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Friday, July 13, 2012

Charlotte’s Web Site – An Allegory For Young Learners by Todd R. Nelson

Charlotte and Wilbur: An allegory for young learners…

New York Times writes, “The sheer scale of the new online courses has jolted every leading university into thinking about how online learning may transform higher education: Will there be much demand for each university to develop its own courses, when a state-of-the-art version from a prestigious university is available online?”

Photo: Teachers.Net Gazette

Early one morning, Wilbur the pig peered up at the corner of the hayloft. He was accustomed to seeing his friend Charlotte, the “large gray spider the size of a gumdrop,” presiding over her tidy, circular web. But today something looked different.

The words “Some Pig – FAQ” were neatly woven into the center of her web in 14 point Palatino type. Charlotte, however, was nowhere to be seen.

“Charlotte has gone virtual,” said Templeton the rat, as he sidled through the straw toward Wilbur.

Noticing the pig’s consternation he added, “She joined the arachnadigerati. She’s trying to keep up with the competition.”

“What does that mean?” asked Wilbur, who was accustomed to hearing the soothing tone of Charlotte’s voice.

“Cyberspiders. Digital web masters,” explained Templeton. “From now on she’ll be making Info-webs. See that long strand of web?” Templeton pointed to the silk thread leading from the letters

‘FAQ’ to another corner of the loft.

“What does FAQ stand for?” asked Wilbur?

“Frequently Asked Questions,” said Templeton, peering along the thread to other phrases that Charlotte had woven: “Pork Futures,” “Year of the Pig,” “County Fair.” Each phrase was linked by web to another corner of the barn.

“Who’s asking those questions frequently? They aren’t my questions,” said Wilbur, “and I don’t know what to do with all of these other webs. What are “pork futures?” I’ve already been to the county fair. And every year is the “Year of the Pig,” for me.”
“Charlotte’s into data,” replied Templeton, as the web shimmered. “Efficiency is the name of the game. Delivering information.”

“The wind is blowing through Charlotte’s data. I just feel like talking to her,” sighed Wilbur.
Read more...

Related links
Public Universities See Familiar Fight at Virginia, (New York Times).
Charlotte's website just isn't the same (Philly.com)

Source: Teachers.Net Gazette