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Governors Sate U - Are We Amusing Ourselves to Death?
Postman argued that television had become the primary medium of communication and shaped public discourse in a way that prioritized entertainment over substance. He believed television encouraged passive consumption of information rather than active engagement. While new technologies like the internet could potentially encourage more creativity and interaction, there was also a risk they could further distract and amuse people without adding real value. Postman's final message was that emerging technologies should be evaluated based on whether they enrich public discourse or simply aim to amuse and distract.
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Governors Sate U - Are We Amusing Ourselves to Death?
- 1. Are We Amusing Ourselves to Death? With a tip of the cap to Neil Postman
- 2.
- 4. Clicker Time • Grabyour clicker • First, some demographics.
- 5. Gender & LifeExperience 45% 1. Female, < 40 yrs. 35% 2. Female, 40 + yrs. 3. Male, < 40 yrs. 10% 10% 4. Male, 40 + yrs. .. ... . . s. . s. . y. +y yr yr 40 40 40 + < 0 e, e, ,4 ,< al al ale ale m m M M Fe Fe
- 6. New Technology Adoption 50% 1.The Keen 45% 2.The Masses 3.The Stubborn 5% s en n se or Ke as bb M e u Th e St Th e Th
- 7. Take your Pick 65% 1. Cubs 35% 2. Sox bs x So Cu
- 8. Faculty Perspective • Forthe next two clicker statements – • Put on your faculty hat, regardless of whether you actually have one
- 9. Entertaining Students is NOT my Job 43% 1. Fact 57% 2. Whack
- 10. Engaging Students is NOT my Job 4% 1. Fact 96% 2. Whack
- 11. Not this kindof entertainment
- 12. A Tupperware (orBridge) Party
- 13. Who said this? “Anyonewho tries to make a distinction between education & entertainment doesn't know the first thing about either.”
- 14.
- 15. Which of thefollowing describe you? 61% 1. Bought 3+ things online last month 83% 2. Use online banking services 96% 3. Have Wi-Fi in your house 26% 4. You have 5+ cloud documents 48% 5. You can define the term “Web 2.0” 0% 6. None of the above are true
- 16. What is Web2.0?
- 17. Select each sitewhere you have an account. 70% 1. Facebook 30% 2. Twitter 48% 3. LinkedIn 30% 4. Google Plus 57% 5. You Tube 13% 6. None of the above
- 18. Which of thesedevices do you have? 61% 1. Smartphone 57% 2. Tablet (iPad or similar) 22% 3. e-Reader (not #2 above) 96% 4. Laptop computer 74% 5. mp3 player 4% 6. None of the above
- 19. The most wiredare 198.18 The Keen 188.89 Female, 40 + yrs. Team Scores 186.67 Sox 170 Male, < 40 yrs. 168.57 Male, 40 + yrs. 146 The Masses 140 The Stubborn 110 Female, < 40 yrs.
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- 22. e-Learning Alphabet E-Learning Atheists E-Learning Zealots My images: rights reserved
- 23. The e-Learning Battle E-LearningAtheists • These are the naysayers. • They are the non- believers when it comes to online learning. • In fact, they’re pretty sure that it’s the DEVIL. 23
- 24. Sample Atheist Comment Onlineeducation is fake-education. It is not "real". Convenient? Yes. Profitable? Yes. Popular with students who mostly just want a "degree"? Yes. And it is garbage in the end. Source: http://chronicle.com/article/How-Big-Can-E-Learning-Get-At/128809/ 24
- 25. e-Atheists Viewpoints 1. Onlinestudents are missing the “true” college experience. 2. Online students are lonely. 3. Online students can’t possibly learn as much. 4. Online students are being ripped off.
- 26. The e-Learning Battle •The Zealots are those that tout the benefits of online learning without having any evidence to back it up. • Zealots begin many of their sentences with “one time there was this one student …” E-Learning Zealots 26
- 27. Sample Zealot Comment •And here we are, in 2011, fer cryin‘aloud, with dodgy naysayers STILL kicking and screaming and throwing fits in regards (sic) to online teaching and learning. Get over it, already – the days of having students seated around your flowing toga in utter awe of your knowledge and acumen are LONG GONE. Welcome to the present. Source: http://chronicle.com/article/How-Big-Can-E-Learning-Get-At/128809/ 27
- 28. A to ZContinuum 0 3 7 10
- 29. Your Spot fromA to Z 0% A. 0 23% B. 3 64% C. 7 14% D. 10
- 30. Who said this? “Idon't necessarily agree with everything I say.”
