Thoughts on epistemology

I am currently involved in developing the Social Innovation Network (SINet) recently started by Prof Sara Dolnicar and Prof Jan Wright, here at UOW. The SINet Profile capability map we are developing is looking at identifying where one sits epistemologically, which of course, in terms of encompassing multiple disciplines – which is the focus of SINet, encouraging the networking of UOW academics across disciplines – is problematic because certain terms and phrases are not clearly understood across multiple paradigms and perspectives.

Another facet to this is that some people would be happy to place themselves in one ‘camp’, whereas people like myself can identify with poststructuralism, feminism, critical realism, and critical theory. How great it is to be able to discuss and share various theoretical perspectives like this!

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Marc Prensky

Marc Prensky is famous. Why? Possibly for talkng about how 'digital natives' need new ways of addressing their learning needs.

However, is Marc a huckster? A huckster is actually a real word. It is a mercenary person eager to make a profit out of anything.

For my opinions on the phrase 'digital natives', please see earlier postings.

He has his own commercial website: http://www.marcprensky.com/

My problem with him is that popular discourse informs us that he has coined the infamous phrase of 'digital natives' whereas in fact, John Perry Barlow was most likely to be the first to do so (in 1996). Is he taking credit where credit isn't due? I don't know for sure.

It's really interesting how many people have taken up the phrase of 'digital natives' without acknowledging the original source, and/or perhaps not being critical of the term itself.

First citation

This is a bit of a big deal for me - I was reading an article (reference below) and thinking, hmmm, this sounds quite similar to the article I co-wrote. And then I thought, hmmm, it's very interesting, and then I thought, 'oh, she was working with Leonie Rowan and Juli Lynch on an ARC project', and then I see in the references:

Johnson, N. F., Rowan, L. & Lynch, J. (2006). Constructions of gender in computer magazine advertisements: confronting the literature. Studies in Media and Information Literacy Education, 6 (1), available: http://128.100.205.52/jour.ihtml?lp=simile/issue21/johnson1.html, (date accessed, 23/10/2006).

My first citation! I have been cited by somebody else!

The lovely lady in question (no, I haven't met her) is Susanne Gannon. Here's her article reference:
Gannon, S. (2007). Laptops and lipsticks: feminising technology. Learning, Media and Technology, 32 (1), 52 - 67.

The first of many, I hope. I thought I should document it, as it's pretty cool for me.