In addressing some of the questions brought to the table, I would like to first discuss how we, as teachers, should help students cope with the impact technology has on us. First and foremost, we must not shy away from technology, ourselves, in the classroom. We must be vigilant fans and curiosity extraordinaries when we use and discuss technology in the classroom. Educators may realize that their students may know more about technology than they do-- and this cannot cause us to be distracted from our central mission as educators: To help our students live within the freedom that education provides. Coping may actually be easy, it is in being digitally literate where I imagine the problems will surface and are surfacing. We can prepare our students by knowing as much as we can know and by sharing as much as we can share--allowing for experimentation and discovery each step of the way.
As a researcher, I might study technology from the vantage point of the students in the classroom. I would also look at how technologies play a role in teaching and in learning. Are there enough computers? Are there enough adequate computers for students to learn what they need to learn? Do students have access to computers at home? If they do/don't how does this translate in the classroom-- in life? I do think that access is one of the larger issues on the "tech troubles" spectrum.
Dehumanization is an interesting aspect within the "tech troubles" spectrum. One can argue that because a computer is not human, the processing that comes as a result of computer use essentially is, then, dehumanizing. However, computers are a literary tool, a vehicle controlled by human thought and human emotion. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc. do not dictate what is to be written, or how it is to be written, or why what is written is written, rather they provide space. Actually, technology is incredibly humanizing--- almost hyper- humanizing. Space is carved and we are the authors. We, as humans, are the brains behind our published word(s). It's very interesting really, as behind every entry in Facebook or Twitter is human thought. Therefore, how can technology be dehumanizing, when really, it is providing a venue for us to be more human, more in touch with other humans and more humanly aware of the people and the world around us--intellectually, aesthetically, emotionally and even spiritually.
Blog Entry: Tech Troubles
As a researcher, I might study technology from the vantage point of the students in the classroom. I would also look at how technologies play a role in teaching and in learning. Are there enough computers? Are there enough adequate computers for students to learn what they need to learn? Do students have access to computers at home? If they do/don't how does this translate in the classroom-- in life? I do think that access is one of the larger issues on the "tech troubles" spectrum.
Dehumanization is an interesting aspect within the "tech troubles" spectrum. One can argue that because a computer is not human, the processing that comes as a result of computer use essentially is, then, dehumanizing. However, computers are a literary tool, a vehicle controlled by human thought and human emotion. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc. do not dictate what is to be written, or how it is to be written, or why what is written is written, rather they provide space. Actually, technology is incredibly humanizing--- almost hyper- humanizing. Space is carved and we are the authors. We, as humans, are the brains behind our published word(s). It's very interesting really, as behind every entry in Facebook or Twitter is human thought. Therefore, how can technology be dehumanizing, when really, it is providing a venue for us to be more human, more in touch with other humans and more humanly aware of the people and the world around us--intellectually, aesthetically, emotionally and even spiritually.
Blog Entry: Tech Troubles
- Consider these problems commonly
associated with technology:
- access
- privacy
- dehumanization
- As teachers, how should we attempt to respond to these issues?
- How does technology change/dictate our behaviors?
- How should we help students cope with this impact technology has on us?
- Discuss how each of these concerns might be addressed by teachers.
- Is there any way for us to "turn
off" technology? Is that hope, put forth by Brende completely
unrealistic or achievable in some way? - Discuss how you might study these technology problems as a researcher?
I'm curious like a cat, so does that make me a "curiosity extraordinaries?"
Hey Melanie,
We thought we were going to discuss our comments as a class, so we just took basic notes. I'll pass them on, though I'm not sure how useful they'll be.
Melanie
• Questions about access, specifically about home life
• Student awareness/knowledge may exceed that of teachers, but that doesn’t relieve our responsiblities as educators. We can learn from students, but we must guide the relationship between their knowledge and larger societal issues
• Optimistic about the humanistic roots of technology use
• Does being “in touch” with people through Facebook or Twitter constitute a genuine, significant inter-human relationship?
Hi Melanie:
I find your thoughts very optimistic about the use of technology.
Engin.