How time just goes by at the blink of an eye. It’s already week 5 even if it doesn’t quite feel like it. Today’s TWC session felt like it was sending me a message. So far the past four weeks my stand was more towards how technology is not as marvelous a thing that people make it to be. However I stand corrected. It is.
I feel somewhat more optimistic about the future and what technology can bring to the masses, especially the developing world. This ties to one of the readings that I read about how ICT can play an important role in the MDG and I agree with it to a large extent. As Prof. Shahi was saying, technology should be a human right as we move towards a knowledge bases revolution.
The reason why what the Prof said about technology being a human right affected me was mainly because I strongly believe that every child on this earth deserves a chance to make a comfortable living for himself and for his future family and society. Technology has improved so much over recent years that you do not need as much infrastructure as before to get technology such as computers to even the most rural of places. Sponsor a group of children a smart phone and install educational applications on it and he can now learn. You don’t always need a big computer to get the job done. “Leap Frogging” has been re-iterated in class many a times and I think it’s time we start acknowledging that.
A key takeaway here for me personally is that, with ICT we have a much better opportunity to accomplish our MDG’s as well as to close the gap between the developed, developing and the yet to develop countries of the world. All we need it the right attitude. Positive change is always one good deed away.
Daniel’s presentation, which discussed if education using technology would be harder because of all the distractions it comes with versus the use of print was a very intriguing one to say the least. I always thought that the distractions were my fault and not so much the technology or the internet’s fault. However after that presentation I must say I might be forced to reconsider my stand.
All this E-learning or online discussions and debates, blogs, facebook chats can appear to be a distraction itself. Yes it’s convenient, it’s always at your disposal. However we run the risk of pseudo communicating. Nothing beats a classroom environment where you talk and understand and link the person’s emotion to his/her idea. Or if you read a book where English matters as a language not just a way of getting your point across. My point is technology can offer you amazing forms of information but you might lose the personal touch of learning and understanding.
One can argue that it is up to the individual which I agree to a certain extent but children growing up in this day and age might become fully dependant on technology that they lose the art of focusing on learning rather then always multi-tasking. I must say I’m a victim of it as well.
In conclusion, resistance is futile. Embrace change and progress and see how it can help benefit the world and those who need it. At the same time, remember the importance of tried and tested methods as well. If it still is effective, don't be too quick to get rid of it because there are better options.
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