Read the articles this week and discuss views and philosophies related to technology and education and express which views you feel most comfortable with and why.

I found the article by Dianne Forbes, Professional Online Presence and learning Networks: Educating for Ethical Use of Social Media, and her views the most comforting. The topic was precise, and it had my attention from the first sentence whereby it considers the use of social media for building a professional online presence and learning network. I plan on designing and instructing an online course for Okanagan College, although I have a limited knowledge base on what media to use. I was reassured to read where the trend in education is Twitter, Blogging, and other professional contexts for teaching purposes (Fox & Bird, 2017; Lupton, 2014). However, I am a person like Forbes posits; I feel exposed and vulnerable and feel overloaded from managing multiple media accounts. For example, I have not been on Facebook for a year, Linkedin for two years, and Twitter for three years. I seem to have lost focus on the purpose of my social media use and feel I can utilize my time better. This course will now propel me into facing these media giants once again.

            I seem to be on the right track, considering I have a Twitter, Blog, Linked In, and Facebook account. Not too long ago, I was a solid Luddite with little future in using social technology. Perhaps I inherited my father’s views on technology, where he referred to television as an idiot box.  The only exception was Wednesday and Saturday evenings during Hockey Night in Canada.

            In their YouTube video, Sherry Turkle, and Steven Johnson, Exploring the Pain and Promise of Technology, posit that technology is working fast and we have control over it – but do we? Technology like television and cell phones makes things available, but it also makes you vulnerable. To me, that vulnerability is wasting time, or is it time well wasted? Unfortunately, Internet addiction leads to vulnerability. Turkle and Johnson also suggest the Internet is just a role model and not designed to solve all your problems. Using it wisely and get the balance right so you can step back and reflect – then return. I rarely miss a day without consulting the Internet to solve my myriad of problems, so perhaps it is time to search the Internet for a good therapist.

            As Sherry Turkle stated, “I am not a Luddite. I want you to keep your toys.” I consider much of technology as nothing but a toy. However, I share her view where there should continue to be serious work that critiques technology.

Laurie

References

Forbes, D. (2017). Professional online presence and learning networks: Educating for ethical use of social media. International Journal Review of Research in Distributed Learning, 18(7), 175–190. http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/2826/4438

Fox, A., & Bird, T. (2017). The challenge to professionals of using social media: Teachers in England negotiating personal-professional identities. Education and Information Technologies, 22(2), 647-675.

Lupton, D. (2014). ‘Feeling better connected’: Academics’ use of social media. Canberra: News & Media Research Centre, University of Canberra, Australia.

The Verge. (2012, October 5). Sherry Turkle and Steven Johnson explore the pain and promise of technology [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKXBHXRerc4