I think the symbol that best embodies " Just Add Water" Is the recycling symbol. Because not only does this image symbolize being environmentally conscious it also means to reuse. Taking the old and making it new. Which is exactly what Ray does with Trona. He took the desolate town and returned it to its Glory. It shows the cycle of civilization and life. There are always depression and golden ages and nothing can last forever.
The small subject of this movie wold have to be the tap water. It's importance in their lives is essential to the plot and makes Ray finally act out a bit to light the fuse for the big explosion.
Monday, April 26, 2010
How are TWN and Just Add Water the same?
Off the top of my head the connections between them seem few and far between.
The depression happening in Trona is almost equivalent to Olivia's perpetual state of mourning. When the Count tries something new...sending a new page (who happens to be attractive) to her everything changes. Just as with Ray and the departure Charline.
Feste is like the Danny Devito character he plays an important role in the world of the play itself but is also important to the audiences presepctive. He is shorter then everyone making him physically commical and has a stripper for a wife making making his character almost somehing in the realm of slapstick.
Another parallel is Sir Toby and his crew. Sir toby is like Rays neighbor- always drunk. Until the end where he proves to be useful and marries Maria. And Ray's neighbor is going to become a Father both talking on responsibilities never given to them before.
The depression happening in Trona is almost equivalent to Olivia's perpetual state of mourning. When the Count tries something new...sending a new page (who happens to be attractive) to her everything changes. Just as with Ray and the departure Charline.
Feste is like the Danny Devito character he plays an important role in the world of the play itself but is also important to the audiences presepctive. He is shorter then everyone making him physically commical and has a stripper for a wife making making his character almost somehing in the realm of slapstick.
Another parallel is Sir Toby and his crew. Sir toby is like Rays neighbor- always drunk. Until the end where he proves to be useful and marries Maria. And Ray's neighbor is going to become a Father both talking on responsibilities never given to them before.
The Ethics of Climate Change
In " The Ethics of Climate Change." John Broome shows the side of climate change many of us forget about. The ethical decision behind it. It is said that is it good to live in the present, but in this case is it better to live in the future? We are so concerned with living comfortably now, that our resources have basically been used up. Leaving the people of our world community in 50 or 40 years with nothing to sustain them.
So how do we fix this? Either we find unlimted resources for our future or stop the way we live and slow down Humanity's suicide. But Change takes unity. Change takes time. And Change takes money. All these things we don't have and don't have time for. We need to act now and act quick so our future can sustain itself, so the endless battle of moratality can be sustained.
So how do we fix this? Either we find unlimted resources for our future or stop the way we live and slow down Humanity's suicide. But Change takes unity. Change takes time. And Change takes money. All these things we don't have and don't have time for. We need to act now and act quick so our future can sustain itself, so the endless battle of moratality can be sustained.
Monday, April 19, 2010
The way I feel about blogging...
There are many things I feel about blogging; positive feelings don't generally fall into that category.
I'll admit that I have a personal bias. And in the past have had extremely negative experiences with online forums. But every time a teacher has assigned a forum they became a torturous daily exercise, that I would never look forward to.
Okay I admit being able to put your work online is useful in a lot of different ways... sometimes. The argument for online blogging for classes is always something along the lines of
We all know what were supposed to get from it, but do actually ever?
For me the answer is simply no.
People could blog their hearts out and half of the time your classmates who should be reading your post lose interest a quarter of the way down the page.
Most people have stopped reading by now or are thinking about stopping.
And its not because the majority is unmotivated, or unable to excel in a learning environment, or turn their assignments in on time, it's just being online seems to induce this behavior. It relates all the way back to one of the first articles we read in class, "Is Google Making Us Stupid" by Nicholas Carr. Our mind capacity to sit with something and concentrate on it for a long period of time has been completely diminished.
