I'm sure, like all of you, there were many different points in the discussion last night that inspired you to think further and join-up or re-join some dots in your practice.
However, as my thoughts wandered last night, I found myself being drawn back to a comment Iris made - about how, through the Skype conversation, she had learnt that she was a much better communicator 'in person' and she was struggling with the format of the Skype discussion. We all have to acknowledge that as a way of communicating it is a little disjointed - leading to stops-and-starts in the flow of the conversation. In a real-world conversation we recognise the cues in each others faces and body language - How they are responding to what we are saying before we finish - Do they need more information? - Do they want to add thoughts of their own? - Are they interested at all? We adjust the flow, dynamics and emphasis accordingly. It is the rhythms we create that causes the conversation to build, bouncing ideas, developing greater concepts than our original statements - Sometimes allowing ideas to multiply leap-frogging in new directions, whisking-up our ideas and creating new exciting connections (different for all of us depending on our perspective (Moon 2004)) but capable of triggering new paths of enquiry of even shifts in preconceived areas of 'knowing' - This rhythm and flow is like a dance, where, because of understood frameworks we know when to lead, when to follow, when to connect and how this relationship develops creativity.
This led me on to thinking about Adesola's Blog 'Learning Domains and MAPP', particularly with reference to 'Knowing Knowledge' (Siemens 2006). Siemens' theories are seductive and compelling, the two-way flow of knowledge will inevitable change, not just the hierarchy of Knowledge distribution but also the shared experience of knowledge that forms the foundation for how we position of ourselves in society and culture, leading to a freeing of traditional boundaries both physical and metaphysical.
'We do not consume knowledge as a passive entity that remains unchanged as it moves through our world and our work. We dance and
court the knowledge of others—in ways the original creators did not
intend. We make it ours, and in so doing, diminish the prominence
of the originator.' (2006)
However by Siemens own admission, we are not there ye -, we stand with our feet in two worlds - a knowledge system designed for an industrial era and a new emerging system designed for tomorrow (2006).
So this brings me back to our discussion and how the tools we have with Skype and Blogs are not yet equal to the skills we innately have for communication, connectivity and idea growth - actual real life conversation. As we stand on the bridge between the old and new world, we can not reject the new, as this would be counterproductive - After-all it is the generation of these tools that allow us to study on a course like this, from wherever we are, sharing in a learning process that would be otherwise just available to those who have the means, time and finances to be physically present in the space. What we can do is try to make the new forms of conversations be as productive as possible?
So this brings me back to our discussion and how the tools we have with Skype and Blogs are not yet equal to the skills we innately have for communication, connectivity and idea growth - actual real life conversation. As we stand on the bridge between the old and new world, we can not reject the new, as this would be counterproductive - After-all it is the generation of these tools that allow us to study on a course like this, from wherever we are, sharing in a learning process that would be otherwise just available to those who have the means, time and finances to be physically present in the space. What we can do is try to make the new forms of conversations be as productive as possible?
I wonder if it is possible to all share some tips on what makes the connection work more effectively - I began to think about this and here are a couple of the ideas and actions I have started with;
- I have begun to follow you all (not added you all yet but getting there)
This is easier if you have a follow button on your page but can be done though our own dashboards 'reading list' 'manage reading list' 'add'
Following doesn't quite give the experience I want (an alert on my phone every time one of you posts, so I can engage with it in real time wherever I am) - I still need to actively check my reading list to find your post, but at least all new posts are there for me to check on.
Following doesn't quite give the experience I want (an alert on my phone every time one of you posts, so I can engage with it in real time wherever I am) - I still need to actively check my reading list to find your post, but at least all new posts are there for me to check on.
- Posting a photo in my profile
For me there was a huge difference last night between those that spoke who had a picture posted and those who spoke without a picture - I emotionally engaged with the speaker and it was somehow easier to connect - I am guilty of not having a picture but will edit that today.
As an extra idea to this I wondered if we could change these pictures before each conversation - allowing the visual to say something about where we are 'emotionally or conceptually' with our learning process or just in life itself?
I would be really happy if any of you would comment on any ideas, tips and tricks, that help you connect to each other, whether this is a practical 'know how' idea or an emotional idea that helps us to 'know' each other better.
At the end of last night discussion I said I was going to look at the strands that ran though my learning - for me facilitating communication was important. Though this blog post I have learnt that I facilitate communication between others because it is really important in my learning - I struggle to learn when I don't feel connected, which I think is what Iris was saying last night!
- Siemans G - Knowing Knowledge - Lulu.com, 2006
- Moon J - A Handbook of Reflective and Experiential Learning - Routledge 2004
Hi Stella, really interesting reading this in response to last nights discussion. I've also been thinking of the role of emotion within learning (and in the case of my learning the lack of / hesitancy from it), and enjoy the point you raise around being able to humanise our voices through profile photos. Haven't had a look yet at the Sieman's text but will do now.
ReplyDeleteDa Dah... finally uploaded a photo, who knew it could be so complicated.
DeleteIt's interesting how every blog I read leads onto another thought process (and another heap of reading to catch up on). I think as dancers sometimes we don't notice the emotion embedded in our performance - you might need to step outside of yourself to see it.
Siemens' free on google, it's a really fast read!
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ReplyDeleteInteresting how we hear voices differently when we associate it with a face. Brings in the idea of Connectivism that Adesola has posted about, this new way of engaging with each other virtually and how easy it can be. The idea of our photo representing where we are emotionally/conceptually is an intriguing proposition. I would challenge it with: shouldn't our emotional/conceptual spirit be rapidly changing throughout our conversations? Especially when we are learning / hearing new information? We could get overwhelmed, enlightened, confused, excited, frustrated, and a whole roller coaster of emotions. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteWishing you the best as we tackle this first module!
I agree, that it would be impossible to post all that we are feeling - I was just thinking about my niece who is 16, she has lived her whole life in this virtually connected world and she has always posts and re-posts different profile pictures throughout all the experiences she's having. I had assumed this was a youth vanity thing until last weeks conversation and then I realised that it is part of the communication, that she and her generation understand intrinsically.
DeleteSo yes you are right, we could never post enough images, not if we want to think, talk and take notes too!
However I think it was Henri Cartier-Bresson back in the 1950's who said we should all take a photograph of ourselves everyday, he believed that by comparing them over time we could see how we were really feeling, even being able to tell if we were seriously ill. But for now it's just nice to visualise each other.
Hope you're enjoying the journey so far - It's intense but I'm loving it.
Hi Stella, just getting around to reading your wonderful blog! Thanks for sharing your interesting thoughts. I agree with your point of those more of an emotional connection in a digital context with someone who has a profile picture as opposed to no photo. Perhaps this is where Iris feels more comfortable in a person to person environment, because you can instantly engage with the person knowing more about them, whereas in a digital setting the relationship can feel more distant, especially without a picture.
ReplyDeleteA great read, thank you!