Opinion of Technology and Society

There are various perspectives and opinions given on the subject of technology and society. Many individuals have, are , and will study this very subject and make it a life long project to figure out. A senior student took it upon his/her self to examine the issue of technology's influence on society. He or she makes claims "society in general has become less tolerant, much less motivated, and increasingly lazy.... People are beginning to expect things to be done quickly and efficiently, and people are becoming too focused on their goals, rather than the methods implicated to accomplish these goals."

I agree with claim because of my experiences with certain things and holding positions that are heavily interactive. Something I've noticed is the impatience in many individuals, even children. Many people are willing to find another source or method to take if they feel something is not convenient enough or to their liking. It is becoming more common among children and teens to want toys or devices that are high-tech or a digital device of some sort. They like the devices that accommodate their needs or desires for what ever purpose they serve.

Also, in reference to adults, I find them to be more impatient than children and teens. For example, when adults are paying bills they get upset at automated systems for not working efficiently, at representatives for not understanding exactly how to help them, and/or having to leave work or home to take care of that bill or business with that specific company. I find it rather crazy when none of the particular methods work and they individual complains about all of them and say "Look at things have come to." Hopefully society and technology can curve this negative effect into something more positive in the near future.

Student and Teacher Roles with Technology

An idea I've come to find very interesting is the notion that many teachers and faculty roles are beginning to change due to technology and all that comes with it. After reading some recent information I found on an education site this concept is one to truly consider. The information demonstrates that teachers' roles are shifting and it's because of technology.
The information suggests that through the advancement of technological devices, the attention teachers receive in a learning environment or classroom no longer exists. Students are allowed the ability to make decisions and perform tasks through actively thinking and learning.
In return, teachers roles change from being the primary source for information and become facilitators. In the role of a facilitator the site says, "...setting projects and providing guidelines and resources, moving from student to student or group to group, providing suggestions and support for student activity." The article also states that the teacher has the opportunity to look over students shoulders, ask questions about reasons for particular designs, ideas, etc. or even what resources were utilized.
When determining the roles of students and teachers I completely agree and understand how the role of teachers and professors have changed. In some ways, this role reversal is an advantage for students especially those who are hands-on type of learners. Then again, this minimizes in some ways the authority of the teacher/professor in the classroom.

Growing up with Today's Technology

I was recently doing some research regarding technology when I came across an article that posed the argument about the effects technology has on children and their learning. The article titled "In the digital age, experts pause to examine effects on kids," written by Siri Carpenter, states "Tallying the pluses and minuses for kids in today's high-tech world is the wrong approach. Instead, it's important to recognize that interactive technology's impact on child development is likely to be more complex."
When examining this argument critically, I agree to a certain extent. I feel that technologies pluses and minuses are just scratching the surface if you will. I honestly believe that understanding the effects of technology with children and their learning is much deeper than thinking about or observing the effects. I feel this way because when dealing with children there are many hidden aspects to their learning. This comes from them absorbing so much and not being able articulate or convey what it is they've obtained.
The article also goes on to say, "Studies indicate that the media can promote pro-social behavior, that some computer games can hone visual intelligence and that classroom use of the Internet links children with distant mentors and resources, enriching the way kids learn." I do in fact think that when children learn essential material and further their knowledge in life situations, they do gain a great deal from technology. If we look at technology and what it does, learning especially for the visual learners can obtain more because observing is a major part of technology and the devices produced recently. This is what allows the interactive component so effective and/or useful.

Learning in Higher Education

A book, I began reading this past week, was very much informative and relative to the concept of the Digital Age and how it relates to education. The authors, James J. Duderstadt
Daniel E. Atkins, Douglas Van Houweling states,"Little wonder that tradition-bound colleges and universities tend to view the digital age more from the perspective of its threats than its opportunities.... Skeptics note that the university has been one of the most stable institutions in our civilization, surviving for a millennium through wars and plagues and technological change with its values and roles largely intact." The book's title, "Higher Education in the Digital Age: Technology Issues and Strategies for American Colleges and Universities" exemplifies the concerns of many colleges across the nation.
The introduction to the research explains that even with the vast changing digital world and technology, education in higher learning has been very consistent. In my opinion, the methods utilized in college and university learning are/have been structured to adapt with the times and events in society. The reason I say this is because the way in which college students are learning is still closely resembles how things were learned years ago. Even with the technology changing so rapidly, the learning has stayed the same.
However, what we as college students are learning today is the more relative question when talking about things changing over time. Most would relate this concept to how technology is affecting our learning. I would argue that technology is not affecting our capabilities in learning, but more importantly our drive and desire to learn. I say this because technology and devices produced from it are becoming more of a distraction in learning environments. This, in return, creates a barrier which doesn't allow the full learning process to take place.

Inconvenience, Hassle, or Lazy

The question was posed to my class previously, "When doing research for a class would you rather go to a library and find resources or just get on the internet?" My professor allowed us to respond and about 75% of the class said get on the internet. I personally was one of the individuals who could not give a direct answer. I told my professor my first choice would be the library, my second choice would be to utilize the internet. However, I posed the argument that the library does not always have the resources available to use right away or sometimes at all. Meanwhile, the internet has a plethora of resources, the only downside to this is knowing what is credible and what isn't.

In my opinion, majority of the class was looking at the amount of time it takes to research in the library. Sometimes going to the library can be a hassle as well a time consuming. Most people want to just find what they're looking for and be done already. I don't disagree with that ideology, but I don't like using the internet for everything. I have a problem with sitting in front of a computer for a long time. Plus, being able to read a book or information physically gives me a more calm feeling. Why this is? I don't know. I have always been a reader and someone who likes to do things on my own.

I also feel the internet is too easy and has flaws too. I believe when someone is researching on the internet that process is suppose to take time as well. My professor said that my generation of students are just plain lazy. He said if we have take the easy way out all the time then no hard work is ever being and thus, the goal is not satisfactory and neither is the appreciation. While I don't totally disagree, I do think that utilizing the internet as a resource isn't all about laziness. Some might use it for the convenient aspect of not having to manually find books or other resources for research. Nonetheless, others might be more comfortable with the internet because that's what they're accustom to and they can use it to their fullest potential. In return, it isn't always a bad thing because there is so much out there on the internet to be used, searched for, and observed.

Writing and Technology

I performed research on a paper I wrote for my Language and Culture class. In the midst of my research, I ran across something very interesting as it related to technology. More and more teachers and professors are having problems with students writing in "IM" and "text message talk." They are complaining that the language used in the papers and/or in assignments are abbreviations, misspelled words, numbers, and symbols. All of this is unacceptable when taking into consideration the form of writing as well as the the level of writing in which the standard is expected to be correct grammar, syntax, punctuation, etc. This is an example of how technology is affecting how we perform various tasks throughout our day. Along with that example, the argument that technology is dumbing us down could be posed and strongly justified. Meanwhile, I do agree with the that point of view, but I also disagree to a certain extent. I feel code switching is necessary when looking at issues such as this. It is also my opinion, having the ability to execute the act of code switching constantly and precisely, will aid in preventing stupidity or in making such mistakes that could lead to bad habits.

Position on the Digital Age

I am interested in discussing the fact that individuals have studied and make the argument that the Digital Age is dumbing us down and making us stupid. Meanwhile, there are others who strongly disagree. There are advantages and disadvantages to the digital world. The opinion on the population becoming dumber and vise versa I feel depends on the generation and the personal experiences of the indvidual.