From: x-ding@students.uiuc.edu Date: Sat, 01 Feb 1997 14:34:02 -0600 To: j-levin@uiuc.edu CC: dingx@talon.extramural.uiuc.edu Subject: taxonomy Dr. Levin, I do think that your classification of the educational technologies is an improvement as compared with those of others you discussed in your paper. The reason is obvious. The birth of any technology is the result of human curiosity (or impulses) to learn and to know. Therefore, human beings, rather than the elements that comprise the technologies, should be the controlling factor in their applications. However, when I think of the CD "books" that my daughter reads (such as Mercer Mayer's "Grandma and Me"), it seems hard for me to fit it "perfectly" into any of the four categories. This interactive book is not really media for inquiry, communication, construction, or expression in that the user of the CD can control little besides clicking on an item in a big picture for more unexpected shows. However, a CD like "Grandma and Me" is intended for children to learn. Children using this type of media are learning passively, which does not fall into your rationale (and examples) for the texonomy. Xinjie Ding (I'll send you my favorite personal home page and the comment (in HTML) later on.)
From: JWaite7135@aol.com Date: Sat, 1 Feb 1997 21:40:38 -0500 (EST) To: j-levin@uiuc.edu cc: JWaite7135@aol.com Subject: Assignment EdPsy 387 Jim, 2. Example of educational use of technology that DOES NOT fit the taxonomy. After reviewing the examples of past classes, I am somewhat confused as to what you are asking us to find. It appears that the past semester looked for URL's as well as made mention of some different software programs. I had the feeling from your class description we were to find an URL/computer resource to answer this assignment.After spending far more time than I intended on this aspect, I was convinced that the four categories were fairly encompassing as they stood. Considering inquiry covered about anything as defined in the paper dealing with thinking, connecting, collecting and analysis, this left little room for any other thoughts of mine. Also, communication picks up much of the technology I am familiar with and use in teaching. Construction is a specific area as well as is expression as a taxonomy. On the lighter side of this assignment, I did consider the following URL sites as challenging the taxonomy as I'll explain. Obviously, the use of the Internet fits into the Communication arena, but what about some of the information that is found on the Internet? Shouldn't it all fit into one of the four headings? My thoughts focus on the Entrepeneurs who are embarking on a business venture with the Internet -- for example see http://www.callamer.com/itc/nursewire -- I guess all advertising of sorts is taking the communication beyond what I think the original intention is or was. Oh well. If this isn't what you were wanting, please let me know. My other URL site definitely is on the lighter side -- perhaps fitting the level of Expression, but not really defined in the examples provided in your paper. Visit: www.neta.com/~laffinrn/cal-lite.html. Why not a little laughter as a form of expression? Thanks, Jan :-)
Date: Sun, 2 Feb 1997 12:34:27 -0600 (CST) From: jian xia du <dujianxi@students.uiuc.edu> To: j-levin@uiuc.edu Subject: Taxonomies Review Dear Dr. Levin: I read your Taxonomies of Educational Technology you assigned. The taxonomy is broad enough so that it is difficult for me to find any educational media that does not fit it at all, but I thought Computer Security Technology may not fit into the taxonomy. Computer security technology is that convert plain documents into special format to achieve information transfer security. Educational use of this technology: privacy, such as password for protecting student's grades, registration information, such as UI direct for implementing the security online course registration. So computer security technology may not be included to the four broad categories-Inquiry, Communication, Construction, and Expression. I think an additional category is needed here. Jianxia Du
Date: Tue, 04 Feb 1997 12:50:52 -0600 From: Tanya Heyman <theyman@students.uiuc.edu> To: j-levin@uiuc.edu Subject: Challenge the Taxonomy Prof Levin-- I wasn't exactly sure how to respond to your charge, but here it goes: <http://www.ed.gov/Technology/Plan/NatTechPlan/benefits.html> It's the plan for achieving technological literacy in education. In the list of benefits, it talked about adaptive instruction over the Web, kind of like the Computerized GRE, lessons respond to your ability (how correctly or incorrectly one answers the questions). Moreover, it points out that parents will likely be more motivated to get involved in their child's education; further promoting strong family ties. The latter did not seem to fit in either Inquiry, Communication, Construction, or Expression. Rather, I see it as a beneficial side-effect that has positive psychological outcomes, which in the long run, can further enhance a child's motivation to learn. I'll attempt the rest later. Tanya Heyman
