Literacies and Technology

August 22, 2011 - Journal #1

I’m always a bit nervous on the first day of class. Anxious about “newness” and the curiosity of how the session will go. I have heard great things about Dr. Flank and I was at ease a bit. I believe this is my largest class thus far and it’s pretty exciting with the varied experience of my classmates.

The video that we watched on the affects of technology with our students was every insightful. I have always viewed technology as the best thing for our youth and culture as a whole. Mainly with the focus of accessibility of information and connection cross-culturally. Today we as global citizens are more aware than ever. Now since viewing the report, my mind is questioning the effects even more. After being blown away with the trend with Korean youth and their PC gaming café’s I will not be surprised if that becomes popular in America. I do understand that technology, in and of it self, is not bad, but it is us that that turns it into something negative due to abuse.

The funny thing that the program pointed out with the MIT students is that we no longer write in essay form but in paragraphs. That is so true because I am very guilty. I always have spurts of ideas and information and it is not necessarily cohesive. One question I do have in relation to the issue is if all of this really that bad. The world is definitely changing and that is a fact. Yet, is it that bad if we no longer write novels, read Shakespeare, or know how to cross multiple a fraction in our heads? Who decided that this is what’s needed to be known. That is one idea that was brought up by one of the guest on the show. These are standards that were okay “back in the day” but what is the true relevance to today and tomorrow’s generation.