Bibliography Synthesis

This was the first time I had seen a bibliography like this - unlike some of my fellow students - and I have to say it was rather enjoyable.  I have enjoyed this book much better than Postman for the reason that I'm just a history buff and enjoy reading about that subject.  I'm looking forward to the Cuban book and hoping it will be intriguing.

Bibliography Essay

I think it's nice that Hughes did this biblographic essay.  It let's us know how he came about his ideas and where they developed from.  It's not often that we as readers are given this much insight into an authors tinkering mind.  It seems that very every important aspect of his book he gives us the background of where he began to develope his ideas and thoughts on the subject.  I enjoy reading about the history of technology and aspects of it, more so than the Postman book, and the bibliography was an interesting addition that gave me a little more understand of Hughes and his thinking.

week 6 synthesis

I'm trying to remember to post my synthesis on Saturdays, but I keep forgetting!  I'll get better I promise LOL!
If everyone has to work together for technology to be productive - that will never happen.  I think that in the school system there are so many teachers that have been around for so long and have done things their way for years, they are just not willing to change.  I hear teachers all the time say they just don't understand this technology stuff, and some that never get on the computer unless they truly have to for grades and such.  We all have to be on board in the schools in order to keep our children up to date with new advances so they can compete with others in the job fields when they get older.

Hughes Chapters 4 - 6 week 6

Hughes Chapters 4 – 6 week 6

Hughes states in chapter 4 on page 107 he is talking about Bill Gates and some things Gates said in particular how education and the workplace will be transformed beyond believe because of technology. Boy, how things are changing!  The school systems are trying to keep up with the Jones’s per se, but because of the lack of funding it is hard to.

When I talk about technology in the school I always think about my attempt to get a Smart Board in my classroom.  I’m a speech therapist, so naturally I was last on the list to be considered for one when all the teachers in the building got theirs.  Well, after 2 years of asking for one, they finally came from central office to put it in my room.  I was so excited to get started and share all this new and fun technology with my kids, but I soon realized that there was one kink in my sudden burst of enthusiasm.  Though they got me a Smart Board, they didn’t have the money to buy me a projector for it, so I would have to wait on that.  Well, needless to say that was about 3 years ago and there is still no projector in the room.  You just gotta love the school system and their thinking!

I enjoyed reading in chapter 5 about the idea of technology and art.  My daughter has always loved to dabble in art, but was always to critical of herself thinking it just wasn’t good enough.  I always tell her art is different to all that behold it nothing is not good enough.  Now with technology she has discovered a new avenue to express herself, and post her creations on tumbler (another social site I’m just not to familiar with)  In the book it talks about how architects, machinist, and artists all work together to improve industrial design.  I can see why they would all work together, because they all could take away knowledge from the other that improves their specific discipline.  Today technology helps all three of these disciplines, I feel, move into areas they might not of ever felt possible.  For example, in architecture, with computer programs they can calculate what type of material they might need to build something to withstand an earthquake, to what degree might they be able to bend steel or some other material to get the desired look of a building they want.  Artists now can get their work noticed over the internet in minutes to millions of people all over the world. 

Hughes 1 -3 synthesis

What am I learning this week?  I'm confusing myself completely with these blogs!  I realized I have two for some reason and I'm confused as to have I posted - where is my post.  I thought I had already posted my synthesis, but obviously not - so remember to hit the publish button!  I feel that some believe that Hughes is comparing technology to God, but I think it's more just the history of how people felt/believed back then.  They believe that everything good came from God, so since technology is good it must have came from God and bringing us into a new utopia - Garden of Eden.  I don't think technology will actually bring about utopia, more so many problems and issues in the future - sometimes if it seems to good to be true it usually is.

Hughes Chapters 1 -3

I'm enjoying this book much more than Postman - I love history and have enjoyed reading about technology in the past.  Of course, it has not been the technology I once thought of - mills, farming, factories those all were the first technology.  I was also astounding to see that the first time the word technology was used was in 1831, and the first journal for technology wa sin 1959.  I think that with all the advances in technology such as the ereaders, iPads, computers, ect, I forget what the first technology was such as the printing press and the first light bulb.  Boy! we have come a long way!

Dr. Lowell stated in one of his postcasts that Hughes compares technology to God in this book.  I don't necessarily think that he is comparing technology to God, I believe he is just stating facts that years ago people such as the Pilgrams and Indians had such a faith in God that they felt everything they had was a gift from God.  I will try to explain myself a little better, but the way my mind rambles I can't promise any clarity will come about from it!  In the 16th century earlier and later in years people had a strong faith in God.  If their crops needed rain they prayed and if it rained God brought the rain.  I believe that every advancement they made from farming tools to household tools were inspired and granted to them from God.  However, if you sit down and really think about it, God gave the people that invented these items the wisdom to do so therefore they really did come from God in a way.  So, if I have made any sense at all I think Hughes is giving us a good history lesson then comparing technology to God

week synthesis

Have to admit that I'm looking forward to starting our new book!  I'm ready to move on from Postman LOL
Not only from this last week's reading, but from the whole book I've learn a couple of points that I need to work on to help me understand myself and technology better.  I still am trying to look at things differently after grasping the idea that EVERYTHING is technology - our classrooms, tables, books, and possibly even myself.  Maybe it's my age that keeps me muddling this thought over in my head - I didn't grow up with computers, MP3's and the such so, I don't know, I just see these type of items as technology because that has been what it has been called since these type of items since they started coming out.  I also want to make sure that I don't box a child into what they are capable of doing by a number.  I believe that I didn't do this at the beginning of my career, but as time has gone on it seems that that is ALL those high above are worried about, so I too focus on numbers.  It is a shame to limit kids by numbers.