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As we prepare to embark on our journey spanning the four directions, we realize that the four directions are universal reference points for explorers of all cultures. In the vast Pacific the early Micronesian explorers ventured out into the unknown with little more than the stars as guides. Encountering other cultures presented communication challenges. Where languages were different, gestures, facial expressions and shared needs allowed individuals to communicate and collaborate. Today's world is much different, yet the need for communication and collaboration is just as important, if not more so. Even though our choices for how we express ourselves digitally are growing every day (through voice and video-chats, and even avatars in immersive virtual worlds), the facial gestures and body language that clarifies the meaning of spoken words are absent from these communications. The collaborative efforts to construct vessels and shelters are now replaced by collaborative efforts to solve the unique problems faced in a rapidly changing world, where a person is measured not by what she knows, but by how well she can solve problems. Thus we need learn the new ways of communicating, new ways of collaborating, and new ways of teaching and learning. "Communities are not built of friends, or of groups of people with similar styles and tastes, or even of people who like and understand each other. They are built of people who feel they are a part of something bigger than themselves." Suzanne Goldsmith
Incorporation of the Internet into your everyday activities will require a comfort skill level. You need to commit to a regular schedule of getting online, and not worry about quick messages with abbreviations and bad
grammar, perhaps. Your learning curve will be high. 1) Independent - Research smileys independently. Read Einhorn's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Electronic Mail. Reflect on the suggestions. Examine these Habits of Community. Print out the list and discuss it with a colleague, parent and/or student. If you are fortunate to have a face to face group, create some HomePlace Pages to introduce websites and create a connected learning community. Participate in an educational listserv. Check out iEARN (International Education and Research Network) |
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© 2006 Online Internet Institute. |