The other day at work (I’m currently a teller at
a bank) it was brought to my attention
that I am a "Luddite". I had no idea what this meant, and the
gentleman who bestowed this name upon me delighted in informing me that it was
someone who hates any technological advancements. As much as I wanted to
dispute this "name calling", unfortunately, I have to agree. I have
always disliked change and things that upset the balance of my life, which
basically sums up technology, for it is ever changing and is intertwined with
every aspect of my life, regardless if I am ready for it or not. Taking these
online courses has forced me to be even more involved with technology than I
have ever willingly chosen to be at any other time in my life, but the
difference that I'm noticing in myself is that I am not as scared of
technology as I was when I started taking classes for the TL Diploma.
I don’t know why technology scares me so much;
all I know is that when I am presented with a new piece of electronic wizardry,
that there is no manual for because you can “conveniently” find the
instructions online, I start to have strong feelings of anxiety and
upset/anger. I am a very tactile person,
so much so, I have printed off every portion of all of my online courses and
put them in organized binders because I can’t log onto the computer and flip
back and forth between “pages” on the screen.
Sometimes, I need to be able to see two or three “pages” at the same
time to work something out in my head, and it frustrates me to have to keep
going back and forth online. I like to
highlight, not with a click of the mouse, but with an actual highlighter, because
I like the sound it makes on the paper.
I like to jot down notes on my sheets of paper, with a pen, not with
some new fandangly tool that might allow me to do it; it’s quicker with a pen,
for me anyway. Don’t get me wrong, there
are many advantages to technology, I am clearly using a computer, but I think that
when my choice gets taken away, I have a stronger urge to rebel, and run as far
away from the new computerized doo-dad as humanly possible, than to stick
around and integrate it into my life like some new fun friend that tagged along
(uninvited) to my party, telling me how I can/should be doing things
better/faster/more efficiently. No one
likes a know-it-all.
That being said, it will come as no surprise that
I am not the biggest advocate for technology being so prevalent in our schools
and classrooms, but I’m not opposed to its presence, just against it becoming
the ruling/guiding force behind every lesson plan, subject, and grade level
taught. I am already seeing adults
coming into the bank and trying to log onto their online banking so I can help
resolve an issue for them, and they are getting confused because for some
reason they can’t log onto my terminal, but they were just on their iPad/smart
phone, and their password worked just fine.
After watching them sign in a few times, I mention that I notice they
keep hitting the shift key, but they aren’t holding it down...because on their
touch screens, they don’t have to!!!! Seriously!!! Adults are already losing
basic keyboard skills; many kids growing up may never even acquire them! For
this reason alone, I wouldn’t want primary grades to have access to touch
screen computerized tools (eBooks/iPads), because some of their fine motor
skills will become stunted/lost, or never fully develop. I realize that I can’t stop the
advancement/inclusion of technology in our schools, I don’t want to, but there need
to be limits set, boundaries made, lines drawn in the sand; ones that we strongly
think about before moving them. Already kids are being teased in high school
for not having the right phone, or because they don’t have their own iPad, they
are allowed to use them in classes; parents kick up a fuss if they get confiscated. When I was in school, we knew there were
rules about not taking our walkmans to class, or they would get taken away and
returned at the end of the day, we knew it, and didn’t argue with it. Students today are being inundated with mass
amounts of digital gadgetry, being constantly connected to everyone, all of the
time, that they will all probably experience digital burnout at relatively
young ages. Yet they are not always being
given any clear limits, boundaries, or lines that they can’t/shouldn’t cross.
As a teacher librarian, I want to be able to
supply students, parents, teachers, and administrators with the technological tools
necessary to be connected to the world around us, educate the proper use of
these tools, and (something that I have not really seen mentioned anywhere when
talking about technology in schools) how to manage all of the electronic
devices that are going to be a part of our lives, so we don’t become
overwhelmed/ruled by them.
Keywords
for Research
-
constantly connected
-
digital burnout
-
obsolescence
-
technological saturation
-
technology as a lifestyle/necessity vs. choice
-
speed of technological advancements
-
updates
-
privacy settings
-
limited learning resources
Wow, there is certainly a lot to comment on here! At times it felt like I was reading a diary that contained a lot of stuff you needed to get out. I get a lot of what you are saying, with people putting too much blind trust into technology as a saviour.
ReplyDeleteMy feelings on a lot of this discussion is that a tool is a tool, and can be used well, or can be used painfully. A hammer can build a house, but can also do much damage. It all depends on who is using it. This is similar to my feelings regarding most technology and tools being brought into libraries today. Some of it will be utilized well, with balance, purpose and with clear goals in mind. Some of it may be used poorly, causing damage, distrust, and anxiety. The only difference is that it is the same technology, but implemented differently, by different people. So, I believe its important to acknowledge that difference. Some students of mine have done some serious damage to my tables using Highlighters. Are they inherently bad, of course not, but without proper supervision and instruction, they can cause more hurt than help.
Anyways, a good blog post that will get a lot of people thinking. I'd like for you to consider adding a couple of "topics" or keywords that address some positive uses of technology to balance your inquiry. If we only look for negative aspects, we tend not to notice some of the usefulness. If you would consider this, that would be very beneficial for your overall experiences in this class moving forward.
Did you know the existing keyboard is a relic from mechanical typewriters? Are you bemoaning the fact you aren't typing on a mechanical machine where mistakes were very hard to correct? They have designed much more efficient keyboards but they are not produced since we are familiar with this old one. And now our students don't learn to type anymore so they inefficiently do "hunt and peck" on a unintuitive piece of hardware. I can see them quickly jumping to voice recognition software to avoid a keyboard and the time it takes to learn an obsolete piece of mechanical hardware.
ReplyDeleteI really value your honesty in recognizing your love/hate, probably more hate than love relationship with technology. I feel as though I am on the opposite end of the spectrum as yourself where I sort of thrive in learning new technology. There are some things I rebel in as well. For example, I have a DVD/VHS combo player in my son's playroom. It plays both DVDs and VHS's beautifully. Works on his TV and my only complaint about the whole thing is that his TV weighs 200lbs because it's an older TV and a huge pain in the you know what to move! So I caved when I saw out of the box sales at costco for a flat 27" which was the same size as the 500lb one (the weight doubles every time i mention it because I hate it so much lol) so I bought it. I brought it home, was so excited to set it up only to realize my new TV doesn't have RCA cables it uses component calls or HDMI!!! whaaat? I was heartbroken. My perfectly good working VHS/DVD combo is useless for the new TV and now I feel forced to go out and by a blue-ray just to keep up with the ever changing times of technology. I just felt sucked in to consumerism and conned in to buying something just because society and technology 'forces' you to do so. Seriously is blue-ray soooo much better than a DVD?! I love technology but I am not so in love with it that I have to have the newest version of everything when it first comes out. I am still using an iPhone 4s lol Anyways, I am getting sidetracked here. I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed reading your blog post and I honour that fact that we are in the same class working together in the same eagle pack and we have different thoughts and feelings on our love for technology :)
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