | Treehugger

Uh oh. The robot takeover has begun. Just kidding. This is so cool! There are so many things you can build with some old parts.

I, for one, am very glad it’s Friday. What are your plans for the weekend? I’m thinking about spray painting my laptop, which I just recently fixed and reformatted (with Fedora 16, finally. Holla!). Or I might just continue redecorating my houses in Skyrim with console commands. It’s pretty much my new favorite hobby.

Information Overload | January 23, 2012

I’m a journalist, so naturally, I’m a news junkie. But I’m also a researcher interested in how people consume and seek out information, so I know firsthand that there is an overwhelming amount of content available to us at all times. This is awesome, but it can also make it hard to think critically about the content with which we are confronted.

I read a lot—a lot—of blogs and websites daily, and I’d like to start sharing some interesting links with you every Monday. So, without further ado, here is the start of the new series, Information Overload!

EDUCATION

Is Sweden’s classroom free school the future of learning? | Good.is

Scandinaviais awesome. Really. They aren’t perfect, but they have some pretty damn good ideas on what makes a healthy, sustainable, intellectually advanced community. We would do well to take a leaf from their book here in ye old ‘Merica. I really like this article about a “classroom free school.” I’ve been working on my literature review for my thesis, which means that I’ve been reading a lot about “unschooling” and “open source education,” and I’m still forming my research-based opinions on what is most effective for adolescent and adult learners. At this point, open source education has more research to support it, but I’m not at all opposed to unschooling. But I think the school featured in this article has a good idea. While I was never opposed to classrooms as a student myself, I don’t see any reason why we should be cooping up young human beings in box shaped rooms all day, and then expect them to become brilliant, passionate scholars. I feel the same way about adults working in offices. Humans need to explore, and become better, more creative learners and thinkers in the process. I also like the statement about teaching according to level, not to age. Grades are so outdated, and they force students of different levels to all learn the exact same stuff the exact same way. Doesn’t make much sense to me. Anyway, this school looks very interesting, and I think this is a great trend in school design. I hope it continues to spread.

TECHNOLOGY

If the Feds can shut down Megaupload, why do they need SOPA? | Ars Technica

More corruption, more censorship, but an interesting look at Megaupload’s shut down and what it means in the midst of internet-censorship legislation.

Ferns, Ficus & Fiber Optics: Digital Watering Reminders | Apartment Therapy

I thought this article was a little silly and this rig is a little unnecessary, but I like the idea of using technology in conjunction with nature, and as a regular plant-killer, I might think of using a simpler version of this at home.

50 Awesome and Unique Case Mods | Ugo

Old article that I just stumbled upon, but this is a nice compilation of computer case mods. The Battlestar Galactica one is awesome. The Leela one is just creepy.

FOOD

PaleoHacks

As a skeptic and an environmental reporter, trends in the food world often send out a red flag for me. I’m still researching the pros and cons of a paleo/keto/low-carb diet, but there’s an overwhelming amount of evidence that supports diets full of vegetables, fibers, protein and a bit of healthy fat, so I’ve been trying out keto for the past couple months. When I stick to it, I feel really good, and so far most of the science I’ve found on it has been pretty sound. So I was pretty stoked when I found this paleo community website, which gives a ton of suggestions and feedback on what kinds of foods to eat and how to adapt favorite meals into paleo-friendly recipes. Anything with the word “hack” in it usually catches my interest.

Are Potatoes Paleo? | Primal Palate

Speaking of paleo, what’s the dealio (like the rhyme?) with potatoes? Paleos all seem to have their own opinion on them, and I thought this blog post about it at Primal Palate did a good job of researching it and breaking down the pros and cons.

Mr. Peanut Sandwich Bread | 24-7 Low Carb Diner

A recipe for peanut butter bread. Yes, that’s right—bread, made out of peanut butter. I’m making this tonight. As one of my New Year’s goals, I’ve been trying to make more of the things I like to eat from scratch, or at least at home with ingredients I have around the house. I can reduce the amount of food packaging I use, and I can adapt recipes to suit my dietary needs. I’m interested to see how this turns out.

Have a great week! Is it snowing where you are? It finally snowed here in Northern Nevada!

Innovative 2011

As an academic, it’s always good to know that your research and interests are considered “innovative”—or at the very least, relevant and necessary. Which is why I was so surprised that nearly every topic I’ve tackled (or plan to tackle) in my graduate research was featured in this article by GOOD Magazine, a website/publication of which I am very fond. Basically, the next time someone asks me what I investigate under the label of “literacy,” I’m going to show them this article.

The article references “seven innovations changing the way the world learns,” which are as follows:

1. Open source learning – I was so thrilled to see this as the first listing! MIT’s program is excellent (and will be discussed more in an upcoming Open Learning Series installment). As you well know, if you’re reading this blog, there are many other resources besides just that one, but it’s so great to get some media acknowledgement about alternative, and free, coursework. I’m very optimistic that sometime in the near future, Americans will be able to receive an excellent education for free (cue the socialist hate… womp woooommmmp).

