Comments on: Article: Learning in a hypertext environment http://amandahennessey.edublogs.org/2007/12/03/article-learning-in-a-hypertext-environment/ My Course Reflections Sat, 22 Dec 2007 17:06:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Cynthia Curry http://amandahennessey.edublogs.org/2007/12/03/article-learning-in-a-hypertext-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Cynthia Curry Tue, 11 Dec 2007 02:49:53 +0000 http://amandahennessey.edublogs.org/2007/12/03/article-learning-in-a-hypertext-environment/#comment-28 "HyperStudio" was certainly ahead of the curve when it came on the market over a decade ago! A common concern I hear from teachers, and one that I understand the origins of, is that if they don't understand how or why a student would want to learn in a certain way, using a certain type of technology, then the teacher is not going to employ that method. I recently heard this from an administrator who was reacting to podcasting...because he was not a strong audio processor, he was not going to allow "his teachers" to use podcasting as a teaching or learning tool. The same is true of hyperlinks...many veteran teachers find them disorienting and confusing and can't imagine how students are engaged by them. It's very frustrating because these same teachers aren't taking the time to inform themselves of the educational technology research that is increasingly demonstrating the "how and why" that they don't currently grasp. I think WebQuests are wonderful scaffolds for supporting students in becoming proficient at using hyperlinks effectively and purposefully, while at the same time focusing on content and process. Cynthia “HyperStudio” was certainly ahead of the curve when it came on the market over a decade ago!

A common concern I hear from teachers, and one that I understand the origins of, is that if they don’t understand how or why a student would want to learn in a certain way, using a certain type of technology, then the teacher is not going to employ that method. I recently heard this from an administrator who was reacting to podcasting…because he was not a strong audio processor, he was not going to allow “his teachers” to use podcasting as a teaching or learning tool. The same is true of hyperlinks…many veteran teachers find them disorienting and confusing and can’t imagine how students are engaged by them. It’s very frustrating because these same teachers aren’t taking the time to inform themselves of the educational technology research that is increasingly demonstrating the “how and why” that they don’t currently grasp.

I think WebQuests are wonderful scaffolds for supporting students in becoming proficient at using hyperlinks effectively and purposefully, while at the same time focusing on content and process.

Cynthia

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