Thoughts about EDCMOOC E-Learning and Digital Cultures

I am taking the E-Learning and Digital Cultures course by Coursera.

The most interesting things I've found were the Bendito Machine videos, I even showed them to my students in my Advisory class, and we discussed some of the topics we found there (abuse and use of technology, the excess in our culture, technological determinism etc) It was very different. Actually I shared them also on my Facebook page as well.

Besides this, one of the files we were assigned to read was one from Marc Prenksy which was called "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants" and the most interesting idea I got out of it comes from this phrase:

“Different kinds of experiences lead to different brain structures, “ says Dr. Bruce D. Perry of Baylor College of Medicine.

I knew that technology had affected every aspect of our societies and of our culture, but I never thought it had change the physiology of our brain. After putting some thought into it, it made a lot of sense, I live with my 50+ mom, and sometimes it is difficult to communicate. Although I would have to admit, my mom makes a great digital immigrant, she has Facebook, email and a smartphone.

What stays with me from this week of #EDCMOOC is that we as teachers must adapt to our student's reality and allow them to be their technological self; as we provide them with RELEVANT (technologically relevant) content and ways of presenting the content of our subject.

Happy Learning!

Essay #2: Regret

"As you grow older, you'll find that the only things you regret are the things you didn't do." Zachary Scott

REGRET. Six letters that can sink me down any day of the week. A word that if said alone, carries the weight of the seconds in a decade. Regret draws me into a cycle of doubt and missed opportunity that leaves me high and dry.
But listen, and I only say this at the risk of being overtly optimistic and after reading too many forwards:
What if regret is the only way we can catch opportunity as it comes to us?
What if regret is the only way that appreciation and contentment sink into our hearts?
What if we need to experience regret to experience life at its fullest?
I certainly hope so, because this pool of regret is pulling me in.

Essay #1: Curiosity....

This is going to be the first of hopefully many other small essays about certain subjects, they're all started with a phrase that comes from this EXPLOREevery day journal. So I'm very excited for this.....

May 10th, 2012

"Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures." Lovelle Drachman

These are just two different views of curiosity. Read and let yourself be read.

Ana Rebeca Castillo

*) Curiosity is the source for all that's genius. Also the source of all that's awful. Before we give into the full depth of our curiosity, we must examine our souls. Search for what our motives are. Look for a reason for everything we do: Do we do it only for our own gain, fame , knowledge? Or do it taking in stake that every action, every word, affects the world and the people around us. We can never separate completely from our interests and goals, but we need to burst the bubble where we are the only ones that matter. Let's be people that are curious. Curious for what's best. Curious for the wellbeing of us all.

**) Curiosity is grand, (don't get me wrong, it is amazing) until it becomes unbearable and annoying. It never stops asking. It never turns itself off. Always wondering, always searching for novelty. Curiosity feeds itself on innovation and pries on creativity. It surely rescues our lives from being a living hell of boredom, but at what cost? The cost of out peace of mind, of the ability to leave our minds in blank, so we can rest. The downside of having developed a curious soul is that even when it's time to rest, the muscles of curiosity just keep training and wake you up with new thoughts and ideas. The sad part of it, is that these might be the best ideas in your whole day or week. So what can you do but drown in this ocean of curiosity?