The core problem : how to balance tech verses knowledge, Perhaps slightly off topic, but Wikipedia is mentioned Options

[the fieryangel]

A very interesting Blog post from Dark Wraith Forums, a university professor who doesn't like Wikipedia and said so in an email that went a bit further than he expected. Be sure and watch the interesting Youtube video on this page as well.

What he's pointing out is that these new tools (WP, Google, the other Web 2.0 and 3.0 additions to the web) do nothing to solve the general problems of educating people. Indeed, they make things more complicated because they underline the need to analyze and question knowledge that is there.

The fact that this guy thinks that, after having posted this and sending it to his dean etc, that his academic career is toast is, frankly, worrying for Civilization in general.

This post has been edited by the fieryangel: Fri 16th November 2007, 12:56pm

[Jonny Cache]

A very interesting Blog post from Dark Wraith Forums, a university professor who doesn't like Wikipedia and said so in an email that went a bit further than he expected. Be sure and watch the interesting Youtube video on this page as well.

What he's pointing out is that these new tools (WP, Google, the other Web 2.0 and 3.0 additions to the web) do nothing to solve the general problems of educating people. Indeed, they make things more complicated because they underline the need to analyze and question knowledge that is there.

The fact that this guy thinks that, after having posted this and sending it to his dean etc, that his academic career is toast is, frankly, worrying for Civilization in general.

Finally …

http://dark-wraith.com/index.php?itemid=95

My old bowser had some trouble navigating that whole blog, but maybe someone could post a comment inviting the Wraither here so we could discuss it more easily?

Jonny

[the fieryangel]

A very interesting Blog post from Dark Wraith Forums, a university professor who doesn't like Wikipedia and said so in an email that went a bit further than he expected. Be sure and watch the interesting Youtube video on this page as well.

What he's pointing out is that these new tools (WP, Google, the other Web 2.0 and 3.0 additions to the web) do nothing to solve the general problems of educating people. Indeed, they make things more complicated because they underline the need to analyze and question knowledge that is there.

The fact that this guy thinks that, after having posted this and sending it to his dean etc, that his academic career is toast is, frankly, worrying for Civilization in general.

Finally …

http://dark-wraith.com/index.php?itemid=95

My old bowser had some trouble navigating that whole blog, but maybe someone could post a comment inviting the Wraither here so we could discuss it more easily?

Jonny

Thanks Jonny! I've not very "high-tech" myself.

I think that the Wraither would be a great addition to discussions here too. Who wants to make the introductions?

[Jonny Cache]

I found a place to send a webmail, so I sent, I think I sent this e-graved invite:

I was very heartened by your recent essay on Wikipediots and I<dio>T <sub>culture in general to find that somewhere in Academe someone has more than ½ a wit about what's going on.

I would like to invite you to The Wikipedia Review to discuss these issues at length with a few other kindred souls.

Jonny Cache

This post has been edited by Jonny Cache: Fri 16th November 2007, 6:23pm

[Emperor]

I agree that this would be a great person to hear from.

Though having fairly recently been the victim of higher ed, it's hard for me to conjure much sympathy for a fossil who whines about possible consequences when he speaks his mind. Practically everyone else in every profession runs a certain degree of risk just by doing their job correctly and ethically. The students in his classes can have their lives changed by something so petty as an A or a B on their transcript. It's not quite reasonable that he expects to be provided with a bulletproof pedestal from which he can rain down wisdom on us lowly mortals.

[Jonny Cache]

I agree that this would be a great person to hear from.

Though having fairly recently been the victim of higher ed, it's hard for me to conjure much sympathy for a fossil who whines about possible consequences when he speaks his mind. Practically everyone else in every profession runs a certain degree of risk just by doing their job correctly and ethically. The students in his classes can have their lives changed by something so petty as an A or a B on their transcript. It's not quite reasonable that he expects to be provided with a bulletproof pedestal from which he can rain down wisdom on us lowly mortals.

As a Lifer in the Punitentiaries of Learning, Hard Knocks and Soft SOP both, not to mention a SacrificialVictim to the SanctimoniousVulcans of the Hire Education Establishment and a Devoted Critic of all things Establish-Mental, this is the very thing that has e-raged me so much about Wikipedia — that it has driven a stake in the ♥ of this decade's chance to do something Truly New and Newly True, if not killed the Dream for a very long time to come.

When all the smoke clears, the Estabbers will point to Wikipedia and say, «See, We Told You So!»

Jonny

This post has been edited by Jonny Cache: Fri 16th November 2007, 4:00pm