- access : There is an issue on access to the Internet in terms of connection. As Selfe (1991) states: "the poorer and the less educated Americans are in this country - both of which conditions continue to be closely correlated which race - the less likely they are to have access to computers and to high-paying high-tech jobs" (p. 7). Access to the Internet does not merely indicate pysical connection, rather it refers to social stratification. In other words, as Salfe (1991)'s observation, "in the continued reproduction of poverty and racism" (p. 7). Technology has created another social heirarchy between computer literates and computer non-literate people.
- privacy : In the post-information age, writing a diary has not been a personal thing any more. Blogging opens a space to share a person's life with others. On blog, people exchange comments and enjoy these correspondences. On the other hand, people use computers for payment. In this proccess, they are required to provide with personal information. It beings them concers about where their personal information goes. The convenience of high-technology cause insecurity of personal privacy.
- dehumanization : As Ohmann (2008)'s notion, the post-information age has brought humans a new competitive capitalism. This phenomenon has started since in the mid and late nineteenth century (Ohmann, 2008, p.24). However, the new age involves technology. Technology has intertwinesd with literacy which has been seen "a good thing" (Ohmann, 2008, p. 22) for economical and political development. People has involved the race of monopoly capital. Ironically, the computer revolution makes people become only key operaters (Ohmann, 2008, p.28). This reminds the statement from my mother: "You use a computers but you are not used by computers." We, humans, should not be a slave of computers.
- As teachers, how should we attempt to respond to these issues? Teachers should keep in mind that technology is a tool which share "someone else's logic" (Stoll, 1995, p.121). It does not provide students with experiencing warmth though physical human interactions and does not help them invent their own ways of solving problems (Stoll, 1995). As Stoll's (1995) observation, the computer can be a barrier to close teaching relationships between students and teachers. In addition to this, a computer can hinder imagination to improve creativity. "No computer can teach what a walk through a pine forest feels like" (Stoll, 1995, p.138). Five senses create humen creativities. Writing skills come from human hearts. In other words, five senses can lead to how and what they want to say. Computers cannot help such improvements and implementations. Teachers should teach what technology is for humans in the classrooms.
- How does technology change/dictate our behaviors? Younger generation, especially teenagers seem to do two things at the same time. For example, they are listening to what a teacher is saying and are typing a computer in the classroom. It seems that their brain has developed differently. On the other hand, their communication behavior has changed. Even though they are in the same place, they are not talking with each other face to face, rather, they are texting each other. Technology has changed human behaviors in communication.
- How should we help students cope with this impact technology has on us?: Teachers can teach what technology means to humans in historical, social, political, economical, and psychologocal perspectives. Students and teachers sometimes need to see technology from critical perspectives.
- Discuss how each of these concerns might be addressed by teachers.: Teachers cannot avoid using technology in post-information age and in globalization society. While technology gives impact students on de-humanization, merely teachers can teach how students see technology critically and can teach how students interact with others with warm hearts and compassion. Keep balance between using technology and human interaction in the classroom can be an element key in the future teaching.
- Is there any way for us to "turn off" technology? Is that hope, put forth by Brende completely unrealistic or achievable in some way?: "Turn off" technology sometimes brings more freedom. I sometimes turn off my mobilephone and television and enjoy a quiet moment. "Turn off" technology sometimes provide a chance to see myself objectively and differently.
- Discuss how you might study these technology problems as a researcher? :
Tech Troubles
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