Comments on: Dogs Group, Cats Network http://lisahistory.edublogs.org/2008/10/07/dogs-group-cats-network/ A blog for the Connectivism Course 2008 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:11:06 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Lisa http://lisahistory.edublogs.org/2008/10/07/dogs-group-cats-network/comment-page-1/#comment-100 Lisa Sat, 25 Oct 2008 20:57:56 +0000 http://lisahistory.edublogs.org/?p=35#comment-100 Hi Pat! I almost didn't see your comment since I moved this blog over to http://lisahistory.wordpress.com -- glad I caught it! Cats learn very well, but like many of our students they don't necessarily learn what we want to teach them. Dogs learn beautifully from humans, and most will try to learn what you teach, because they so want to please (built-in networking). Cat people will tell you cats learn to open screens, dial phones, catch flies, let their displeasure be known, and trash an inbox full of paper. And I have indeed seen them teach such things to other cats in the household. Coming into the kitchen at night and clicking on the light will often reveal cats teaching each other all sorts of things you don't want them to know. Hi Pat!

I almost didn’t see your comment since I moved this blog over to http://lisahistory.wordpress.com — glad I caught it!

Cats learn very well, but like many of our students they don’t necessarily learn what we want to teach them. Dogs learn beautifully from humans, and most will try to learn what you teach, because they so want to please (built-in networking).

Cat people will tell you cats learn to open screens, dial phones, catch flies, let their displeasure be known, and trash an inbox full of paper. And I have indeed seen them teach such things to other cats in the household. Coming into the kitchen at night and clicking on the light will often reveal cats teaching each other all sorts of things you don’t want them to know.

]]> By: Pat Parslow http://lisahistory.edublogs.org/2008/10/07/dogs-group-cats-network/comment-page-1/#comment-99 Pat Parslow Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:18:15 +0000 http://lisahistory.edublogs.org/?p=35#comment-99 Now, admittedly I am more of a dog person than a cat person (in that I have a preference for the company of dogs), but this analogy immediately made me think networks can't be good! But I have an alternative interpretation... Dogs are technology enabled networkers. The technology in question is peemails left on lampposts and trees. They form local groups (in the non-derogative (or is that non-dogative?) sense) which work together and are even accepting of outsiders (in the domesticated context, at least). Cats, on the other hand, form groups-of-one, seldom accepting others, even if they live in close proximity. Pretty much everything is too much trouble for them unless they get a direct benefit from it, and they do little to maintain connections, even with the people who supply them with food. To my mind, they also seldom seem to learn - whereas dogs will teach each other things. Perhaps I just don't know enough cats sufficiently well? In many ways cats remind me of some academics I have known. Now, admittedly I am more of a dog person than a cat person (in that I have a preference for the company of dogs), but this analogy immediately made me think networks can’t be good! But I have an alternative interpretation…

Dogs are technology enabled networkers. The technology in question is peemails left on lampposts and trees. They form local groups (in the non-derogative (or is that non-dogative?) sense) which work together and are even accepting of outsiders (in the domesticated context, at least).

Cats, on the other hand, form groups-of-one, seldom accepting others, even if they live in close proximity. Pretty much everything is too much trouble for them unless they get a direct benefit from it, and they do little to maintain connections, even with the people who supply them with food. To my mind, they also seldom seem to learn – whereas dogs will teach each other things. Perhaps I just don’t know enough cats sufficiently well?

In many ways cats remind me of some academics I have known.

]]> By: jim2 http://lisahistory.edublogs.org/2008/10/07/dogs-group-cats-network/comment-page-1/#comment-97 jim2 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:57:16 +0000 http://lisahistory.edublogs.org/?p=35#comment-97 I'm trying desperately to catch up to the rest of the group and I feel very luck/fortunate to have read your post as I race by many others. As I have a couple cats and a couple dogs, I instantly connected with your analogy. It also proves that both manners of organization can be effective depending on what you want to achieve. For the record, I seem to network better with the dogs. Excuse me, I have to go walk the dogs while the cats watch in disgust. Jim I’m trying desperately to catch up to the rest of the group and I feel very luck/fortunate to have read your post as I race by many others.
As I have a couple cats and a couple dogs, I instantly connected with your analogy. It also proves that both manners of organization can be effective depending on what you want to achieve. For the record, I seem to network better with the dogs.
Excuse me, I have to go walk the dogs while the cats watch in disgust.

