What did my teachers say about my generation in the 70's when I was in high school? Long hair, bell bottoms and polyester shirts with wide collars, let alone the technologies of the 70's: Microwave ovens, color television, computers, cell phone or even the first video game. I remember one my teachers saying to me and my friends that these new technologies were going to ruin the next generation! (sound familiar?)
Net Smart was an interesting book, because it made me reflect back to when I was in high school and what the adults said about our generation. Today's technology changes daily as opposed to every 6 months to a year when I was in high school. Today adults and learners are inundated with new apps, games, social media and entertainment, we lose ourselves....But at what cost?
We are always on 24/7/365, but we have lost the time for meaningful conversations. Learners of today have been connected since they could crawl: videos, games or educational shows, they know nothing but some type of technology, so we shouldn't be shocked when their default is to choose to be connected? What will the consequences be in 10-20 years for our learners, what trade offs will these new tools have on them and us? As the book says:the web is no longer a special place, but a part of what we do on a daily basis.
I found this video, that I thought was interesting:
Your post reminded me of ocean waves. They are constantly changing. Just like today's technology. There are gentle waves and there are big waves of technological changes. Surfing is a surface water sport in which the wave rider, referred to as a surfer, rides on the forward or face of a moving wave, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. (wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfing) In today's fast paced technological advancement we need to learn to understand and to know how to ride the waves. Not to be carried and tossed around by new technology, but futuristic outlook of what essentials we want to keep in order to effectively thrive.
ReplyDeleteMildred's comment captures the idea behind the video that Wayne shared: those who thrive in the digital world combine traditional strengths ("the essentials") with a clear plan for digital use and the capability for future growth. Ride the wave or drown.
DeleteRe: learners of today, everything is connected. This reminds me of the emphasis in EDIT 780 on social/group learning and situated cognition within a community. Are the days of the individual learner and test-taker numbered? Many real world jobs aren't done in isolation--you have to work as a part of a team, connected by individual expertise, to deliver a product. Connections must be managed by good attention control.