Early Reflections of Learning with new technologies

Some observations so far:

Wanting to reach for instructions/help manuals or someone to guide the learning process 

Reinforcement that we are on the right path or doing the right thing. Not really knowing what the norms or online social conventions are.

Support of the Ning community with profiles/faces and dialogue feels like an extension of a classroom (although meeting everyone F2F in a block class helped reinforce this)  

Extended periods of time spent online as opposed to reading journal articles is a new phenomenon for most of the group (feelings of guilt are interesting – however it would be interesting to speak to younger generations who probably would not have those feelings) 

Is there a perceived less value in the learning that is occurring with your weblog experiences than reading a journal..?

Perception would certainly be there as learners of a generation where this was the norm. It is about breaking these beliefs and perceptions with awareness and achievement.  However at the moment definitely feel I am achieving more and learning more through the weblog experience.

Is that the tension between formal vs informal learning? Or between structured vs unstructured learning?

Threads of “feeling guilty” or words such as “playing” seem to denote this.

Is it informed by your expectations of University study – which is supposed to be about copious readings and formal essays?

University and particularly Masters study does conjure up images of being locked in a library with a maze of bookings/journals and trying to remember how to use the Dewey Decimal system or the latest technology “microfiche”.  

Sigh of relief that times have changed…..