- 31.
- 32.
- 33. Twitter is Stupid!!! 68% 1. Twue 32% 2. False
- 34. Twue Enough 100 Male, < 40 yrs. 100 The Stubborn 70 Team Scores The Keen 70 The Masses 66.67 Female, 40 + yrs. 66.67 Male, 40 + yrs. 60 Sox 50 Female, < 40 yrs.
- 35. Twitter makes melike people I’ve never met and Facebook makes me hate people I know in real life. @shaylamaddox
- 36. Networked Learning • Don’tBuy the Book! • Absorb the concept. • I learn more every day from my Twitter network than I ever did in school. • (Blasphemy, I know)
- 37.
- 38. Some people aregreat multi-taskers
- 39. Multi-tasking is aMyth • Great Book • Brain Rules, by Dr. John Medina
- 40.
- 41. More Brain Rules 71% 1. Male & female brains work differently 67% 2. A memory can be “made” very quickly 52% 3. Brain works better w/the body at rest 62% 4. You learn while you sleep 24% 5. None of the above are true
- 42. The Brainiest aboutBrains 100 Male, < 40 yrs. 100 The Stubborn Team Scores 92.86 Female, 40 + yrs. 83.33 The Keen 55 Sox 50 Male, 40 + yrs. 50 The Masses
- 43.
- 44. Predictably Irrational • Why do we splurge on a lavish meal and cut coupons to save 25 cents on a can of soup? • What is behavioral economics and where all of these free lunches?
- 45. Chocolate Break • LindtTruffle • Hershey Kiss
- 46. Which candy wouldyou buy? 65% 1. Lindt Truffle = 15¢ 35% 2. Hershey Kiss = 1¢
- 47. Who Wants aKiss? 50 Female, < 40 yrs. 50 The Masses Team Scores 45.45 Sox 44.44 Female, 40 + yrs. 42.86 Male, 40 + yrs. 27.27 The Keen
- 48. The Power ofFree 15¢ Truffles, 1¢ Kisses 14¢ Truffles, Free Kisses 27% 69% 31% 73%
- 49. Who said this? “Iwouldn't have seen it if I hadn't believed it.”
- 50.
- 51. Neil Postman • PublicDiscourse in the Age of Show Business • Published 1985
- 52. 1985 How about amemory refresher about what the world was like in 1984-1985?
- 53.
- 54. Leaders Who lostto Reagan in ’84?
- 55. Sports Who lostthe World Series in 1984?
- 56. Television Namethe top- rated television shows in 1984-85
- 57. Television Name the most popular televangelists in 1984-85
- 58. Television Name thenews anchors for the “Big 3” networks
- 59. Marketing Tagline for American Express Traveler's Checks
- 60. Technology How old wasthe Macintosh computer?
- 61. Amusing Ourselves toDeath • Many of the remarks he made about television can be made today about computers and social networking Hey Barry! Read something!
- 62. Graphics by StuartMcMillen
- 63. Which of thesebooks have you read? 30% 1. 1984 0% 2. Brave New World 39% 3. Both of them 30% 4. Neither of them
- 70. 1 million onFacebook
- 73.
- 77. Graphics by StuartMcMillen • All words from “Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business” by Neil Postman … a book about the possibility that Huxley, not Orwell, was right.
- 78. My Take onPostman • Web 1.0 was just another one-way distraction device, very TV-like. • However, Web 2.0 goes beyond amusement by bringing people together and encouraging creativity.
- 79. Related Questions • Howdoes the use of emerging technologies add value? • If we aren’t adding value, are we simply trying to amuse ourselves?
- 80.
- 81. Encourage Creativity In any and all subjects
- 82. Example: 1st week intros in LMS • Why not throw away this tired, old assignment? • "Please post an introduction of yourself to the rest of the class on the discussion board."
- 83. Example: 1st week intros in LMS • Why not throw away • Hello!!!!!!!!!! My this tired, old name is Barry. I live in assignment? Superior with my beautiful wife. I have • "Please post an 2 ½ kids & 3 ½ dogs introduction of and I just can’t wait yourself to the rest to learn all about the of the class on the wonderful world of discussion board." accounting!!!!!!!!!
