Digital Alcholism

Recently, I have had an opportunity to try out a few Learning Management Systems (LMS) particularly Ultranet (Edtech) and Moodle. I have also tried numerous Web 2 tools. Finally, I also had a go at ePortfolios, Google Apps and Drupal.

I have come to the realisation that there are numerous (if not overwhelmingly so) applications which can aid learning. The question now is how do we mentally structure everything as not to become digital alcoholics.

I have also noticed that educators are slowly moving from email and Student Management System data entry towards trying blogs, wikis, etc. I have observed others finely gather and present collections of Web 2 tools making them "educational stars" in the eyes of their still emergent digital colleagues.

It all seems so inevitable that the growing digital space of learning will be here to stay. Management of schools will therefore have to provide the space for development, creativity and risk taking. Also, renewing their planning to define what is learning, where it will florish and how it is presented for assessment.

While we battle with the knowledge age we are cognisant that the morality of human nature is as fragile as their inquisitiveness. So we find ourselves in the midst of a digital storm where we have to provide creative opportunity, accountability and protection as a given. But, it seems that we are witnessing the ever narrowing of the gap between privacy and cyber world citizenship which effectively rewrites what we know of relational boundaries.

So, here I will declare within my little digital space, that I will spend a large part of my life using it, not only as a tool, but also as an extension of myself. Within my digital space, I will share what I find think and feel, and be at the mercy of a digital audience.

Finally, I have an affinity for cyber participants who contribute freely their skills, designs and projects for the betterment of others. I will attempt to join in as much as I am able to do so, and promote what I feel might be "cool".