Comments on: Challenge by the Less Familiar

By: John Larkin

John Larkin — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 21:09:44 +0000

Had a quick look at Apple Media Tool and I remember nothing now. The design and philosophy behind mTropolis was so well conceived. Its demise, after being purchased by Quark, was sad for its dedicated fans. I missed OMO when it went. Buggy, but it had great potential.

Claudia’s thoughts and your own are spot on and here, downunder, as a national curriculum is rolled out, quantity will prevail over quality. Sausage factory schooling. Thank you for your reply Alan.

By: Alan Levine aka CogDog

Alan Levine aka CogDog — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:19:11 +0000

Thanks Claudia. This scenerio is the mindset we have created and fostered in the systematization of school, where what we teach students are some skills, but mainly the skill to pass tests and get grades is supreme

Fixing dat link thanks!

By: Claudia L'Amoreaux (@ClaudiaInWorld)

Claudia L'Amoreaux (@ClaudiaInWorld) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:05:23 +0000

I appreciated this post, Alan. Especially: “Learning to create with our tools that are not always our first choice, or may be challenging to use is the place where you really start to transcend your perceived capabilities.” Seems like mistaking the goal to be product is something we’ve been well trained in through earlier school experiences.

Time design – making explicit that how we use time is a design decision – prototyping/iterating our time design – is one antidote to the last minute rush I have been exploring with students for a few years in “meta-learning strategies” conversations.

Check your link “from our collection” – not found.

By: Alan Levine

Alan Levine — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 05:16:05 +0000

“mTropolis woah my neurons just snapped in two… Totally forgot that app. Apple Media Tool?

By: John Larkin

John Larkin — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 05:02:36 +0000

I have read your thoughts regarding the shortcuts of your students the last week or so, Alan, and I agree with you. Selecting the rapid method is not the beneficial approach. Taking up a tool like Gimp, Pixelmator or Photoshop is the way to go. Explore, trial, test and learn the nuances of the tool. Learn the unexpected. Feel a sense of achievement. You are right Alan.

Reminds me of the times I had to pick up tools like Oracle Media Objects & mTropolis in the 1990s after working with HyperCard. Similarities & differences, yet the experience was invaluable as picking up new tools further down the track was not as daunting.