April 11 Class

Here is the TED talk for this week's class:

http://www.ted.com/talks/clay_shirky_how_cellphones_twitter_facebook_can_make_history/transcript#t-757050

Here are some questions to consider:

"What matters here isn't technical capital, it's social capital." What does Shirky mean by this, and do you agree? 

"The moment our historical generation is living through -- is the largest increase in expressive capability in human history." Do you agree or disagree with this claim? Why or why not? 

"There are only four periods in the last 500 years where media has changed enough to qualify for the label 'revolution.'" This is very much a western perspective on media. How does the history of media in Korea differ? Does this impact how Korean views the internet? 

"Every time a new consumer joins this media landscape a new producer joins as well, because the same equipment -- phones, computers -- let you consume and produce. It's as if, when you bought a book, they threw in the printing press for free." Do you agree with statement, and is his comparison to the printing press appropriate? 

"As recently at last decade, most of the media that was available for public consumption was produced by professionals. Those days are over, never to return." Has professionally produced content's significance in the culture gone down because of this increases in amateur productions? 

"In a world where media is global, social, ubiquitous and cheap, in a world of media where the former audience are now increasingly full participants, in that world, media is less and less often about crafting a single message to be consumed by individuals. It is more and more often a way of creating an environment for convening and supporting groups." Would you agree or disagree? 

Finally, Shirky ends his talk by stating:

The question we all face now is, "How can we make best use of this media? Even though it means changing the way we've always done it."

How would you answer this question? How do you personally use new forms of media, and what has been their impact on your life? 

 

 

Discussion Questions

Before our first class, try to contribute at least one discussion topic in the comment section below. You should also set up an account. Thanks.

First Class

Here is the first TED talk for this week's class:

https://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity

Some discussion questions:

Consider these quotations and state if you agree or disagree, and why: 

"Everyone has in interest in education"

"Creativity is as important as literacy"

"If you're not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original"

"Children get educated out of creativity"

Think about the question, "What is education for?" and the alternative "What should it be for?"

Finally, how do this issues relate to your experience in the Korean education system?