Ten years ago as the technology revolution came into my household I was onboard. I embraced computers and all of the applications that came with them. When cell phones came out I wanted to have one of those as well. . Because technology changes so rapidly all of us have to decide what we need to have and what we can live without. In today's economic times, this is more important than ever.
Most important to me is communication-the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs. This is the prime reason that the technology revolution has taken off. As human beings we have a fundamental need to communicate with others. The internet has allowed us to communicate with others all around the earth and even in outer space pretty effortlessly. Communication is sometimes a two way affair with instant messaging, email, audio and video conferencing, and phone calls. At other times others have written their thoughts, audio or videos and we have a more passive role in reading, listening or watching and then possibly expressing our opinion in a comment.
We upgrade computers as components become faster and smaller. We have been building desktop computers for many years as it a hobby in our family. We upgrade our cell phones as better ones come out with features that we think are important to us. We do not get the newest and the greatest when it gets released. An exception to this has been with pc video games which my sons have needed to purchase on the release day :)
As an educator it is my job to show this new generation how to use the technology in a responsible and thoughtful way. My students learn that not everything that they read is the truth. Pictures can be altered, research articles are author biased and need to be cross checked, and some things are just put out there for our entertainment.
All day long I am at the computer for different things. I am a website designer and do monthly updates for a professional organization. I love working in photoshop on personal photos. I instant message with my family and friends, communicate with different social networking groups, get the news, read interesting articles, look up recipes, look at reviews for items I am buying, shop, do my bills and so much more.
Just a short time ago, our lives were still fulfilling without the technology communication that we take for granted. Today I cannot imagine my life without my cell phone or my computers and the applications that I use everyday. The old ways have not been forgotten. They have been replaced in my world with newer ways to communicate and for that, I am grateful.
First of all, thank you so much for leaving a comment on my blog. Even if people visit your site, it's hard to get comments, it seems, unless you're rock-star popular.
ReplyDeleteI seems like you embrace the positive ways technology can benefit our lives. I appreciate that. So many educators, it seems, focus on the downside of technology's effects on the current generation of students. I see tremendous potential in all these tools, so long as we remember that that's what they are-- tools. Technology is the means to an end, not the end in itself.
It's been a pleasure discovering you-- even though I'm a secondary teacher, I think I can still learn a lot that you may have to share, and I'll continue to follow your blog here, as well as Plurk. =)
Howabout connecting, instead of communicating? Funny I just found this because I have been throwing around a post idea in my head for a couple of days that touches on many of the same things you posted here. I am looking for a word that implies communication, but has some action behind it after the communication. There are a lot of people "finding" one another and talking, finding like minds and sharing resources, but what is trickling down to the kids? Just testing out a thought here...I think that teachers think 2.0 stuff is there to connect with one another and forget that it should be used to connect classrooms. It's not about what the teachers are learning, it's what the kids are learning. Teachers are learning to connect, but the kids are just using the tools within their four walls 99% of the time. Howabout "Collaboration-The Reason for technology." Still implies communication but has the expectation that some joint cooperative venture will take place. Opps...used your comment box to brain storm...I just intended to write "great post." :)
ReplyDeletePaul,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time to read my blog. It is great to have others think about what you are writing. I agree that teachers should be connecting with others both in educational settings and also with the world at large.
I think though that the technology revolution would not have happened at all unless it fulfilled a basic need in our society which is communication. Email took off in an explosive way because it was immediate and inexpensive communication! We can communicate with others by sharing all different kinds of files on the internet: images, music, audio and written words. In my mind, communication is the reason why computer applications, the internet and technology(digital cameras, cell phones, laptops etc.) in a broad sense have become and integral part of our lives.
Thanks again for your thoughts.
*Heidi