Revised Blog: Blog 1 The Impact of Technology on Communication

            Throughout recent years, technology has swept across human society, changing the ways people live their daily lives and even impacting the ways in which they build and maintain relationships. One aspect of relationships which has been dramatically impacted by technology is that of communication, both public and interpersonal.  This has brought about many positive changes within human society, such as a speed and ease to sharing one's views. However, communicating through technology has also had negative effects on society. These negative effects reach from the individual to the global level. Through this post, I will firstly be exploring the relationship an individual can build with the public sphere through technology and secondly the changes causes by technological communication within personal relationship, and lastly the effects of technology on student communication.

            Throughout history, bringing social change through one's own views was very difficult. The most obvious difference is that the views had to be spoken or handwritten, and could only be shared with those in one's own community. In today's modern computer age, any individual can reach the public sphere through just a click of the mouse. Through the internet, anyone is able to share their ideas concerning a subject with people far beyond their local community, even beyond their country. One-To-Many Communication This has led to the widespread sharing of ideas and thoughts. However, it is easy abuse this phenomenon. The spread of incorrect information and false statements is extremely common. Media such as blogs and social web pages have become a public forum in which people can instantly broadcast anything from their political opinions to their plans for the weekend. While this emerging relationship between the individual and the public seems the ideal means of communicating with like-minded readers, the sharing of personal information can have dangerous results, such as harassment and even violence. It is important to remain aware of the risks while enjoying idea sharing technology.

            In addition to the creation of an unprecedented public relationship, technology has also revolutionized interpersonal communication within our closest relationships. The ways individuals communicate with their nearly everyone in their lives, including family members, friends and co-workers has evolved in accordance with new technologies available through equipment such as computers, cell phones and the internet. Through electronic mail and digital photography, relatives and friends can stay in touch across a great distance. However, solely communicating through technology can have negative effects on a relationship. While channels such as e-mail, text messaging and social web pages offer convenience in communication, they also remove the personal element of communicating with the people in one's life. Hearing the voice of a relative or looking into the face of a friend offers a deeper communication experience.

This is also true of communication in an academic setting. While technological channels make instructors more accessible to students, the personal relationship element is often removed. Teachers and students do not recognize one another beyond the computer screen. Students working together on projects and assignments loose the opportunity to share ideas in real time and physically create a finished product together. Student Communication Through Technology In the past, the school environment had often had a distinct sense of community. Communication through technology seems to be removed this aspect of comradery in educational settings. Despite the abundant positive results of technology in the classroom, education is becoming a less personal experience.

            Technology has revolutionized the field of communication, offering a speed and ease which has never been possible throughout history. This allows people to share information and foster the conception of new ideas, to not loose contact with a relocated friend or relative, and to scholarly grow. However, the blessings of technology does not come without its risks and negative results. Through technology, people may be compromising not only their privacy but also their humanity. Only through a balance between electronic communication and traditional communication will mankind be able to build successful relationships and navigate this new age of technology.

Blog 3, Prompt 3: Preserving Critical Thought

            For many of us growing up in the age of technology, it can be difficult to understand life in previous generations. Technology such as television and the internet have become so pervasive into our everyday lives that it is hard to imagine attending school, doing homework or gaining information without them. The gratification of instant information, of discovering an answer within seconds, has revolutionized society. However, this convenience may have come at a high cost: the loss of our ability to think, to discern and to search.

            Over half a century ago, Ray Bradbury foresaw a day when books would no longer be needed and technology would replace the skill of thinking critically. Through his now iconic book, Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury explored a world void of individual thirst for knowledge or search for truth. People live surrounded by technological conveniences, with entertainment and information available at one’s fingertips. While this may seem like an ideal lifestyle of ease and leisure, the story’s protagonist, Montag, realizes that this life of acceptance rather than questioning is indeed not better. Today, we may be witnessing some of Bradbury’s concerns becoming reality.

In past decades, students had to go to the library and research their assignments in reference volumes, encyclopedias and other books. Citizens had to read a newspaper to find out information about everything, from their local communities to global affairs. These activities required daily critical thinking. The ability to discern credible sources from less useful sources, to sort out pertinent information from useless information, was constantly being exercised. Skills such as using an index, glossary and table of contents were important to complete a task. The library was a key element of education and the role of the librarian was crucial in assisting students. 50's Era Librarians Physical contact with a book when seeking information also improves skills such as reading comprehension, spelling and grammar. When perusing a newspaper, the reader is exposed to a variety of topics.  This leads to a wider scope of information to be processed and thought about.

