This course on intergrating technology into teaching has already been the mechanism that forced me to think more deeply about the issues of technology in my teaching role. I have carefully and intentionally relegated electronic devices, passive entertainment via television, and even the more interactive internet, to a minor supporting role in my personal life. This has been an ongoing struggle for me, and I suspect others, as the technical parts of common life often overwhelm interpersonal relationships and interactivity of groups of people. Most good things are better when used in moderation. That includes many things such as alone time, family time, friendships, sex, alcohol, food, exercise, and yes, technical tools.
I considered a couple of examples of the way technology supports good
relationships in clarification of my values and
to illustrate my perspectives. Yesterday, my brother and I were discussing the history of
root beer during a family outing. We were shopping and eating out in
the new Mr. Chen's Restaurant and Chinese Market and noticed an actual
Ginseng root for sale. Bill remembered hearing in his Boy Scout Troop, that this root was
used to flavor root beer, while my Girl Scout memory was that native
American sassafrass root and bark flavors root beer. We did not have to spend any time debating this tidbit from our past experiences and just had fun searching for the facts on our smart phones.
I also enjoy keeping up with extended family and out-of town friends through
the pictures and comments facilitated through Facebook, especially
when I get emailed that someone has posted on my page. I rarely post
myself, but how fun when my
close elementary school friend who moved away found me again
after 40 years and we reconnected in person because she comes to Tuscaloosa every home football game at this time in her life. Considering the crowds and considering my skimpy football involvement, I never would have known.
I do love having the search engines handy, and my address bool and calendar and alarm clock on my smart phone, and even use itin public to isolate myself from unwanted conversations. But it is so sad to use isolating technology in a group of "friends" or even in a family during what should be a special life event or even a daily moment of interaction. We lose more than we gain as people when time is spent in isolation to the exclusion of others. Moderation again.
I have no close friends who blog. I cannot identify a single group of people whose members would care to read regularly what I think about life in general and my life in particular. I will always choose to spend my time in personal contact even if it takes the form of a written letter to an individual. If I want to write for a group, it will be to share something I plan to publish for income and/or personal fulfillment. I enjoy keeping up with extended family and out-of town friends through the pictures and comments as facilitated through Facebook,but post very rarely. I never even gave a secnd thought to blogging, and will probably not do so again after this course. After all I only do a group holiday letter to firends and family about one each decade,when I have totally lost touch with what is important and need to catch out of town friends up on what I would have said if I had visited or called to talk in person.
Having made it perfectly clear how I feel about blogging and the use of technology in a habitual and unthinking manner, the blogging assignment has accomplished my goal made me think deeply about the place of technologies in my teaching. I realize that I have let my strong strong philosophy of life, and the dual lack of experience and
spare time, limit my exploration of technical tools in my work. I
glossed over something important that was not just a technicality. It would save time if I chose what to learn and use in
teaching a subject as carefully as I do the tools I use in my personal
life. I have some support at work, but the reality is that it takes me
three time as much practice and actual personal help instead of
tutorials to get started. It is usually only the getting started that is
a problem and I know I just have trouble investing myself and my
precious spare time on learning something that does not come to me as to
those who already have the vocabulary and experience. I also think
personality type (I am not a detail person, but a but a big picture
person) has a great deal to do with how much effort it takes for me to
lean a new technology tool.
I use appliances and electronics that
let me work smarter and in a more organized fashion and do whatever it
takes to learn how to use them despite my personal inclination and philosophy. What a luxury to have two clean towels
every day because the washing machine actually does the hard work. I
did have to work to learn how to use a big computerized washer. What a luxury, and how much more consistent the quality,
to use screen capture efficiently to give the same lessons more than
once in class. It would accomplish selected teaching objectives more easily if I chose what to learn to use in
teaching a subject as carefully as I do the tools I use in my personal
life. I have some support at work, but the reality is that it takes me
three time as much practice and actual tutoring help instead of electronic tutorials to get started.
It is usually only the getting started that is
a problem and I know I just have trouble investing myself and my
precious spare time on learning something that does not come to me as easily as to
those who already have the vocabulary and experience. I also think
personality type (I am not a detail person, but a but a big picture
person) has a great deal to do with how much effort it takes for me to
lean a new technology tool.
Note to self: get over it and on with the adoption of a few more exciting tools!
