What is the 'semantic web'? and How does it differ from web 3.0?

"The Semantic Web is an evolving extension of the World Wide Web in which the semantics of information and services on the web is defined, making it possible for the web to understand and satisfy the requests of people and machines to use the web content."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_Web

Created by Tim Berners-Lee, the Semantic Web is about having data as well as documents on the Web so that machines can process, transform, assemble, and even act on the data in useful ways.

When comparing it to Web 3.0 it's slightly confusing as i think they are similar. Web 3.0 is the term that is used to describe the future of the World Wide Web, what it will be like when web 2.0 is further developed basically. We currently use 2.0.

The Semantic web it seem will play the role of transforming the web, increasing Internet connection speeds and the role that further developments in computer graphics may have in the development of the World Wide Web. (As stated above )

I think the Web 3.0 and the semantic don't differ dramatically but rather the role of these two against that of web 2.0.

Is there a potential problem being stored up for people if 'education' is tailored to fit into their cultural and personal preferences?

Without a doubt Yes.

How would people have a balanced and thorough education if they simply learned about the things they wanted to?

It's important for people to learn about their own cultural background or issues, however if they were the only ones to learn it how would the rest of the world learn to understand they ways and beliefs. I think its important for everyone to learn about a variety of cultural issues and beliefs in order to be well educated and also a fairly rounded person. The more you know about and learn about the easier it will be, to make new friends, introduce yourself into new surroundings, live an everyday life.

The opportunities to learn about a specific personal preference are endless, therefore if you have a personal interest in something you can pursue it. However this should be aside from formal education.
We live in a multi-enthic society in which it is important to have some understanding into their cultural ways in order for us to progress and avoid conflicts.
The result of a 'education' is tailored to fit into their cultural and personal preferences.................

a society of very ignorant people!!

What difference to all this might the 'digital divide' make?

To socioeconomically related access issues within a society?
The obvious argument to this is that the more and more we make this digital divide, the bigger the gap we are creating between that of the young generations and the older generations. Older generations are considered digital immigrants, looking at it pessimistically their behind the times, digital challenged and slow to learn. And when making the comparsion to the youth of today world, who are digitally enhanced, fast learners and at a constant competing level, they have no chance.

"Henry Jenkins suggested that talking about digital natives and digital immigrants will widen the gap between adults (Digital Immigrants) and the youths (Digital Natives) as the adults will be seen as out of touch and the youth will be seen as masterful therefore connoting that they are more powerful. And that this it will result in the contemporary youth been seen as feral, cut off from all adult influences."

This will have a powerful impact on education systems in schools, currently schools use the basic equipment allowing all students to participate and experience wengers communities of practice. Alot of Schools currently have IT rooms in which children and students work together sharing online learning experiences. However if we are to become completely digitally enhanced surely some students who do not have the added advantages of outside the classroom help, people will get left behind.


b) To global access issues across countries and regions?
This is a matter of addressing the already increasing divide between the western world and 3rd world countries. More and more each day countries such as America are furthering their digital technologies leaving countries such as Africa and India still struggling to find the basics, such as continual source of water.
The digital divide is already huge and if it is to further, it may cause communication issues. If countries move on to a new source of communication its quite likely they may leave another behind, this may lose or hinder countries relationships.

Prensky ideas on distance learning at first sound like a great idea, but it will ultimate alienate some potential audience. Taking into account comparing some people ability to access information over others.

How might Wenger's notions on practice communities relate to Prensky's on education?

"Communities of practice are formed by people who engage in a process of collective learning in a shared domain of human endeavour"
OR
"Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly" (Wenger circa 2007)
http://www.infed.org/biblio/communities_of_practice.htm


Wenger suggests that Communities of practise (COP's) are bound together by their shared interests and their shared learning. They are also tied together in their need of development and progression.

Prensky thought heavily on education and it was his thoughts and beliefs on how we should be looking at a way of making education so it suits Digital Natives. He spoke about how we as individuals interact with technologies & how these may aid or hinder our education. To a native (quite likely a young student) anything is possible on the inet, to an immigrant (a teacher in schools) getting to grips & the pace of looking up information for our on means maybe a little more difficult.

Both Wenger and Prensky's theories relate in such a way that perhaps by using Wenger's COP's people of simular interests can come together and those that are digital natives (In prenskys theory) could learn and extend their own capabilites but at the same time teach that of the digital immgrants. Tieing together, as Wenger once said development and progression in a shared learning enviroment.

It is important ot realise that there may be issues concerning hierarcy. Using Prenskys idea of education it is possible a system like this may work in a school. Therefore in this COP's the usual hierarchy is reversed. Where normally we see the teacher sharing their knowledge with a student, the student will now be teaching the teacher. This may have a negative effect as the students will feel they are more powerful than the teachers in terms of technology and its usage.

This brings in the notion of 'If young people are more able to digitally 'connect' how can co-operation be included into 'education'?' Unfortuanly i think it will be a matter of teachers accepting and working alongside students in order to both further themselves and of course the student. There needs to be a level of co-operation.
It also suggests that perhaps there needs to be a balance for both the students and the teachers. Bringing digital aspects into their course but also using traditional methods such as books.

Is your Dad, Mum, elder sibling, boy/girlfriend part of your CofP?
I suppose nearly everyone is part of a COP. My brother is quite simular to myself. He attends Manchester University, and does a joint honours course. Therefore he moves between to sets of COP's in order to help him learn. In return he helps me when it comes to University subjects, he's either been there done that or getting ready to do it. Therefore its helpful, that on this particular area of our lives we are able to work together are learn new things.

Describe the experience of a fictional technophile student in 2020.

Jimmy, with a huge grin on his face, walks down from the Engine Shed stage. As he does so he trips over a Yellow cable running across the floor, as he stumbles his glasses fall from his face!!

"Dam Coaxial cable, the tubular insulating layer will now be ruined"

Jimmy is a technophile, and has just won the award for

"The Distinguished artist award for lifetime achievement in digital art. "

He's only 19!

Jimmy spends his day to day life, creating graphics and potential logos and themes for University.

Recently Jimmy decided to redecorate his room, he's rather proud of this , as student courts have traditionally been known as abit of a dive.

Jimmy strolls home through the courts after his night at the awards. Approaching his bedroom door, Jimmy shuffles in his pockets for "The remote".................. Jimmy's new invention.

Hitting his secret code ............. 0000.............. and enter. A series of automatic unlocking can be heard through the door.

As he enters his room, his new digital friend.. Susan ... repeats her daily line..... "Welcome Home Jimmy"

Of course his new system of automatic lights have all ready turned on, and he's pleased to see 'Roberta' ... his cleaning robot has folded and put his clothes away.

Tired from the night events, Jimmy gets undressed and gets into bed.

"Good night Jimmy" a voice echos

"Thanks susan", Jimmy replies and dozzes off to sleep.

