by Olga LaPlante
When Will Richardson was talking about teaching students to how to use iPhones, and networking, and that expecting each student by a certain date not to have one of those toys in their pocket at all times, and riding in a wireless cloud to search for information was simply put unreasonable - well, am I misreading this, but what about overdependence on these toys - remember, like a tamagotchi that dies when left unattended for a few hours? I am overreacting? Am I missing some other essential skills that are being developed even though on the surface it looks like we are just using those toys to rely on someone to have answers ready for us?
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
Hi Olga,
ReplyDeleteI think I would say that I don't see them as toys. I see them the same way I think of books, as ways to connect to ideas, not just find answers. The difference is we can engage in the ideas using these tools. We are relying on others to have ready answers, or at least help us find the answers to our questions, and I think that's a powerful shift. Thanks for blogging about these ideas. Best,
Will Richardson
I've had a chance to sleep on this topic. Thanks for raising it, Olga.
ReplyDeleteI do think it is a very important question. For what purpose do we use these tools? Is it for mindless recitation of facts, "trivial" pursuit, or narcisstic empowerment? Or are the tools used to ultimately solve important social issues . . . or at the very least . .. empower the individual to engage in a purpose beyond self-indulgence and mindless consumption of sound bites, propoganda, and corporate marketing.
I guess the question ultimately is:
Do we want ourselves to be producers or merely automatons . . . unthinking consumers unable to ask good questions?
I have more to say on this . . . but will stop here for now because housecleaning and a trip to the transfer station await me! :)
jim
Any thoughts?