Ubiquitous Learning and Instructional Technologies MOOC’s Updates
Skype and Countering Hyper Nationalism
So just a few weeks ago I got to learn of an initiative started by an organisation called 'Aaghaz-e-Dosti' or the 'Start of Friendship' which seeks to minimise the hyper nationalistic tendencies, that result in the opposition of India and Pakistan.
For those of you who may not know India and Pakistan were once united countries that during the 1947 independence movement got partitioned into two separate nations.
The nationalism of both the countries somehow has evolved into an identity-war of us versus them. In this, school curriculum of both the countries, especially of social science has evolved into a warzone. With glorification of certain leaders, invisibilisation of others, despite the fact that the two nations have a common origin, this has meant the development of hyper-nationalistic tendencies.
Especially since the older generation moves on, the younger generation will no longer remember their origins as one country.
Skype therefore has been the medium of this organisation to make the students of both the nations meet and greet each other on their independence days.
In the traditional classrooms of these countries, the lecture method with state-approved curriculum has been the medium of instruction. Skype then has evolved into a learning technology that has contested the national-dictated syllabus and brought in new perspectives for the students to ponder on.
By providing a dialogue between two parties on opposite sides of the political spectrum. the child comes out from "schooling" and enters the world of "education".
That's incredible! I can imagine it being used in a modern US setting as well, with the country being so divided. Instead of students from 2 different countries, it could be students from more liberal or more conservative parts of the nation.
A nice, simple example to illustrate the use of technology as an educational tool.
Very interesting I wasn't aware of this particular situation within the 2 countries.