Describe the daily frustrations of a fictional neo-luddite at university now in the UK.

"WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKE UP" bethany's mum calls from the kitchen... "Your 15 minutes late"
"Dam it" said beth. She didnt know how to set her alarm clock! It was leaving day, Beth was leaving for University. Her flight for East Midlands left in less than an hour, but it was ok, beth felt cool, prepared and ready for this big adventure. There was only one thing that was niggling away in the back of her mind...... She'd never flown on her own before.


DISH.... DASH ... "oh excuse me......... please move.... uhhh wheres check in for East Midlands, anyone... "
"Grrrr humph, get outta my way love, read the screen!!!" said a heavily bearded man.

Beth reached her departure gate, and shifted threw her bag for her flight tickets. She hands them to the the smiling lady behind the desk. Slowly her smile disappears and she says, "Am sorry dear, you were suppose to check in online with these tickets"
Beth signs ands says, "But I don't know how" the lady unsympathetically says "Well it'll cost £5 each way to book in here."

Once in East Midlands airport, beth spends an hour waiting on bus, she could have spent ten minutes if she'd looked up the times on the internet before she left!
The rest of her journey wasnt much better!

Beth arrives at on Lincoln Campus, surrounded by hundreds of freshers, carrying bags and suitcases she stands clueless in the middle of the car park. Lincoln University's website provides all the information of where and when beth had to be at her accomodation, but she'd missed out on that because she was too busy writing a letter to her aunt margret.

A fresh faced student approaches beth, " hi, are you ok there?"
"Am looking for my accomodation" says Beth with a hopeful look that some one might actually know what she's suppose to be doing.

The young girl, named Jenny, looks up beths details and takes her to her new room, " There you go, sort your things out, and heres a few leaflets. "Heres one on the Uni, however this one (she hands a yellow form to beth) is important, it gives you all the information and log in details of how to set up your internet, and also i need you to email me over your inventory after you've checked out your room" And then she left!

"Oh shit" thought Beth!! There was internet cables, TV cables, sockets in the wall with round holes and square holes, all this information on sheet saying something about:
"www." and windows set up, transfer your settings, use the numbers 78384738 and XYZ"

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Theres a knock on the door, it's jenny.. " Oh and you'll find your Uni Timetable on student portal"


" The student what??

I need mum, beth thought! And headed out to look for a pay phone. No she didnt have a moblie.

Beth missed lectures, lost out on nights out, became out of touch with her family and ended up a social outcast.

A person known to you, who most threatens the notion of native/immigrant in digital culture.

Ok i think its fair to say that my friend Sarah, previously mentioned, fits into this notion of threatening native/immigrant in digital culture.
Sarah's age, 19, suggests that she should be a digital native as like myself she as grown up surrounded by new digital technologies. She has also been very privledged to have been giving the opportunity to experience all these new technologies. From internet, mobile phones, playstations,digital cameras, nintendo DS's, the first MP3 players, the first Ipods to the latest developed Ipods and recently recieved the Wii and Wii Fit.

It sounds like she should be very digitally advanced but she just not. She has basic skills of the internet and uses the social networking page, bebo (only as a worry she'll be left out). Whilst encouraging her to visit me in Lincoln, I have had to go online to book flights has she seems stuck to what to do.
Digital cameras great for taking photos, but uploading on to the computer??? And whilst she loves music, Itunes isn't in her vocabulary. Therefore her Ipod is only updated when i visit home.

The point of this is to understand that just because she has grown up in an age dominated by new media doesnt mean she is naturally a digital native. Something that is assumed by theorist Prensky has he bases his definitions on age groups and generations in society.

The youngest digital immigrant you know

This has got to be my best friend, Sarah. Shes certainly digitally challenged. Even though our schools has encouraged us to use computer equipment, shes never really got the hang off it. Sarah for a long time has struggled to get to grips with the internet, how it works and the possiblities it provides.
However at the age of 18, she began her new job an estate agent, which requires her working in office surroundings using computer systems and programmes, printers, fax equipment, photocopiers etc. This has taught her alot in the last year and her computer skills are coming along slowly but surely.

The oldest digital native you know

YO YO Nanny C! She knows were to be!!

Send me a text an I'll follow up with the rest! What about an email shes no snail!

My nanny is the oldest digital native I know, and its just as well with me living so far from home. From the begining my nanny has taken a great interest in computers. She likes to think she keeps up with the modern world and isnt doing a bad job. With me being away alot, we send various emails back and forward and shes forever searching her next holiday online.

Should education 'stretch a person do you think?

I have always been taught to do things to the best of my abilty, push myself to strive for more and never accept second place as a consolation prize. In todays world of work, people are faced with a very competitive, cut-throat style approach to progression. Therefore in order surrive out there 'in the jungle' its important we are equiped with the right skills.
So before reaching the big Bad world, its important that throughout out school lives we have been pushed to the limit to achieve our best. (This refers to stretching people)

The introduction of new media in schools is a great idea. Often you see supermarkets promoting some sort of scheme which'll help give so many computers to schools. It's important that children learn from a young age how to use these technological advancements as they seem to be part of our everyday lives. However its important that children do learn not to rely on digital workings as a means of getting by. For example the idea that people will reach for a calculator before using there brain. This shows the negitives of new technoligies whilst many encourage simulation quite often their a means of taking the lazy way out.
The best way to 'stretch' children in education is not to make the work seem like so much work. Interactivity and making things fun play a vital part in the learning process. Prensky, himself goes as far as to say that children would learn algebra quicker and easier through a game format.

However there is a obvious counter-arguement to this. It's important that teachers and school systems don't push students over the edge. I know (whilst now comparing them my work now were far easier) that durning my GCSE's, i felt under pressure to do well, whether it was from my parents or the fact that teachers bombare you with practice-tests and then stick a pridected grade on your fore-head!! So now you have something to live up to.!!

Overall thought if a relaxed approach is taken towards education, its only going to encourage the couch potato phenomena.

Abstract on journal 5

This journal faces the argument of educators being the digital immigrants having to learn and adapt to the new generation of the 21st century (the natives). The author specifically focuses on digital programmes and their use to digital immigrants. Such as the programme Advanced Placement Language and Composition, he discusses what this incorporates and furthermore addressed the gap between students and teachers. Suggesting that if this technology is successful it can help the digital immigrants on the world thrive in this new environment.

Abstract on Journal 4

This journal looks at “Digital Pioneers’, involving electronic realities and the environments available online. Using theorists knowledge the author applies the ideas of digital natives and digital immigrants to classroom. With a heavy emphasises on education and the student, the author argues the meaning behind these two terms and suggests they are not entirely correct

Abstract on Journal 3

This article specifically explores the female roles, issues and problems arising form online activity. Using feminists theories and a study case involving 16 Canadian girls it looks to investigate female online activity and the role of relationships, gender issues and inequalities whilst discovering the online world

Abstract on Journal 2

This journal takes a look at the youthful generations and the vast amount of opportunities that are put to them through the use of new technologies. It looks into how young people are adapting and transforming these ever-changing online experiences, such as ‘facebook’ and ‘myspace’. It also takes into considerations of inside and outside school experiences.

