Assignment 1: Collective Action to Solve Problems

Due: Tuesday, Feb. 3

Find examples of how collective action is used to solve potentially complex problems. You may work with others.

1. Find an example of collective action (as mentioned in Gee or other definitions like those mentioned in these slides, or any source). Describe and link to the digital tool. Explain what it does, how it works, etc.

This is also a good source: http://www.crowdsourcing.org/

2. Describe the types of problems it is working to solve.

3.Post your answers here. Rather than repeat what others have done, work together with others, or reply to a post with another example of how the digital tool is used.  

Linking in comments (Blackboard example):  <a href="blackboard.eller.arizona.edu">Blackboard</a>.  Blackboard will be highlighted, and the link will go to blackboard.

What Matters to You

Rather than post this as a Google Doc, let's try this as a blog.  I'll try to offer some ideas as we gather ideas.  Here is what I started on the Google doc in class, with some additions (and edits):

First I asked: Consider projects that mean something to YOU (that matters to you):

Then I said: Here is another take on this: Gee says that education is what a 21st Century human being “ought to learn and know and be able to do in order to make a better life, a better society, and a better world before it’s too late. A good deal of this education will not go on in schools and colleges in any case, and even less if schools and colleges do not radically change their paradigms.”
So maybe projects is too specific. Would would you like to learn or know how to do or care about (that matters emotionally)?

I'll create more opportunities to do this throughout the class.  There is no rush to figure this all out in a week.   Feel free to add your own free thoughts to this blog as you like.

Blogging and Social Web Experiences

As a way of introduction, tell us about your various web experiences, games, media personalities, favorite apps.  Here are some other ways to think about it - these are only suggestions.  Add your own.  This is only to get you to post entertaining blogs, not to grade you on what you say.  Feel free to add examples with links, images, and/or videos.

1. When you're on the phone all day, what are doing?  It obviously doesn't have to be one thing, and it doesn't have to be all play (but it could be).


2. Would you say you're "addicted" to certain apps? Which ones do you play all the time now.


3. When you are on your laptop, what do spend most of your time doing?


4. What about other technology use at home?


5. Who do you subscribe to on YouTube, Vine, etc.?  Do any of the people you follow have over a million subscribers? Who are they? What do you like about them?


6. Do you have your own website, own company, built your own app, want to do this full time (with investors of course)?