My response to this post:
http://gtirbs.blogspot.com/2011/05/entry-10-technology.html
For some reason, the comment box didn't work, and I took the time to write this. So, here it is!
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Dr. Speaker, I agree with your ideas about the inevitability
of technology become more integrated into our lives. However, as some who values - and yes, has a nostalgic
longing for - some peace and quiet away from the constant connections, I have
to say I'm still hesitant to let some things go, like a paperback or textbook
for example. Yes, e-books are much
cheaper and better for the environment.
But, using and referencing one of my online textbooks takes up way more
of my time than it would if I just had a hard copy of it. I find that when I work from a hard
copy text book, I absorb the information better and I can flip quickly to the
index and find what I'm looking for (rather than clicking back and forth
through menus and losing my place and train of thought). When I'm writing a paper on a laptop, I
have to click back and forth through windows (or make each window small)
instead of just having my reference on the table beside me. And, frankly, it's a reprieve from
looking at a screen.
One thing I find is that now that virtually everything is
online, I'm incessantly connected to my computer or some other electronic
device. I relish opportunities
where I enter into a building that requires phones to be off. I shouldn't have to be at everyone's
disposal every second of the day, and I should be able to enjoy, uninterrupted,
what I'm doing in the present moment at its fullest. Opportunities to experience a still, focused mind are quite
rare in this generation, but, in my opinion, are so important to having a good
quality of life.
I do love my gadgets, and I genuinely have an appreciation
for the amount of information at my fingertips at any moment. I'm not scared of technology, and I do
my best to stay up-to-date and educated on how to use new devices. However, I think we should tread
carefully. We are at risk of spending
way too much time and money on figuring out how things work and deciding
whether or not they'd be useful tools in the classroom when we could have
finished a very effective lesson already.
It's best to let newer technologies sit in the market for a while to
make sure they suit their purpose efficiently and effectively before we dive in
to every technological fad as soon as it
hits the shelves.
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