Learning- in Theory and in Practice Response Blog

Discussion Question: What is the difference between the explicit and implicit dimensions of knowledge?

This chapter made me really think about the difference between knowledge and imformation. It is important for people to actually experience things in order for them to gain knowledge. Anyone can go on the internet or read a newspaper to get information, but knowledge is more personal and varies among every individual. I thought it was interesting to read about the project of the computer engineer that demonstrated the "community of practice". He told of a group of about 15 or so people, who all knew what was going on with what they were doing and they all were on a level working-field. The group was successful and had very few arguments. I can relate to this because it reminds me of the place that I work. I work at a used bookstore called Bookholders. There are only about 6 people working at a time and we all know how to do almost everything within the store. Even if someone does need help, all they have to do is ask and they can be shown. We are a very small group with very little structure and we all mesh as employees really well. There are few arguments and a lot gets done around the store. I think it is true that you need specific experience in order to gain specific knowledge about a specific topic. People who have a lot of experience doing what they are doing, have more job security or chance of getting a new job, than someone who simply has done a lot of reading about how to do a particular job. I also found it very interesting to learn that simply through the practice of speaking and listening, children learn about 13 words a day over 16 years. I never thought to compare how a child would learn to speak if they had to learn strictly from the dictionary. Because the practice isn't there, the learning method is extremely less effective.

Limits to Information Response Blog

Discussion Question: Could it be true that eventually, this overload of information technology will lead to the end of television, universities, cities, and nation states?

I think that it is crazy to think that just because we have so much information, this means that all of the things that hold our societies together now, will eventually become diminished. To have all of these things end, what would the world come to? I worry that the world will come to be very impersonal and all technological. It is still necessary for children to go outside and play, instead of sitting inside playing video games. Even adults should go outside more. The internet is not only used for important information, so people waste their time for hours on the internet instead of hanging out with people or even leaving their seat. I think that all of the information technlology that we have is extremely important and I don't think that people should be complaining about the amount of information. There is nothing wrong with being able to find the answer to almost any question on the internet. It is extremely convenient and it has become almost necessary to use the internet to acquire information. Books are still useful, but now there is even technology to replace books. The Kindle is a peice of software that allows you to download and read books through a small, mp3-like device. I hope that the rise of technology does not bring about change that sseriously affects our society or makes it completely impersonal. I like talking to my friends and hanging out with them, I don't want to Skype with my friends from the same university as me and never hang out with them face to face. This technology allows you to see and talk to poeple as if they were right next to you. It is effective when people are far away from each other, but the better the technology gets, the more I worry about things like technology taking over almost every aspect of life. I think that the theory that the telegraph was the start of the information technology is somewhat true. Although people have been making smoke messages and such for centuries, I think that the telegraph is the first example of communication travelling fast from one person to another, through technology.