2. Gaming technology – About freakin’ time. It’s so nice to see gaming get the credit it deserves, and is acknowledged as an innovative, extremely creative and challenging art form that packs a ton of possibility for learning in every subject. In the past year or so, I investigated the use of open-world games like Minecraft and role playing games like The Elder Scrolls as a tool to inspire and improve narrative writing (guess what… it works. Kids are inspired when they get to play. Who knew?!). I also did a thorough literature review on research involving female students, gaming and physics, and found that the correlation between girls feeling alienated from both video game culture and hard sciences was linked—which means that if we invite young girls into both, they will have a greater desire to become immersed in hard sciences later in life. Cool stuff! This article also references the use of apps, which I honestly haven’t explored much although I am very open to the idea. I really want full immersive games to be researched though since they are such rich opportunities for learning.

3. Social media – I’ve gotten into a few debates with other educators on this topic. I really think that if students are using something as much as social networking outside of the classroom, then we should absolutely be bringing it into it, otherwise we’re ignoring a very prevalent part of their lives. Many teachers are reluctant to discuss this topic but I know of several who have successfully used Twitter, blogs, Facebook, text messaging, etc. to encourage students to discuss and learn on a more casual, familiar platform.

4. Twitter – Although they singled out Twitter specifically, I think it can be included in social networking, although Twitter offers a lot of potential that other mediums don’t. The article highlights the use of hashtags for collaborative discussions, which is an awesome idea. I personally love using hashtags and find it hard to Tweet without them, because I feel like I’m contributing to a conversation on a particular topic. Excited to see where this goes.

5. Tech literacy – It’s great to see the word “literacy” actually used! All of these ideas listed above encompass literacy, but the word is still confusing to many who consider it to be solely about reading and writing. Guess what… it’s not! Literacy is about how people learn, every subject (check out my “What is Literacy?” series for more detailed overviews of different types of literacy). STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) literacy was the focus of this, which is exciting. What I love about STEM literacy research is that it uses many of the other ideas mentioned above. For instance, when I was researching girls and gaming, STEM literacy is directly related. It’s also extremely important that our students who use technology so faithfully have a sense of how it actually works, so that they can use it safely, and also to its full potential.

6. Conceptual and creative thinking – This is such a necessary idea that should be embraced by all educators. When I was in the National Writing Project research program last summer, these ideas came up a lot, especially in the context of STEM learning, writing and technology. It’s important that students—and the public—begin to see each subject as being both abstract and creative. When I was teaching writing, it was interesting how many students consider writing to be solely creative and text-based, when it is actually quite technical, abstract and visual. Same goes for math—it’s not just about an established series of equations; it takes creative, out-of-the-box thinking to come to the right solution, especially when it comes to mathematics-based subjects like computer programming or chemistry.

7. Libraries – Ahhhh! I nearly cheered out loud when I saw this on the list. Thank you, GOOD, for acknowledging libraries and aptly calling it “The Library Revolution.” There IS a revolution underway—an information revolution, where the quest for the truth is what matters to people, and where the role of librarian has once again become sacred as they serve as keepers of knowledge and protectors of it. Once society stops viewing libraries as archaic institutions without outdated information—and has a greater appreciation for the necessary role librarians play in our world—the possibilities are endless. Three cheers for libraries! Check out my past blogs about libraries and librarians.

Thanks again, GOOD, for the excellent article, and for highlighting the many exciting opportunities we have as a society to challenge and grow. I can’t wait to delve into more research in 2012. :)

Open Learning Series | Skillshare.com

Welcome to the first installment of the Open Learning Series! This is a guide intended to provide you with ideas of how to learn independently and freely using resources in your community or on the web. Subscribe to my blog to stay updated about new open source learning ideas. Have a suggestion or idea you’d like me to investigate? Want to contribute? Send me an email at astoryunravels@gmail.com.

Skillshare.com

Mini-open learning manifesto:

- You don’t have to be a formal “teacher” to teach

- You don’t have to be a formal “student” to learn

- You don’t have to teach in a classroom

Resource:

Skillshare.com, website, community teaching and learning

Description:

I heard about Skillshare.com a while ago and then promptly forgot about it. Luckily, I stumbled across it again last week.

Skillshare is a way to take or teach classes in your community. Basically, you sign up, create a profile, and then look for classes you want to take. You can also create a class based on essentially anything you want, as long as you have some expertise so you don’t lead your students in the wrong direction. There are classes in virtually every topic. For instance, a class in Los Angeles was “Spanish with Lola,” an informal course for those looking to pick up the language. Another class was called “Overcome Your Fear of Knitting Socks.” There are also classes on cooking, programming, public speaking, and more.

The project is still fairly new so there is not a lot of activity on it yet, but I think that given enough time it could be something pretty revolutionary. This idea isn’t new, but the execution of it hasn’t really been done before successfully in this social networking model. The only thing I don’t like is their resistance to web-based learning. In-person meetups and courses are always valuable, but having a solid infrastructure to encourage independently produced web courses is really needed. I am sure this exists already but I haven’t found it yet. I’ll keep hunting.

