Comments on: Who Would You Phone?

By: John Madocks

John Madocks — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 19:21:02 +0000

Right about that same time (perhaps 1985) I won tickets off the radio to see a concert (which I also could not afford to pay for - I was sitting by the radio too). The question was, “What band had ex members of the Baby’s and Santana?”

Do you know the answer?

P.S. I knew the answer to both your questions. I still love Gowan.

By: Ted Bongiovanni

Ted Bongiovanni — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 09:29:57 +0000

I think good educational tools are ones that help users construct meaning around the range of materials available on the web–information is one thing–being educated is knowing what to do with that information–how to order it, apply it, and make connections to other areas.

What’s empowering about Web 2.0 is that it’s much more conducive to meaning making—I thought Seth Godin did a nice job summarizing the potential for meaning making in Everyone is an Expert Cultures had different ways of making meaning, and technology has always influenced how meaning is made.

Think about the history of technology–time was when human culture was an oral culture, when knowledge had to be memorized in order to be passed down. Then came the alphabet and it changed everything. Orders could be written down and disseminated at a distance. Empires grew. Moveable type (Gutenberg–not Six Apart), then the telegraph, and well, then things really got moving. Today’s technology certainly brings new challenges for educators.

My concern about computer based technology and windowed environments is that they have the potential to undermine our ability to focus attention. One could argue that a good education gives one the ability to focus one’s mind. Rote memorization is derided in the United States in favor of “thinking on one’s feet,” but I think there’s room for both. The reason I like plain old paper and a pen (and your most excellent templates) is that they have the advantage of being able to focus attention. It’s me, the pen, and the paper. Perhaps I’ve been practicing longer at screening out distractions in that context. Nevertheless, these are new, fun challenges for educators and the rest of us–it’s an exciting time to be alive.

By: dougj

dougj — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 16:25:15 +0000

John: uhm… [/me slaps side of head a few times…] I’m guessing either Journey or Bad English. Hmm. John Waite was in The Babys, I think, so I’ll have to say Bad English. What do I win?

By: John Maddocks

John Maddocks — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 19:19:57 +0000

OH!!! You were so close. The answer was Journey! Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie were both with Santana, and Jonathan Cain was a fellow member of the Baby’s with John Waite. And of course Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain and John Waite were all in Bad English together. Bad English could have been the correct answer, accept of course that they weren’t together yet in 1985. That would be about another 4 years in the future.

I am impressed that you were that close though! Unfortunately the million dollar prize will have to stay with me ; )

After 11 years of living in Florida I am moving home to Canada next week! I can’t wait or a Timmy’s and to listen to Kim Mitchell’s afternoon show on Toronto’s mighty Q107. I hope life in Newfoundland is treating you well!

By: spyhole » Who Would You Phone?

spyhole » Who Would You Phone? — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 23:03:03 +0000

[…] ormation overflow, short term memory and need for quick searches - build your own opinion a million monkeys typing » Who Would You Phone?
[…]

By: appliedthinking

appliedthinking — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 19:33:12 +0000

Exercise your short-term

I wrote about this very topic a number of months ago, and now I have stumbled upon some similar insights at a million monkeys typing in this post: Who Would You Phone?. So, the question remains: what are the

By: jennifer

jennifer — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 03:49:31 +0000

Hi John, I totally agree with you that the internet is just too handy! It can really make one lazy (so to speak).
You mentioned you were moving back home to Canada. I’m also from Canada. How have things gone for yourself and your family. Hopefully things are going well!
Sincerely, Jennifer

By: a million monkeys typing » Three Seconds

a million monkeys typing » Three Seconds — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 20:08:13 +0000

[…] And then there’s that darn source of endless interaction, distraction and inaction, the Internet. How is that affecting the way we take in and process information? A few months ago, I posted an entry here called Who Would You Phone?, wherein I gave the example of a quiz show contestant with a choice to phone either someone with a good general knowledge-base, or someone well-versed with Google; I suspect that most people would choose the latter. This post was just picked up by my favourite educational blog, Weblogg-ed: go there and read Will’s lucid commentary, along with some very interesting ideas from his readers. Meanwhile, I’m just going to follow up with a few more thoughts here on my own little venue. […]

By: aondoaver Nyakuma

aondoaver Nyakuma — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:30:30 +0000

When I was in the primary and secondary school (in the 80s) the use of caculators in solving arithmatics problems was almost a taboo. No one dared the use.I could solve the most difficult sums (to me) without the caculator.Infact I never knew nor heard of it in my primary school. In my university days it became possible to use it for various reasons including time saving.I sat in my house one day after my masters degree trying to find the answer to square root of 34 without a caculator in hand. For 10 minutes I could not solve this until I called my little nephew in the primary who solved it without a drop of sweat.Like the caculator the internet is fast blocking our memories. What a pathetic situation.