Abstract on Journal One

This journal looks at what is ‘New Media’ and who the ‘New audiences’ of this new media is. Firstly it explores the introduction and advancement of digital technologies, and the growth of popularity in households. However she questions what is new about New media and the effect of it on culture. Comparing that of the technological timescale and that of social change, the author Sonya Livingstone makes a compelling argument about how the two can never coincide. She argues whether the process of appropriation, whether the introduction of unfamiliar objects affects pre-existing social practices and the parent/child relationship

five different academic articles dealing with the notion of young people's facility with the new world of converged media

Livingstone, S (1999), ‘New Media, New Audience’, New Media and Society Vol.1 pg 59- 68, http://nms.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/1/1/59 (Accessed 12/03/09)


Adlington and Hansford (2009), ‘Digital Spaces and young people's online authoring: Challenges for teachers’, Australian Journal of Language and Literacy Vol 32, http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=7&sid=9a75c748-f7f3-478a-a904-003ac02809d3%40SRCSM2&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=afh&AN=36428102 (Accessed on 12/03/09)

Kelly, D et al. (2006), ‘No Boundaries? Girls’ Interactive, Online Learning About Femininity's'’ Youth and Society Vol 38, pg 3-28http://yas.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/38/1/3 (Accessed 12/03/09)

Glogowski, K (2005), ‘Blog of proximal development: Teaching. Blogging. Learning - Digital Pioneers?’ http://www.teachandlearn.ca/blog/2005/08/01/literacy-in-the-digital-age-part-ii/ (12/03/09)
Adams, D (2008) ‘Gaga for Google in the Twenty-First Century Advanced Placement Language Classroom’ Clearing House Vol 82, Issue. 2. pg 96-98, http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ816791&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=EJ816791 (12/03/09)

Website URL'S. The websites i have used to discuss this subject of digital immigrants!

http://technologysource.org/article/digital_natives_digital_immigrants/

http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf

http://www.twitchspeed.com/site/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part2.htm

http://www.malts.ed.ac.uk/staff/sian/natives_final.pdf

http://henryjenkins.org/2007/12/reconsidering_digital_immigran.html

'Digital Immigration'.

Digital immigration is sourced from the discontinuity between generations. Suggesting that those that are now representing the first generations growing up with this new technology, (digital natives) surrounded by virtual games and digital music players are ahead of digital immigrations and are a more advantaged generation.
The important distinction to make is digital immigrants have not been brought up with the internet and all these digital advancements and as a result are more illiterate. There are a distinguished group that learn these skills at a later stage in their lives. It is suggested that today’s “older folk were ‘socialised’ differently from their kids and are now in the process of learning a new language.” (http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf)

A lot of people care about digital Immigration, as at this moment and time it is this generation of digital immigrates that are teaching in education today. Therefore it could be suggested that these instructors are speaking an out-dated language and as a result struggle to keep up with this new generation of people, these are the thoughts of Marc Prensky.
One theorist, Timothy VanSlyke, even suggested that students are the digital native and the tutors are the digital immigrant, and this will not change no matter what.

It is important to note, that in today’s world communicate relies heavily upon this new digital age. Therefore perhaps this older generation of digital immigrants will not only be left behind but left out and miss out on vital needs of everyday life.

Disagreements with Journals

Journal one – The journal suggest that in the case of parent/child interaction, the parent may struggle to keep up, or interact with the child using the new technologies that has evolved in children’s toys. I think this is an over reaction, whilst I can see perhaps grandparent\ young child issues, I don’t think there is a big enough age gap between a young child and its parent to have such an impact or effect on their relationship. Most adults/ parents of today’s world, (digital immgrants) that have not grown up or with the new media world are now and have been for a number of years being pushed into using new technological advancements whether its in work or there everyday lives. Whilst parents often express their thoughts of ‘oh in my day we didn’t have that’ I don’t think it completely disables them from being interactive with new media.

Journal 2 – This journal states that “as schools increase the use of new technologies, and include sophisticated new texts to their student learning, old tested practices are inadequate and are rapidly becoming redundant. ” Ok so there is with out a doubt an element of truth here. However I do think it’s a rather strong point to make. I don’t think we’ll completely abandon all old practices of teaching, because at a majority of these ‘new’ style of teaching stems in some way from the old. As this statement could suggest that in the future, we all give up going to school and just work completely digitally from home, after all we will be able access all the relevant material!!! I personally don’t think this is either possible or going to happen. I think the old style methods of teaching, turning up to class being taught by a actual person incorporated alongside digital help will still be relevant. After all the education systems to the government are too important and people still need jobs.

Journal 3 - This journal talks about a case study therefore it simply says what they did and the results they gained from it. However they do make reference to perhaps why these results have occurred. One major point I have is, I don’t think they can make to many presumptions or state facts on a case study that only contained 16 girls from one place.

Journal 4 – This is a fairly goof journal, however am going to disagree with one the basic points made in the article “Students are always at the edge, looking in. The teacher is the source of all knowledge” Traditional everyone looked upon and understood the teacher to be the one person that holds all the knowledge. However in this day and age, there is heavy emphasises on interaction as opposed to the conventional sit and listen technique. Students have a lot to offer, in their own experiences, especially with the opportunities provided with new media.

Journal 5 – This journal is quite technical. It explains how programmes can be used to narrow the gap between the student and teacher. However, I think its important to understand that the introduction of new programs has to be learnt by both the student and the teacher. Whilst it suggests students are technologically advanced, there is still a learning process to be gone through.

Website 5

My final website is a blog and again is fairly up-to-date. Written in December 2007, the author has written an opinionated blog on his discomfort with the use of these phases digital immigrant and digital native. The blog explores where these phases came from.
The author does make reference to important theorist (Prensky) on this subject, however the article is more a copy/paste of a number of theorists work rather than his own.
However he does make some good points on how these terms help us “to recognize and respect the new kinds of learning and cultural expression” which have emerged from a the new generations of today.
The author is fairly negative towards these distinctions and feels of we continue to use them we are hindering ourselves by not being able to talk “meaningfully about the kinds of sharing that occurs between adults and children and we won't be able to imagine other ways that adults can interact with youth outside of these cultural divides.”

Overall an ok source but not particularly useful if your looking to find fact about the this topic, however useful in terms of finding differing attitudes to the terms.

Website 4

This article is quite recent, 2007, and certainly on first relfelction looks to be a very useful website. After a very lenghtly read, I was pretty impressed. Not only is it up-to-date it turns out to be a very valuable source.
The author has taken care to construct her article and as result the information is clear and easily comprehendible. It begins by giving a clear definition of the two words, ‘Digital Native’ and Digital Immigrant’ . Stating how the young are immersed in volumes of digital technologies and grow as a result whilst the older generation adapt to methods of learning. The author even breaks down the differences in a very simple table to help the reader learn.