Date: Wed, 5 Feb 1997 13:18:03 -0200 To: j-levin@uiuc.edu From: radaydeh@uiuc.edu (Bassam Radaydeh) Subject: Class 387 The example of taxanomy This is my example of taxanomy, which is the Ministry of Education, Skills and Traning Special Education Branch. It is a type of data sources, will collected to provide any body who is intrested in the skills and traning in special education branch. http://www.est.gov.bc.ca:80/specialed/gifted/app1.html
Date: Wed, 5 Feb 1997 13:57:36 -0600 (CST) From: kevin john hopkins <khopkin@students.uiuc.edu> To: j-levin@uiuc.edu Subject: Taxononmy question Dr. Levin, Although one of the classifications is communication, I think there is another topic that could fit under that domain. The use of media (computer technology) could, and I think does, help those who are severly mentally handicapped or those who are completely paralyzed or even those with speech impairments to be able to attend and communicate in a classroom environment, and even outside the classroom, by having the computer talk for them. This is an important example of an educational use of technology that I think the taxomonmy does not include. What do you think? Kevin Hopkins
Date: Wed, 5 Feb 1997 18:30:44 -0600 To: j-levin@uiuc.edu From: Rosina Neginsky <r-negin@uiuc.edu> Subject: taxonomy and questions 1. I would like to make sure that I understand exactly what the taxonomy means. Is it the classification of technology for the purpose of learning? Is the purpose of your paper to present a new way of classification of technology for learning? (At least it was my understanding after I read it). 2. If my understanding is right, I think television and radio do not fit the taxonomy. Why? Because in my opinion the radio and television do not fit in any category. It is only partly a media for inquiry. One cannot use either television or radio for the organized learning. It can be used as a data collection, but it might take years to collect what you might need to learn about the subject of your interest, and it will never be complete. Of cause, the collected data can be used for the data analysis. But the question is : how much of the needed data you can collect to analyse? It is not a media for communication either. It is more of a media for information. It is not a media for construction and expression. 3. Please correct me if I am wrong. I am not sure how well I understood the topic. 4. If I wish to acces my web page from home (I use IBM), what should I do? Thank you. Rosina Neginsky
Date: Wed, 5 Feb 1997 19:43:44 -0600 (CST) From: meeramalini sreedhar <msreedha@students.uiuc.edu> To: j-levin@uiuc.edu cc: msreedha@students.uiuc.edu Subject: Challenging the Taxonomy Professor Levin, There are simulators available for teaching pilots to fly, people to drive cars, astronauts to learn to move about in zero gravity etc. Simulators are therefore an educational technology in the sense that people get educated on a certain type of skill such as flying, car driving etc. It is not as though there is any direct inquiry, communication, construction or expression involved in using such a simulator. People learn by "doing". Therefore, I think that simulators such as above may be a challenge to the taxonomy. Regards, Meera.
Date: Thu, 6 Feb 1997 01:39:44 -0600 (CST) From: mohamad sadeg shaban <shaban@students.uiuc.edu> To: j-levin@uiuc.edu Subject: class 387 example of taxanomy It is very hard to understand,since I do not have computer background.It is very difficult for somebody like me. I think it should be a little simpler than that. http://164.125.153.103:80/ecolab/inai.htm
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 15:48:50 -0600 (CST) From: steve song <s-song4@students.uiuc.edu> To: j-levin@uiuc.edu Subject: assigned stuff Dear Dr.Levin, I just went over your "taxonomy" and here is an example that may not fit too well in it. It is called "Dave's Cafe"--www.eslcafe.com. It is basically lists of jobs oversea as English teachers for those who are interested in teaching abroad. It is a very helpful listing of a number of job openings all over the world, and can be a very good source of employment. Although it can go under the title of eduational technology, it doesn't really fit well under the categories within the taxonomy. If anything, I guess it can fit under information... Until next time, Steve
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