Example Exercise: Classification and Exploration of New Technology

Instructions:

In this exercise, we will start learning about teaching technology by using a genre theory approach to help understand new and unfamiliar technologies. Then, we will experiment with new technologies to understand how they could be usefully applied.

Part 1: Genre Analysis

Visit each of the sites below. Write a brief description of the site and categorize the it as a project, platform, tool, or some combination (which ones?) based on the definitions presented in class. Be prepared to explain why you made the classification you did in each case.

Refer to the definitions below to help you as needed.

Part 2: Genre Identification

Visit the two sites listed below. What traits to they have in common? How would you describe/name the category they belong to? What are the key traits of this category?

Part 3: Exploration

Once we've classified a technology, we will have a basic expectation of the functionality of that technology and how it might be applied. Sites like those analyzed in Part 2 are actually built around the idea of classification as the starting point for identifying and understanding technology and content.

Now, use that classification starting point to help learn a new technology.

  1. Choose one of the tools or projects from Part 1 to examine in more detail.
  2. Examine the interface and explain how it is organized.
  3. Examine the functionality of the tool/project and explain its capabilities
  4. Prepare a brief demonstration to show the class how this tool/project works

Part 4: Analysis

Reflect on your experience.

  1. Once you classified a tool/project, what assumptions were you able to make about it? How did these assumptions help you understand its functionality?
  2. Explain any difficulties you had in decoding the functionality of a tool/project.
  3. Explain the ways that the tools/projects were easy to use.
  4. How does classification help with learning?

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