The author uses quotes from reliable theorists and uses their work to help give examples. She writes about the discourses, limitations and assumptions made in this area of discussion. And makes interesting references to the effects of relationships.

Website 3

This article on this website is specifically targeted at certain aspect of digital immigration, and is certainly a little harder to read. It is definitely a credible source, if you can understand the underpinning of psychological effects and the role of the brain in digital progression.
It is very a reliable source, a theorist, who seems to very much understand the works of digital immigration. However the article was written in 2001 and whilst there seems to be a lot of medical evidence in this article it is quite possible that in the last 7-8 years there may have a significant medical progression that may further prove or disprove his theory.

It is divided up into sections, in order to concentrate on the different areas of how our ‘brain waves’ affect our digital advancement. Comparing that of the digital native and the digital immigrant. Again using credible references, examples and quotes from reliable sources.

Website 2

Firstly this article is from 2001, so pretty much eights years ago, however I wouldn’t quite say out of date. The general meaning and definitions of Digital immigration remain very similar to today’s definition.

I think the site is a very useable source of information, as it is from a direct theorist, as opposed to someone’s opinion making reference to a theorist. And displays evidence of researching and studying the subject first. It even uses evidence from medical sources to back up his arguments.

It uses examples and makes clear differences between the older generations and the younger helping to make a distinction between the digital natives and digital immigrants
The article makes very good cultural references and is written in away that is not too hard to understand.

Week 8, Website one

Website 1 Criticism

The website contains an article on the discussion of Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants and suggests that these terms help us to understand the differences between those who are comfortable with technology and those who are not. It places an emphasies on how gaps in generations may play a huge role in this.


The article is written using quotes from a couple theorists to back up his argument. However, and this is where my first criticism comes in, the whole article seems to be written according to one particular theorist. Therefore there is a certainly a lack of his own input into the article. Secondly it also means is references list is very short, displaying a lack of research.

The article is also very personalized, therefore I don't see how it could be of much use to someone looking to further their understanding of the world of digital Immigrants, as whilst he uses quotes, the author at times disagrees on personal grounds. Its an opinionated article. This heavily affects its useabilty.

The article was published in 2003, so not particularly up-to-date, this may affect the useability, as the it is quite likely that new connotations of the subject digital immigrants will have been brought to the fore by 2009.

The content of the article is interesting as he uses personal examples (his place of inhabitance) however not completely relavent.
One part of the ariticle i liked was the point made, using other theorists works, about who shapes digital media. "Digital immigrants are attempting to teach the digital natives with methods that are no longer valid." This suggests that the digital natives are the driving force for new media developing. The alternative the site suggests, is for the digital immigrants to be taught by the digital natives this new "language" in certain advancements.

Check out Italy's Distance Learning programme! Or should i say their OPEN UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL.

One of the most successful distance learning programmes in the world!! And interestingly established at the same time as that of China's (1960's)

Born from the belief that communications technology could bring high quality degree-level learning to people lacking the opportunity or desire to attend campus universities, the distance learning programme is mostly attended by part-time undergraduate students in which a staggering 50'000 of them , in full-time employment, are sponsored by their employers for their studies.
The Open University's style of teaching is called 'supported open learning', also known as 'distance learning'.

Open learning: means that you will be learning in your own time by reading course material, working on course activities, writing assignments and perhaps working with other students.

Supported means support from a tutor and the student services staff at Regional Centres, as well as from centralised areas such as the Library or Open University Students Association.

The system uses similar facilities as most other University distance learning programmes, it provides students with, Printed course materials, set books, audio cassettes, video cassettes, TV programmes, cd-rom/software, web site, home experiment kit.

In order to assess students the university uses a number of assignments (TMAs) and an examination.

With accreditation from all three of the major international recognition bodies, AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA, the OU Business School is in a unique position in Italy, and is one of less than 1% of business schools worldwide to have achieved this status.
In Padua, Rome and Milan, there is a team of advisors available to discuss study plans with students either at an information event or on a one-to-one basis, by email or face-to-face.

This facility is a great way for students to be able to achieve academic goals and further their education whilst mantaining a postition in the work world.
This website seemed fairly modern and up to date, giving links to the Open University scheme that seems to be shared by a majority or universities.

Have a look for yourself: http://www.open.ac.uk/italy/the-open-university.php

WEEK 7, AFRICA DISTANCE LEARNING

Africa E-learning system has struggled to get off it feet from the start. Unlike the positive reception the system received from countries like Australia and America, the e-learning (distance learning) was met by disapproval and ignorance.
Academic Traditionalists resisted this new move and it was so different to the strict regime they were used to.


I checked out http://www.elearning-africa.com/newsportal/english/index.php, Africa's Newsportal updating and giving news on the elearning system.

After checking out the site i found one particular article most interesting.
'Education in a Health Disaster – Is eLearning a Solution?'

In this article it explains the how an outbreak of Cholera in Zambia has caused schools to close.
A directive from the Ministry of Education enforced the fact that all schools in the cholera-affected areas should not open until the Cholera outbreak that had affected Southern Zambia was fully under control. Alongside this terrible epidemic of cholera is the fact that children must stay at home and miss out on their education as the government is unprepared to provide alternative means, this article asks whether eLearning could provide a solution to the large-scale closure of schools.

The students feel disadvantaged as friends and other other students in non-cholera affected areas are continuing their studies and will be fully prepared for their exams.

Brenda Zulu suggests that elearning is the way forward. Students could acesses teachers’ lessons through either an Internet cafe or from home or any convenient place arranged for that matter. I think this is a great way to ensure students dont get behind, as the article quite rightly points out that only is it way for students to acess their specific subject notes but its a beneficial way for students to educate themselves on important issues such as cholera awareness.

It is also an opportunity for the children to learn IT skills which may help them in the future, alongside this with more children begining encouraged to use this elearning system then companies such as HealthNet or other initiatives could consider collaborating with mobile service providers to have POP access through cell phones, since they are reasonable widely distributed in the country, followed by radios and TVs.

If the country was to begin to use this elearning system and students encouraged to take part, then the system's worth could be tested. Perhaps then the advantages and strenghts of this system would be seen by the government, and instead of this current situation where they are unprepared to provide alternative means, the Zambian government may consider investing in eLearning initiatives in the future.

Week 7, China's Distance Learning Programme

Ok so what is one of China's main problems when trying to educate the nation???

THE SHEER SIZE OF THE POPULATION!!! IT'S HUGE!!!!

Therefore China chose two of the most popular forms of medium to educate the country as effectively and efficiently as possible. And they were RADIO & TELEVISON and this began in the 1960's.

China's TVU system has changed and evolved over the years developing into a hugely successful scheme. As a result these television and radio universities have enrolled over the last eight years a staggering 1,291,833, in which 590,941 students have graduated.

