Technology is . . .

Posted on September 19, 2010 by danny


Technology is a difficult term to clearly identify because it’s used in so many ways. Presently, technology seems to go hand in hand with digital devices. Personally, in it’s most basic sense, I view technology as a human made tool meant to improve or simplify the task of the users. As well, most technology is developed into forms that were originally unintended and sometimes unwanted. Which leads me to think of a quote by Albert Einstein (1931),
“Concern for man himself and his fate must always form the chief interest of all technical endeavours… in order that the creations of our minds shall be a blessing and not a curse to mankind. Never forget this in the midst of your diagrams and equations. ”

With the rate at which technology is being developed, is anyone even listening to those that raise concerns about the impacts of certain technologies on our society?

Danny

Einstein, A. (1931, Feb 17). Address to students of the California Institute of               Technology, Pasadena, California(16 Feb 1931). New York Times, p.6.

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Technology

Posted on September 19, 2010 by lesliedawes

Technology Is Not Technology

I chose this particular image as it represents the new and popular iphone that is being marketed at a frenzy rate to the masses who hungrily seek the fastest and latest device available. It is all about the marketing of this new technology as a must have to communicate with others. It has all the bells and whistles never before offered. It is an interesting thing in today's society, as it not only is about the technology. It seems to be about the acquiring of the latest and best electronic that represents a power to those who seek the image of having it all. Everyone seemingly wants and craves the newest fangled version of the cellphone. It is marketed more in the image sense than in the offering of what new technology can do for you.

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TECHNOLOGY – Good or Bad?

Posted on September 19, 2010 by coffeys

I found the following paragraph quoted from Wikipedia’s page on technology interesting for several reasons, it highlights the controversial nature of technology and raises the issue that technology is probably not unique to humans. I also find it relevant to this course and the changing nature of text as it is an example of hypertext created by an open community that can be further modified as needed.

‘Philosophical debates have arisen over the present and future use of technology in society, with disagreements over whether technology improves the human condition or worsens it. Neo-Luddism, anarcho-primitivism, and similar movements criticise the pervasiveness of technology in the modern world, opining that it harms the environment and alienates people; proponents of ideologies such as transhumanism and techno-progressivism view continued technological progress as beneficial to society and the human condition. Indeed, until recently, it was believed that the development of technology was restricted only to human beings, but recent scientific studies indicate that other primates and certain dolphin communities have developed simple tools and learned to pass their knowledge to other generations.’ Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology.

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Digital Text

Posted on September 19, 2010 by Barrie Carter

Digital text is data in written form, esp. when stored, processed, or displayed in a word processor (Apple Dictionary). And, written form is enter[ing] (data) into a specified storage medium or location in store (Apple Dictionary).

Read the text in the image. What does it ‘say’? Perhaps text is more than symbols, numbers, and letters. Perhaps text requires meaning to understand it. Otherwise, text is meaningless, unless, of course, the reader can understand the (series of) symbols, numbers, or letters.

In light of this, if text is, thus far, in digital and written form, can text be in oral form as well, if it is understood? Here, meaning would be behind the oral text. Here, does text need to be imprinted in digital format or written form only, or can text be imprinted in the minds of the beholders? In other words, can signing be text, if the gesture is understood via learned meaning? Consider Helen Keller.

Reference:

Apple Dictionary. (2005-2009). v. 2.1.2 (80.3). Apple Inc.

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The Changing Nature of TEXT

Posted on September 19, 2010 by coffeys

When asked to define ‘text’ my initial response was written language. I now see a broader definition of text as a something that holds a message or information that others can interpret.

The following quotes from Postman (1992)

  • ‘orality stresses group learning, cooperation, and a sense of social responsibility’
  • ‘print stresses individualized learning, competition, and personal autonomy’

illustrate how the nature of text can affect learning. Historically learning took place through oral methods, only since the invention of the printing press would learning through printed texts have become commonplace. Interesting that I grew up learning from textbooks and my initial definition of text was printed words. As today’s job market changes and greater demands are placed on interpersonal skills and networking, I wonder how this will affect the texts we use in the future for education. Will there be a return to traditional emphasis on oral texts or, more likely I think, a change to using the fluid and collaborative affordances of the internet as the major text medium for education?

