#edcmooc
Week 3 explores the importance of human nature and human ways of being in the context of using technologies in education.
Here are my thoughts:
Human emotions and natural aptitudes cannot be replaced by technologies. According to researchers, those who often spend time with friends or families are healthier and live longer because social connection and interactions among humans not only bring joy and support but also reduce stress and risk of mortality. Similarly, in the classroom settings, students can benefit from the facilitation and support by human teachers who express compassion and encouragement. Even some non-verbal expressions such as a smile on a teacher’s face can reduce the students’ anxieties associated with the learning process; paying personal attention to students can motivate them to learn better and more. These synchronous physical and emotional interactions between teachers and students are lacking when learning with computers or mobile devices. Humans are "warm" with fresh and blood, while technological devices and gadgets are "cold" with chips, Integrated circuits and other components.
Technologies are invented and used by humans to enhance the quality of life, and they can be extensions of human intelligence and services. The digital natives are the natural dependents on technologies and they might feel comfortable with learning with computers and mobile devices without the physical presence of human teachers. However, being physically present in the classroom with other students under the guidance of human teachers especially in early education can be the valuable opportunities for the digital natives to learn some interpersonal skills to be more well-rounded so that they can communicate effectively and get along with others well in the real world. Generally speaking, using technologies for learning and teaching can motivate students (digital natives or digital immigrants) to do independent studies beyond the classroom. Technologies are also the extensions of human teachers who offer online courses for learners to get lifelong education.
The Human Touch by Lowell Monke discusses the importance of "Technology with a Human Purpose".
Popular cultures
The following are my reflections on the films for Week 3:
Among the four films, World Builder is my favorite: I like the utopic version of the World Builder in which "a strange man uses holographic tools to build a world for the woman he loves." This film shows that human emotions are so powerful that one can do anything imaginably grand to express the magnitude of love. It is human intelligence that designs, invents and uses technologies to build the world.
Toyota GT86: the ‘real deal’ advert is the dystopic visions of our immersion in a pixilated simulation of reality that reminds me of scenes in Second Life where humans seem to be robots. Human emotions coexist with speed and control in technologies. It was the Toyota car that makes him alive.
BT: heart to heart advert shows that technologies are the important tools for transmitting human emotions.
They’re made out of meat In this dystopian, dark comic film, the two extraterrestrials in human clothes consider the humans as simply meat without feelings and thinking abilities.
On Friday, February 15 at 17:00 GMT, the course team had the second informative Google Hangout session to have live communication with some participants and answer questions about the course.
Week 3 explores the importance of human nature and human ways of being in the context of using technologies in education.
Here are my thoughts:
Human emotions and natural aptitudes cannot be replaced by technologies. According to researchers, those who often spend time with friends or families are healthier and live longer because social connection and interactions among humans not only bring joy and support but also reduce stress and risk of mortality. Similarly, in the classroom settings, students can benefit from the facilitation and support by human teachers who express compassion and encouragement. Even some non-verbal expressions such as a smile on a teacher’s face can reduce the students’ anxieties associated with the learning process; paying personal attention to students can motivate them to learn better and more. These synchronous physical and emotional interactions between teachers and students are lacking when learning with computers or mobile devices. Humans are "warm" with fresh and blood, while technological devices and gadgets are "cold" with chips, Integrated circuits and other components.
Technologies are invented and used by humans to enhance the quality of life, and they can be extensions of human intelligence and services. The digital natives are the natural dependents on technologies and they might feel comfortable with learning with computers and mobile devices without the physical presence of human teachers. However, being physically present in the classroom with other students under the guidance of human teachers especially in early education can be the valuable opportunities for the digital natives to learn some interpersonal skills to be more well-rounded so that they can communicate effectively and get along with others well in the real world. Generally speaking, using technologies for learning and teaching can motivate students (digital natives or digital immigrants) to do independent studies beyond the classroom. Technologies are also the extensions of human teachers who offer online courses for learners to get lifelong education.
The Human Touch by Lowell Monke discusses the importance of "Technology with a Human Purpose".
Popular cultures
The following are my reflections on the films for Week 3:
Among the four films, World Builder is my favorite: I like the utopic version of the World Builder in which "a strange man uses holographic tools to build a world for the woman he loves." This film shows that human emotions are so powerful that one can do anything imaginably grand to express the magnitude of love. It is human intelligence that designs, invents and uses technologies to build the world.
Toyota GT86: the ‘real deal’ advert is the dystopic visions of our immersion in a pixilated simulation of reality that reminds me of scenes in Second Life where humans seem to be robots. Human emotions coexist with speed and control in technologies. It was the Toyota car that makes him alive.
BT: heart to heart advert shows that technologies are the important tools for transmitting human emotions.
They’re made out of meat In this dystopian, dark comic film, the two extraterrestrials in human clothes consider the humans as simply meat without feelings and thinking abilities.
On Friday, February 15 at 17:00 GMT, the course team had the second informative Google Hangout session to have live communication with some participants and answer questions about the course.