These TVU's offer courses all at undergraduate level, and in the first 8 years of its existence, the CRTVU has offered 150 courses in the subject areas of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, economics, accounting, statistics, finance, banking, industrial management, commercial management, archives management, journalism, law, library science and Chinese language and literature. This is giving such a wide range of subjects and choices for students to make.

As mentioned before that the TVU system has continued to develop and it was only 1986 (not long after it first begun that it began to be satellite transmitted. Since the satellite transmission of TVU programmes, their social-science courses have increased greatly.

However the Chinese didn't stop there!!! In order to encourage more and more people to become students of this type of learning audio- and video-cassettes were used in some courses. This made learning more convenient and also allowed for insufficient transmission time.

AFTER THIS CAME:

Printed teaching materials were made available to supplement radio/television programmes for all courses. These materials are divided into three types: course books, reference books and study guides.

There was and is a huge attempt to make these universities similar to that of the conventional university classroom teaching. And with this the presenters were chosen from key universities all over China.

FACT: There are more than forty production centres within the TVU system.


HOWEVER

there are huge critizisms with this Distance learning system!!!
What about the students who don't understand and want to ask questions??
What about the students who just want a little feedback on their work?

Well China was ready for questions like this,
They developed a system whereby alongside the printed teaching materials, face-to-face tuition was also made available to students.

Tutoring was said to be necessary for two reasons:
(a) presenters of radio and television programmes cannot answer students' questions directly and no immediate feedback for the presenters to adjust their teaching.
(b) Registered students are organized into television classes, listening to and watching programmes together. Television image and radio sound may not be clear for technical or other reasons.

So what about COST??

The TVU system's budget comes from a variety of sources. The CRTVU is administered and funded by the State Education Commission with the CCTV and CETV being responsible for television transmission costs. It also receives financial support from ministries which ask the CRTVU to help train personnel needed by them.

DEVELOPMENT

China's radio-and-television university system has made great strides in less than ten years. Courses offered at all levels have been increasing year by year. Enrolled all-subject students have totalled over 1 million, and all-subject graduates have amounted to more than 500,000.


It is an attractive learning opportunnity due to its open and flexible style of training a variety of qualified personnel needed for economic development in various parts of the country.

CHECK IT OUT: http:www1.worldbank.org/disted/Technology/broadcast/tv-02.html

What do you think Wenger means by an "organizational unit"?

Wenger states "These 'communities of practice' are mostly informal and distinct from organizational units"

Wenger describes the relationship between 'communities of practice' and organizational units! He states that "'Communities of practice' exist in any organisation" but what he means by this organizational unit is that the memberships of these 'communities if practice' are 'based on particpation rather than official status' Therefore it is to be understood that they are not bound by organizational affiliations.

I understand that these organizational units are most likely to be within a work/ business type situation. It is a unit in which people address each other on recurring problems. Therefore by participating in these 'Units' a communal memory can be formed and will help them to do their job without having to remember everything themselves!

With this idea in mind it is important to consider that these organizational units are made up of people who have to be together whereas people in a community of practice have chosen to be together.

Week 6: Think of a CofP to which you belong (or have belonged) explain in your seminar forum how your example fits into Wenger's model.

Etienne Wenger states that "Communities of practice are formed by people who engage in a process of collective learning in a shared domain of human endeavor". He also suggests that the most important feature of this term 'Communities of practice' is that these people "share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly. http://www.ewenger.com/theory/

I personally have had the opportunity to be part of a community of practice when i had a part-time job as a waitress. This community of practice existed amongst all the staff; this included the owner, chefs and waitresses that worked there. Whilst we all did very different jobs, it was vital for us all to work together as a team in order for the restaurant to run smoothly. (A factor that was often emphasized to us by the boss).

Wenger highlights three main characteristics of this 'Community of Practice.'

Firstly the domain (a shared interest), in the case of my part-time job this was helping and serving customers to the best of our ability. The chefs and waitress needed to work together in order ensure customers were pleased and left happy, as know matter what we must remember the customer is always right!! The waitresses in my part-time job could even be described as a 'community of practice' on their own, as not only did we have the shared interest of being polite and efficient but working together and helping each other out during busy hours at the restaurant.

This lead me on to Wenger's second characteristic of 'Communities of Practice'--- The Community
This is where members engage in joint activities and discussions, help each other, and share information. This was definitely the case between the waitresses, and certainly built in to a wider community along side the chefs. Relationships were built that enable each of us to learn from each other. Often when a new waitress began work, one of the other waitresses than had been working there longer, took her on to train her in all the activities and jobs we had to do.


This leads me to Wengers third characteristic of 'communities of practice' and that is ----The practice -----A community of practice is not merely a community of interest--people who like certain kinds of movies, for instance. Members of a community of practice are practitioners.

In AJ's (the restaurant I worked in) The practice involved running the restaurant productively and effectively whilst being able to take time out and be polite and at times over helpful towards customers. As a team we also shared the knowledge of being able to help each other out, whether it was simple tasks as how to work the tills or perhaps dissatisfied customers.

Somebody else's blog!!!!

I did a random search for somebody's else s blog and after rummaging through a number of blogs this one struck me. http://sarahstourdiary.blogspot.com/2009/02/this-makes-me-happy.html

I really liked this blog not only is it very popular 10,315 profile views, but the author uses a range of colourful images, videos, and colourful writing. The blog is mainly articles of her interest, and her day to day activities, for example her tattoo extravaganza. It is highly personalised - "an online stream of consciousness".(http://www.journalism.co.uk/5/articles/5604.php)

The author also asks advice off her readers of what they think she should do, or perhaps asking people opinions of questions she asks. It also seem that she trys to encourage readers of her blog to vote and particpate in her interests such as " SSOV head office" (vegan interests) she also writes up her opinions and thoughts on her favourite films.
The author, Sarah, i think is some sort of female magazine writer, who is also using her blog to promote her stuff.
Most of the responses are from friends or fans.
It is definately a very female orintated blog which would attract female attention.

Enough about blogs???

Do some online research into blogs as a new media genre: their origins, development etc and share your findings in your entries. What forms of expression are they really good for?


'When a type of discourse or communicative action acquires a common name within a given context or community, that’s a good sign that it’s functioning as a genre (Miller, 1984). The weblog seems to have acquired this status very quickly, with an increasing amount of attention and commentary in the mainstream press reinforcing its status.' (http://mediatingconflict.blogspot.com/2008/10/blog-genre-literary-form-medium.html)

My research led me to this above quote, which i felt was helpful in looking at blogs in relations to genres. Blogs are one of the most popular of online content, informational blogs allow writers to share their interests, skills, and knowledge with interested readers.

An interesting article by Frédéric Filloux has also helped to shed light on the subjects of blogs. He quite rightly states that blogs started as "little more than populist rants" but has now "transcended its origins and grown into a fresh new journalistic genre, one that is likely to become the main engine of modern news sites."

