1. How does our use of technology affect our mind, brain, and behaviour?

2. How do our mind, brain, and behaviour affect our use of technology?

When thinking about these two questions, I feel that technology has more of an affect on my mind, brain, and behaviour than vice-versa.   I think due to the fact that only a small minority of people actually creating and producing technical devices, programs, and apps (although I know this is growing), only these rare folks have the ability to really affect technology with their mind and brains.

Yet, technology has drastically affected my behaviour and those around me over the past two decades.   Today my husband, kids and I arrived at the Great Wolf Lodge (a hotel with an indoor waterpark).   The first thing both my husband and I did was log on to the hotel’s free Wifi.   This would not have been the case ten years ago.   My husband  then checked fantasy football stats and continued to do this periodically throughout the day.   I didn’t ‘connect’ but was comforted by the fact that I knew I could later in the evening.  Even my kids were pleased they could ‘connect’ on their iPads later in the evening.   Technology has changed societies behaviour.   As we drove to the hotel, which was about 3 hours both kids played apps, listened to music, and watched movies on their iPads.   When I compare this sort of road trip with ones I took as a kid it was very different.   My entertainment was reading a book or listening to my parents taped songs.

Connected to this topic, today we stopped at the store Target and my kids began making their wishlist for Christmas.   The number one item on my daughter’s list this year is a $60.00 Fijit friend.    Here is a link to a one-minute YouTube video demonstrating these odd toys  http://youtu.be/FEvm0ce2S7E   This “relational artifact” as Turkle might call it, claims to be a girl’s best friend.   It is programmed with various responses and sing and moves to music.   I have a strong aversion to these types of toys because I believe that children should be fulfilling their needs with human responses not technical ones that have been pre-programmed with specific responses.

I believe our cultural is heaviy influenced by technology.   For the most part, this is alright but I think we must always remain cognizant of what is gained and what is lost through these changes.   I find myself becoming fearful when I read comments such as that shared by Greenfield (2012 – shared on DLG8’s blog) regarding teens acquiring empathy less quickly than in the past due to the fact that most of their relationships develop and are maintained in an online forum.  Even reflecting on my day with my family… I am not sure if given the chance to decide whether or not to bring our technologial gizmos with us on this trip, if I might have made a different decision for all of us.

To summarize, I really hope that those select few creating and producing technology have good sense and judgement and understand that sometimes unintended and unwanted things can come from those with the best of intentions.

Below is a response from a classmate regarding my post…

Thanks for sharing your personal story as it caused me to reflect on my own family and how technology is a part of our days..  I had two thoughts, the first being – is it the users responsibility or the designers responsibility to say ‘no’ to a certain type of design in a technology?  Will economics drive the development of these potentially addictive and socially harmful toys/games? Or does it really matter, as long as the screen time is limited?  Your reflection ” I am not sure if given the chance to decide whether or not to bring our technologial gizmos with us on this trip, if I might have made a different decision for all of us.”  We use our dvd player in the car for our kids on roadtrips, but a part of me wants them to look out the window, read, play I Spy and tell stories like I ‘had to’ as a kid!  This idea also connects to DLG 10’s suggestion of giving up a technology for the evening.  Why would I want to give it up? Does it matter if I don’t have access to my phone for an evening, a night or a weekend trip?

My response to my classmate ~ I am glad to hear other kids played games in the car too.   I survived 6 trips across Canada and back in a station wagon with my brother and sister and parents.   We didn’t have anything but a tape deck, some books, and ourselves… but we had great fun!

I am excited for the DLG10 live chat as this top is close to my heart.   Right now I don’t think I could survive without my phone as I am constantly sending and responding to emails from my teacher candidates.  My computer constantly “pings” me letting me know I have new email.   I want to respond as quick as I can but really in most cases it doesn’t matter if I respond right away or hours later.   I think my responding quickly is more about my addiction than anything else.

Focus question #4

How does our knowledge of its effects impact technology’s use as an educational tool?

What role is played by the demographic of the student(s), the subject or process being taught, or the intended outcome?

I hope that our knowledge of technology has helped all of us to realize that technology in and of itself is not solely the answer to all of educational problems and concerns. Technology is a tool with inherent value, that can be used to help teachers facilitate learning experiences that address the diverse learning needs of all students and help them develop 21st Century Skills. At it’s most basic level, digital tools can be used to help students find, understand and use information. I believe that when technology is combined with student-driven learning experiences, fueled by open-ended inquiry questions, and offer flexible learning paths, it can be one way to achieve success.