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LadyAngelika -> RE: A modest proposal (8/6/2004 5:22:40 AM)
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quote:
What if the collarme board wrote a "how-to" book on bdsm?
January,
First of all, let me tell you that in principle, I admire your idea. The idea of a compilation is an interesting one. However, as an educator, I see these message boards as a better educational tool then a book. Let me explain why.
One of the most prominent theories in educational cybersystemics is Pask’s conversation theory. The gist of it that learning occurs through conversations about a certain subject or topic and it is the conversation itself that makes the knowledge explicit. Pask would call the boards the entailment mesh that captures all of the information.
In the educational field, many have done exactly what you are proposing. However, the ventures tend to be less successful for the learners using the compilation rather then the learners interacting with others on the subject matter.
Here are the three principles of conversation theory and how I see them applied on these boards:
1. To learn a subject matter, students must learn the relationships among the concepts.
Well that is the beautiful thing about anything online. Information is connected in a rhizome manner and relationships become more evident. The moderators have created sections, move the content around and we cross-reference one another. Two examples that come to mind are when proudsub refers someone to another conversation on the topic and as well, something I’ve been doing lately, adding a hyperlink to a site regarding the subject matter I’m discussing. In addition, there are such diverse opinions here. It is amazing to see them juxtaposed in context.
2. Explicit explanation or manipulation of the subject matter facilitates understanding (e.g., use of teachback technique).
This happens through the discussion, through asking questions, by saying such things like “If I understand you correctly, you are saying that…”. It is also how when 3 months down the road I refer something to another that someone else has taught me. In fact I had my little proudsub moment lately when I referred someone to another thread.
3. Individual's differ in their preferred manner of learning relationships (serialists versus holists).
I think this is the beauty of this medium. It is self-paced, exploratory, interactive and dynamic. Someone can be an active or passive learner, etc.
I do agree that some people have an easier time extracting the information from these boards then others. But then, as we all know, there have always been discrepancies in people’s ability to learn. Some are very successful as self-learners and others need a whole lot of assistance.
Where our expertise lies here is how to communicate on message boards, how to search topics on message boards, for the most part, etiquette on message boards (I’ve learned quite a bit about that in the little while I’ve been here – thanks all btw), etc. It’s quite the metacognitive approach and in opinion, a very useful approach which goes beyond learning about BDSM but also about interacting.
As it stands we informally help others. I’m a very big believer in informal education and I find this is a fantastic way to deal with a subject matter such as BDSM that has so many various facets, aspects and opinions regarding it. There are many how too books out there. This is another alternative which, for me, is a lot more useful then a how-to book because it obliges me to confront my own ideas, suppositions and perceptions on the subject of BDSM, which would boil down to a more meaningful learning experience.
- LA
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