SYNERGY-NET on
RE: Getting my act together:
Well, I will work on a unit on Home pages.
The idea of micro
units - a variety - which the student picks 15 that are most
useful to them. BUT.. there are many ways to skin this cat.
The
goal is to produce a home page and post it to the synergy site.
If you do your content in plain text, I will convert it to HTTP
and post it for you. You then ftp it back and work on it. Maybe
you can get your picture scanned so we can add that. In your
browser VIEW source of a few simple pages. Some feel strongly
that you need to know a lot of code. Others, that editors will
take care of it for you. Let me know what editors you may have .
some have used Assistant for word 6 or 7, Hotdog, WebEdit, or the
others discussed on the site.
To: MATT ANDRES
Subject: RE: web pages and e-mail
Peter: EXCELLENT POINTS :
The problem is clear - YES KISS - keep
it simple.. I will try as much as I can. It is partly a
personality issue - and partly a matter of experience in this new
media. Any help I can get would be great - synergy, any subject
you would like to teach - wonderful. We are working on a BBS with
a file ( subject ) manager that maybe able to handle the MESS -
P: If I had one student in mind - a more one to one relationship
-
The TUTOR mode - because the variety adds to the chaos. More
step by step. This has to take place in your head as well as
mine.
The world doesn't always come step by step. It changes all
the time. ANYWAY, I need and want help in getting more STRUCTURE
!
----------
From: MATT ANDRES
Sent: Monday, August 05, 1996 4:12 PM
To: Peter Pflaum
Subject: web pages and e-mail
Peter,
I have some constructive criticism to offer and hope it will be
taken in the same spirit that it is offered... so let me preface
my criticism...
I am impressed with the undertaking appreciate your effort to
include other individuals I would like to assist with NetMeeting
setups, beginner and some advanced NetMeeting features "tours"...
since I have some experience teaching photography classes perhaps
I could also develop a class plan...
I finally managed to visit your web site and it helped to clarify
some things contained in your e-mails (I assume that right now
the "Journal" <IS> the e-mail messages that you have been
sending.)
(Peter: It is several things. For the students it's a record of
what they are doing and a wider context of thought about what
they are doing. It's the do it, reflect on it, and relate what we
are doing to the BIG PICTURE. Journals are also Synergy Journals
which are up dates on Internet activities ( and to create
confusion ) reflections of pflaumism .. )
The Problem:
After reading some of the bulletin board posts, I am sure that
others have made the same observations and offer similar
criticism about the e-mail updates ...
So, forgive me if this is already an understood targeted for
correction --- however, it is just as difficult to get through
the web pages without becoming very confused.
P: YES, I KNOW , I know, I know - I wish I had HELP.. I wish I
was a better person, more orderly, I let things build up. It's
not done in a step by step methods but I add this to that and it
becomes a tangle which then I go in and TRY to clean up
afterwards. It gets better with time and a little experience.
The subject matter may be related but it is hard to see a flow or
transition and correlation between all of the topics as they are
presented.... (EXACTLY)
The e-mail reports and the web pages are "overloaded" ---- far
too rich a meal for me and, I suspect, most of us.
P: Well can't you take what you need and leave the rest for
later ?
The INFORMATION AGE is one of OVER LOAD - too much stuff
that does not add up to knowledge ( information + understanding
). A critical skill is to QUICKLY sort the messages and focus on
what you need now.
Moreover, they are filled with vocabulary, nomenclature and =
philosophical conceptualizations that are far beyond the capacity
of the average person to deal with (at least as presented) i.e.
little consideration for gradient steps of exposure, transition,
& delivery is given to the offering.
Recommended Solutions:
Education can be the fuel to empower and the key to free minds...
therefore, care must be taken to serve it in a fashion that is
palatable, non-intimidating and NOT esoteric.
Design Composition --- major overhaul. Including simplified
contents and indexes for all publications and WEB Pages.
In order to attract students as well as support from educators
and others, the journal and the web pages need to be organized in
simple gradient levels. Topics of interest to educators, general
subject matter etc., need to be separated from Class offerings so
that potential students are not frightened away.
P: Yes, yes, this is wonderful .. I will, I have the hope, the
desire, Kevin is working on a file management system that will
help and a BBS format, plus forms. We are still young.
Perhaps your intended audience is too broad or the information
needs to be organized and "packaged" for several identified
groups. Students, educators, cyberspace philosophers, and (?)
P: This is a wonderful idea
Perhaps Internet 101 can be divided into "micro" classes ... some
people may want to take the entire course many others will have
time and interest for only the more specific topics - such as: to
catch-up on the newest tech like NetMeeting. An effort must be
made to recognize and even "yield" to these specific interests.
The e-mail updates in particular need to be organized by interest
perhaps a beginner, advanced, and professional section (?) so,
that mailings could continue to be general ... without
overwhelming the beginner, for instance.
Best Plan: Keep it Simple. KISS
Finally, I hardly have time as it is --- and I want to be able to
continue my efforts to help people with NetMeeting --- but if I
could be of any help on the above proposed changes - I suppose I
could be available on sort of a consulting basis.
Sincerely,
matt
To: Philip Adams
Subject: RE: Looking for a home for on-line class
Thanks I will ( again )
----------
From: Philip Adams
Sent: Tuesday, August 06, 1996 5:17 AM
To: Peter Pflaum
Subject: Re: Looking for a home for on-line class
Hola! I have just had a browse around your site (having
previously received an identical copy of this post). I can
suggest that you contact the Globewide Network Academy if you
want your course to get some recognition and credibility.
http://www.gnacademy.org:8001/uu-gna/index.html
Regards,
********************************************
*Philip Adams Network Training Librarian *
*Homepage http://www.dmu.ac.uk/~pka/ * Haiku
*E-Mail: pka@dmu.ac.uk * =====
*Tel: (0116) 2551551 x8164 * new building site
screens-
*Post:
The Library * acres of corporate green
* De Montfort University * and just one handprint
*
The Gateway *
* Leicester, LE1 9BH *
********************************************
On Mon, 5 Aug 1996, Peter Pflaum wrote:
We have Internet 101 going - we are looking for a home
To: Ronald Byers
Subject: RE: Mailing list
What is OBE ? I agree with almost all your points ? I do what I
can with what I have .. I am trying and have been trying for a
year to get a remote class going on the Internet. I think it
could be a contribution - maybe you what to help ?
----------
From: Ronald Byers
Sent: Monday, August 05, 1996 2:04 PM
To: Peter Pflaum
Subject: Mailing list
I have read your letters for over a month and have yet to figure
out what you are trying to do in the name of synergy besides
comment on everything in the world, including something
delusional about Sufi mysticism. While I agree with you on many
points, I cannot see that they have much to do with anything.
Certainly, education in America is in the toilet, but it will
not be changed by more pontification on your part.
The education
world needs less administration from knowledgeable saviors, not
more. When you read letters from parents who have experienced
the wonders of OBE, you realize that more programs are not a
serious answer to educating students. Care, and love are the
biggest assets a classroom can have. I believe that realizing
what children need to have in the world will help them succeed.
Maybe no one should teach at all until they have lived in the
outside business world for 5 years or so. Maybe they should be
required to live in it every so often instead of license
renewal.
Generally people do not like reading things on a computer
screen and I fail to see how that will change any time soon. I
do, however, wish you the best of luck on your project. I also
pray that you find a little humility and seek God along with it.
He has been a great and wonderful foundation for me.
Sincerely
RB
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SYNERGY-NET on
Peter E. Pflaum Ph.D. , Headmaster GLOBAL_VILLAGE_SCHOOLHOUSE
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