1500 years ago, everyone knew that the Earth was the center of the universe. 500 years ago, everyone knew that the Earth was flat. 15 minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll "know" tomorrow.
-Agent K
We can't possibly know everything. Even if we think we do to certain instances, we could still be blinded by the limited perpectives we might have. Then, if such ignorance is inevitable, do we still motivate ourselves to pursue knowledge vigorously, or we don't? Do we remind ourselves the ignorance and try all efforts to fill the void, or we shall keep it as a bliss? When we find out something that we didn't know, will we be happy to know about it and learn it, or be annoyed by knowing about it and refuse to embrace it?
This course was originally titled: "Problems in Music Education: Computer Assisted Instruction." Why this title is no longer a valid one nowadays? What was the definition of the "Computer" back then and now? Do they function basically the same, or their roles have been changed dramatically? Is "computer" equal the term "technology"? What is the role of the "computer" in the realm of "technology"? What is "internet" back the day of its invention, and now? What's the relationship with "internet" and "computer"? And last but not least, what's "blogging" within the "internet" realm?
We start to know what is happening in the world: Millions of people are communicating each other in a huge scale that never happened in the history. Thousands of graduates are getting their degrees on-line. We enjoy all the entertainment given by the binary codes: MP3 music, digital video/movie, multimedia performance, etc. But do we realize what's the most original concepts of these new technology inventions and more new ones to come?
Will we give up walking if we have the options of riding in a car or even an airplane? Or, could it be that riding in a fancy high-tech vehicle is actually the same concept of simply walking on foot?
Imagination can go multi-dimensional. While we can imagine forward, finding its origins sometimes reveals even more realization due to the different perspectives. While we're redesigning the course to a new title and content, we need also to exam what is the original purposes to all these struggles. Are we just being trendy, or trying to really understand what is going on with the world (again with the ignorance subject)?
Let's try to go even a little bit beyond. So we've learned to blog, then what? (at this point do we think we know everything about blogging at this instance? do we want to pursue more or want to stay and feeling enough?) What can blog really do to help the educational setting? Right now we're using google to blog, how about other free blogging servers that provides different concepts and functions? Or wait, how about design and actually construct a personal blog and not using any of the free blog server (such as design a website instead of using a templete) and upload to the server for the purpose of your classes and students?
I know I could have believed the Earth is the center of the universe too because of my limited perspective. I know I can always walk and not riding in a vehicle. But I also know I want to learn a bit more than what I did, then I can imagine and possibly go beyond. The reason for these is still the same as the origins: to make life better, more enjoyable, or whatever your original goals of life.
