Lesson Six - Section Three of "Failure to Connect"
As I view the evolution of society
I mirror it with my own experiences and lessons. If computers are
a cause of deteriorating social graces, or cell pages and blackberries
for that matter, there's an assumption that society was better in
the past. But how far back in the past. The table etiquette, to be
a bit extreme, of the caveman was not totally gracious. Was it the
50's, or the Victorian age in England? Have we changed in our ability
to teach and learn, to relate to other persons and countires, or have
things remained quite static and unchanged?
If computers are changing the way the brain develops,
if the brain developed differently and more naturally in the past,
what is the standard for how the brain develops best? Before written
word and people were challenged with translating symbols and words
to thoughts, was that more natural? We know that symbol translation
plays a great role in reading. We think reading is good and the way
the brain develops around reading is good, so why will that not be
the same with the use of computers and the mouse.
Boredom and the need to be on the computer, or to
be entertained by movies or parties, are not unrelated themes. Problem
solving is in the mix of thinking processes also. By many standards,
I was a deprived child. I lived on the farm on the Great Plains and
seldom socialized in our community of 1400 persons. When not doing
the chores, not having a computer or a TV, I build a raft, sat in
the grass among the milch cows and made roads and bridges with twigs
for my toy car. I really know where I fit in normal development but
I feel adjusted, healthy and happy. I don't know how my rearing has
affected my life, or what life would be like if I were raised differently.
Healy changes her tune a bit here in the third section,
and offers us the opportunity to say, "So, what do we do about all
this?" When should children start on computers, and then, how should
the computer be used by the child?
Maybe if I had computers as a child, I'd be smart
enough to not be on a computer.
Assignment
Let's
put our thoughts to Healy's comment:
read
the last three chapters of the textbook, another 100-plus pages,
go to Moodle
Discussions and write a reaction to your reading, like you've
done before, considering some of the above thoughts and questions
by composing a message,
read the reactions of others (return to Moodle
several times to read the recent reactions), and
write
replies to several reactions with supportive, alternative or
expanding thoughts.
Remember that the comments may
continue indefinitely, the initial reactions to this second part of
the book are due March 30.
Office hours: Tuesday mornings: 9:00 - noon
Thursday mornigns: 9:00 - noon
Other times aby appointment
Also contact me through email at saxowsd@wou.edu
or denvygail@saxowsky.com
