Why Composition Specialists Need to Pay Attention
to Technology Issues
(from "Technology and Literacy: A Story about the Perils of Not Paying Attention")
"[...]
Allowing ourselves the luxury of ignoring technology ... is not only misguided at the end of the 20th century, it is dangerously short-sighted. And I do not mean, simply, that we a re all - each of us - now teaching students who must know how to communicate as informed thinkers and citizens in an increasingly technological world - although this is surely so. This recognition had led composition faculty only to the point of using computers - or having students do so - but not to the point of thinking about what we are doing and understanding at least some of the important implications of our actions.
I believe composition studies faculty have a much larger and more complicated obligation to fulfill - that of trying to understand and make sense of, to pay attention to, how technology is now inextricably linked to literacy and literacy education in this country. As a part of this obligation, I suggest that we have some rather unpleasant facts to face about our own professional behavior and involvement. [...]" (95)
- Cynthia L. Selfe; essay found in Computers in the Composition Classroom: A Critical Sourcebook. Eds. Michelle Sidler, Richard Morris, and Elizabeth Overman Smith. New York: Bedford/St Martin's, 2008.
Selfe uses this link, to President Clinton's campaign to get America's students "ready for the 21st century," exposing the problematic statistics regarding the funding that went into this huge undertaking:
"Estimates indicate that this particular literacy project may cost up to $109 billion dollars," Selfe writes, citing these data (98). But what's most important here is not that all this money is going to this project, though she points out that "in comparison to the miserly federal funding this country is allocating to other literacy and education projects, these amounts stagger the imagination" (99).
What seems to be Selfe's biggest point is that we're just not dealing critically with computer literacy. Pointing to Clinton's campaign, she remarks how we're going along with understanding and stressing the importance of being able to use computers, but not understanding the impact of this technology, or understanding why we're using them, or the control they have over us.
In my comp classes, I've been largely focusing on engaging us with this topic. Not many people, to my knowledge, are taking this direction with the very technology we all, as students, find ourselves using constantly.
Does Selfe have a point? It's been a few years since she wrote. Are people having conversations about technology? Digital_Nation may be one example. Are there others? What do you think? Is any of this on target?
I agree that while it is important to stay educated on the latest and most advanced pieces of technology, We shouldnt let our lives be controlled and dictated by by these advancements.Whether or not we can check what the weather is going to do this weekend on our Blackberrys shouldnt be the deciding factor in us making plans.. I saw a commercial the other other day for an app for the Iphone that can turn off your houses lights. This is just over doing it and, personally, this kind of scares me.
ReplyDeleteI think learning the effects of using technology, good and bad, are more important than actually knowing HOW to use it. If one steps back and really takes into consideration the positives, negatives, and just the facts of how the use of technology impacts our daily tasks then one can make a wise decision about which aspects of his/her life to use it in. With that said, even though I think we need to learn its effects FIRST, I do think we should take advantage of technology's advances. If we don't then we may miss out on something technology provides that we otherwise may not get the benefit of from other sources.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Vneck Biker said on how it is important for us to stay educated on the latest and most advanced pieces of technology. However, this is something that we shouldn't have run our lives since sometimes technology can crash or have a problem. For example, one can check the weather on the computer but some days it says it is going to rain when it ends up not raining at all. Yet I do find it a bit scary on how some schools are now integrating teaching technology classes into the schools. Like for me, in high school in order to graduate, I had to take a computer based class that ended up teaching me all about Word, Powerpoint, and Excel.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that it is very important to have the knowledge of what is actually going on in the mysterious world of technology. At the same time, I feel as if we are losing sight of the basic ways of communication that we were taught. How often are you seeing letters being written and reports being hand written? Everyone is relying heavily on the use of their computers to do both these things. And if we don't read the up to date new information on what these things are doing, and how they are changing then we are in a world of hurt. Like you said, it is getting a bit ridiculous that we are being forced to take these computer driven classes in order to graduate. All of this just shows how the world is becoming more and more advanced. and if you aren't on board then you are going to be left behind.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that we should be thoroughly educated in the good and bad effects of technology. In thousands of ways, technology is extremely helpful. But like Vneck Biker said, sometimes it's scary. While watching Digital Nation during the part about the World of Warcraft when it was showing people who would quit their jobs just to play... That is an absolute crazy idea to me. Many of us are becoming far too dependent on technology. If some disaster were to happen where there was suddenly no electricity and therefore basically no technology, how many of us could even survive??