Supporting research:

I’ve had a hard time determining how to back this one up with research, because there are so many elements to it. Also, there just isn’t a lot of research about these kinds of projects, which is precisely the problem (I anticipate that in ten years this will have changed drastically). However, I found this article with a few ideas that can be used to support this project.

In their study Integrating Outside Learning with the Classroom Experience: The Student Learning Imperative published in the journal Education, Seidman and Brown (2006) surveyed college students to determine how they viewed their own learning, and found that the students focused on types of learning rather than mentioning specific courses. They state:

“1. Collegiate experiences provided them with critical thinking and problem solving skills; 2. Involvement in outside activities such as clubs and athletics provided them with teamwork and leadership skills; 3. Having a part-time job while in college not only provided students with an understanding of the “real world” but also provided enforced structure and time management skills; 4. The experiences shared by professors and friends provided life-long influences.”

While Skillshare is not a formal academic experience, many of the same ideas are present. Because Skillshare is a voluntary learning endeavor, participants make it a priority to participate based on how they choose to manage their other life commitments. Seidman and Brown (2006) ultimately acknowledge that students will find ways to learn, and often seek out alternative sources. “As the needs and wants of our students change over time, so should the way course content be delivered” (Seidman & Brown, 2006).

Final thoughts:

I think this is a neat project and I’m excited to see it flourish. Not all cities are available yet, including Reno, so some of us will have to wait to teach and take classes. In the meantime, check it out and feel free to add me!

References

Seidman, A. & Brown, S. (2006). Integrating Outside Learning with the Classroom Experience: The Student Learning Imperative. Education. 127(1). pp 109-113.

Exploring Literacy | Ecoliteracy

This is part of a series called Exploring Literacy. Check out the first installment here. 

I really enjoy being an environmental journalist because so many of the ideas and attitudes that I encounter in the green movement are closely aligned with an open source mentality, and I would definitely argue that sustainability is part of being an open sourcer. This seems especially relevant when I think of hackerspaces, and how many of the projects that hackers create in those atmospheres are about reusing existing resources, or finding more efficient ways to do things.

Recently I heard a term I liked–”ecoliteracy.” It’s short for ecological literacy. Wikipedia has a nice article about it, and defines it as:

“Ecological literacy (also referred to as ecoliteracy) is the ability to understand the natural systems that make life on earth possible. To be ecoliterate means understanding the principles of organization of ecological communities (i.e. ecosystems) and using those principles for creating sustainable human communities. The term was coined by American educator David W. Orr and physicist Fritjof Capra in the 1990s thereby a new value entered education; the “well-being of the earth.” An ecologically literate society would be a sustainable society which did not destroy thenatural environment on which they depend. Ecological literacy is a powerful concept as it creates a foundation for an integrated approach to environmental problems. Advocates champion eco-literacy as a new educational paradigm emerging around the poles of holism, systems thinking, sustainability, and complexity.”

But what does this look like for the average person? How can teachers instill these ideas in their students, and how can we ensure that the general public is thinking about these ideas too?

I’ve been covering the ongoing struggles that a local agriculture business has been facing here in Reno.  It’s been interesting to witness the community response to this. Basically, there is a plot of land located at the University of Nevada, Reno that is used for agriculture purposes, and the university wants to sell it to help pay of some of its debt by monetizing it. In order to rally the community to help save this land, the community has to understand why it’s important to fight for local agriculture. So how do they learn that? Is it enough to post links on Facebook? Or do they need to know what outsourced food will do to their bodies and to the local economy? What about learning to garden and supply food for one’s family? Will documentaries, books, speeches and lectures help?

Each person in a community learns differently, and these kinds of political struggles are a good opportunity for resistance leaders to tap into multiple literacies. The idea of multiple literacies is generally supported across the board by literacy and education scholars. It’s hard to argue against it–essentially, it’s the idea that people learn differently, and that people learn with all senses. For instance, if you want a child to learn about flowers, have them plant a seed–feel the soil, the seeds, bury it in the earth with their hands. Smell the growth–the scent of the petals and the pollen. Observe the growth–the germination and the blossoming. Give them a book to read about the scientific names of the parts of plants, and pair that with a film about the photosynthesis process. Etc. etc.

A mix of these strategies have been used, whether the community is aware of it or not. A local organization held a screening of the documentary “Farmageddon.” Articles have been published about the issue in every local publication, as well as on independent blogs. Speeches have been made in public venues. Organizations have gathered to host classes about gardening. The online petition on Change.org has reached over 10,000 signatures and national attention. Something, it seems, is working–because a large portion of the community is invested in the cause.

I like this quote by Fritjof Capra that is included in the Wikipedia article: “In the coming decades, the survival of humanity will depend on our ecological literacy – our ability to understand the basic principles of ecology and to live accordingly. This means that ecoliteracy must become a critical skill for politicians, business leaders, and professionals in all spheres, and should be the most important part of education at all levels – from primary and secondary schools to colleges, universities, and the continuing education and training of professionals.”

I’ve read some of Capra’s work that I’ll go into depth about at another time but I like his interpretation of literacy as a community endeavor. Positive change happens when the public is literate–when they understand the implications of ideas that aren’t working but are armed with solutions, supported by research and evidence.