My mind is spinning, my thoughts are reeling, my heart is racing, my adrenaline is pumping….I’ve been reading about the Web 2.0. I’ve been learning about a myriad of technological advancements that are changing the world I live in. My own experience with technology tells me that things are changing very quickly. I fear I may not be able to keep up and I feel exhausted as I consider what it might take for me to stay ahead of the game.
So, I stop for a moment to gain some perspective…
Emerging technologies are amazing, but they don’t change the core of what it means to be human. Much is changing, but there are also many things that are the same. Sorting through the implications of what might be changing and what must remain the same is the challenge.
One example – Facebook. Human beings are relational. Years ago, relational needs were met by people who were, for the most part, geographically connected. Biological families remained in the same area and strong family ties and communications were built. It doesn’t surprise me that as people began to relocate and became more mobile that something like Facebook has emerged. Facebook has opened a door for continued relationship even when people are separated by distance. The core of what it means to be a relational being has not changed, but the means of expressing and building that relationship has changed.
As technology continues to emerge at a fast pace, I want to be certain that I am not a slave to it. Rather, I want to view technology as a tool to further my goals and vision. To say it another way, I don’t want to use new technology simply to be “flashy” or “cool.” Instead, I want to use it in a purposeful way. I also don’t want to be afraid of the new simply because I’m not familiar with it. Sometimes it might be best to stick with the traditional, sometimes not. Much depends on what my ultimate goals are.
Because I am a home schooling mom, my perspective is informed by the educational aims and goals I have for my own children. As the world changes drastically, I consider how to prepare them for it.
Technology changes rapidly. For this reason, I think it’s more important to build confident learners than it is to build tech savvy students. It is impossible to teach anyone the ins and outs of every technological tool. Instead, I want my children to know how to learn new technology and how to find answers to the questions they have.
In this changing world, I also want my children to be critical thinkers. When such a vast amount of information is available, students today must know how to sort through what is valuable and what is not. I want to develop thinkers, not just consumers.
Finally, as the world of education changes in response to emerging technologies, I must consider how the very definition of what it means to be educated is changing. One author asks, “Will the ability to synthesize information become the primary goal of education?” (Oblinger 2008). Certainly, new and different skills need to be mastered by today’s student.
Even so, I still hold to some traditional goals. I want my children to build character, develop a strong moral foundation, and master the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Some things don’t change.
So, as I move into a new and open world, I find comfort in those things that remain the same. Technology is changing quickly and I’m excited to be learning about the Web 2.0 this semester. I also realize that treading new waters doesn’t mean that all of the old is gone. This semester, I hope to glean what is good from new and emerging technologies, reflect on what must remain from the traditional, and mesh them together for meaningful education. I think I have gained some perspective!
Jaron Lanier (2010, September 16). Does the Digital Classroom Enfeeble the Mind? NY Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/magazine/19fob-essay-t.html?src=me&ref=magazine
Oblinger, D. G. (2008). Growing up with Google: What it means to education. Becta: Emerging technologies for learning, 3, 10-29. Retrieved on June 24, 2010, from http://partners.becta.org.uk/upload-dir/downloads/page_documents/research/emerging_technologies08_chapter1.pdf
Great first post! I like the way you think about educating your children to be savvy learners, rather than techno-savvy.... I can see a need for a balance of both... with my learners who are more challenged, the technology gives them a more level playing field. I wish my son who is more academic had more technological skill, and I wish my techno-gifted kids had a bit more understanding of how to learn and even the importance of knowing how to learn..... It is a real challenge with different learning styles and needs.
ReplyDeleteLynn,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your thoughtful and introspective posting. The readings do allow us to focus on areas we might otherwise not examine. The pace of change is phenomenal. Perhaps we choose those things that best meet the needs of our learners and maintain an awareness of all the others.
I agree with you - "It is impossible to teach anyone the ins and outs of every technological tool". I also agree that critical thinking is something we never want to eliminate. Children want that too.
Thank you for your insightful post... ~Cyndi