*** I had to include this discussion posting in addition to my other 3 ePortfolio artifacts because I think it was such an interesting conversation!  I really thought (along with the assessment discussion) that this discussion gave me a lot of insight into my classmates' views on educational technology, their philosophies about learning and teaching, etc.  It was a really thought-provoking "debate" in a way, and I learned a lot from it. 

Initial Posting...

Not that my position on this will be terribly surprising, but I have to say, the idea of a "virtual pond" in lieu of being able to experience the natural world first-hand is, at least in my view, a sorry substitution.  I do think that when or if it is not possible for students to access the natural world (perhaps due to physical disabilities, lack of resources, etc.) a "virtual pond" might be a nice option.  Or maybe if students are first taken to a pond or nature perserve, get to really look at it and engage in the sensory experiences that are a part of spending time outdoors, and then go back to the classroom and use a "virtual pond" as sort of a tool for further investigation, that might be a good use for such a program.  The latter without the former, however, cannot really encapsulate the experience we have when we spend time in nature and learn about nature from doing just that. 

One of my favorite times to be outdoors is the fall...so I am excited about the change in the weather today:)  I usually am most inclined to want to be outside in nature after a long day of school or work.  The truth is, at least for me, being in the natural world, walking and looking at the colored leaves or hearing birds sing, is a refreshing and much-needed break from sitting in front of screens, using fax machines and Xerox machines, answering phones, being in a cubicle (the most unnatural environment EVER designed by man:), etc.  Even if what happened on my screen was exciting and engaging, I still think I would prefer to see whatever it was showing me in the real world (whether it's a pond, a collection of art work, etc.)  Have you ever walked though an office and looked at people's faces and posture while they sit in front of their computers?  It is alternately hysterical and scary!:)  I am sure that at least once a day, I zone out, slouch over my desk like Quasimodo, and have a zombie-like open-mouthed expression on my face...I don't think when I am outdoors enjoying nature I look the same way:)  I love to see people in the park running or walking along trails after the work day is over...everyone looks so happy to be out and moving and active, and I think people, especially in our increasingly sedentary society, need that. 

My last point may seem sort of silly, but have any of you seen the movie "Office Space"?  I thought that movie was more insightful than perhaps it was even intended to be!   I love how the main character Peter explains how the monotonous, tech-infused work he does in his cubicle each day is "not how people were intended to live":)  I also love the scene where he and his colleagues literally beat the crap out of their office fax machine- watching that scene is such a cathartic experience for me!:)  I don't mean to digress too much, but at least for someone like me, technology is not something I truly love or want to incorporate more throuroughly into my life.  It seems pervasive, and at times, intrusive enough.  I have whole days when I don't answer my cell phone...not because I don't want to talk to whoever is at the other end, but simply because I don't feel like always being "reachable"- I don't think "people were intended to live that way":) 

I guess I am somewhat hostile to the assumption that technological advancement and the incorporation of tech. into our lives is always wonderful and welcomed.  The "virtual pond" could be a good learning tool if you absolutely can't get to a pond somewhere, or if you want to do follow-up work after being at a real one.  But there are still many places that people can go to learn about nature, even in big cities.  I tend to think that some of the reasons that people don't go to family farms anymore is because they can't bear to get away from all the trappings of their "highly connected" lives!  How can we spend a month at the farm if the farm doesn't have high-speed internet, cell phone reception, or Tivo???  There are a lot of luxuries that are afforded to us by our technologies, no doubt.  But I think there are also many reprecussions- more sedentary, "indoor", constantly-connected (and not necessarily "happily-connected") lives.  I'm with Thoreau...turn of your cell phone, put off returning emails for a day, and go get dirty in a real live pond:)