ReplyDeleteI agree with what writtenwithoutink said. Technology has mad so many advancements, some good and some bad. Knowing how to use new pieces of technology is very important but we should not live our lives always depending on technology. For example, I am taking an art history class this semester and everyday the teacher doesn't know how to operate the projector that is ran by her computer. We have probably spent atleast 3 or 4 full class periods trying to get her projector to work. I feel like this is ridiculous and technology is good but we must not always be so dependent on it because it can let us down.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is always going to be around, regardless of what we think about it. Technology is created to make some aspect of our lives easier. So we just have to learn to properly deal with it. In order to graduate from high school, my school district required each student to take a computer education course. Learning how to use the technology is the only way to adapt to our changing world. Yes, we shouldn't be so dependent on technology, but that is something that we can work on as a society to fix. We still need to know how to properly use the technology created and then we can determine how to use it less in our daily lives. Being dependent on it is more of a psychological problem than anything. We think we are dependent on it, therefore we are. Like I said, technology is created to make our lives easier, but it really isn't necessary. We could still hand write assignments and send letters to loved ones. Yes, it would be more tough, but it is possible to survive without technology.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cythnia Selfe on this issue with technology. Technology will always be around, no matter how much we try to decrease the usage. The decreasing of the use of one type of technology means an increase in another type of technology's usage. Most students, during this day and age, automatically know how to use computers, like they were born with the information programmed inside of their heads. This knowledge that kids get at a very early age makes them even more dependent on technology than the kids 50 years ago. When I was in school, we did not get a decent computer lab until middle school. This allowed us to blossom to our full potential with our classmates and our own ideas, not with a computer and information off of the Web. People have grown so dependent on technology that they use it to order a pizza off of the Internet. No one gives a second thought to the grandfather technologies that we had before the shiny, new iPhone generation. People just see some sort of advanced form of technology and don't think twice about it. Selfe has a point in which composition classes will be more stressed. These classes are the ones who will teach kids to use composition, not just fancy technology. Kids have to have literacy of the world and information around them before they access the Internet because then they will adopt others' thoughts for their own. The more immersed we get into technology, the level of literacy decreases, although; one would argue that literacy increases because of the acquired information on how to use technology. No one knows for sure the actual negative effects of technology because someone will always offer a rebuttal. The best we can do it to focus on equalizing our use of technology with our everyday life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of the comments above. In this day and age, we need to be computer literate and know how to use technology to our full advantage. There is a line to cross, and when we completely leave out writing, if we ever get to that point; there may be negative effects with using too much technology. We need to find the happy median, and I feel as though we are not in immediate danger. The technology usage is spread in today's world and varied through different cultures. As long as the choic remains ours, it's still alright.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that Selfe has pointed out something that is very true. It is necessary to inform individuals of every aspect of technology being utilized today in order for them to be successful. Technology has been integrated into our daily lives and being illiterate in such a field would inhibit and pose limitations on the new generation.
ReplyDeleteNobody thinks about the fact that we rely on technology so much, nor do they ask why we do it. It's taken for granted. Our world is becoming so modern and fast-paced that technology has just become a daily part of our lives, just like school in the lives' of students and work for those who have a full-time job. I don't think relying on technology is so bad, but one has to think what would happen if we didn't have it. Would we go back to the way of the cave man? Or would we still thrive like we are today?
ReplyDeleteI think she has a valid point in understanding why we use technology. Although many people will not care as to why it is used, they will still be involved in it in daily life. Technology will ALWAYS be around, whether we believe it or not; it may however take a different shape and for that it is currently in though. As of right now laptops and cell phones are the "in" thing, but who is not to say that this could change? New devices come out daily and it should come to our attention as to why we are sometimes obsessed with these devices. The sooner we learn this, the easier it should be to not have it control our daily lives.
