Tomorrow I am meeting with a group of Penn State alums to talk about about how we at the College of the Liberal Arts are using social media technology to enrich the liberal arts education of our students.
The main point of the presentation is to illustrate how technology can be used to reinforce the traditional virtues of the liberal arts: ethical imagination, excellence in communication, professional leadership, global perspectives and an openness to diversity.
We have received written comments on the initial YouTube video, and via email from some of the alums with whom we shared the video prior to our meeting. I have gathered some of these comments below.
It is striking that when the conversation is opened to the public by social media, the modes by which people respond is so varied: video, written comments, emails and even tweets (thanks @jeffswain). On one hand, it is difficult to follow a coherent thread of the conversation unless someone gathers them together – as I have tried to do here. On the other hand, the variety of different modes of response and the different ways the ideas in this diverse conversation are shared adds a dimension to the conversation that extends beyond what might have happened had we limited ourselves to written or in person communication.
What does this teach us about the power and the limits of social media technology? How are we to best prepare students and ourselves not only to live in, but more importantly to thrive in a world of such dynamic and variegated communication?
Response gathered from emails from alums
David Eltringham linked to three videos here:
Skip Lange suggests that technology is a medium of communication and that “information is not power, but the application of information is.” He emphasizes too, that technology connects people and links us “to ideas and the experiences of others not readily available ever before.”
Patricia Aguer makes the point that “as we become so immersed in technology, human contact and nostalgia are going to become extremely important to us.”
Beverly Sobel-Redler reminds us that different students learn differently and that having a variety of ways to engage students will help more succeed. She also rightly emphasizes how important it is not to pursue technology for the sake of being seen as innovative, but because it helps us reach our educational goals.
From written comments to the initial video posted on YouTube:
JohnZangPSU writes:
“As the world ‘flattens out’, students are able to easily interact with other cultures and expand their understandings of the world and their specific interests. The possibilities of videos conferencing across oceans seem an enticing opportunity.”
glh77 writes:
“I think there are two important aspects here: communication and community. Emerging technologies are increasingly connecting people from across the globe. Specifically, the virtues of the Liberal Arts can be championed and discussed in different mediums that reach untapped audiences. Diversity, democracy, civic engagement can be discussed in a framework of Liberal Arts values and ideals. This discourse will strengthen community ties and hopefully lead to better communities for tomorrow’s world.”
The Presentation