Today’s technological environment has virtually eliminated the need for research books or newspapers for many people. Students now simply type in their subject in a search bar, and the researching is done for them. Modern individuals view only news that they feel an interest in. Researchers estimate that more people get their news from television or the internet than those who continue to read newspapers. Internet Overtaking PrintThis is a great contrast from past times when it was a social norm for everyone to read their daily newspaper. The information the people of today take in is tailored to them and their own interests or objectives. This tunnel vision approach to information may be more time efficient than traditional methods, but it also limits exposure to new ideas.

While we may not be to a point in history when authorities conduct book burnings, society is approaching an era of complacency towards thinking. It is the responsibility of the population to not allow this to occur, but to actively preserve our rights to think and to question. This can be done by occasionally utilizing more traditional means of gaining information. Students should use the valuable resource of the library more often. People could pick up a few newspapers and discern different perspectives on similar stories. This may take longer than simply typing a query into the computer or flicking on the television. However, it is never a waste of time to invest in critical thinking and to practice these skills. Stepping away from the screen is a way that the world portrayed in Fahrenheit 451 may forever remain fiction rather than becoming reality.

Blog 2, Should Reasoning Skills Be Taught in Primary School? Yes!

In past generations, the field of childhood education did not prompt many questions. The majority of children were educated in the accepted social institution of the public school system, where they were taught the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. This more simplistic approach to the educating children began to evolve in past decades, in response to technological and cultural changes occurring within society. Among today’s numerous alternative education options, there is great debate concerning the expansion of basic primary school curriculums and what direction such expansion should take. One possible addition to primary is the teaching of reasoning skills to students beginning at a younger age.

Reasoning skills are valuable resources to foster at an early age for many reasons. This writing will focus on two such reasons:  Because reasoning skills will help students achieve in future levels of school and because reasoning skills are implemented throughout one’s lifetime. There are many different reasoning skills which children should fully develop, such as mental storage and retrieval, being able to categorize items and evaluate value, to name a few. Link 1 When a child acquires these skills, they have developed a tool which they will continue to use as they advance in their education. Memory and logic skills are always relevant to any student of any age. The teaching of reasoning skills to children is a powerful way to form continuous connections through an individual’s complete education, from primary school to college and beyond.

One of the prominent goals of education is to prepare children to become successful adults. In the years that follow the completion of one’s formal education, facts and processes learned in school often become unneeded and forgotten. However, reasoning skills endure as resources implemented daily. To be successful in any career, reasoning skills such as problem solving are essential. Displaying strength in these skills helps the adult to overcome both professional and personal challenges throughout life.

Each individual parent has their own ideas and viewpoint concerning their child’s education. Some may favor a curriculum strong in mathematics and science, while others place value on language or the arts. However, reasoning skills can transcend class subjects and are necessary for success in any field.Link 2 Reasoning skills can be implemented in countless ways, from basic daily problems to complex intellectual challenges. Reasoning skills are a strong foundation for creating not only efficient students, but critically thinking, successful members of society.

Blog Assignment 1

Response to Prompt #3

           Throughout recent years, technology has swept across human society, changing they the ways people live their daily lives and even impacting the ways in which they build and maintain relationships. One aspect of relationships which has been dramatically impacted by technology is that of communication, both public and interpersonal.  This has brought about many positive changes within human society, such a a speed and ease to sharing one's views. However, communicating through technology has also had negative effects on society. These negative effects reach from the individual to the global level.

           Throughout history, bringing social change through one's own views was very difficult. The most obvious difference is that the views had to be spoken or handwritten, and could only be shared with those in one's own community. In today's modern computer age, any individual can reach the public sphere through just a click of the mouse. Through the internet, anyone is able to share their ideas concerning a subject with people far beyond their local community, even beyond their country. This has led to the widespread sharing of ideas and thoughts. However, it is easy abuse this phenomenon. The spread of incorrect information and false statements is extremely common.

           Technology has also revolutionized the ways individuals communicate with their nearly everyone in their lives, including family members, friends and co-workers. While channels such as e-mail, text messaging and social web pages offer convenience in communication, they also remove the personal element of communicating with the people in one's life. Hearing the voice of a relative or looking into the face of a friend offers a deeper communication experience. It is important to find a balance between electronic communication and traditional communication in order to build successful relationships.

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