You Down With TEC...nology?

I’ve noticed a trend. Every morning, I wake up, sit in my bed for about 10 minutes, grab my cell phone and try to beat my high score in Tetris, stumble into my computer chair, turn on the computer, and check my RSS feeds—all while in my underwear. No, it isn’t a pretty sight, but I’ve noticed something about my daily morning routine: technology is everywhere (in my life).

First and foremost, permit me to elucidate how unbelievably shitty it is outside this morning. It’s dark, raining, and cold. Not a good combo to augment my motivation for getting out of bed. But I have become conscious of the reality that checking my e-mail and enhancing my prowess on the New Jersey Nets is, indeed, enough to raise me from the dead. (Although not enough to make me put on some clothes).

OK, so I’m took this class a while ago—it’s called: CSE. It’s a very cool class, but I must admit, it’s a little depressing. It’s a class where they tell us, future educators, that we are old-school, and without updating our technology—we will be left behind, with no jobs. It’s a digital world now, duh.

I’ve have, personally, been exposed to a lot of technological influence while growing up— so the switch into a purely digital world will be much easier, for me. It’s humorous for me when I’m sitting in this class, watching some of the “older” students struggle with simple things, such as recording his/her voice onto the computer. It’s really pathetic. I guess this is why people, like Thomas L. Friedman, are worried that America is going to be left behind…

*Sigh*

Oh, and I’m not done yet. Let me assure you that it gets worse the older the people get. Before I get into this, let me assure you that there are exceptions to every rule: let me explain using specific examples in my classroom. All names have been change, or removed, to protect the innocent. This class is run by two professors; one a woman who has been teaching high school for the majority of her career, and has just recently started to teach college; the second is a man who is proficient (as capable as one can be I suppose) in using modern day technology, and the head of the prof. writing major. The school brought the woman in to help deal with the pedagogical aspect of the class—while, the man, obviously, was here to help us learn about technology. Most importantly, they are both here to help us learn how important technology is.

The saddest part, and the one worth noting, is the fact that some of the people in the class, couldn’t even close an internet window last night. They couldn’t close a window, that’s scary.

I guess my point is this. I wake up every morning and close hundreds of internet windows. I know how to use all of the Microsoft Office and Adobe applications. I’m familiar with RSS Feeds, wikis, blogs (obviously), and more. I feel like most of my friends, with the exception of the wiki and RSS feeds can do the same. So where is the urgency? I’ll tell you. The urgency is to change the "Dr. Oldschool’s" of the world—which won’t be easy. I think current teachers should be taking this class, also. It’s scary: how some people are resistant to change. I’m willing to bet that we, Americans, are amidst another movement (a more modern day Industrial Revolution! People will read about us in textbooks!). We can either roll with it, or be dead set against.

I personally think that everyone should try, at least, to become more tech savvy, as in the very near future, computers will dictate what goes on.

On a side note: if anyone reads this and would like to know what a wiki, or RSS feed, or any of the aforementioned issues above, just leave me a comment. I will do my best. I would also like to recommend The World Is Flat, by Thomas L. Friedman. This is an “eye-opening” read.

OK, now it’s time for me to put on some pants and get some food. Cheers.