Warlick, Education, and the Web

"What did education mean then and there?" (Warlick 19).

Warlick begins Chapter 2 in Redefining Literacy for the Century with brief comparison between his grandfather's generations and his with regards to education. He notes, "Education assured that knowledge was learned and remembered. Being educated meant that you held a great deal of information in your memory, and that you gained that knowledge largely through reading, listening, and reciting within a formal and regimented educational setting" (19). I highlighted part of that quotation in hopes that it struck you as it struck me. It occurred to me that while we (as a society) admire those who can recall information in an instance and who retain facts, figures and knowledge easily, there is no longer a dire need to "[hold] a great deal of information in [our] memory"; it is all accessible at our desks or in our laps. All we have to do is turn on our Macs and PC's and we can find any piece of information we choose to know. Rather than memorizing information we are able to interact with it, learn it to a greater level than we may have than by reading and copying books. And why? As Warlick further mentions, students now are able to read "in a third dimension: across, down, and deeper into the information" (22). With the help of technology we can look at a Web site, read the information, and click a highlighted word that takes us to another site with more or related information. It is a quicker way to learn, a more accessible way to knowledge.

Warlick introduces several Web sites (Backflip, PiNet Library) in Chapter 2 and a look into search engine use. Social bookmarking sites and search engines are useful tools for Web users, but rarely are they used effectively, especially the search engines. After starting a search off in a search engine, Warlick suggests using Web directories when finding information on a topic, then referring back to the search engine later on. Internet use is a process: SEARCH ("start Small, Edit search phrase, Advance to large search engine, Refine search phrase, Cycle back and advance again, Harvest the resources"). Students need help learning this process, adapting to it, and using it. By providing technology in the classroom and time to practice Web use for research, educator's can help their students become more proficient and comfortable exploring the Web.

And finally, I just wanted to say I loved this comment made by Warlick: "Once you have your blog, you can publish to your heart's content ad have your ideas, beliefs, and passions available to a global audience" (40). This is exactly what we are doing.