Because this blog is so physically unattached from class, it so easy to forget about. It's just another website that we will try and remember to look at, after going on facebook, twitter, myspace, livejournal, looking at the weather for the next week, checking the new york times website, reading your horoscopes from three different websites, watching at least 25 pointless videos on you tube, while vid chatting with your two best friends, down loading the hit song of the day, listening to the hit song of the day, going back on facebook to look at pictures of your x-best friend's boyfriend's sister's birthday party, tweet about your boredom, facebook stalk more people, glance over your email, Then you start stumbling, and once you start stumbling you never stop. You stumble from website to website until you find something interesting to share with your friends. Go back on facebook to post on their wall, tweet again about something funny you found, and repeat.
I realize that freedom of speech is a right every single person has. But sometimes on forums or blogs people take it one step to far. Even in an academic situation there is always one person who is irresponsible with their words, creating confrontational situations that are completely virtual. These attacks can either be indirect or direct. It is going back to Derrida's fear of writing, he fears peoples reactions. People on blogs though seem to use the computer as a mask. They can say what they want no matter how offensive or malicious and be fine with it because they are not being physically confronted.
I am not saying I think the internet is stupid or blogging is a bad thing.
I actually think blogging to about your own personal opinions, or writing about your passions is really awesome. I personally enjoy reading some of these blogs.
As for Blogs and forums in a classroom setting, for me, definitely has more cons than pros.
Blogs in the classroom, is like the idea of a democratic communist nation. Only in theory does it work the way it should. But due to human nature, when it is put into action immediately the chance of equality, balance, and order that government should provide is lost.
I'll admit that I have a personal bias. And in the past have had extremely negative experiences with online forums. But every time a teacher has assigned a forum they became a torturous daily exercise, that I would never look forward to.
Okay I admit being able to put your work online is useful in a lot of different ways... sometimes. The argument for online blogging for classes is always something along the lines of
" You don't waste paper."
"It easier to share information with your classmates and the world!"
"It's fun."
"ETC."
"It easier to share information with your classmates and the world!"
"It's fun."
"ETC."
We all know what were supposed to get from it, but do actually ever?
For me the answer is simply no.
People could blog their hearts out and half of the time your classmates who should be reading your post lose interest a quarter of the way down the page.
Most people have stopped reading by now or are thinking about stopping.
And its not because the majority is unmotivated, or unable to excel in a learning environment, or turn their assignments in on time, it's just being online seems to induce this behavior. It relates all the way back to one of the first articles we read in class, "Is Google Making Us Stupid" by Nicholas Carr. Our mind capacity to sit with something and concentrate on it for a long period of time has been completely diminished.
Because this blog is so physically unattached from class, it so easy to forget about. It's just another website that we will try and remember to look at, after going on facebook, twitter, myspace, livejournal, looking at the weather for the next week, checking the new york times website, reading your horoscopes from three different websites, watching at least 25 pointless videos on you tube, while vid chatting with your two best friends, down loading the hit song of the day, listening to the hit song of the day, going back on facebook to look at pictures of your x-best friend's boyfriend's sister's birthday party, tweet about your boredom, facebook stalk more people, glance over your email, Then you start stumbling, and once you start stumbling you never stop. You stumble from website to website until you find something interesting to share with your friends. Go back on facebook to post on their wall, tweet again about something funny you found, and repeat.
I realize that freedom of speech is a right every single person has. But sometimes on forums or blogs people take it one step to far. Even in an academic situation there is always one person who is irresponsible with their words, creating confrontational situations that are completely virtual. These attacks can either be indirect or direct. It is going back to Derrida's fear of writing, he fears peoples reactions. People on blogs though seem to use the computer as a mask. They can say what they want no matter how offensive or malicious and be fine with it because they are not being physically confronted.
I am not saying I think the internet is stupid or blogging is a bad thing.
I actually think blogging to about your own personal opinions, or writing about your passions is really awesome. I personally enjoy reading some of these blogs.
As for Blogs and forums in a classroom setting, for me, definitely has more cons than pros.
Blogs in the classroom, is like the idea of a democratic communist nation. Only in theory does it work the way it should. But due to human nature, when it is put into action immediately the chance of equality, balance, and order that government should provide is lost.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Global Warming: The Sasquatch of our Society
"We are in an era of creative destruction."