ReplyDeleteTechnology has become part of our lives and our futures. We have used technology to advance us as a race but at what cost. People are over using technology in there lives. I see people plastered to their phones and Ipods texting and surfing the web. Technology is important with our future and we should use it wisely.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is ever changing and we have to keep up to date with all of the advances that happen. I know that my middle school required its students to take computer lit and at my high school we had to take a technology course to graduate. People rely on technology to tell them information that could be vital to their day. The National Weather Service has tons of computers and televisions to manage their job of alerting the people when severe weather is going to happen. They had to have some basic understanding of computers to be able to do that job. We depend on technology in almost every aspect of our lives. But computers aren't the only kind of technology. To live without any technology we would have to revert back to the time before the car or possibly even before that. Even the creation of the wheel was a creation of a technology.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we should be educated in all the latest technology, but that it should not run opur lives.We all know that as the world goes on technology will keep evolving and changing, which makes it necessary to evolve with it. The article is right technology does have control over mankind and most of us don't even realize it. This should be brought to people's attention. They should know why technology is such a big factor in the lives of many.
ReplyDeleteI think she does have a point--we aren't thinking critically about the technology. I even blogged recently that I hadn't ever thought about computers, whether they're good, because they've been so much a part of my life. It would be almost like thinking about whether the ceiling was good--it's just there, part of the function of a roof. I have never been taught how to think about this stuff, and I find that a little disturbing, because I think about *everything*.
ReplyDeleteI think that knowing how to use computers and technology can be good and bad. For students, knowing how to use computers is pretty much something that you need to know how to do. So knowing how to work one is very important. However,I think computer and technology can be bad for people because most people take advantage of it and become real lazy in simple things of life.
ReplyDeleteI am completely for the education of technology, mainly for a competitive basis between students. Education of technology must go along hand in hand to prevent technology from completely taking over. The only problem is when people become emotionally tied to technology. Education can keep technology more in line and on track.
ReplyDeleteI would agree that technology has enabled us to be more literate, but at the same time, I would also agree that it has hindered us. We are learning how to use computers for research, at the same time we are losing that ability to search the library for usefull sources. That is just one of the many examples how it has helped/hurt the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that technology is a must have for us as individuals growing up in this generation where it completely dominates all aspects of our lives. Computer literacy is crucial for us to know in order to improve our overall efficiency and skills in order to compete in this digital world. Computer literacy is becoming commonplace these days, so I don't believe there is any need to try and fight it.
ReplyDeleteI do also agree with the fact that the negative side effects of being too wired need to be taught alongside with computer literacy. Because not only do we need to learn about how these skills can help us, we all need to be aware of their negative side effects.
I believe the impact technology has on our society has become so rapid and personal, we sometimes don't see the big picture infront of us. While babysitting my 7 year old cousins, they play spongebob games on their laptops. Yes, a laptop for a 7 year old. I am faced with the scary reality that technology has taken a hold of our lives, and is our own home. Selfe makes an excellent point by showing statistics about spending 109 billion dollars on a literacy project, yet we dont know the impact of technology on us and the control it has over us. Again, this fact is rigth infront of us.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Edge, what would society do without technology since we rely on it so much? Once it fails us we will have to start over. I know I cannot go a day without my phone, so technology failing on me will not be pretty. Also, I agree with curb your blogging, Selfe makes an excellent point by showing us statistics about spending all this money on a literacy project, and how we do not know how much control technology has over us.
ReplyDeleteP.s. we all have seen the movies were technolgy takes over ("Pulse")and how well does it go for society?
I can see both sides or this issue. We are becoming very dependent on technology as we go further into the 21st century, which may or may not be a bad thing. Every time we move on from something that was used for several years to something that is suppose to be new and more efficient there are people that feel like it will cause the downfall of man. When we stopped using horses and moved on to cars, most people thought it would never work and that it was a horrible idea of some crazy person. Today, for the most part, there is multiple cars in every driveway in America. How many horses do you see riding around now days? People are scared of anything that they is new to them or they don't know anything about. I would consider myself a tech "nerd", and there is nothing about the iPhone or any other tech device that i find scary. Okay, so you can turn your lights off with your phone...big deal, if you are gonna be scared of a piece of technology be scared of the intercontinental missles that can be launched anywhere in the world and hit any target in the world with an accuracy of a few feet, that can also be fill with neuro toxins. Im sorry, but the iPhone doesn't have an app for that.
