Online blog post:  http://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/1860

I came across this posting (retweeted by someone), and it is worth pausing and reflecting on the power of online media. Has education changed? You bet. How about professional development? Even more. For example, one of my undergraduate researchers just created a WebQuest titled Teachers & Tumblr: Assessing the Use of Tumblr as a PLN. If students can see the value and power of the internet beyond “just looking stuff up,” then so can we.

This TED talk is linked in the article I cite above – as all TED videos, definitely worth watching!  Here, Chris Anderson discusses How Web Video Powers Global Innovation.

TED’s Chris Anderson says the rise of web video is driving a worldwide phenomenon he calls Crowd Accelerated Innovation — a self-fueling cycle of learning that could be as significant as the invention of print. But to tap into its power, organizations will need to embrace radical openness. And for TED, it means the dawn of a whole new chapter …
 

In a nutshell, the article states that social media: (1) is free; (2) cuts down on isolation; (3) builds tolerance and understanding of cultural diversity; (4) amplifies passion; (5) the world of education is (and needs to be) more open.

I agree!