Pro or Con: Which Side Are You On?
When we think of technology, our minds typically jump to cell phones, computers, and video games. However, for some, technology encompasses more practical aspects like heat, running water, light in their homes, or even the mere existence of a vehicle. As I delved into this week’s reading materials, I found myself struggling to find inspiration. Perhaps it's due to my sleep-deprived state from dealing with my teething, anti-napping 8-month-old. Although the articles and videos presented a wealth of great and new information, I couldn't find anything that resonated profoundly with me. That is, until I stumbled upon the beginning of Jason Kottke’s “Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change.” Starting with media critic Neil Postman’s 1998 list, Jason explains that these five points remain highly relevant in today's world. As I scoured the text, desperately searching for something to awaken my dormant brain cells, I finally found my eureka moment upon reaching the second point.
“ The advantages and disadvantages of new technologies are never distributed evenly among the population. This means that every new technology benefits some and harms others. ”
Immediately, the distribution of technology for my students came to mind. I reside and teach in a community that exhibits a significant wealth and poverty gap, which is particularly striking given the small size of our city. Incredibly, within just 15 blocks, we have former NHL players and professional MLB players living alongside individuals who are forced to squat in abandoned buildings. Although this disparity can be observed in numerous communities, ours happens to hold the dubious distinction of being ranked as the number one #crimetown in the entire country.
Why is this relevant?
For a community that clearly holds a substantial amount of wealth in deep and specific pockets, it is disheartening to see our community’s struggles so prominently displayed on every downtown street and corner. Postman’s second point made me reflect on the glaring disparities in resource distribution right in front of us. Some members of our community drive home in their vehicles, while others seek refuge in sheltered doorways or crevices in case it rains. While some take for granted the security of a front door code, others have no possessions to safeguard. As we flick on lights and turn up the A/C after a day of tending to the gardens we planted, there are those who patiently wait until we turn them off, just to grab a carrot or two to nourish their bodies, as it may be the only sustenance they've consumed in days. Lying in bed and checking our emails, lounging on the couch watching a movie, or casually FaceTiming with friends are all luxuries that many others cannot even fathom having open access to. This stark reality underscores the world we live in. Now, now, let’s not be jealous of my living in a famous community, but in all seriousness, I enjoy where I live and feel that there are a number of us who are attempting to do what we can to bridge gaps where possible to create a more cohesive and bonded community.
Relevant to Classrooms
In my classrooms, the uneven distribution of technology has become increasingly prevalent. It poses challenges when it comes to students attending class, as some of them struggle to find a means of transportation to town. This not only affects their presence in class but also prevents me from contacting their homes to ensure everything is okay, as they lack phones. Additionally, during winter, the snowy roadblocks hamper the delivery of homework, a concern intensified by our worry about whether these students have enough food until someone can drive in to check on them. The situation is further complicated by their lack of running water and their reliance on a wood stove for heat. Fortunately, they do have lights and we provided some of them with a small electric heater as a backup in case they run low on firewood. Amidst these circumstances, it is disheartening to witness other students using their phones discretely under their desks, attempting to send text messages to their friends about those absent lab partners or classmates who just get ‘social passed’ even though they don’t care enough to show up. The assumptions being made about those who are UNABLE to attend are only widening the gap and further demonstrating the uneven distribution. I doubt the invention of such technology was intended for that purpose.
How Are We Relevant?
As educators and role models, it is thrown upon us to inform and educate about the factors that impact technological distribution and its influence on people's lives. It is important to recognize that equality is not synonymous with fairness, and vice versa. Moreover, we must acknowledge that access to different mediums is neither fair nor equal, and the individual access each person possesses should be taken into consideration. When teaching digital citizenship, it is imperative that we point out the differences in access to mediums and how such discrepancies affect each individual. By striving to understand and empathize with those around us, we can enhance our own sense of citizenship.
Further, bringing these technologies into our classrooms can aid in training those without home access to learn how to use them. Technology is not JUST the wave of the future, it is the wave of NOW and should be considered a skill no less imperative than learning how to manage finances (because there are apps for that). Incorporating such technologies furthers the movement of bridging the gap broadened by the uneven distribution and projects those who go without constant access further in the running for future opportunities.
Future Relevance, Final Thoughts
For decades, there has been an ongoing banter about how technology ruins meaningful connections, genuine relationships, and hampers learners' abilities to be efficiently literate in reading and writing, among other things. As I write this blog post, I stumbled upon a new icon on my edit bar, which turned out to be a generative AI tool that can assist me in editing my work (I have yet to gain the courage to utilize it). A few years ago, my initial thought might have been, "Great, another tool that will enable students to cheat." However, today, I found myself thinking, "Cool, I wonder where else this is available and if I can utilize it to support my students." While some argue that technology renders reading, writing, and learning structures and features obsolete, others may rebut with a simple, "so." We have come a long way from a time when people rarely completed grade 6 and were lucky if they could read legal documents. Instead of constantly nit-picking and condemning every new piece of technology, why not embrace change and utilize it for its potential?
What Side Are You On?
These are 2 sides of a coin that is going to be cashed in the form of technological development. I’ve interviewed a number of family members, friends, and peers, found common factors, and put together 2 general dialogues to represent each side. Please read each and reply with your points of view in the comments.
Side B: Pro Tech
Technology is the wave of the future and we need to let go of the idea that things need to be “the way we had them”. That thought is outdated and quite honestly, close-minded. Children don’t need to learn to do things the way we did because their futures look vastly different than ours did. Machines build things now, not people. Editing software is available everywhere and if it is always going to be available then why not spend less time worrying if your sentences are perfect and worry more about understanding the content of the written piece because that’s true knowledge acquisition? If you’re so worried about your child spending time outside, go outside with them. Show them how to hike and climb and play and lead by example because if they don’t know how to do it that isn’t because technology stormed into your house and demanded you allowed your child to play a video game; you brought it into your home all on your own.
Schools, careers, and the world look differently, maybe it’s time we use this technology to spend less time worrying about things that USED to be important (punctuation errors, comma splices, sentence fragments) - until the technology arrived. Maybe all careers will involve technology in a few years and we’ll all be out of jobs because we didn’t hop on the wagon to learn about it alongside our children.
Side A: Tech Cons
Technology needs to be filtered and monitored in homes and schools. All the new inventions and forms of technology are making it impossible for teachers and parents to help their children learn the rules and structures of reading and writing. If a child can’t write a proper essay how will they ever get into university and get a good job? If technology is going to continue to “DO” everything for them they’re never going to learn to do the things we had to learn like working with our hands to build things, edit our written pieces, and entertain ourselves outside. Our children are stuck in front of televisions and monitors for hours on end playing games and it is causing them to lack exercise and human connection and interaction.
Now that AI is becoming more popular we fear that things will be worse than ever. Students are no longer going to have to produce original thoughts or think critically about anything if AI is going to do it for them. Their creativity will cease to exist as we know it.
If we allow these types of technology then how are we going to teach kids how to do anything on their own? How will they graduate? How will they get jobs?
I’m interested to hear your thoughts and even the thoughts of your family, students, and peers if you wish to share the piece! Let’s take polls, have discussions, and see where the majority currently lies.
Are you Pro-Tech or a Tech-Con?