It is strange, but ever since I was young I’ve been attracted to technology. I say strange because technology was not a big part of my education. While I was in college (back in the ‘60’s) the traditional professor/student relationship was strictly face to face. We learned through lecture and class interactive discussion. I ran from class to class daily, keeping up strict schedules. Distance education was unheard of, because computers were just entering on the field of business and education (I think we thought Skinner’s black box was a futuristic ideal). I then had to put off the reason I had gone to college (a teaching degree) to raise a family. My world was delayed and I lost out on much of the technology growth.
As I grew and was more or less forced into the workplace, I realized that computers helped a great deal in facilitating mundane jobs, leaving more room for productivity. Now after years of immersion into technology, especially educational technology, I realize my first idea about computers and devices to help make life easier – really did. Now, after studying and learning how to use technological innovations it occurs to me that there is no turning back. We are being encouraged to grow and are encouraging our students to grow with the onsets of a new theories that match the economic and social growth of a much larger world, evidenced by social media. Critical and non-negotiable to teaching and learning is not losing the human quality of learning, a danger presented by the ease of using tech devices to interact with others (again attributed to social media). It is a great thing to be innovative and futuristic. However, my philosophy of learning is once you stop using the human trait of learning and questioning, you become complacent and lazy - this is dangerous.
