The two technologies we learned about this week were the printing press and the telegraph. Both technologies changed the way that people interacted with one another and information. “The Victorian Internet” notes how the telegraph was called the 19th century’s “highway of thought,” due to its ability to connect individuals across long distances over a short period of time (Standage, p. 2). The telegraph went through many design iterations, caused new tech to be invented alongside it (e.g. vacuum tubes), and created a culture and language of telegraphers (as well as people who abused it).
The lessons learned from the telegraph can be applied to any new technology. There are always pros and cons. The creators & investors will sing its praises, the skeptics will argue how we can do without it. The youth and growth-minded individuals will embrace and apply it in new situations, the criminals will abuse it.. Its impact on society and cognition may only be observed with use over time. Tech is also ever-changing. Just as the telegraph eliminated the need for sending letters across long distances, so did the telephone eliminate the need for a 3rd party telegrapher to be an intermediary between message senders.
At the end of the day, technology is a tool through which we human beings interact with the world, but the tool needs to be used properly for optimum effect. We tend to be optimistic about new tech: it will change our lives, it will make us smarter/better/faster/stronger. This “technological utopianism” (Standage, p. 211) holds technology as the panacea for all our problems, when it could possibly just end up causing more. Going 1:1 with student devices is supposed to close the achievement gap, engage all learners, create future ready citizens (who are experts in the 4 C’s), increase access to information, personalize learning, etc. In reality, I sometimes spend more time patrolling student gamers than supporting meaningful learning on the student Chromebooks. It is very easy to get caught up in all the bells and whistles of new tech, thus losing track of the ultimate goal of creating authentic learning opportunities for all students. Is the tool being used in a meaningful way to develop and internalize meaningful thought? Does it support learning? If your answer is “no,” best to rely on tried-and-true tools, while keeping an eye out for the next big thing.
Standage, T. (2007). The Victorian internet. Walker.
Standage, T. (2007). The Victorian internet. Walker.
Your analysis is spot on...It can be a great tool, but is there consistency in how we work with our learners on how to use it properly? Yes/No, unfortunately we have to stay on top of learners so that they don't get distracted and keep them on task. Our learners need to use the technology, but not as the only toll for learning. The 4 C's are the soft skills that young adults are missing in the workforce.
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