Thursday 19 May 2011

Information Overload!

DO YOU FEEL TRAPPED? 

NEED HELP?


MAYBE, YOU'RE SUFFERING FROM INFORMATION OVERLOAD...


How much information is too much? Are we in information overload?

We are constantly bombarded with Facebook and Twitter posts, each containing essential information which we must absorb here and now! We are surrounded by so much information that we don't know how to deal with and the vast majority of this information is irrelevant to us. Users are affected by a sort of "infomania," which is a doubled edged sword. Users are stuck in a constant cycle of never ending information and are also affected by the alluring desire to stay up to date with all of this information. This cycle can be extremely overwhelming for users and may reach the point where the information becomes uncontrollable.

But, do we really want to control it?

We like to be surrounded by a vast array of information. We choose to be overstimulated by associating with too many sources and paying minimal attention to each. Essentially, we are the cause of our information overload. We have the continuous desire to be in the know and to be constantly interacting with the people around us. We need to be selective with the information which we interact with. There is no need to be trapped by technology!

Information Strategies:

a) Folksonomies: A collaborative way to categorise information on a particular topic or area, so that users are able to easily access a database of resources.
b) RSS Feeds: A hosting system where information on a particular topic can be gathered, such as a news feed. 
c) Network filtering: A way of connecting a range of networking sites onto one site.

Time-saver or time controller?

Information strategies can be an integral component in controlling the massive surge of information, which is all around us. They can be an important time saver and also a good starting point for research into a particular area. They filter out "unwanted" information, so that we are provided only with information which will be useful to us. This element is also a limitation, we may miss out on information because an outside source has decided that it is irrelevant to us. A solution to this limitation, is to use these strategies as a starting point and then explore information further through other sources.

In a Classroom:

Information strategies can be very useful in the classroom. They allow teachers to structure and filter information which is appropriate for the students to access and utilise. I would definitely utilise folksonomies in the classroom, to provide a set of resources for the students, this a way to ensure that I know what materials students are accessing and that they are safe and reliable. RSS feeds are also a useful in the classroom, the teacher may embed a news feed for "The West" on a class' website or wiki and students will have access to the latest news from the site. If teachers engage with these resources, they will have control over what students are accessing. 

3 comments:

  1. Wow this is a very dramatic and emotive post!! Are you a little hysterical?? :p

    I like your classroom suggestions - it is essential that whatever feeds are setup are to worthwhile and trustworthy sites.

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  2. Haha Kate! Maybe alittle :)

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  3. I agree that both folksonomies and RSS are useful classroom tools, which are well worth exploring.

    Your images do make you look a little overwhelmed, though, Lexie! They're great pics, and it's great that you've included links to the original sources, but do you actually have permission to use them (or are they under CC licences or in the public domain)? Remember that with images, you have to have copyright permission AND include an attribution.

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