Author: abendelow
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They tell me you are wrong, and sometimes you are
Wikipedia. But your wrong does not stand long, with your thousands of assiduous editors jumping in and correcting false or misleading information as soon as it appears. And they tell me you are wicked, Wikipedia, that you trick information seekers, and bias them into your politically-motivated, left-wing mind-control. But I looked for it, and I…
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Why Saul Bellow works for me
is that in the two novels of his I’ve read, the hero somewhat resembles me. And we all like to identify with a protagonist, right? Like me, Bellow’s hero is a thoughtful middle aged American man living in or around Chicago. But I also like his books because his hero is distinctly unlike me, and…
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Mr. President, won't you continue to tweet me?
from your BlackBerry?And may I still tweet you? What does becoming the people’s man mean in terms of your accessibility? Right now, a paper-based government works out the details of documentation and security/confidentiality in a web 2.0 America, where citizens can do more than sit back and take it, or sign the occasional petition. Obama…
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"You, me and Montaigne makes three"
It’s something I can say to every person in the blogosphere with me–because just like old Michel of the 16th century, the blogger leads a life of ideas–at least some of the time. A lord in his own castle, Montaigne had the money and education to assemble a deep library. When he could, he’d retire…
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Living proof: those dreams of our fathers
–dreams of racial equality and justice for all–are somewhat realized with the aid of web 2.0 tools. In two days, the USA begins the term of our first president of color–our first president in some time who seems to have that other quality–character (If you don’t believe me, read his first autobiography, and tell me…
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Who would have thunk it? an Alan Watts mash-up
done by the creators of South Park. The simplicity of his ancient ideas and the primitive efficiency of the video would, i’m thinking, communicate zen buddhism to a new generation.
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Information Processor in Chief?
In less than a week, the USA will begin life under our first “wired” president–one who, unlike his predecessors, has actively communicated in the virtual world of the internet. For those who want their leaders “connected” with the people they serve, that could only be good, right? I have posted elsewhere how Obama’s victory was…
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Imagine engaging students in a scenario-based learning activity
If you’re lucky like me and teach in an enlightened English department, it is easy to imagine. At regular intervals our curriculum engages students in hands-on, multiple player, role-playing scenarios that introduce and develop overarching themes. With Web 2.0 tools we can begin imagining more. We can take those same successful learning activities and put…
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Let's re-think what we're teaching, digital immigrant teacher!
Like Stuart Mader, I enjoyed the way Thomas H. Benton“On Stupidity, part 2”describes the changing role of English teachers with their digital native students. We need to be flexible about the form of work we accept: That doesn’t mean we should stop teaching the traditional essay and research paper, but it does mean we need…
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Alright, who ain't collaboratin' here?
Administrators of all stripes could become more aware of their workforce if they were to encourage (or enforce?) micro-blogging among workers. At companies who twitter, etc., the collaborative gears are greased, and managers gain un-precedented insight into how their players are playing the game, as is expressed here: …microblogs offer great potential… they could reveal…
The Wikiness 