Big Foot by Michael Specter
Are we really though? This statement has been made and now there is no going back on it. It has been stated, recorded, and published. And the only thing this statement did for me was induce insane fear. I'm not afraid of the truth, I am just afraid it is true. If everything we do, and everything we make produces CO2 then no matter what we will eventually induce our own demise. Is that what he means by creative destruction? How can you destroy creation, when creation is all about... well creating? Is there going to be a time when no one is creating anything and we are stuck in a mundane earth. A limbo between hitting rock bottom and being in a golden age.
Global warming is something that is constantly talked about. And I've heard many people joke about it, I have even joked about it. But discussing it seriously it is no laughing matter. It's the depressing truth of how the life that the earth created is now destroying it. It's like all human beings have an Oedipus complex, and mother nature is the parent of the same sex we wish to exclude... or murder. After reading this article I was afraid to move, let alone breathe, fearing that I would make my already enormous footprint even larger. Everyone tries to be conscious, well most people. But half the time none of us know even where to begin. We recycle, only to discover the places our plastic bottles are going are admitting toxins that are actually speeding the rate of global warming. And then we are stuck, in this cycle, that no one can seem to break.
Global warming is something that is constantly talked about. And I've heard many people joke about it, I have even joked about it. But discussing it seriously it is no laughing matter. It's the depressing truth of how the life that the earth created is now destroying it. It's like all human beings have an Oedipus complex, and mother nature is the parent of the same sex we wish to exclude... or murder. After reading this article I was afraid to move, let alone breathe, fearing that I would make my already enormous footprint even larger. Everyone tries to be conscious, well most people. But half the time none of us know even where to begin. We recycle, only to discover the places our plastic bottles are going are admitting toxins that are actually speeding the rate of global warming. And then we are stuck, in this cycle, that no one can seem to break.
What, Are, Why or Why Not?
A writer can be many things.
And when thinking about writing the first thing that comes to mind is an artist, usually.
I'm not sure I would consider the man who writes the obituaries for the sunday paper an artist. Or an accident report from your insurance company.
Being a "writer" is extremely specific art, and this art has many sub categories: Novels, poem, short stories, fiction, non-fiction....etc.
Overall a writer is a person who uses there experiences, imagination, opinion, and or any other personal bias to try and capture and persuade an audience of a specific nature, through the use of the written language. Which is terrifically different from the spoken language.
Am I a writer? I like to pretend sometimes. I used to write short stories. Once in 5th grade I decided to start writing a novel. So I guess I would consider myself part writer, but I am so many other things. Creative ways to express yourself are endless.
And when thinking about writing the first thing that comes to mind is an artist, usually.
I'm not sure I would consider the man who writes the obituaries for the sunday paper an artist. Or an accident report from your insurance company.
Being a "writer" is extremely specific art, and this art has many sub categories: Novels, poem, short stories, fiction, non-fiction....etc.
Overall a writer is a person who uses there experiences, imagination, opinion, and or any other personal bias to try and capture and persuade an audience of a specific nature, through the use of the written language. Which is terrifically different from the spoken language.
Am I a writer? I like to pretend sometimes. I used to write short stories. Once in 5th grade I decided to start writing a novel. So I guess I would consider myself part writer, but I am so many other things. Creative ways to express yourself are endless.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Hi, my name is ______________. Welcome to the writing center!
The writing center for me was quite the experience. I barely made it to my appointment that day because of the weather. It was a hurricane outside and I could barely walk with out being smacked in a different direction by the wind and rain. As I tried to save my computer from any water damage, I moved as quickly as my body would allow me. When I finally reached the writing center, I bustled in, huffying and puffing, and completely drenched. I had manage to salvage my laptop, all my books however weren't quite as lucky.
The tutor who helped was junior or senior, male, and very kind. I will leave him nameless for his privacy (and also because I wouldn't be able to remember his name or his face if you payed me). For this reason lets just call him Jake.
We sat down with my laptop and because I was a little disorganized he seemed to be also. I hadn't printed out a copy, but it didn't seem to matter we just used my computer( which did I mention was low on battery?).
