Surveillance & Crowdsourcing

Watch this quick video that talks about crowdsourcing is.

Crowdsourcing

“Crowdsourcing, a term first coined in 2006, basically means groups of people coming together to solve a common problem” (Jiang, & Schlagwein, & Boualem, 2018). Crowdsourcing enables people with similar interests to collaborate, and in retrospect, offers the opportunity to help others and learn. What is interesting about crowdsourcing is that it is a relatively new idea in the world of technology. Before crowdsourcing students would gather in libraries, share their ideas, and complete a group project. Now we the creation of platforms like Google docs students are able to access group collaboration from the ease of their home. Crowdsourcing allows students to ask questions with their homework or collaborate on projects. It gives them a creative outlet to share summaries of classes, books, and other materials (Day, J. 2016, April 16). “On another level, crowdsourcing in education gives students a chance to participate in a group process where they are able to evaluate real-life problems and propose creative solutions” (Day, J. 2016, April 16). What is important about crowdsourcing is that everyone has the opportunity to contribute and learn without having to be in the presence of a classroom. Not only can you get information from peers, but it allows you to access the information of others around the globe. This expands students’ horizons by forging larger perspectives on how others think and work around the world. More so, it becomes the globalization of learning for everyone.  

In relation to teachers, they can share lesson plans with each other and find new and innovative ways to share material with students. (Day, J. 2016, April 16). Platforms like Twitter or education blogs allow teachers to brainstorm together to create and shape resources to their needs. More so, they can give feedback and offer assistance in further developing their professional growth. Finally, “faculty can use peer evaluations to help with grading practices and to receive feedback on their teaching styles” (Day, J. 2016, April 16). 

Surveillance 

The panopticon is an architectural structure (guard tower) that through its design encourages self-surveillance and self-regulation (Boger, 2016). The panopticon is something that is very real, our every move, action, and a decision can be traced back to us. The internet is full of places, some good and some bad. Regardless though our students should feel safe when surfing the web. The term was originally coined by Bentham in the 19th century referring to the idea that big brother is always watching. It refers to an empty prison tower that has a 360 view of all the actions of the prisoners. Fitting only the guards could see out and the prisoners did not know when they were being watched or not. “In many ways, the panopticon relies on the power of the Look of the Other to make those being watched become self-conscious, thereby encouraging in self- surveillance” (Boger, 2016, pp 125). This idea is very important in the context of the classroom and how students navigate on the internet.  

By having technology in our schools’ students should feel that someone is always watching them and in turn, they will self-monitor what they look at. They should know they are never alone, and if we can teach them about the dangers hopefully they can avoid them. However, by telling students they are always being watched a sense of fear is instilled in them. What is important, is that students can feel safe when surfing the web. It is important that they do not post sensitive content and we teach them about digital footprints. And although our every move will be watched what I believe is important is that students must encourage self-surveillance and self-regulation in themselves in order to ensure the safety of all. 

Signing off,

Mr. Gyles.

---

References

Boger, T. (2018). Watching Our Children Electronically: A (Post)phenomenology of Classroom Management Software in Schools. 

Day, J. (2016, April 16). How crowdsourcing can benefit education. Retrieved from https://ideascale.com/how-crowdsourcing-can-benefit-education/

Jiang, Yuchao & Schlagwein, Daniel & Benatallah, Boualem. (2018). A Review on Crowdsourcing for Education: State of the Art of Literature and Practice. 3p Contributor. (2017, February 27). Innovation in education through crowdsourcing. Retrieved from https://www.triplepundit.com/2017/02/innovation-education-crowdsourcing/