| I can watch online videos of Barack Obama giving similar speeches in other cities and perhaps see how his ideas shifted during the long months of the campaign. Some of his debates with Hillary Clinton might even be broadcast live online and then reviewed and commented on. At the same time, I could watch promotional videos posted to YouTube including one called Vote Different, which had generated more than 5 million viewers by the time I saw him speak. I might download articles he has authored or reviews of one of his two books. Or I might browse his early life and career, personal life, educational background, presidential campaign, and books in his Wikipedia page. When done, I can scan the Web of Learning for PDF documents of his work or podcasts that I might listen to from his supporters and detractors. I can even read blog posts related to his ideas or take an online class or workshop on issues related to this presidential campaign or politics in general. And if the Web is down that day, I can listen to an audio version of his 2006 book The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream which means that it is open and I have been meaning to do for some time. |