Reference:

Postman, N. (1992). Technopoly: The surrender of culture to technology. New York, NY. New York.

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Text

Posted on September 19, 2010 by lesliedawes

Continue reading →

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Hello from Barrie Carter

Posted on September 19, 2010 by Barrie Carter

Hello Everyone:

I am a full-time resource teacher for the New Westminster School District. I am responsible for working with students who are new English language learners and students who are ministry designated as ‘high incidence’ or ‘low incidence’. I started my career as a public school resource teacher on the Haida Gwai’i Islands (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands) in 2000.

I look forward to how text technologies and their changing spaces of reading and writing could support and accommodate students with special needs because there is a great need for forward-moving initiatives and programmes as well as forward-thinking, like-minded professionals.

Finally, I also look forward to learning from all of you and journeying through this course.

Cheers,

Barrie

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Assistive Technologies for Students with Special Needs

Posted on September 19, 2010 by Barrie Carter

What is technology? Well, to a student with special needs having written output issues, it is any tool or device that aids in the writing (above) and the reading (below) process and experience. Here, assistive technologies like Clicker 5 gives students with special needs the opportunity to participate in writing and reading activities that parallel the activities in the classroom.

To learn more about Clicker 5 and other similar assistive technologies for all students, please click here

I deliberately chose to narrow my focus on defining what technology is to be within the world of special education because, philosophically, it could be anything as defined by the beholder and, secularly, it is defined in many dictionaries and wiki spaces like Wikipedia. However, as a resource teacher, I wish to be pragmatic, for that is what matters to me, to my colleagues, to the parents, to the community, to the public education system, and, of course, to the students.

Lastly, for all you teachers out there, please click here if you want to see what SET-BC has to offer BC school students.

References:

Apple Dictionary. (2005-2009). v. 2.1.2 (80.3). Apple Inc.

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved September 19, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology

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technology and evolution

Posted on September 19, 2010 by Joe Dobson

Hi All,

I’ve been pondering what technology means (or doesn’t mean) the past few days and have found it an interesting and frustrating task.

Some of the dictionary definitions are pretty predictable.

The World English Dictionary (vis-a-vis dictionary.com) offers:

World English Dictionary
technology (tɛkˈnɒlədʒɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]

— n , pl -gies
1. the application of practical sciences to industry or commerce
2. the methods, theory, and practices governing such application: a highly developed technology
3. the total knowledge and skills available to any human society for industry, art, science, etc

And Thesaurus.com offers the following synonyms:

Synonyms: applied science, automation, computers, electronic components, hi tech, high tech, industrial science, machinery, mechanics, mechanization, robotics, scientific know-how, scientific knowledge, technical knowledge, telecommunications

I agree, yet find these limiting. The emphasis, is on our modern concept of technology in the sciences, but I see it as much more in line with how humans have developed and evolved over time. Sitting in front of a computer it is hard not to slant towards modern electronic definitions of the word, but if I think about prehistoric societies learning how to use tools such as spears, bow/arrows, flints, it is the latter of the three definitions that includes knowledge and skills that fits best. It’s interesting that none of the synonyms really touch on these broader notions and I suspect that is part of the narrower view of technology that many end up having.

References:

technology. (n.d.). Roget’s 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition. Retrieved September 19, 2010, from Thesaurus.com website: http://thesaurus.com/browse/technology

technology. (n.d.). Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved September 19, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/technology

Cheers,
Joe

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Text and Technology

Posted on September 19, 2010 by rsuzuki

I think text as something more than individual characters, such as words, sentences, and paragraphs. Meaning is usually attached to texts, too.

For technology, I will pull a few things out from Murphie and Potts. In their book, Culture & Technology, which I am reading for ETEC 531, they write about brief history of the term, “technology.” They say, “‘technology’ has come to describe the overall system of machines and processes (while ‘technique’ refers to a specific method or skill)” (Murphie and Potts, 2003, p. 3). They also say, “Many recent theorists have argued that a working definition of technology needs to be as broad as possible” (Murphie and Potts, 2003, p. 4). Then, they quote Lorenzo Simpson’s definition of technology. He defines technology as “that constellation of knowledge, processes, skills and products whose aim is to control and transform” (Murphie and Potts, 2003, p. 4).

Murphie, A. and Potts, J. (2003). Culture and technology. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

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