I guess the hot topic is e-waste. Is it me or have we become so greedy as a society that we don't stop to think about the consequences of our actions. I am as much to blame as anyone. I too like Maha felt awful and guilty for being so frivolous with my acquisitions of technology. What part got me, was how surprised I was when I realized how technology devices were being disposed. I asked myself, "what did I think happened when I recycled my old cell phones or computers?" The answer is that I didn't think. I never once stopped to think about what happened after I dropped off my technology. Like Maha, I was ashamed with myself on my ignorance. But I can't beat myself up forever and if I want to make up for being uninformed, I realize I can do it by educating others.
I did show video that was suggested in twitter by Rennie to my students and the first thing they were looking for was the places where they could dispose of technology properly. They went home and had discussions with their families around the topic. Just today our school has collected over 26,000 plastic bags in a month so they don't end up in landfills or our ditches. One student said that if we can have Wasteless Wednesday lunches, and collect 26, 000 bags, then we can also find a proper way of disposing our technology. She further added that maybe we don't have to get rid of things as quickly as we do if they are still good. From the mouth of babes. We could stand to listen to some of these enthusiastic young minds.
Thanks Kristin for the great leads on where we might be able to dispose our technology properly. maybe as a class or school, we can investigate this further.
On a final note, I believe that the governments need to become a part of the solution and demand safety measures be in place when dealing with e-waste.
Monday 31 October 2011
Sunday 23 October 2011
"Our Brain"
The digital information really has me thinking about our future generations and child development. I had a strong suspicion that pathways in children's brain had to have been changing or new ones being formed since the use of digital devices has become so prevalent, but I never really thought about the parts of the brain being used more or less. I am beginning to understand more on how digital natives are using their brains differently than we are, but also am learning to relate to them differently, now that I understand them better.
I find it interesting how digital natives can be "plugged in" in so many ways and yet seem to be able to function with what is happening around them. I am the total opposite. In order for me to read anything, I need to have total silence and do away with any distractions that may interrupt me. When I begin to work or study, I have this checklist of distractions to deal with before I am able to sit down and do the job I intend to do. I guess this is why they call me the "digital immigrant."
My next wondering is how as a digital immigrant, do I accept so new ways of learning, socializing, and of simply being, when I don't really mind the way digital immigrants function? I do understand that digital natives are "wired" differently than we are, but what happens when I don't agree with a certain way of learning with the integration of technology and would rather do it the "old fashion" way? Am I doing a disservice to my students or am I preserving some learning techniques that are on the brink of extinction? How am I going to know what to keep, what to adapt, and what to adopt? With research in this area being in the infancy stages, how do I trust what I am being asked to do is for the betterment of my students and not to their determent?
I think these questions will be on my mind for a long time to come.
I find it interesting how digital natives can be "plugged in" in so many ways and yet seem to be able to function with what is happening around them. I am the total opposite. In order for me to read anything, I need to have total silence and do away with any distractions that may interrupt me. When I begin to work or study, I have this checklist of distractions to deal with before I am able to sit down and do the job I intend to do. I guess this is why they call me the "digital immigrant."
My next wondering is how as a digital immigrant, do I accept so new ways of learning, socializing, and of simply being, when I don't really mind the way digital immigrants function? I do understand that digital natives are "wired" differently than we are, but what happens when I don't agree with a certain way of learning with the integration of technology and would rather do it the "old fashion" way? Am I doing a disservice to my students or am I preserving some learning techniques that are on the brink of extinction? How am I going to know what to keep, what to adapt, and what to adopt? With research in this area being in the infancy stages, how do I trust what I am being asked to do is for the betterment of my students and not to their determent?
I think these questions will be on my mind for a long time to come.
Saturday 15 October 2011
Robotics...a part of our future
In response to Kristin's latest post, I think we definitely will be working with robots in the future. When I was a technology support teacher for my school, there was a video circulating in the division to promote LwICT. Here the video stated that students couldn't possibly know what job they would hold as an adult as the job hadn't even been created yet; that is the technology hadn't been created yet. This was to show teachers that indeed we needed to integrate technology into our classrooms so our students would be prepared for the workforce when they were ready to enter it.
It may be in question if whether or not "our generation" will be working with robots. I think though, there is no question that indeed the future generation will be part of the robotic workforce.
It is important that we make the conscience effort to stay grounded in this new world that is emerging upon us. It is only we, that can make the decision to be taken over by the robotic world. We can fight for our individuality and not buy into the large corporate hype that is going on all around us.
