Case Study 1

Visual sustenance intrigues the students and gives peer reference for a variety of subjects ranging from examples of anorexia to samples of assimilation such as Dances with Wolves. The students often comment on the correlation between theory and visual examples as great effects; this week, in fact, we discussed blended or reconstituted families and played the Brady Bunch Song from You Tube for visual reference. Friday, the students, were reviewing sample tests and came upon the term; blended families and began to sing the Brady Bunch Song! Simple as it seems, our recall is sometimes based on repertoires of meaningless materials.
Wikipedia sparked some interest and indeed needed to be investigated. The site seemed innocent and full of information at the fingertips, never thinking to pursue validity. Ethics discounted the site for reference and subtracted points for its use. The forbidden site captured our attention as the question came to mind, “What was wrong with Wikipedia?”This paper will review some of the sites positives and negatives concerning both, Wikipedia and You Tube as the communities will be reviewed for validity and usability, as well as, goals and specific salient design features. Previous to investigating both sites, I was both, a lurker and user, since neither site demanded membership or asked specific questions, appropriate animosity, both sites were user friendly and give quick results, no matter what the content. You Tube provided visual results on any subject, while Wikipedia supplied knowledge for all topic matter. Quick and easy, without frustration or annoying membership, the sites offered materials pertinent to any research materials. Wikipedia offers a knowledge-based community, with the focus on the production of knowledge, forms of validation, and ways of propagation. Exception to the scholarly knowledge disseminated to the public comes in the form of reviewed materials by experts and common lay persons. The restrictions to submit materials for publishing are per policy, but admit that editing can be accomplished by simple board vote from established members. You Tube, on the other hand, is a practiced base learning community with an emphasis variety of both, expertise and experience. It flourishes with commitment to shared interests such as virtuosity or remediation. Roles are individualized and categorized by “You Tube” staff as participants assists to shape the knowledge base for a variety of subjects. The members, who contribute function as community conduits to dissuade cult practices in order to provide fluidity.
Purpose of Wikipedia relates to a communal effort to provide on-line information base imitating the encyclopedia. The goal emits from a “community project type” atmosphere that submits peer reviewed information based on research. Their web site features web servers that reach across the globe to inform ordinary people of encyclopedic type wonders. Anyone can be an editor if the peer approval is obtained and subject material is valid. You Tube is open for all and serves a menagerie of purpose as individuals strive for stardom. The initiator of the web site sought out for enjoyment and imagination via video submissions to begin his design in 2006. In retrospect, the site that was started for pleasure ended in a sale to for multi-millions, so much for fun!
Wikipedia proposes a structure that enforces a social system of communal standards for their editors, along with, conduct policies to ensure high levels of experience. Several hundred editors on a rotating basis carry out surveillance to observe for problematic entries. Extracting any subject published by the community is obtainable via Google search. Information is formatted to replicate encyclopedia materials and is easy to read, often accompanied by pictures or graphs. There are various technical sites, such as http://www.Wikipedia:FAQ/Technical , for information concerning software and supporting hardware. Structures of You Tube vary; input is straightforward and injected to provide user friendly information on video submission. Website is accessible by either http://www.youtube.com/ or via a search engine, such as Google or Yahoo. Topics for “lurkers” can be ascertained by simple search boxes on the site or by clicking on a favorite video viewable on the home page. For those interested in publishing videos a page is provided for downloading materials for review. Submitted videos are subject to community review and obscene subject matter. Viewing movies on You Tube requires membership to the community and is subject to age criteria, depending on movie ratings. Communication for both sites is in the form of submissions, viewing, or reviewing. No community forum is offered and discussion is limited to the community in control of the sites, themselves. Learning tools for both sites is in the eye of the beholder, for You Tube, entertainment may be the cause for curiosity, while Wikipedia may provide the user with information on a given subject. Interaction comes with the search for invigorating material and becomes a one sided biased application for desired content. To extract information based on non scholarly works can distract the learner, but can also induce an interest in the nature of basic humanity. In viewing and using both sites, I have learned to evaluate the knowledge base and become more wary of their usability. You Tube can be fun, entertaining, and habit forming! Feature of the week, or the most viewed videos beckon attention and may be precursors for full membership! Wikipedia, on the other hand, vies for caution and reference validity. I have used both in the past and have enjoyed the “stand up comedian” and “jingles of old shows” on You Tube. In retrospect, Wikipedia has been a favorite site for quick reference, particularly for my daughter, who is a current High School student. One does what one has to in the face of time limits!
I support those who can feature themselves on video for world viewing, but cannot support Wikipedia’s efforts to allow all users to submit or edit “research type “ materials and profess them as substantial adage. Both sights feature accessibility and easy user ability and are sustained by continual outreach for new materials. The prospect to become an editor or rise to stardom entices learners from all venues and subscribes a base for continued interest, thus bringing pseudo fame to both websites. In conclusion, researching these sites was enjoyable and insightful. Implications for continual use during theory class are subject to scrutiny, as awareness always projects fear of reliability. Wikipedia’s standards are worrisome as users continually vie for quick, easy reference material. Now if you will excuse me, I think I will join You Tube, movie offers are very enticing!
