I chose this photo for a variety of different reasons. When I typed “new technology” into the search bar I wasn’t exactly sure as to what I was looking for. I have grown up in this technology world and I was trying just to find a photo that spoke to me. This was one of the first that showed up. It caught my eye first and foremost for its color, the orange jumped off the page and intrigued me. The second reason I choose it is that it made me smile. I have done some traveling through South East Asia and have met and spoke to many monks. When I asked about their lifestyles they always spoke of simplicity and nature, along with meditation would help lead us all to calm and serene lives. These monks were mostly older men, much older in years then myself, and I believed them to be so wise. However, these 2 boys are obviously a new generation of monks. They are a perfect mixture of the old and new world. They are embracing the dress and appearance of monks of generations past, and holding what I can only assume as a cell phone, they are showing that the future is also apparent in their world.
Through our teaching and within our lives we have a pull from the old and the new. Our students are going to be leaps and bounds ahead of many of us when it comes to technology, however, with many of us being comfortable using actual books, and simpler methods to teaching I can see a great relation between the old and new world happening in our classrooms. Even on my own, I know that I am not 100% competent in this technology age and am looking forward to learning more throughout LLED 368, and being able to relate these skills not only into my own life, but also into my teaching.
4 responses so far ↓
kairosman // Sep 11th 2012 at 8:42 pm
Can’t help but feel that something will be lost as something is gained when I look at this image. Agree that tech skills in the classroom can be an effective tool but the photo nevertheless fills me with foreboding for what the monks represent, at least what they represent to me…
sarahmoir // Sep 11th 2012 at 8:47 pm
Yeah I had that same reaction. Completely mixed with feelings of loss from generations above them, yet intrigued by the fact that they are embracing the new technology, while holding on to their roots…I go back and forth and that’s why I chose this photo, it feels so real to me and brought out so many questions….
TMD // Sep 12th 2012 at 4:04 pm
This reminds me of the notion of “leapfrogging” technology in some nations. This is the scenario whereby a generation of technology is skipped. For example, in Ethiopia, where I sometimes work, mobile phones are used in areas where land lines never existed, which has interesting implications for commerce, etc.
faran // Sep 12th 2012 at 6:52 pm
This image awakens similar unsettling sentiments in me as well. It reminds me of the notion of each piece of technology having its own value behind it. For instance, Powerpoint has implicit in its foundation, one could say, that knowledge is transmitted from a screen to a group of people. Now this does not mean that Powerpoint is against other understandings of knowledge generation, but I wonder what effect it has for a group of students trying to learn from discussion and dialogue.
Similarly, I wonder what underlying values are hidden behind that mobile phone as a piece of technology, and how those values fair against those of its employers.
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