What's a Blog?
So, there I was standing at the front of the class thinking that this was a keen and with-it group of students who were on the cutting edge. And so, I asked a simple question: "Does anyone know what a blog is?" I got 28 blank faces. Not one of these 1st year students had any idea what a blog is. How can this be?
There are millions and millions of the bloody things, with new ones being added every few seconds. I have heard that many people who read blog have no idea what one is. The same, sadly, is true for some students who read journals: they think that they are magazines or newspapers. They also confuse books with journals and the web with libraries, but that's another story.
(By the way, you are reading a blog right now).
I am sure all of them knew what an MP3 player was, and probably the majority had a iPod. They could probably text message faster than I can type. I never knew being all thumbs would be a good thing, but it definitely is when your keyboard is two inches square. I've lost faith in the undergraduates of today.
Technorati Tags: blogs, youth
20 comments:
I've also found that a lot of people don't know what a blog is. That is incredibly irritating when I try and explain, and people are like, why would you write on the internet? To some people, this format of communication/media/etc. is mind boggling.
Can you tell I've had some coffee? I think this is the comment I have EVER MADE.
This is the LONGEST**. Whew.
Crystal meth + Caffeine = Amazing typing skillz
I find that interesting. My sister has a goth blog and she's 15. I guess it has to do with access, huh?
Don't lose faith in the undergraduates of today. Some are certainly clueless (as I was back in 1996), some are bright, and some will come into their own in good time.
Lol, I had a convo with a guy which didn't know what was a blog either, but that was even more stupid since when I was explaining he suddenly went like: "Oooooh, you mean like a weblog?". That absolutely sounded so rediculous, lol :P.
No, they really are getting dumber...
And despite how many blogs there are, most people have no clue what one is.
Interesting...
Does this mean we're the elite?
Of course we are the elite.
I'll go along with that.
Woohoo. Can I join the elite club too?
YESSSSSSSSS! (insert arm pumping here!)
So, my idea of starting a library blog for distance learners is maybe not so good?
Things are easier for them... and one would expect that with technology, students would be more sophisticated...
No, they're more lazy.
I weep for the future of Western Civilization... I hope everyone likes rice and can speak Chinese...
That's a surprise -- but also not such a surprise. Both my daughters are in University, and I've managed to convince one to blog -- the other one has absolutely no interest. It's almost like the world around them isn't interesting, or they see no value in acquiring general knowledge. It sometimes come as a complete surprise when they approach my wife or I with some new found knowledge, and we're already aware of it. My wife, a former teacher, also experienced that with some of her students -- students who seem amazed that she knew so much -- yet, it's just general knowledge.
Is having general knowledge becoming specialized?
I've run into the same sort of response myself. I've also run ino quite a few students who don't have a clue how to use practical technologies...its all about entertainment anymore. Blogging, like so many other things in life, requires work - maintenance, editing, revising, creative development. Some of it, too, is a lack of self-confidence. I know I have a few readers who have contacted me saying they're worried about ridicule, social stigmatization, and not having the tech skills.
I also think it comes down to some of the bigger problems faced in the West, most notably (at least in the US) the lowerng of educational standards across the board. There are a lot of Gen Y folks who I've noticed seem to have this crippling fear of failure that I think comes from unrealistic expectations of perfectionism.
Lord...too many big words for a Sat. morning.
I've maintained a blog for about a year now, and I'm still not sure what it is...
I didn't actually know why the word blog is used to describe opinions, news and points of view. Why couldn't it have a nicer, more gentlier name such as log or rantings.
Don't be surprised, but I'm sure there a hundreds if not thousands of peope who don't know what a blog is. There are people who still don't own computers, cell phones, fax machines or digital cameras especially those over 40.
Don't be surprised, but I'm sure there a hundreds if not thousands of peope who don't know what a blog is. There are people who still don't own computers, cell phones, fax machines or digital cameras especially those over 40.
Absde:
Very good point. There are also millions of folks around the world who still have trouble getting basic telecommunications access as well. People tend to take that for granted.
So, my idea of starting a library blog for distance learners is maybe not so good?
Liz, I'd like to hear more about that idea before I pass judgement.
Mister Anchovy, I love your comment.
You have no idea how many times PER DAY I have to explain what a blog is - even to people ONLINE...
Kinda gives you an idea as to just how many people there are in the world. We can see all the hundreds of thousands of regularly updated blogs, journals, and wiki's - and we also see all the naive folks who have absolutely no idea.
...amazing really, when you think about it...
- Trisha
Mayo Brains - Spreading Thought
I read this to my wife who had the exact same experience in her classroom at about the same time. She accused me of either making it up or posting it myself under a pen name (she was being funny). She said that it was very frustrating when you are trying to integreate new tech into the classroom and you are the only one living in the 21st century.
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