BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

The City University of New York

DREAMS, NIGHTMARES AND VISIONS

AGENDA | PARTICIPANTS | LINKS | FRIDAYS

Dreams, Nightmares and Visions

Introduction:  Steve Gilbert of the Teaching Learning and Technology (TLT) Group has talked about the difference between educational technology in terms of dreams (ideal but probably unrealistic hopes), nightmares (worries, fears and concerns) and visions (a positive possibility we may be able to achieve, with some collective combination of creativity, commitment, and good fortune).  What are your worries or concerns?  What are your visions?  What can we do to improve our chances of realizing our visions?

Activity:

Step 1.  Reflective Posting – 10-15 minutes.

Group I.  Technology Nightmares. Go to BlackBoard.  Click "communications."  Then "discussion board."  Then go to Technology Nightmares.   Using the following questions as prompts, take 10 minutes to free-write.

What are your fears or worries about the negative potential of technology in education?  What are important problems or obstacles of which we need to be mindful?  Please use this space to reflect and write about your concerns—and about possible strategies for addressing these issues. 

Group II:  Visions Worth Working Towards. Go to BlackBoard.  Click "communications."  Then "discussion board."  Then go to Visions Worth Working Towards.   Using the following questions as prompts, take 10 minutes to free-write.

What is your vision of the practical, positive potential of educational technology.  What does it actually offer us?  If we combine creativity and commitment, what can we accomplish as individuals? As a group?  As an institution?  Please use this space to reflect and write about your vision—and about possible strategies for achieving such a vision.

Step 2 – Read and Respond, 15 minutes

Both groups:  When you’ve completed your initial posting, go to the other area.  Read what you find posted there.  Respond to at least one posting.  Please frame your posting in terms of strategies for the future:           

• If you’re responding to posts in the Nightmares section, use your response to highlight a possible strategy that could address a problem discussed in the posting.

• If you’re responding to posts in the Visions section, use your response to highlight a possible strategy for realizing the vision discussed in the posting.

After you’ve completed your response, feel free to explore and respond to the new postings being made in either area.

AGENDA | PARTICIPANTS | LINKS | FRIDAYS