Rights to Write: Task Four

Oct 20-27

[Description] with a video clip

Networked student (Click on it to browse the video page or watch the clip below.)

This is how American college students learn. Are you learning in a similar way?

What does it mean by “Networked Students”? Is it a good or a bad change, and why?

[My Own Comments]

1. This is how American college students learn. Are you learning in a similar way?

I'm not learning in the same or similar way. I didn't even know some of the tools mentioned in the video clips. But there are some characteristics in common, such as the frequent use of social networks and the Internet, which influence our daily life very much.

2. What does it mean by “Networked Students”?

I don't know the exact definition of networked students; however, to me, it means those who are resourceful by means of the Internet networks.

3. Is it a good or a bad change, and why?

With the rapid development of technology, we're often forced to be hi-tech. I feel ambivalent about technology as well as the Internet. Technology and the Internet seem convenient but they also bring us side effects at the same time.

Using computers and social networks may save a lot of paper and trees, but actually using them also waste a lot of energy, and it will harm the earth and our health. It's a matter of balance between hi-tech and non-hi-tech, or between networked and non-networked.

Information management can be done both in hi-tech and traditional ways. Internet networks do help, but there are other options, which in my opinion is fundamental in the learning process. It's very risky that we rely on the Internet too much. Too much homework is done with computers and the Internet. Excessive use of them is tiring. If people can only process everything on computers and the Internet, how can we do once we don't have them? Therefore, we still need to learn the non-hi-tech ways.

Sometimes the actual interaction between teachers and learners is more effective and valuable. Sometimes learning things in the traditional and simple way is quicker in action and lasing in memory. For example, I can consult the paper dictionaries faster than those who are accustomed to electronic dictionaries. When I've already found a word in only a few seconds, they might have not yet finished typing, not to mention looking up words in paper dictionaries.

In addition, note that the video clip was not produced in a hi-tech way. There's no computer graphic. Paper alone is helpful enough. This feature points out the strengths of the traditional methods.

In sum, in learning, to be resourceful is not necessarily to be networked.

[My Keypal's Comments and My Response]

Click "Week Four" to read them.