The robotic world is also used for good. Robots have been sent to space, explored the depths of the ocean (San Andreas Trench) and explored many unreachable places of this earth.
There is no denying that the world is evolving and with it, robotics will probably be very much of our future. As long as we remember that the technologies are the tools and not the other way around, we will be able to hold some sense of balance. This has to be a conscious decision and we will have to decide to be the masters of our own fate.
I think that Preet being freaked out that about robots and not wanting them to replace humans, and Stephanie noticing that her workplace is already being run by certain types of robots, will aid us in trying to maintain the balance between humanity and a world run solely by technology.
A word of hope. Technology cannot survive without human beings. If we educate those human beings that will be programming the future robots (our present day students) to realize that the robot is the tool, the programmer is the master, and the consequences of greed in regards to technology, we may avert such an artificial world. As an educator, this is what my goal will be.
It may be in question if whether or not "our generation" will be working with robots. I think though, there is no question that indeed the future generation will be part of the robotic workforce.
It is important that we make the conscience effort to stay grounded in this new world that is emerging upon us. It is only we, that can make the decision to be taken over by the robotic world. We can fight for our individuality and not buy into the large corporate hype that is going on all around us.
The robotic world is also used for good. Robots have been sent to space, explored the depths of the ocean (San Andreas Trench) and explored many unreachable places of this earth.
There is no denying that the world is evolving and with it, robotics will probably be very much of our future. As long as we remember that the technologies are the tools and not the other way around, we will be able to hold some sense of balance. This has to be a conscious decision and we will have to decide to be the masters of our own fate.
I think that Preet being freaked out that about robots and not wanting them to replace humans, and Stephanie noticing that her workplace is already being run by certain types of robots, will aid us in trying to maintain the balance between humanity and a world run solely by technology.
A word of hope. Technology cannot survive without human beings. If we educate those human beings that will be programming the future robots (our present day students) to realize that the robot is the tool, the programmer is the master, and the consequences of greed in regards to technology, we may avert such an artificial world. As an educator, this is what my goal will be.
Saturday 8 October 2011
Information is Freedom
I am a true believer that information is freedom. Being "in the know" has never steered me wrong in anything that I have done. Our class is providing us an avenue to think critically about how technology is changing society in both positive and negative ways. People from generations past have warned us to be critical of anything new that enters into society. This is not saying that we should be a primitive society, but rather be a critical society in what we chose as acceptable. There is no stopping evolution in the sense of society, but there is a way to decide which way we want to evolve.
We no longer come from a society where we "stop and smell the roses" as Stephanie posted, but rather we are a society needing "instant gratification". It is up to each person, to stop long enough to decide what WE want, and then do it.
Liz commented on educating society more on technology as there seems to be a lot of fear around it,(Sorry Liz your blog won't let me post) and I agree. I think information is the key to anything. If advertisers started advertising technology more as a tool (apple is starting to do it) and less as the next new fad, then the hesitant buyers may be less resistant to it. I think Liz that since we're educators, educating society seems only natural. The more information you have, the more you are in control to decide what devices come into your home, if at all.
Also in Preet's wiki (Preet, your site also doesn't let me post), I don't think that there is anything wrong with wanting IPhone 5. I say this because you are "in the know" and you have decided that you still want it and that's where the freedom comes in! You have decided what is right for YOU! It is not up to anyone else to decide for you and tell you what THEY think is right or wrong or what you should or should not have.
Let's face it. We are living in a world much different from Heidegger, McLuhan and Ellul and we need to do what is right for us. We should not however, disregard their wise words as they still apply today and will for many generations to come, but at the same time, we need to be cognisant of what impact those decisions will have on future generations.
We no longer come from a society where we "stop and smell the roses" as Stephanie posted, but rather we are a society needing "instant gratification". It is up to each person, to stop long enough to decide what WE want, and then do it.
Liz commented on educating society more on technology as there seems to be a lot of fear around it,(Sorry Liz your blog won't let me post) and I agree. I think information is the key to anything. If advertisers started advertising technology more as a tool (apple is starting to do it) and less as the next new fad, then the hesitant buyers may be less resistant to it. I think Liz that since we're educators, educating society seems only natural. The more information you have, the more you are in control to decide what devices come into your home, if at all.
Also in Preet's wiki (Preet, your site also doesn't let me post), I don't think that there is anything wrong with wanting IPhone 5. I say this because you are "in the know" and you have decided that you still want it and that's where the freedom comes in! You have decided what is right for YOU! It is not up to anyone else to decide for you and tell you what THEY think is right or wrong or what you should or should not have.
