1. What are some of the issues that O’Donnell and Engell outline as being of concern in the computer age?
O’Donnell mentions that new technologies also bring new problems or “accidents” as Virilio would call them. Although he states that technology brings people together across nations to create a global community, he eludes to problems this creates. For example, “new forms of democratization” can exclude others from power as power shifts. Similarly, certain groups can exert power over others. i.e. religious groups dominating smaller cultures.
Speaking about technology integrated into higher education, Engell refers to questions university libraries need to ask like what to offer in print or digital form, what info. to store and how to retrieve it as well as budgetary questions.
2. What are some issues raised by the audience members?
A. Does intellectual content suffer because of the ability to delete/rewrite when writing a paper?
B. What can professors accept as reliable references for university papers?
3. What are the costs/benefits of the computer as a technology for writing (or, put more broadly, for information storage and dissemination)?
Costs
-No one is sure how long the technology will last so if it becomes outdated, the written work will either be lost or will have to be constantly updated to fit the new technology.
-Technology allows the masses to share their written “trash” at a high rate over long distances that which needs to be analyzed for quality before accepted.
-Some are worried about the loss of language and thought due to the use of technologies.
Benefits
-Students have more access to knowledge and are more critical of what they read because they recognize that many Internet authors are unreliable.
4. How does the computer compare to technologies for writing that have preceded it?
Previous technologies like writing itself had similar issues. For example, “the rapid dissemination of trash” as mentioned above. Also, written language is altered by the computer just like it used to be by other technologies. For example, we say OMG. Thirdly, many people have become well known because of new technologies whether they are authors who shared their story in print or musicians who became famous due to youtube.
5. What are the costs/benefits of the computer as a tool for teaching and learning?
Costs
Technology is expensive and may create a larger gap between the haves and have nots.
Benefits
Engel mentions that some university students now teach their professors how to use new technologies. Therefore, knowledge is less unidirectional and may offer more opportunities for constructivist learning. Technology naturally changes teacher/learner roles because of the way it promotes open dialogue.
