RILS Reflection

RILS Reflection

As the Emergent Technologies class comes to a close, I have some big decisions to make.  My Relevant and Innovative Learning Scenario (RILS) turned out pretty badly and not very relevant.  It is funny how something can be very exciting for some and totally irrelevant for others. 

Is Historypin.com too "Old School"?

Throughout the last four weeks, my professor has selected quotes in my blog to critique for weekly blog grading.  Today, the tables are turned.  I will be able to use one of her quotes in my blog.  When grading my RILS Planning on November 15^th, Mrs. Hanaway wrote, “This point is about relevance.  Why will your students find this relevant to them?  This connection is valid and good, but would be part of the audience connection.”  She was questioning if students would find relevance in my project.  I thought, of course they will.  Who wouldn’t want to tag history with their own mark o photo?  It is kind of like a moon landing or discovering a new land.  The first thing explorers do is place a flag, or mark their territory.  Students will find it fascinating and addictive.

As a researcher, I did not share any of my grading criteria or goal of my RILS with the test subjects.  As you will hear in the video, they found it interesting, but verbally questioned the relevance of the activity.  “How does this change your life," asks Subject 002.  Subject 003 compares it to other technology.  “Of course, it can be done.  But why? Which is why I brought up Mrs. Hanaway’s comment.  She was right on target.  My students even used the same terminology – Relevancy.

Although the project itself was not very successful, I did learn quite a bit.   I learned that I must pre-assess or survey my target audience prior to the project.  I also learned to find out more about the audience and focus on what makes them engaged, and not myself.   Although the project I still find exciting and I still plan on releasing it to my community, I can almost guarantee that the respondents will be the older generation.  They seem excited about sharing their past and their memories with others.   The younger folks ask it straight, “Why is this relevant to my life?”  This activity would probably be best implemented in a retirement community or senior center.  Possibly, you could include younger people to assist with the technology aspect.

Which leads me to larger decisions to make…  I have been trying to commit an audience for my Action Research and it has proved difficult without a classroom or employment environment.  I have approached several school districts about volunteering for an after school training and they seem receptive, but not to Second Life.  I am thinking about changing the focus of my Action Research to Digital Storytelling.  I think this would be easier to market to an after school audience.  Otherwise, I will be using the same participants, as the RILS and many of did not follow through or limited participation.  The limited success of the RILS has left me with unlimited questions.