Let's face it. We are living in a world much different from Heidegger, McLuhan and Ellul and we need to do what is right for us. We should not however, disregard their wise words as they still apply today and will for many generations to come, but at the same time, we need to be cognisant of what impact those decisions will have on future generations.
Saturday 1 October 2011
"Shutting Down"
I can't help but keep going back to the part of class that we were talking about being able to disconnect from the digital world at the end of the day and how hard that really is.
The first thing that I do is wake up to the alarm clock, power up my blackberry (have to turn it off at night so I don't have "alerts" waking me) and check the weather. My husband turns on TSN to see if he's missed anything from the late night highlights that he watched mere hours before. I then pick up the phone and call a friend that I work with who I have talked to the night before and will be talking to during work as well. Shortly after I jump into my "loaded" vehicle that has gadgets I still don't know what to do with (the car is a 3 years old) and call my husband on bluetooth who I have spoken to a mere 1/2 hour before. I sit with some co-workers having our morning coffee, texting my friend who is on leave or my sister in the states while continuing to rant about the amount of work that the week has to offer. The day is spent using all forms of technology with the students. My after work drive is the same as my drive to work. Once at home, I get my dogs ready for their walk and put on their training collars which too by the way are remote control operated (no I am not using shock therapy on my dogs. lol). Did I mention that I take my blackberry to make any phone calls, texts or e-mails that I need to clear up so I can spend a quiet evening at home. When I get home and supper is being prepared, I am sure to have the t.v. on so I don't miss anything from the entertainment world. The evening consists of either talking on the phone with a friend, while texting to another and trying to do my university coursework on the laptop with the t.v. going on in the background. When it's finally time for bed, I check the weather one more time to see what tomorrow's weather is going to be and then I finally "power down". Does this sound at all familiar? Maybe all, except for the part of "shutting down" at night's end?
I can't help but wonder, what this is doing to us as a human being? We all know how important a good nights sleep is and I wonder if we are so stimulated by technology throughout our day, how can our bodies really shut down? How do we block out all of the voices we have heard through out the day and all of the other forms of communications we have had with others?
I was once taught an ancient Hawaiian ritual where at the end of the day you have to visualize severing a cord that is around you and each person you have been in communication with during that day so you can have a restful sleep. Wondering if now this is what we are going to have to do as a society so we don't burn out. Ha! Also wondering if they will make an "app" for that!
The first thing that I do is wake up to the alarm clock, power up my blackberry (have to turn it off at night so I don't have "alerts" waking me) and check the weather. My husband turns on TSN to see if he's missed anything from the late night highlights that he watched mere hours before. I then pick up the phone and call a friend that I work with who I have talked to the night before and will be talking to during work as well. Shortly after I jump into my "loaded" vehicle that has gadgets I still don't know what to do with (the car is a 3 years old) and call my husband on bluetooth who I have spoken to a mere 1/2 hour before. I sit with some co-workers having our morning coffee, texting my friend who is on leave or my sister in the states while continuing to rant about the amount of work that the week has to offer. The day is spent using all forms of technology with the students. My after work drive is the same as my drive to work. Once at home, I get my dogs ready for their walk and put on their training collars which too by the way are remote control operated (no I am not using shock therapy on my dogs. lol). Did I mention that I take my blackberry to make any phone calls, texts or e-mails that I need to clear up so I can spend a quiet evening at home. When I get home and supper is being prepared, I am sure to have the t.v. on so I don't miss anything from the entertainment world. The evening consists of either talking on the phone with a friend, while texting to another and trying to do my university coursework on the laptop with the t.v. going on in the background. When it's finally time for bed, I check the weather one more time to see what tomorrow's weather is going to be and then I finally "power down". Does this sound at all familiar? Maybe all, except for the part of "shutting down" at night's end?
I can't help but wonder, what this is doing to us as a human being? We all know how important a good nights sleep is and I wonder if we are so stimulated by technology throughout our day, how can our bodies really shut down? How do we block out all of the voices we have heard through out the day and all of the other forms of communications we have had with others?
I was once taught an ancient Hawaiian ritual where at the end of the day you have to visualize severing a cord that is around you and each person you have been in communication with during that day so you can have a restful sleep. Wondering if now this is what we are going to have to do as a society so we don't burn out. Ha! Also wondering if they will make an "app" for that!
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