Despite my misfortunate given circumstances Jake was quite helpful. We went over my opening paragraph and made it completely solid, and then continued on to the rest of my paper. The only thing that I would have to complain about is that he was really inattentive. If he didn't need to pay attention to me at that moment in time, you could bet he was looking at his computer or staring at his watch, or out the window.
Our hour had passed and we were about half way done. It annoyed me that half way through mid sentence he cut me off to say that our time was up. I asked Jake if he had another appointment, he hesitated and said "Yeah, yeah, yeah.". My computer was going to die anyway but he really couldn't wait to get rid of me. As I packed up my computer put my rain jacket back on and got myself together to face the ridiculous weather that was still outside. I noticed he had gone back to playing a video game on his computer. I check my phone: 1:15... another appointment really? Come on Jake! Help a girl in need, a girl who's paper was in need of serious help. Wasn't it his job to help me? Wasn't he getting paid to sit there and help me?
It would seem that didn't matter. Overall he was very helpful, but there were a couple of things that could have been adjusted to make my experience better and have better results from going.
I tied the belt on my jacket and gave one more " Jake do your job and tell me you wouldn't mind helping me for another ten minutes" look at him. No response.
I left, got luch, and sat there pondering how someone grades a paper that doesn't seem complete.
Dammit Jake -_____-
The tutor who helped was junior or senior, male, and very kind. I will leave him nameless for his privacy (and also because I wouldn't be able to remember his name or his face if you payed me). For this reason lets just call him Jake.
We sat down with my laptop and because I was a little disorganized he seemed to be also. I hadn't printed out a copy, but it didn't seem to matter we just used my computer( which did I mention was low on battery?).
Despite my misfortunate given circumstances Jake was quite helpful. We went over my opening paragraph and made it completely solid, and then continued on to the rest of my paper. The only thing that I would have to complain about is that he was really inattentive. If he didn't need to pay attention to me at that moment in time, you could bet he was looking at his computer or staring at his watch, or out the window.
Our hour had passed and we were about half way done. It annoyed me that half way through mid sentence he cut me off to say that our time was up. I asked Jake if he had another appointment, he hesitated and said "Yeah, yeah, yeah.". My computer was going to die anyway but he really couldn't wait to get rid of me. As I packed up my computer put my rain jacket back on and got myself together to face the ridiculous weather that was still outside. I noticed he had gone back to playing a video game on his computer. I check my phone: 1:15... another appointment really? Come on Jake! Help a girl in need, a girl who's paper was in need of serious help. Wasn't it his job to help me? Wasn't he getting paid to sit there and help me?
It would seem that didn't matter. Overall he was very helpful, but there were a couple of things that could have been adjusted to make my experience better and have better results from going.
I tied the belt on my jacket and gave one more " Jake do your job and tell me you wouldn't mind helping me for another ten minutes" look at him. No response.
I left, got luch, and sat there pondering how someone grades a paper that doesn't seem complete.
Dammit Jake -_____-
Just Add Water
JUST ADD WATER!
So much is hidden behind this phrase.
Every infomercial, ever, comes to mind....
" It's a plane that flies it's self... all you have to do is just add water!"
Well not exactly but you get the idea. Condensed orange juice, chia pets, just everything unnatural. Adding water creates a chemical reaction and makes things... well react.
But there are so many meaning behind that phrase in and out of context. Really human life is almost like that. Without water we die. The body can survive with out water up to three days. The body can survive up to forty days with out food. Without water we are dead.
Just add water.
Just hydrate yourself.
Just make sure you can function.
Just live.
Every infomercial, ever, comes to mind....
" It's a plane that flies it's self... all you have to do is just add water!"
Well not exactly but you get the idea. Condensed orange juice, chia pets, just everything unnatural. Adding water creates a chemical reaction and makes things... well react.
But there are so many meaning behind that phrase in and out of context. Really human life is almost like that. Without water we die. The body can survive with out water up to three days. The body can survive up to forty days with out food. Without water we are dead.
