Post 1: Papyrus and Cyberspace
Technology has changed so much in the past fifteen years that it affects not only the way we write papers and learn, but it changes the way we socialize and interact with others. O’Donnell discusses the communication revolution of today in which the introduction of technology has changed the way we learn and communicate. Our society has transitioned from oral to written language and from copied manuscript to print. This revolution has not only affected the way we learn and teach but also how we access information.
The written word has become somewhat obsolete. The technological revolution has allowed us as humans to adapt to this new way of learning and communicating, just as we have done in the past. Those who were not born in this era, who may have become accustomed to the written word, or who simply do not have an open mind, find this technological revolution unnecessary and sad. Our society has become one that is engulfed in learning the fastest most efficient ways of doing things, and the development of technology follows suit. As an educator, one must examine both sides of using technology as a learning tool, learning both the pitfalls and the benefits. For myself the benefits are endless. Endless amounts of images, and words and information are essential to the education of our youth. The pitfalls, in my experience have been the inability of youth to communicate well in a one on one setting. This is no fault of their own, but stems from a society where texting or instant messaging is a perfectly acceptable way to socialize with someone. Take this course for example, I may never meet any one of you, but I will successfully learn and communicate with most members of this class. This is not to say, at the graduate level, that we do not know how to socialize; however, at the elementary level, students need to learn to communicate in person before they learn to use technology.
The abundance of information found on the internet has endless possibilities, however, it may too, have its pitfalls. As Willinsky suggests, “it has altered the relationship between democracy and education” suggesting mostly that research papers and journals alike be publicly accessible creating an essential link between democracy and education. Willinsky states that “…providing public access to educational research takes more than simply posting journal pages on the Web as if it were a giant bulletin board…” (Willinsky, 2002). He suggests that while the written counterpart of the web based journal may be a thing of the past, there needs to be some sort of policy when placing journals on the web. Using the example of a person looking up their ailments online, having no background of the topic, may use medical journals in a way to self diagnose. Willinsky suggests putting payments on these published journals, I suppose he is hinting that the uneducated person would not be able to afford it?
As O’Donnell suggests, it is incredible to think of a world where schooling will see every student with access to endless amounts of media and infinite ways and times to communicate with each other. This world is just around the corner and while it is incredible, are we as a society regressing in our ability to socialize? Are we regressing as we are able to obtain more and more information in an easier way? I believe that society has simply changed the way we socialize, not necessarily in a bad way. Communication is different, but not bad. While it is important for us as humans to interact physically with others, it has become convenient to also socialize via the web or technology. In terms of accessible information, I believe it is important to place some sort of filter as the wrong information can have detrimental affects. However, for the purposes of education it allows us to study and learn in the comfort of our own home.
Willinsky, J. (2002). Education and Democracy: The Missing Link May Be Ours. Harvard Educational Review. 72 (3), 367-392.
“This world is just around the corner and while it is incredible, are we as a society regressing in our ability to socialize? Are we regressing as we are able to obtain more and more information in an easier way? I believe that society has simply changed the way we socialize, not necessarily in a bad way.”
Nicely put Elizabeth, let me point you out to something I discovered recently, I think it is a great follow up to your post, but also a new spark of discussion. Let me know what you think.
https://medium.com/alt-ledes/stop-sharing-this-photo-of-antisocial-newspaper-readers-533200ffb40f
Thank you for posting your insights on this, Elizabeth, and Ernesto for sparking the conversation with your follow-up.
Elizabeth, you state, “The abundance of information found on the internet has endless possibilities, however, it may too, have its pitfalls” and I could not agree more. As Rod Falkner states, “There are two major pros and cons to living in the information age: Pro – Access and exposure to mountains of constant information. Con – Access and exposure to mountains of constant information.” (http://bit.ly/1F9pUt0) He also quotes Chris Hardwick in stating “We’re not in the information age anymore, we are in the information management age.” When I was in high school and then working on my undergraduate degree, I spend considerable time locating information, now I would argue, the bulk of my research time is filtering information.
“Are we regressing as we are able to obtain more and more information in an easier way? I believe that society has simply changed the way we socialize.” We see the impetus of one of those changes outlined clearly in Kevin Hoffman’s article (shared by Ernesto) when we compare people engaging in a common source of information (newspaper) vs. the “mountains of constant information” that is prevalent today. Ong points out (p73) that “Writing and print isolate” which in the context of comparison to the spoken word, holds truth. In the greater (and more current) context of this discussion, I disagree. Some of the best, and most common social connections I have with people is based around shared print and writing – think about book clubs, professional learning communities, and water-cooler conversations. It is the lack of engagement in common print that is perhaps the biggest threat to the way we socialize.