Vicarious Learning Blog

The Wizard of Oz Technique with a twist

A post over at The Wales Wide Web points to an interesting experimental use of the Wizard of Oz technique in an application of Vicarious Learning in a pedagogical setting, Who is Real?:

I am working on a project which will use a blog of a 'virtual' learner as learning materials for real learners. Learners will follow the 'virtual' story and work in their own 'real' blog as their portfolio.

It point to some really important ethical issues around those of identity.

Of course, the argument about real or imagined identity goes to the heart of what personality is. Covering the untidy personal areas of authenication, honesty and trust. But also the word 'personality', does come from the Greek 'persona', meaning 'mask'. We all, at one level or another, project (or try to) our identities and images of ourselves as we would like to be seen.

Like SHRDLU or Eliza I wonder if the students will notice the Wizard of Oz technique too much.

It is also a kind of story telling and fiction. Both attractive to the creator and to the audience. Pedagogical Soap Opera.

Posted at 04:26PM Jun 24, 2008 by Finbar Dineen in General  |  Comments[0]