Just add water.
Just hydrate yourself.
Just make sure you can function.
Just live.
If a tree falls in the forest does anyone hear it?
I guess that is kind of the same thing? Well not really but almost .... it's a different sense, I suppose.
"A new way of understanding an already powerful theory is beginning to take shape, one that could change the way we understand the world around us. Do we create what we observe through the act of observation?"(Roebke pg. 230)
That question really gets me, especially since I really don't understand the philosophy behind it. Solipsism is the philosophical theory that self is all that you know to exist(Webster dictionary)...???
WHAT!!?
That barely makes any sense... well I guess it does, kind of?
Philosophy drives me crazy. Does that mean everything behind my back right now is just blank space an entire universe undiscovered and unused by us because we just haven't created anything there?
Observation I believe is key to learning, but creating? In art observation is key to learning and creating your art. But does the same hold true for the world? Do we observe and then create the world surrounding us. Sure there are tons of theories are using your "energy" to attract opportunities, people. good health, and so on. Even science falls back into spirituality sometimes. And this really seems to be on the border line for me at least.
Roebke's arguement is unclear to me still. And I think in a way his conclusion is passive, leaving the reader unstatisfied. I do however really enjoy the end when he ask a question Dr. Zeilinger cannot answer, and a week later there is a job posting for a collaborative philosopher.
"A new way of understanding an already powerful theory is beginning to take shape, one that could change the way we understand the world around us. Do we create what we observe through the act of observation?"(Roebke pg. 230)
That question really gets me, especially since I really don't understand the philosophy behind it. Solipsism is the philosophical theory that self is all that you know to exist(Webster dictionary)...???
WHAT!!?
That barely makes any sense... well I guess it does, kind of?
Philosophy drives me crazy. Does that mean everything behind my back right now is just blank space an entire universe undiscovered and unused by us because we just haven't created anything there?
Observation I believe is key to learning, but creating? In art observation is key to learning and creating your art. But does the same hold true for the world? Do we observe and then create the world surrounding us. Sure there are tons of theories are using your "energy" to attract opportunities, people. good health, and so on. Even science falls back into spirituality sometimes. And this really seems to be on the border line for me at least.
Roebke's arguement is unclear to me still. And I think in a way his conclusion is passive, leaving the reader unstatisfied. I do however really enjoy the end when he ask a question Dr. Zeilinger cannot answer, and a week later there is a job posting for a collaborative philosopher.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Faustian sold his soul to the devil... Have we?
Limitless— that is what has seemed to become the staple of our society according to Berry. Berry directly calls out our society and almost everyone living in it on their wasteful and greedy way of life. When I first read this I tried to dismiss Berry’s view of our country. But not even a quarter of the way through article, not only could I not dismiss his views, I had to accept that they true. Not only true, but shamefully I am living them. We all are though when it comes down to it.
Berry talks about the industrial revolution, and how this is where the idea of a limitless economy started. This is why we live this way, the way we live calls for limitlessness on every aspect . Berry talked about a summit in Louisville Kentucky. This summit was supposed to deal with the problems of fossil fuels and our energy sources. The solutions presented were not solutions at all, but just temporary replacements for our usable and non-refundable sources.
Limitless is not just present in things like our economy. Everyday everywhere you go people want everything for nothing. Even a trip to get ice cream becomes a production. Over 20 flavors over 50 topping, and an endless way of having it served. The choices have become over whelming. Berry is just yelling out for us to wake up and simplify our lifestyle again. Because in reality its not as hard as it seems.
Berry talks about the industrial revolution, and how this is where the idea of a limitless economy started. This is why we live this way, the way we live calls for limitlessness on every aspect . Berry talked about a summit in Louisville Kentucky. This summit was supposed to deal with the problems of fossil fuels and our energy sources. The solutions presented were not solutions at all, but just temporary replacements for our usable and non-refundable sources.
Limitless is not just present in things like our economy. Everyday everywhere you go people want everything for nothing. Even a trip to get ice cream becomes a production. Over 20 flavors over 50 topping, and an endless way of having it served. The choices have become over whelming. Berry is just yelling out for us to wake up and simplify our lifestyle again. Because in reality its not as hard as it seems.
