We have, at our fingertips, information about almost everything imaginable. We can read it, watch it, download it, stream it, buy it, ship it, and share it. Time and space are not an issue. It is amazing. It’s a little scary, too. Our privacy is lost. Our identities can be stolen. Our lives are available for viewing in any number of ways, whether we want it that way or not.
I can remember when email was just becoming a “thing.” I was in college and I had one instructor who decided to use email for announcements and other important course information. I had a computer at home, but no internet. I’m not sure I knew anyone with internet. Was it even called the internet then?
I remember having to go to the campus computer lab to check my email. It was not unusual to have to wait for a computer. I thought it was a pain.
Thankfully, the innovator personalities had vision (and continue to have it). The internet and all that goes with it has expanded what education looks like. People can learn any time, anywhere, and it’s so much more than uploading documents. Live chats, podcasts, YouTube lectures, Skype, and so much more can provide rich experiences. As technology continues to advance, who knows what learning will look like in another 5 years?
With gains come losses, though. With the world available online, I see patience and interpersonal skills dwindling. We want it now and for the most part, we can have it now. We make online requests for everything from car insurance to home loans without knowing who reads them. We send email to people we don’t know, maybe as part of a large list-serv. They respond without knowing us. We can create any kind of profile, honest or not. Cyber-bullying is serious business.
I think those of us who work in education, whatever the role, are uniquely positioned to address the benefits and limits of technology in classrooms and in life. Each generation relies more and more on electronic communication for all kinds of things. It is critical that they use technology appropriately. Ethics, respect, honesty, and empathy should inform all we do, no matter where or how we do it. We can’t afford to lose sight of the human factor, though sometimes, I worry it’s already too late.