Jim

]]> By: Steve Mackenzie http://lisahistory.edublogs.org/2008/10/07/dogs-group-cats-network/comment-page-1/#comment-95 Steve Mackenzie Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:15:38 +0000 http://lisahistory.edublogs.org/?p=35#comment-95 Hi Lisa and Carlos, Lisa, Great post. I would say i am a cat and dog person too and i actually think that in terms of learning you need both. in most teaching and learning situations even for adults i believe the dog approach should be dominant and in parallel the skills of the cat should be taught to enable the more autonomous learners to push their boundaries further. metaphors are great! Steve Hi Lisa and Carlos,

Lisa, Great post.

I would say i am a cat and dog person too and i actually think that in terms of learning you need both.
in most teaching and learning situations even for adults i believe the dog approach should be dominant and in parallel the skills of the cat should be taught to enable the more autonomous learners to push their boundaries further.

metaphors are great!
Steve

]]> By: Keith Lyons http://lisahistory.edublogs.org/2008/10/07/dogs-group-cats-network/comment-page-1/#comment-94 Keith Lyons Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:20:28 +0000 http://lisahistory.edublogs.org/?p=35#comment-94 Lisa What a delightful post. I like the analogy very much. It is interesting that the walking group is a synchronous group. I searched for cat walking groups and found this item http://www.ioffer.com/i/42415981?store=1. It seems to confirm the loneliness of the long distance cat walker! Keith Lisa

What a delightful post. I like the analogy very much.

It is interesting that the walking group is a synchronous group. I searched for cat walking groups and found this item http://www.ioffer.com/i/42415981?store=1. It seems to confirm the loneliness of the long distance cat walker!

Keith

]]> By: Arieliondotcom http://lisahistory.edublogs.org/2008/10/07/dogs-group-cats-network/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Arieliondotcom Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:12:20 +0000 http://lisahistory.edublogs.org/?p=35#comment-93 Hi Lisa This is a great insight and we were discussing it this afternoon in the Second Life Cohort meeting. I think we unanimously agreed this was a great point though some have different opinions on details. Thanks. Hi Lisa

This is a great insight and we were discussing it this afternoon in the Second Life Cohort meeting. I think we unanimously agreed this was a great point though some have different opinions on details. Thanks.

]]> By: Carlos http://lisahistory.edublogs.org/2008/10/07/dogs-group-cats-network/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Carlos Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:25:09 +0000 http://lisahistory.edublogs.org/?p=35#comment-91 jajajja... Great! I love your metaphor "cats networks and dogs groups". I am going later to read your theory about "cat and dog learning". Sure it is also interesting. I have to tell you a little history that is pretty near of your idea. In the past one time I had to do "interviews" to look for a new person for the appartament where I lived at these moment. It was a big appartament and we were four people. For me was allways very difficult to choice a new person to live together. My "roomys" asked things like what you study, what are your hobbies, etc, but one of my question was allways: "What do you like more: cats or dogs?" A little cracy, I know, but it was funny and in my opinion it worked also... At the end we took somebody who said: "I like both"... Very open mind. jajajajj... Cat people and Dog people is a very good Theory. Love regards Carlos jajajja… Great! I love your metaphor “cats networks and dogs groups”. I am going later to read your theory about “cat and dog learning”. Sure it is also interesting.
I have to tell you a little history that is pretty near of your idea. In the past one time I had to do “interviews” to look for a new person for the appartament where I lived at these moment. It was a big appartament and we were four people. For me was allways very difficult to choice a new person to live together. My “roomys” asked things like what you study, what are your hobbies, etc, but one of my question was allways: “What do you like more: cats or dogs?” A little cracy, I know, but it was funny and in my opinion it worked also… At the end we took somebody who said: “I like both”… Very open mind. jajajajj… Cat people and Dog people is a very good Theory.
Love regards
Carlos

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