Waste and Greed. Greed and Waste. WasteandGreed
The image of waste fills my mind with mountains of garbage. Just an overwhelming mass of people's trash. Broken computer screens, unwanted toys, rotting food, clothing never worn, shoes missing there match, and just an excess amount of matter. A matter that could have been saved and recycled, but instead was destroyed and made unusable.
Greed and Waste are close in character. Greed in my mind is matter wasted. The foundation of greed comes from waste. We are too greedy to share so we dispose of whatever we can't handle. It is a person that sits there- on their mountain- and they create more, they hoard more things, and eventually it is all wasted.
These two cohorts further the cycle of taking, never giving back, destroying community, simpleness, and just causing destruction.
Greed and Waste are close in character. Greed in my mind is matter wasted. The foundation of greed comes from waste. We are too greedy to share so we dispose of whatever we can't handle. It is a person that sits there- on their mountain- and they create more, they hoard more things, and eventually it is all wasted.
These two cohorts further the cycle of taking, never giving back, destroying community, simpleness, and just causing destruction.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Derrida's afraid of writing... I mean he writes and all, but still he's afraid of writing.
Jacques Derrida: author, philosopher, speaker.
He is many things, but his one skill that accounts for much of his success, he claims to fear. Why is that? Derrida's fear of writing is something that not is not uncommon. I believe this fear doesn't come from the writing itself, but the fear of human reaction. Every person, every individual judges and reacts to all of other peoples actions. Its natural and unavoidable because of different opinions, different ways of life, and just different people. He uses writing to face his fears, he uses it to venture forward into the unknown of opinions and confrontations.
I have only once really experienced fear after writing. It was a rhetorical analysis of the Bad Romance music video. When I picked Lady Gaga as my topic I knew right away it would be controversial, but not until after the paper was printed and handed in did I start feeling the anxiety build up in my body. My entire paper was about women and their sexuality. What I had experienced in the past at school was these kinds of topics were not discussed and were deemed inappropriate. The Irish catholic girl inside of me became nervous at what my professor would do. I was afraid she would think of me in a negative light and grade my paper poorly because of the blunt topic I was addressing. Later after receiving an A on my paper, I realized that- yes- the subject was controversial but I wasn't being graded on being appropriate.
Derrida uses language as his vehicle to propel his ideas forward. He fears the back lash but never takes back anything he publishes. Its a constant battle between himself. Believing in what he is writing in and fearing the reaction of what he believes.
He is many things, but his one skill that accounts for much of his success, he claims to fear. Why is that? Derrida's fear of writing is something that not is not uncommon. I believe this fear doesn't come from the writing itself, but the fear of human reaction. Every person, every individual judges and reacts to all of other peoples actions. Its natural and unavoidable because of different opinions, different ways of life, and just different people. He uses writing to face his fears, he uses it to venture forward into the unknown of opinions and confrontations.
I have only once really experienced fear after writing. It was a rhetorical analysis of the Bad Romance music video. When I picked Lady Gaga as my topic I knew right away it would be controversial, but not until after the paper was printed and handed in did I start feeling the anxiety build up in my body. My entire paper was about women and their sexuality. What I had experienced in the past at school was these kinds of topics were not discussed and were deemed inappropriate. The Irish catholic girl inside of me became nervous at what my professor would do. I was afraid she would think of me in a negative light and grade my paper poorly because of the blunt topic I was addressing. Later after receiving an A on my paper, I realized that- yes- the subject was controversial but I wasn't being graded on being appropriate.
Derrida uses language as his vehicle to propel his ideas forward. He fears the back lash but never takes back anything he publishes. Its a constant battle between himself. Believing in what he is writing in and fearing the reaction of what he believes.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Hass, Jones, and language.
“Hubris at Zunzal” by Rodney Jones and “The Problem of Describing Trees” address the topic of language. The written language— when you really think about it— is a very strange concept.