- 84. Example: 1st week intros Made for free at toondoo.com
- 85. Comic Strips canbe Embedded in Discussions
- 86.
- 87. Writing papers is animportant part of learning and of college life
- 88. But so islearning to use other modalities of expression
- 89. Consider where Digital Storytelling mightfit into your curriculum
- 91. Digital Storytelling • Bryan Alexander
- 92. Hey Barry, what’sthe significance of ↓ Now this...
- 93. Who said this? “Allmedia exist to invest our lives with artificial perceptions and arbitrary values.”
- 94.
- 95. Is this Innovationor Insanity? Culture, Gender, and Identity – taught with World of Warcraft CC Flickr photo by glenn.batuyong
- 96. Is this Innovationor Insanity? History of Rock-n-Roll Music course – taught with Guitar Hero CC Flickr photo By 5th Ape
- 97. Take your pick 84% 1.Innovation 16% 2.Insanity
- 98. Who said insanity? 50 Female, < 40 yrs. 22.22 The Keen Team Scores 20 Male, 40 + yrs. 14.29 Female, 40 + yrs. 12.5 The Masses 10 Sox
- 99. How amusing is that?
- 100. Who said this? “Weshape our tools and afterwards our tools shape us.”
- 101.
- 102. How Well DoYou Know Your Students? What do They Expect from Online Learning?
- 103. Option 1 -PSOL
- 104. 2009 PSOL –Summary Statement So far, how has your college experience met your expectations? 7=Much better than expected Overall score 6=Quite a bit better than I expected 5.0 5=Better than I expected 4=About what I expected 3=Worse than I expected 2=Quite a bit worse than I expected 1=Much worse than expected 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
- 105.
- 106. In so manywords … they expect
- 107.
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- 109.
- 110.
- 111.
- 112. What is Web2.0?
- 113.
- 114. Who said this? “Welook at the present through a rear-view mirror. We march backwards into the future.”
- 115. Who said this? “Themedium is the message”
- 116.
- 117. Are We Amusing Ourselvesto Death? And other book learnin’ Final word from Postman?
Editor's Notes
- #5 [twitter]We are using 150 Turning Point clickers today, graciously provided by Turning Technologies.[/twitter]
- #12 http://farm1.static.flickr.com/92/219190524_8485340fd7.jpg?v=0
- #14 [twitter]Quote: “Anyone who tries to make a distinction between education & entertainment doesn’t know the first thing about either.”[/twitter]
- #31 [twitter]Quote: “I don’t necessarily agree with everything I say.”[/twitter]
- #37 [twitter]How many millions of people are in this room right now? How many people can we reach through our networks?[/twitter]
- #40 [twitter]I highly recommend the book Brain Rules by John Medina. I suggest you buy the book, not the audio book – you’ll see why.[/twitter]
- #45 [twitter]Another highly recommended book is Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely (and the follow-up, The Upside of Irrationality).[/twitter]
- #46 [twitter]We’lluse Lindt Truffles and Hershey Kisses to demonstrate the power of free – via Dan Ariely.[/twitter]
- #50 [twitter]Quote: “I wouldn’t have seen it if I hadn’t believed it.” (Get it? It’s about seeing what you expect or hope to see.)[/twitter]
- #66 [twitter]Orwell feared the book banners. Huxley feared that there would be no reason to ban books, no one would want to read them.[/twitter]
- #68 [twitter]Orwell feared we would be deprived of information. Huxley feared we would have too much information, becoming passive & egoistic[/twitter]
- #70 [twitter]Orwell feared the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance.[/twitter]
- #73 [twitter]Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture.[/twitter]
- #74 [twitter]Huxley quote: Those opposed to tyranny “failed to take into account man’s almost infinite appetite for distractions.”[/twitter]
- #77 [twitter]In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us.[/twitter]
- #78 [twitter] Graphics by Stuart McMillen, with permission. http://bit.ly/cz8kFd[/twitter]
- #79 [twitter] “Amusing Ourselves to Death” by Neil Postman … a book about the possibility that Huxley, not Orwell, was right.[/twitter]
- #80 [twitter] “Amusing Ourselves to Death” highly recommended – here’s a link to purchase for under $10 http://amzn.to/9AzH1N [/twitter]
- #96 http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamiecampbell/2520557899/
- #97 http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamiecampbell/2520557899/
- #98 [twitter]Full college courses taught completely within World of Warcraft or other video games. Innovation or Insanity?[/twitter]