Tapped in is a virtual community of professional educators to interact, stay connected with other professional peers and colleagues, and enhance professional development of classroom erudition. I decided to investigate this particular community to glean formidable information for future web design or enhance possibilities for the college instructor. Tapped In became a site of interest simply for the friendliness and usability of the virtual community. A salutation from site facilitators always augments interest and gives some individuality to a virtual unknown entity. I initially signed in as a visitor and was greeted by the site mentor with an offer of serving me in any capacity possible. Another member, who had been conversing with the facilitator, stopped and issued a, “Hi! Kathy, “and then continued her conversation. Both interactions made me smile, feel warm, and spurred my curiosity. I was not alone.
My first option came in the form of a penguin, the site was all about the nature and living habitat of the penguin, all written by professional’s in collaboration with each other and peer reviewed. This sight featured pictures, teacher’s educational help, and information of the design and contributors, it was colorful, informative, easy to navigate, and useable. As a welcomed “lurker”, I navigated through the rooms, but was unable to view any of the current discussion groups or preview the evening’s advertised virtual conference without membership. The site offered information such as their history and goals with positive excitement for future members.
Tapped In, according to Riel and Polin, equates to a practice community. The community advertises the need for teachers to become more experienced professionals through learning and discussion groups, as well as, mentored teacher development. This community realizes that teachers need teachers and want to provide a venue that voids all boundaries. They, specifically, want the teachers to feel part of a community instead of alone, where they may feel frustrated and quit the venture. The shared values and teacher “language” serve a greater purpose than simply advancing the skill of the learner. Tapped In supports the vision to share strategies, resources, and professional support options, allowing the instructor to choose their particular interests. Task involvement includes offering a calendar of events for each month defining specific options of study or discussion, group creation and management, and customized virtual public buildings. Members have the opportunity to chat or use private messaging, along with, use of threaded discussion boards, and design of private rooms for their own use. Possibilities are endless for involved members and provide a source of support since research shows student achievement is directly linked to the quality of the teacher. Helpful links for technical support is provided through tutorials, e-mails, and chat rooms. The staff will advertise any upcoming events and promote provider activities, as well as, sponsor daily hosted events.
Structures of this community consist of virtual buildings where online activities take place. The “ground floor” consists of a reception area where the help desk and staff are located. Other public rooms are located on this floor that accommodates conferences. The second floor features group rooms that may be private or public, depending on the agenda. The group room “owners” will assign moderators for discussions and will give permission to attend. The third floor boasts personal offices for affiliated members to the organization. Interaction begins on the homepage for public viewing; discussions formulate to verify information, seek guidance, or give a friendly “Hello” to the facilitator or from the facilitator. Other communication stem from membership discussions held in various conference rooms or comment boxes on each page of the content areas. Online activities include facilitators to focus discussion groups and guide work group participation. Learning opportunities arise from scheduled events throughout the month, Penguins, of course, are listed for February. These types of activities give teachers room to expand knowledge and gain knowledge of how to introduce online assistance to the classroom. Support from colleagues is a key for truthful participation and an aggregate option for the future of learning. Participant membership is subject to a quick profile with the idea that professional teachers, who provide instruction to kindergarten through at least High School, will apply. These instructors have the opportunity to refine their profession by trying out new skills under a safe and supportive environment. They also have the occasion to lead discussion groups with an appropriate topic and mentor other educators. Gaining technical skills provide the greatest opportunity to advance in the “techno” environment and produce informative lessons via virtuosity. A few examples of what I have observed derived from researching the site and learning different opportunities open in any venue. It would be exciting to design a website for all nursing educators, to compare, contrast, attend symposiums/conferences, and chat together in a supportive milieu. Using “floors” to define the setting is a simple, unobtrusive plan that all can assimilate and understand. Perhaps an idea is evolving?
The sustainability of this community comes from interest and need. People need people and professionals need continual training to enhance cognitive skills. The opportunity to try out new ideas is invigorating for the learning process as others gain its value. Facilitators and mentors provide that extra entity that some may view as a needed component in order to keep focus and not waste precious time. Planned discussions and learning opportunities provide variances of interest and keep the professional attracted. The salient design features that include participation assist with ownership and provide continued attendance.
Technological tools are arranged by staff services, where consistent help avenues are available. Online tutorials and orientation assist the new member with navigation assistance, while e-mail services can offer direct supervision for online difficulties. The site features data collection and training ventures for those interested in superior learning. All available resources assist the learning community by providing topics of interest for the educator. Opportunities to incorporate new materials into the classroom increases community awareness and virtual student learning “and can be the ingredient for success. The website design features may reinvent the way teachers prepare for classroom teaching. Perhaps the “factory type” school rooms will be a thing of the past as learning organizations emerge in their place. Seeds are planted as the virtual community grows and more teachers utilize 21st century learning organizations. Who knows the future student may sit at a table and enjoy breakfast and lunch in the privacy of their own home! The idea of collaborating knowledge and skills will empower teachers, as well as students, and finally rise above the old adage “it’s always been done that way.” A story that I heard from a fellow colleague emphasized this concept. A woman was asked why she always cooked the turkey breast side up, she thought about the wisdom her mom had and relayed the comment, “Because my mother taught me how to cook a turkey and this is how you do it.” Years went by and this woman finally remembered the question and asked her mother, “Why do you really cook the turkey breast side up?” “Well,” the mother replied, “That’s the only way it would fit in the pan.”