In Hass’s poem he sneakily makes his argument by exploiting people who try and make language deeper, prettier, and more meaningful. When in actuality they just stomp on all of those things, making language loose it simplistic beauty.
In Rodney’s poem he commends the written language for being created without it our thoughts, quite literally would be washed away and irretrievable. “ No image like the image of language.” This quote embodies the need and beauty of descriptive language. These poems both center around language. And prove two different points. Balancing out the two extremes. Without it we are lost, with it we are over zealous with its use and abuse its simplistic nature by making it overly complicated.
In Hass’s poem he sneakily makes his argument by exploiting people who try and make language deeper, prettier, and more meaningful. When in actuality they just stomp on all of those things, making language loose it simplistic beauty.
In Rodney’s poem he commends the written language for being created without it our thoughts, quite literally would be washed away and irretrievable. “ No image like the image of language.” This quote embodies the need and beauty of descriptive language. These poems both center around language. And prove two different points. Balancing out the two extremes. Without it we are lost, with it we are over zealous with its use and abuse its simplistic nature by making it overly complicated.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The Conversation of Mankind
Collaborative Learning and the "Conversation of Mankind"
by Kenneth A. Bruffee
I chose this quote to start because I feel it really embodies the meaning of the entire piece. Collaborative learning is a technique that we've all been experiencing since pre-school. Personally, I have had really positive experiences, but I also have had disastrous results. Reading Bruffee essay made me consciously recognize that all the peer editing/grading, group projects, and class feed back these past years have been a type of learning technique. I agree, through collaborative learning I have gained a lot of knowledge, a lot faster. Knowledge communities are helpful to the individual’s growth. After all I believe that communities are the reason for individual success.
However a failed community or a failed attempt at using collaborative learning can cause destruction. I can think back to many of my experiences where I was put into a group and told to answer an ambiguous question. The results came out unanimously: all of the groups didn’t answer the question. Or it was not exactly what the teacher was hoping the results would be. So how do you guarantee the success of knowledge communities? I think a lot of it has to do with the individuals themselves. If the individuals aren’t committed or part of different knowledge communities it cause issues.
“Without successful teachers the community will die when it’s current members die, and knowledge as assented to by that community will cease to exist.” So how do teachers fit into this technique? Bruffree claims that teachers are one of the largest knowledge communities. In this learning technique the only issue is who has authority. Where does the sole power lie? I think that power or authority goes to the community or even individual who is part of more Knowledge communities than the average person. Or the person with power could be the expert of one thing .
by Kenneth A. Bruffee
"Education is not a process of assimiliating "the truth" but, as Rorty has put it, a process of learning to "take a hand in what is going on" by joining the conversation of mankind."
-Kenneth A. Bruffee
-Kenneth A. Bruffee
I chose this quote to start because I feel it really embodies the meaning of the entire piece. Collaborative learning is a technique that we've all been experiencing since pre-school. Personally, I have had really positive experiences, but I also have had disastrous results. Reading Bruffee essay made me consciously recognize that all the peer editing/grading, group projects, and class feed back these past years have been a type of learning technique. I agree, through collaborative learning I have gained a lot of knowledge, a lot faster. Knowledge communities are helpful to the individual’s growth. After all I believe that communities are the reason for individual success.
However a failed community or a failed attempt at using collaborative learning can cause destruction. I can think back to many of my experiences where I was put into a group and told to answer an ambiguous question. The results came out unanimously: all of the groups didn’t answer the question. Or it was not exactly what the teacher was hoping the results would be. So how do you guarantee the success of knowledge communities? I think a lot of it has to do with the individuals themselves. If the individuals aren’t committed or part of different knowledge communities it cause issues.
“Without successful teachers the community will die when it’s current members die, and knowledge as assented to by that community will cease to exist.” So how do teachers fit into this technique? Bruffree claims that teachers are one of the largest knowledge communities. In this learning technique the only issue is who has authority. Where does the sole power lie? I think that power or authority goes to the community or even individual who is part of more Knowledge communities than the average person. Or the person with power could be the expert of one thing .
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