Monday, September 20, 2010
Welcome - Discussion #1
Technology is everywhere! It's been embraced by some who see it as a solution to create a global environment that liberates and democratizes. Others see technology as an evil that permeates our culture with filth and is fraught with dangers. Where does the truth lie? Is technology a necessary evil or a powerful tool for positive social change? Talk about this from your own experiences. What do you see in the community around you? Is technology a good or an evil?
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Is technology evil or a powerful tool? Hmm well I think it is both, of course it links us with communication, education and amusment, and then there is also people wondering if technology is making the kids of today obese.
ReplyDeleteTessy Taylor 3211046
Lesley
ReplyDeleteTechnology is evil AND powerful. Evil, because technology seems to be the prefered way to spend recreational time, instead of doing things as a family or meeting face to face. I feel technology has taken over the world. It is not only taken over our home life, but, it is now becoming more involved in our childrens school. When you think about it, school is where our children spend the majority of their day.
Technology is updated to do something different everyday, and it is taking employment away from people who depend on that job to survive.
Technology is also powerful in a sense that it does things that humans can not do. ex, technology (in hospitals, and/or labs) can see what the human eye can't.
I would agree with the above statements. Technology can be used for both good and evil. One of the first things that I ever learned about using a computer is that it is only as smart as the person using it.
ReplyDeleteSome good ideas here. As Simon pointed out, technology is simply a tool, as powerful or as evil as the person(s) behind it.
ReplyDeleteWith this in mind, can we continue to blame the technology for what we perceive to be the negative impacts in our world? Is our society - our kids included - suffering from obesity because of technology or because we demand to live a lifestyle of leisure?
Does technology drive people apart or bring them together? Are our kids replacing the skill of face-to-face interaction with the ability to interact only in a digital environment? In fact, there is much new research that supports a finding that our younger generation is even more able to connect face to face than previous generations because they are able to learn communication skills in what they see as a safe environment first.
However, our kids are struggling with web-based technologies to connect, share and learn in the most positive way possible. How can we help them learn? Do adults (parents and teachers) know enough to support them?
Keep the conversations going...
Jeff
I agree with Leslie, it's both powerful and evil. I believe the power of technology is taking over the social skills of our youth today. This will not effect our generations, but, the 21st century childern do not know how to interact with people as well as we did when we were kids. Along with this, "computer talk" for instance, lol and omg, are a lazy way of communicating with each other, as well as the spellcheck on the computers doing it all for us... Technology has captured the minds of our youth and we as parents and adults are allowing it to happen. At home there should be time limits for TV's, computers, video games, Childern need to be spending more time doing outdoor activites, but this is something they need to be taught and be able to enjoy in a family atmosphere. I recently organized a fundraiser at my workplace, a Fun and Fitness challenge, there was one little girl that did not know what a hula hoop was, but, was running around with her moms cell phone in her hand... for real!!! What are we doing to our childern.
ReplyDeleteThe evil side of technology is taking over all kinds of employment opportunities for people. ATM machines, e-mails, ebay, are just a few examples af some jobs that would be effected. Our economy is at a low and the unemployment is only increasing...
In closing, if we as individuals choose not to learn technology....We loose.... It is all around us.
Technology like people can lay on all 3 spectrums the good, the bad and the gray. On the one hand none of us would be taking university classes from home if not for the advent of computers and networking.
ReplyDeleteThe onus isn't on the technology as Lorrie has stated but on the parents to teach and enforce healthy usage of technology. I personally limit my son on playing his wii, he also has to read a book before he can use it at all. While yes I agree that in our fast food driven world it would be nice if we could press a button (besides the off switch) and instantly control how much our children use these technologies, it no more teaches them to be responsible then when the parents themselves set the example.
My son has been using his computer for last couple years since he was 5 and my mother-in-law is impressed because he caught on to the simple point and click, on/off, and running programs much more smoothly then she did. When you grew up in a world of technology its easy to take it for granted. I've met educators who needed to organize a tech to help them send emails to a class. It is unlikely we will make leaps and bounds in the way of integrating many things into the class room, but we can be responsible for laying the ground work. The first step in educating our children is educating ourselves.
I would have to say that I believe technology to be both good an evil like everything else. It depends how we use it or should I say abuse it. From my experience in the school system, i've seen great things with technology. It amazes me how creative the children are with the use of technology. We do have to keep in mind though that speaking from a parents perspective we still need to continue with structurefor our children. They still need to understand that it's not all about technology. They need to still explore the worl through their own eyes and the guidance of their parents.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is both good and evil. Technology has made our world an easier place to live, but also allows people to abuse it. It's so easy to sit at home and pay bills and do our shopping online, but the other sites like facebook and pedifile's on the net really abuse it.
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