I found it interested how blogs have now become trusted sources or even help shape debates. Alot of journalists now use blogs (check out “The Note” a blog, created by ABC News in 2002 and read the story in The New Yorker about its founder Mark Halperin), which people find far more interesting and enjoyable to read than a proper news story, therefore if you want to find something" livelier, more fun, with more flesh, you turn to blogs maintained by trustworthy journalists". http://www.mondaynote.com/2009/01/05/blogging-a-new-journalistic-genre/

When collaborative sites have moderation functions to prevent a ‘free for all’, does this defeat the purpose?

OK so the most obvious collaborative website is Wikipedia. Bruns comments about the importance of creating a "balance between openness and structure." I personally think there has to be restrictions put in place in order to refrain from people feeling alienated, insulted or offended. I don't think it defeats the purpose because there is plenty for people to talk/write about without being offensive towards others. It's important that people express and share their views however i do think its pointless if it's going to result in encouraging world wide issues such as racism. People will not benefit in the long term from published articles like this.

What about Bruns??? A few thoughts and questions?

What do you understand by the words ‘produser’, ‘produsage’, and ‘intercreativity’?

Prousers are involved in user-led content production. They represent a user of something (for example wikipedia) but also a producer of it. Other examples include
-Open news
-Open Source
- Open content repositories e.g wilkipedia and Flickr
- Collaborative knowledge communities e.g Google earth
- Produser communities round commercial products for example The Sims or remember Second Life we spoke about before.

Bruns definition states "The production of ideas takes place in a collaborative, participantory environment which breaks down the boundaries between producers and prousers of information and knowledge"

Produsage is the content that is produced by prousers. The concept of produsage highlights that within the communities which engage in the collaborative creation and extension of information and knowledge.
The title of one of Bruns books highlights three of the main types of produsage "Blogs, Wikipedia, Second Life, and Beyond: From Production to Produsage" This book captures a shift in cultural logic which is profoundly altering how culture gets produced.

Intercreativity - Am not overly sure about this one. I think it refers the creativity of interaction. For example the ability to be creative on websites like Second Life (building houses, casinos, people) but at the same time being interactive with other people on line.

Are they useful in understanding collaborative creation of content online?
Yes. Produsers tend to use a collection of other peoples work or content and bring it all together rather than work by themselves as individual content producers. Therefore produsage helps to describe the final production of this content with has been put together using the intercreativity of each online user.

‘Indymedia and the New Net News' by Graham Meikle. Some questions and thoughts!

What do you think constitutes ‘news’ on the Web?
http://journal.media-culture.org.au/0304/02-feature.ph

Burnett and Marshall identify the changes to the "nature of news" and also made the observation "that new media forms offer enhanced flexibility" ( para 8 & 9). The idea that everyone and anyone can access the 'news' by using the internet at any time of the day has changed the social norms of what would have been the daily lives of people say ten years ago. People were used to receiving the news once or twice a day by watching the morning and night news on TV, or perhaps picking up the daily newspaper.
However the 'news' on the web is a completely revolutionary idea which means we can access the latest news, for example a plane crash that only happened 10 minutes ago or even the currant or latest football scores. There is such flexibility and wide choice of 'news' websites allowing you to access differing opinions or takes on a particular story almost immediately and at the same time.

The web also provides not only the newspaper style or write up on a story but also visual images and often established websites such as BBC News offer videos of either the actual incident and also the latest news report as seen on TV. Their websites are often divided up into lots of different sub-categories and interests, whether its your local news or sport or even business politics and technology categories supplying people with specific interests in the one place.

The internet has become a great source of trusted information, and as Burnett & Marshall both stated this concept of “informational news,” has defined “the transformation of journalism and news in Web culture".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Are there ‘new kinds of journalist’ online? If so, how so?

Yes! There seems to be increasingly new types of journalists online, within the journal article newsgroups and Weblogs are mentioned as types of journalists. There is no question that these are indeed a form of journalism, people are writing blogs on either subjects of interest and/or their own thoughts and opinions. Simularly newsgroups which consist of posted messages from many users in different locations, it is usually a disscusion group.

Another type of journalism is the website Wikipedia (mentioned in this weeks lecture). This website alllows people to post information and articles concerning meanings of words and associations. These are then checked and confirmed by professional sources and published on their website. Therefore anyone has the opportunity to be a form of journalist, and when searched the internet has endless opportunities/ websites that allow people to particpant in this way.

The Indymedia Website, a network of activists who provide an open publishing platform, is a great example of a website providing online journalism.
It describes itself as a" A network of individuals, independent and alternative media activists and organisations, offering grassroots, non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues. " http://www.indymedia.org.uk/


Is open news quality news?

My intial answer to this is NO. As the opportunity that such websites like Indymedia give means that the news reported or the article on the a specfic subject may not be completely factual. As they are more than likely will not have been given full access to important factors or crucial points to a story that perhaps a trusted newsline such as BBC or ITV would have. As these people (those using the web to publish their work) are quite likely not to be fully trained journalists then their story may be tainted with bias or opinions. Which most professional news lines/ journalists would avoid depending on who their writing for.

However, perhaps one shouldnt be so pesimistic!! Some users of these online publishers may have taken their time to research a particular story or topic and ensured that the information they give is not only factual but informative.

ANALYSING A WEBSITE!!! I was pretty impressed with Mxbrandcom's modern Website!

http://www.mxbrandcom.co.uk/

Mxbrandsom is a marketing communications company in Belfast, i came across their website whilst looking for a public Relations company for possible work experience.

This website is extremely modern. . It uses a a very effective black and white theme, which some specific writing in pink, including the the font turning pink on what your cursor points to. The website is very clear and well-laid out. Interestingly all the font is in lower-case writing and a number of well chosen images are used. In order to keep the page free of clutter the only images are those of the examples of some of their work, which effectively is shown using a scroll-like technique. The images move slowly round whilst you move your cursor to the next image.

The second set of images is of each member of the Team is available. A selection of black and white images are presented on the screen, each person standing in some sort of pose. As you move the cursor over them the image enlarges and it tells you their position in the company, for example company director, designer etc. This is a form of expressing the companies identity, this selection of people represent the community in which they work. It serves to help all the website viewers to relate with the people and feel more comfortable and familiarized with the company if they can see the people who they could end up working with.

Mxbrandcom is logically set out in order for users to click on the appropriate title of their personal needs therefore the user is in complete control. They are redirected to their chosen page by clicking a hyperlink at the top of the website and are free to browse the website at their own leisure. The website uses this hypertext format that allows a form of user interface. It helps to overcome some of the limitations of the written text. Rather than remaining static, users have the option to click on various links. This hypertext makes possible a dynamic organization of information through links and connections (called hyperlinks).