ReplyDeleteWhen curb_your_blogging talks about how their 7 year old cousin has a laptop I honestly cringe a little bit. Why should a seven year old child be able to use a machine that does so much that they have no idea. They are already becoming slowly dependent on a machine that they will be using for the rest of their lives in some shape or form. Another example is how kids who are not even in high school have cellular phones and none the less smart phones. It is something that these kids are growing up and thinking that they need but in reality we are now construing the lines between need and want with this new technology. I agree with a lot of people who have wrote so far and am a little scared on how techn0logy will further influence our youth and how they will develop.
ReplyDeleteI think that everyone should have a knowledge of how technology works because a lot of the world is dominated by technology today, but i also think that we should not be dependent on technology as a whole. For example, in high school math, my teachers would make half of the test a calculator portion, where the students were required to know how to solve problems soley on the calculator, but during the next half of the test we were not allowed to use the calculator for the same types of problems. We should definately take advantage of technology but if we were required to survive without technology for a day we should have the skills necessary to live in a world without technology.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statements of people getting more and more dependent and needy on new innovations of technology. If you look around at different places and different people, everyone seems to be connected somehow, whether it be on their phone, or on their internet, or even their ipod or a video game of some sort. However, I believe that some of these innovations are useful for our growth as civilization. As much as we keep growing, there is always a downfall somewhere, we just may not know about it yet, so we need to find a medium as to how far we can go without being harmed by the technology.
ReplyDeleteenglish student-
ReplyDeleteI think in doing the split test, it allows for a much more diverse way of learning the information. I think it is smart that the teacher required you to know how to solve the various problems using both the calculator and by hand. In doing this it allows the student to learn not only how to solve a question using the calculator, but it also lets you know how to solve in case you don't have access to a calculator. This helps disprove your point about not being able to survive without technology, because it is showing that we would be able to, because they are teaching both methods for solving the equation.
I believe Edge asked a very go question, what if we lost all technology, would our world maintain its growth or would we all go backand live like cavemen did? I don't think we will ever be cavemen again, but it is interesting to think of how the world would react to losing technology. I think we would have a really hard time at first but the human race is very resilient and after a few years i believe we would resume living and growing just as before.
ReplyDeleteI believe that while the advancements being made with technology are great, and almost define a generation, it is important to sit back and still implement the old ways of doing things. People are getting lazy and almost careless due to the high dependence on technology. Like Vneck Biker mentions in the very first comment, the fact that you can turn your lights off by using an app on the iphone shows just how advanced our technology really is and this is very convenient but I feel like this is going way too far.
ReplyDeleteAlong with the point above that people are becoming dependent on technology; I think this is a huge problem with all the advances that we have made. Although they have helped our society greatly, we literally use technology in every aspect of life. Technology runs our country and I wonder what really would happen if all technology shut down? We may have put ourselves in a situation where if it were to shut down our society would have a hard time functioning.
ReplyDeletei believe technology affects the way the students are studying and way we are living. how many college students have not used the computer or did not have cell phone while in high school. or taking ACT/SAT on piece of paper, not using scan tron and solved mathematical problem without calculator. we should get along with technology.
ReplyDeletetechnology in education will definitely helps students or people to get advances.
I agree that school children need to learn how to properly operate and understand technology. We are living in a quickly advancing world where there is a new more advanced piece of technology out every month. Although I personally don't like how technology is involved in almost every aspect of our life. However, it's true and all we can do is learn more about it so that we are able to keep up with all of the advancements being made.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is very important for us to be knowledgeable about technology. In order to keep up in today's society a person absolutely has to know about technology. To be up to date with the latest programs and pieces of technology however, I do not think it should take over our lives completely. I believe we should slow down and not always depend on technology for everything. As advanced as our world is now I can not even imagine what our world will be like twenty to thirty years from now.
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