The week two EDC3100 learning path journey has begun and my is it a big one! In this weeks learning path there was a question that said “The rise of computers and especially mobile devices are making people more likely to ignore those around them and focus on the device. True or False?” I answered ‘true’ as it has become increasingly evident to me that people are more immersed in their electronic devices than the world around them (myself included). As I was answering the question I was thinking “there can’t be any right or wrong answer, it’s truly up to perception and opinion” so I thought there would be no problem in answering truthfully. To my surprise there was actually a correct answer and that answer was ‘false’ – that the rise in use of electronic devices is not making people ignore those around them. The explanation was provided in this picture below.
So yeah, this might be true but seriously was it really like the top image back ‘in the old days’? I highly doubt it but I’m not old enough to prove it so it’s really just my opinion. I’d love to here what you readers think though, do you agree with this picture? Do you think it’s not technology that is making us antisocial? That we have always been antisocial and technology is just providing us with a medium to do so?
My opinion hasn’t changed, I still believe that the increasing use of technology is making people more anti-social. I found an article from the Dean of Students of the University of Southern California who shares my opinion on this front. Brian Harke talks about a dinner he had with instructors, students and business professionals where one student in-particular spent the entire night on his mobile rather than taking the opportunity to engage in conversation with the people at the table. In the article he states the importance of being present (present in this case meaning being fully engaged in the current situation) “being present will help you as a student to do better in class, develop better relationships, and make great first impressions on instructors and people who will help you develop your professional network to find a job.” Peoples increasing use of technology is diminishing the likelihood of being present and in turn those people are missing out on important opportunities.
A blog post from a High School Mathematics Teacher from America also shows the lengths he went to to get his students off of their phones and engaging in his lessons. He built an entire bookshelf with multiple power points in it so that students could charge their phones whilst being in class (see photo on the right). The idea was that the students could put their phones aside whilst engaging with learning in class and upon leaving the class, their phones would be charged.
I love ICTs and I think they are great tools but the point I’m trying to make here is that they should be used sparingly and for beneficial reasons. Also, if you are in company with other people, make sure you are giving them the time of day rather than talking to the same people you talk to on social media everyday.
Thanks for reading this extremely long winded post and I hope you’ll continue reading my future posts.
Hayley.
Hayley Richter's Weblog 