The website does not contain any forum like options, this is to insure the page continues to look professional and does not have any random peoples comments or questions. Therefore the site does not offer the opportunity for users to be produsers. They do provide an email address for private questions. However, the website does have a news section which is constantly updated (could be seen to be similar to blogging) with the companies latest achievements or events for example the launch of their involvement in David Healy DVD or the CIPR awards.

Overall the website not only appeals due to its easy usage and modern style but because it looks very professional. Culturally the website is directed at the educated and business world. . It's about effective communication between companies and their public's.

The website is very socially-specific to those interested in public relations and communications, this means the website operates in terms of socio-determinism.

It appeals to me as user because of the styles, techniques and modern aspects of the website. I was looking through lots of Public relations companies in Northern Ireland and due this websites simple and effective wording and layout it really appealed to me! Being a girl meant the use of pink font was also an attractive element!!!!!!

Music sharing online

Music is one of the fastest growing industry's, however the once ever popular CD is gone. People no longer rush out to buy the latest single or album of Justin Timberlake, instead it's all about downloading it on to their itunes. People are able to downloading music and sending it to their phones as their latest phone tone or putting it on their own CD's to give to friends. It as had a huge impact on the way music is funded and financed. This means that companies such as Virgin, Woolworths due to the lose of sales severely struggled to keep up, and as a result went busted. Big music stores such as HMV no longer sell singles and the Music charts are mainly based on downloads.

In relation to networking sites, in my experience many bands through the likes of BEBO set up the own web pages in order to encourage fans and also post their latest news and most importantly their upcoming performance dates. There can also put music players on their pages which they can download their music on to for people looking at the page to listen to. Its also a free source which means its a great way to endorse themselves and perhaps 'make it' by breaking through into the music industry.

Online sharing of Popular music has already changed society and will continue to. New generations are channelled into consuming music via the internet, it has become the norm.

My Thoughts on Social Networking Sites!! What do you think??

My experience of Social Networking is quite limited! However I am one of them Students that seem to live day by day by status updates, wall comments, constant notifications of tagged photos due to my drunken antics from the night before, and the belief that a social crisis can occur just by the sayings of the world of FACEBOOK!!

Facebook is one of the most popular social networking websites. It provides a range of age groups, but in my experience mostly 18 to 30 year olds, to interact with each other by leaving comments on each others 'walls'. The account comes with a private email box and a choice of added applications. You can add personal photos and videos and even infomation about yourself. Most importantly you can arrange you settings o that only your friends and the people you have chosen can view your profile, you can even choose what elements of your profile they see.
I personal like the website as it has so many ways for you to interact with your friends, it brings up any changes that your friends have made on their profiles so you know if they have been up to anything and you wana get in touch to comment or a general conversation.
There is a private 'MSN' like chat box as well, where you can see who is online and you can have a private instant conversation with them.


I also have one other social networking site I am part of and that is BEBO! I was actually a member of this before facebook, simply because a majority of my friends from my home (Northern Ireland) don't go to university and this is the website they use. So it was only once i joined Uni i realised the phenommen of Facebook and the need to be part of it to connect with other Uni friends.
Bebo is pretty simple, it has a private email and then also your basic profile page. On the profile you can write a about yourself or really what ever you wish. There's the choice of putting your favourite movies, music and info about what makes you happy!

Below this you can add pictures, videos, slideshows, and then there is the wall of comments again. It very user friendly and much more colourful than facebook as you can choose your own 'skin' which means the colour of the background of your page.

To what extent are ‘dangerous materials’ prominent on the Internet? What do their existence mean in terms of the ‘freedoms’ the Net allows?

I've always argued that the internet is one of the best things to develop within the realms of new technology, stating the endless learning possibilities and availability of the big open world it invites to explore!
HOWEVER there is a dark side to the internet in which unfortunately alot of people have chosen get into. You often see adverts for internet providers on TV such as BT and Virgin Media, and one of the biggest advantages they now push, is security and parental control over what their children can view on the internet. I think this is hugely important because the amount of freedom on the internet makes it so easy to view pornography or the likes of rude or crude videos (such as what you might find on youtube). As lister states 'the internet is often seen by the consumers as a potentially open channel for frightening materials to enter the home' pg181.

Other dangers of the internet is ability for Hackers to view personal files, information, emails. If computer smart enough people can work their way into your computer system and send viruses through your system which result in a lot of money spent either fixing ur computer or having to buy a completely new one!

What do you think of the notion that online community can be empowering/disempowering? week 4

I think the notion is very empowering for some people. The fact that people can control their identity online, the notion of control and also giving the ability for people to manipulate and perhaps pretend to be someone else
However I think one of the most empowering elements in online communities is the ability to be involved in a forum/chatroom of a group of people and having them share the same thoughts, feelings and strong opinions. Therefore the notion of empowerment comes from creating a online community of people that believe and favor the same opinions of that personal user. Its almost like a force that has been created behind a particular thought or belief. Thusfore empowerment comes from people with 'the same common relationships, shared values and shared spaces' pg174.

In terms of disempowering, it could be considered that because anyone can use these online communities it provides people with the opportunity to take your thoughts, opinions and worse because some people (even if encouraged not to) provide personal details on them. Therefore it works both ways, to some it is a very empowering source however to others it is the opportunity to be disempowered.

A few More questions and thoughts on Our Friend Blanchard!! Week 4

Is the ‘virtual settlement’ a useful concept? Why?

Yes! I think it is a useful concept! I find it helpful in understanding and describing what basically is a group of people getting together discussing subjects of choice but with the slight difference of it being online! "Jones defines virtual settlements as the virtual place in which people interact'" (blanchard) therefore a pretty basic meaning has been attached to the term, however i think that the term 'virtual settlement' gives a better and deeper meaning. It draws in the users and their many differing ideas and opinions and allows them to express them in a particular place.

What do you think about the issue of whether or not all CMC (computer-mediated-communication) groups deserve the status of communities? What characteristics would you stress as important?

I think CMC groups do deserve the status of the communities, as who 's to define in this day and age what a community really is. Wikipedia defines community as
"a group of interacting organisms sharing an environment."
Therefore this is exactly what people are doing even if it is online! Another relevant point it makes is that "In human communities,intent, belief, resources, preferences, needs, risks and a number of other conditions may be present and common, affecting the identity of the participants and their degree of cohesiveness." This is both true and an essential aspect of CMC's.

This question also brings in McMillan and Chavis argument of SOC (sense of community) i think that in both real-life communities and the virtual there is a need and a want of membership and sense of belonging. There is certainly feelings of influence present in both real- life and within these CMC groups, perhaps more so online. The whole point in communities is that they integate and support and work together, often similar actions of support can be found on CMC groups. And finally a community is a community because their is a sense of shared emotional connection between the inhabits within it, this is definitely present in many forums i have read, where i have read how people read, write and comment on each others hobbies, beliefs or even trouble they might have had.

