Thursday, April 23, 2009
Benefits and Risks
As with everything else we have talked about so far, there are definite benefits and risks to using mashups for educational purposes...
Some of the risks include copyright issues, reliability and validity, licensing issues, plaigerism, false representation of original materials, and inappropriate use of materials.
Some of the benefits include using multiple sources of data, encouraging creativity, helping to better explain a topic or concept, appealing to different learning styles, and finding new ways to present overlooked data.
It seems that there would be an appropriate time and reason for using this tool, as long as it was done responsibly and appropriately.
Some of the risks include copyright issues, reliability and validity, licensing issues, plaigerism, false representation of original materials, and inappropriate use of materials.
Some of the benefits include using multiple sources of data, encouraging creativity, helping to better explain a topic or concept, appealing to different learning styles, and finding new ways to present overlooked data.
It seems that there would be an appropriate time and reason for using this tool, as long as it was done responsibly and appropriately.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Originality
I believe originality comes from within. You then create something from that original thought or feeling. Being creative or "mashing up " someone else's work is creativity! That mash-up may be the first of it's kind, but not truly original. I do agree with Jerry that the term original sounds old or outdated. As I heard not too long ago from someone, is any idea truly original? As we have entered this electronic worldwide age, it seems as though we are always trying to reinvent the wheel. We are doing the same things (writing, editing, encyclopedias, movies, mail, etc.), just in a different medium. As newer technologies emerge, we reinvent how to do the same thing over again. Jackie
Original Works
"Original works" is an outdated term that is better used to describe the creation of works (or products) from an early era. Instead of trying to define this term we may be better served in creating a new word or phrase that better describes how we use/reuse/mix/remix exisiting content. It has to be a blend or Lamb's concept of remixing and creativity--are there really any more original works anymore than there are original thoughts. What is this new "thing" then that we create from already existing works going to be called.
Creativity and original works
1. What constitutes original works?
Well, if I think about plagiarism or the Pillsbury bake-off, something is original when it has been changed substantially enough to make it one's own.
2. How do we assess creativity?
More difficult. Is it creativity one is assessing or other aspects? For me, when I think about creativity in my students' writing assignments, I am looking for some part of their work that is original or unique to them rather than formulaic. Creativity can come in different forms: visual, intellectual, conceptual.
Well, if I think about plagiarism or the Pillsbury bake-off, something is original when it has been changed substantially enough to make it one's own.
2. How do we assess creativity?
More difficult. Is it creativity one is assessing or other aspects? For me, when I think about creativity in my students' writing assignments, I am looking for some part of their work that is original or unique to them rather than formulaic. Creativity can come in different forms: visual, intellectual, conceptual.
Original Works
I found the article quite interesting and want to discuss a few of the points raised by Lamb. I think that many of us would, if asked to define this concept of "original works," likely invoke a notion of individual authorship/ownership (though there are certainly examples where we could think of that authorship/ownership as group-based). However, Lamb suggests that the devaluation of derivatives--"degraded" copies of an original work--is misguided in the sense that it ignores the way in which creative work has always reused, recycled, and remixed other prior creations. If one accepts this claim, it is only a short leap to a definition of "original work" that acknowledges that creative production always, in some sense or the other, incorporates or builds upon other artistic/scholarly genres and traditions. If forced to define "original work," I would tend to side with something like Lamb is suggesting. As he notes, the remix effect is only multiplied as reproductive technologies proliferate and engage an ever-wider group of creators and consumers.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
How do we assess creativity?
I looked for a good definition of creativity to then help with ideas on how to assess. Of course Wikipedia is always fun to look at when looking up definitions and content ideas.
Below is just one of the definitions.
From Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativity (4/21/09): "...definition of creativity is that it is an 'assumptions-breaking process.' Creative ideas are often generated when one discards preconceived assumptions and attempts a new approach or method that might seem to others unthinkable."
I agree with Cooke that it is very difficult to assess creativity. Using the above definition for creativity, can we assess mashups and the remix? Is the remix discarding preconceived assumptions? I think you also have to define what is original. Does an original work include the remix of other works? Is a remix truly creative? How does one get credit for work that is a remix of another person's work?
Obviously I have too many questions on this subject and lacking originality to propose a good answer.
Below is just one of the definitions.
From Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativity (4/21/09): "...definition of creativity is that it is an 'assumptions-breaking process.' Creative ideas are often generated when one discards preconceived assumptions and attempts a new approach or method that might seem to others unthinkable."
I agree with Cooke that it is very difficult to assess creativity. Using the above definition for creativity, can we assess mashups and the remix? Is the remix discarding preconceived assumptions? I think you also have to define what is original. Does an original work include the remix of other works? Is a remix truly creative? How does one get credit for work that is a remix of another person's work?
Obviously I have too many questions on this subject and lacking originality to propose a good answer.
Original works/Creativity
Original works to me is originality - one's own work (text,painting,computer image, mash-up!), not copied or reproduced, but novel. To have originality, a work must be distinguishable from others in its field - meaning another's idea can spark one's work, but should not be represented in it. We have to give credit where it is due, and if our work closely resembles someone else's, we must credit his/her work. The problem for most is where the line between resembles/not resembles exists - is it a number of logic equations that are the same/similar, is it a number of words, etc.
With technology and an increase in computers on campuses, colleges have seen a huge rise in plagiarized college papers. "Cut and paste" sections of papers are worded "word for word" and no citations exist to credit the original writer. Is it truly that technology has made plagiarism easier, or is it that plagiarism is easier to "see" now - with computer programs that match plagiarized segments of papers. I think as long as one is willing to credit his/her sources, he/she is capable of being of original.
Creativity is another piece of the puzzle, existing often hand-in-hand with originality. Creativity to me is the process of making something original, something new, something unique, something distinguishably different from other works. Again creativity can apply to text, artwork, computer programming, etc. How we assess creativity is whole different ball game!
We push students to be creative and be original - but do we really have a way to assess it? Honestly, when reading 24 papers on the same topic, originality and creativity help papers stand-out from one another. A novel idea or recommendation in one paper "sticks out" from all the rest. I think creativity is something we "secretly" look for - not a designed set of criteria we are grading for. I encourage students to "go out on a limb", because most students are too afraid to tap into their creative side, for fear that it is not what the teacher expects.
I think the electronic world allows for much creativity and originality - but the pen & paper world (or paintbrush & canvas world) will also be a haven for originality and creativity as well. I know for me, I better stick to the pen & paper - this mash-up/remix/re-use idea is WAY over my head!
Monday, April 20, 2009
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