‘Lurkers’ – who needs them? Should they be booted out or should we embrace people’s differences (some people are readers more than producer/writers?). Can’t there be different roles for the members of a community?

This is a tough question as i think the term given to them, LURKERS, already has a negative tone to it!! Unfortunately these people may actually be just 'different' or interested or even intrigued but simply shy. Especially in today's world, people are edgy and suspicious of others, in particular the internet has caused quite a stir in relation to the unknown factor and the worry of identity!
And due to this my my initial response is, well Yes they shouldn't be in MOO's if their not going to participate. Depending on the chosen subject, if its something simple and not particularly controversial, for example a conversation on how best to put on eye makeup, then fine!! But if its a contestable debate showing strong personal views and even some personal information then i don't think people should be allowed to watch and read all and take it all in.

Am not sure about the idea of different roles, everyone is equal when it comes to online discussion, no one in particular can or should take charge. However it is pretty much up to yourself how interactive and how much of a participant you want to be within these.

Blogs as Virtual Communities: Identifying a Sense of Community by Anita Blanchard Week 4

VITAL POINTS I THINK HELP TO BRING FURTHER MEANING TO VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES & OF COURSE MY THOUGHTS!! http://blog.lib.umn.edu/blogosphere/blogs_as_virtual.html

Virtual community is a term used to refer to vastly different computer-mediated communication (CMC) groups, such as EBay or a soap opera newsgroup.

The importance of virtual communities for social reasons!
The idea that virtual communties open up and expand a persons village ( or surroundings) to the whole world! I think perhaps this argument provides a bases for the advantages of using these websites. As people can expand their learning and have the chance to reach out, in which may not be possible in the real world, due to issues such as finances.

Virtual communities can increase involvement within people’s face-to-face communities by increasing democratic participation and other community activism. Suggesting that these virtual communities of people provide a source of power, or force in active day to day activitives.

The idea that the use of the world 'community' has a emotionally postitive effect on people which encourages people to get involved. I think that perhaps people who are bored, lonely, looking for someone different to chat to, or simply interested in a particular topic of discussion would enjoy getting involved in these 'communities' as perhaps it gives people a sense of worth (as far expressing their opion an being agreed with) and the sense of being 'part of something' !

Jones argues that we can understand virtual communities by understanding the artifacts of its virtual settlement: its postings, structure and content.

Sense of Community!

Feelings of membership: Feelings of belonging to, and identifying with, the community;
Feelings of influence: Feelings of having influence on, and being influenced by, the community;
Integration and fulfillment of needs: Feelings of being supported by others in the community while also supporting them; and
Shared emotional connection: Feelings of relationships, shared history, and a “spirit” of community. McMillan and Chavis (1986)


The question of whether blogs (like mine) can be described as a Virtual community!
The fact that my blog contains as an author (ME), contains regular post dates, and is based around the particular topic of New Media, means that it can be classed as a virtual community, as it attract interactive attention from a minimal number of participants.

Topic 3A

The virtual world of ‘Second Life’

Ok, so I've never used this before! However the first thing that strikes me is it looks very simular to The Sims (remember that interactive computer game, in which you could constantly get Upgrades (Ha remember them money makers we spoke about before) such as casino, holiday and romance versions!! However the difference is this is online!!

I began by picking a person i'd like to be ( a choice of images of woman and men), I guess most people pick an image they think looks like them or in fact they'd like to look like. Then you fill information about yourself, interestingly it allows you to pick a on screen random second name from a choice that they give you. However it does ask for your real first and last name after this.

Once you get started I found it was very like the interactive computer game The Sims. The difference is instead of playing on your own, your playing with millions of other people round the world who also have set up accounts on Second Life.

The idea is that you create your own virtual world. You dress up and down the figure that represents you. Picking clothes, facial features, even build your own home and also 'holiday' it to other parts of the world. The idea is to interact with the other users of the site, known as residents, who have built their own homes and world.

I guess the appeal of the site is being able to 'act'. Talk and also perhaps act what you may think would be your ideal world. For example getting to design your home with no real limitations of money and work in an area of bussiness you'd ldeally like.

I think it's completely different to real life, because I doubt many people build their world on second life, exactly how it really is. The whole point in these websites is so people can use their imaginations and have abit of fun.
I reckon there is a huge range of relationships and identities on this type of website. From friendships, true intentions of lookin for romance, and also people just having a laugh.

Sherry Turkle makes reference to The life of the Sims where like seconf life you try to "build a community, an ecosystem, or a public policy" and "the goal is to make a successful whole from complex, interrelated parts." ( http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.01/turkle.html?pg=2&topic=&topic_set) Her thoughts on MUDS are expressed threw her ideas on computing such as that the "lessons of computing today have to do not with calculation and rules, but with simulation, navigation, and interaction"
I think Second Life is a good example of what MUDs allow people to do using the internet.

Identity and Ethics

Is withholding one’s identity ethically wrong?

Unfortunately in this day and age, there is a need for caution when it comes providing other people with you identity. Due to amount of Identity faud taking place, I am much more likely to be careful about the numerous websites that ask so many questions about yourself. Why do some of these companies need your Full Name, Age, date of birth, current address & even some companies ask for information on your earnings and parents earnings. Also the fact that some websites arent completely offical and are quite often fakes or companies of an original , therefore I do think there is a need to be cautious with how much information you provide people you dont know.

However, I think it's wrong to pretend to be someone your not, or in the case of chatrooms. Pretending to be a different age, or sex to manipulate other people using the same services, and encouraging them to give you their details. Its tough to know where to stand when it comes to the internet, theres a fine line between using the internet as a means of escapism and a means of gaining control.

Many people use the internet as a way of dating and meeting new people, whilst this is very much a postitive attibute of the internet, as means people are opening up to the bigger world and perhaps educating themselves, it also gives them the chance to build a image of what they really want to look like, act like or even adopt the personalitys of people they know and want to be like, rather than being themselves. This 'mask' allows people to develop a distance from the real world and the virtual world of the internet.

Are online relationships the same as offline ones?

A simple and quick answer to this is ....... Well it depends who your talking to.

The idea that if its someone you know well, family or close friends then your relationship will be then same!!!
However MSN or chatrooms allow people have different relationships according to what side of your personallity you want to present to the people your talking to.

Do you think that assuming an online persona encourages people to play with the identity they present online.

Yes!!! I think that the availability of numerous websites of differing styles allow people to not only express their true self but also perhaps the self they'd like to be or want others to think they are. For example on Facebook, you have the choice of who you add as your friends and you also have the option to change your everyday status of who your feeling or what you doing.
However also websites such Gaydar and similar specifically designed websites allow people that would not normally express their true self in real life in worry that they may be discriminated against, can communicate and express themselves more freely and prehaps with this take more risks than they would do in real life.

Lister refers to similar topics such as the expression of self 'social networks and peer to peer network sharing' and one of his most important points of how the internet "breaks the connection between outward expression of identity and physical body"