The Takeover

Technology is quickly taking over the world one minute at a time. Every morning, I roll over and check my phone. I check for text messages and missed calls then quickly open up one of my many social networks apps. It maybe Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. I’m at a point in my life where I check all of my social networks more than three times in an hour.  In my WEPO course last year we had to take a survey on how much our lives revolve around technology and how much time we spent using technology in 24 hours. At first, I was like this would be fine but I soon realized not only did I use technology for entertaining purposes but for communication as well. The impact that technology has on society today is mind-boggling and will continue to have an influence on our everyday life.

According to New York Times contributing writer, Tamar Lewin, “the average young American now spends practically every waking minute – expect time in school – using a smart phone, computer, television or other electronic device.” Our world revolves around technology. This era is all about the Internet and shows how we communicate through technology and how it will most definitely increase over the years. This is why I chose to read the case study,  “Tech-savviness’ Meets Multiteracies: Exploring Adolescent Girls’ Technology-Mediated Practices” by Kelly Chandler-Olcott and Donna Mahar. In the case study, Kelly Chandler-Olcott and Donna Mahar observed two adolescent girls in the seventh grade on their use of technology. The case study explores how the two girls didn’t just use technology for academic reasons but for their interests, mainly Japanese animation. Both girls are interested in Japanese animation but engage their interest on the web in different ways. One creates webpages while the other participates in message board and forums. Both Kelly Chandler Olcott and Donna Mahar wants “to contribute to the growing body of literature on adolescent literacy that has moved beyond the classroom and explore the aspects of identity construction that have rarely been investigated in studies of adolescents’ use of technology for literate purposes.”

According to Anne Collier’s blog on The Christian Science Monitor, children games are increasing social literacy. The blog consisted of how a child being online creates new types of literacy through games, social networking forums or SNF. Adolescents are beginning to use technology at younger ages. Technology has become very important in terms of communication and interaction and Collier expresses that in her blog about how children ranging from the ages two-five years old are now using technology everyday. One statement that sparked my interest in the blog was, “Research also suggests that SNF can also promote some forms of social and identity development” (Collier).  I can definitely relate to this statement because I have seen my little sister grow up using technology. For example, my little sister is five years old and she has an iPad. She uses her iPad to play educational games, watch movies, and listen to music. Since she is using technology at such a young age her familiarity with certain aspects of the Internet has increased her reading skills. Not only are her reading skills increasing but her social and identity skills as well. According to Dr. Michael Rich, (a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Boston), agreed with the fact that technology should be accepted into a child’s environment. He stated that technology is, “like that air they breathe, the water they drink and the food they eat” (Lewin).

In the case study, Chandler-Olcott and Mahar discusses how adolescents have “expertise use in an activity system does not always flow from older to younger participant” (Chandler-Olcott and Mahar). Since adolescents are exposed to technology at such a young age their familiarity isn’t the same as adults. From my experience, my little sister can use an iPad more efficiently than my grandparents due to her familiarity with the product at such a young age.

This also leads to the fact that technology is starting to be incorporated in the classroom. Look at this course. Our entire course is based upon technology. Looking back when I was around five or six years I would have never thought that I would be allowed to bring my laptop to class let only create a blog. I agree with the fat that technology should be used in the classroom while teachers are saying that technology is changing how students learn. According to Matt Richtel’s article, “Technology Changing How Students Learn, Teacher Say”, technology is affecting students attention span. Teachers aren’t so thrilled that students are constantly on the Internet, which is decreasing their attention span that is making it harder for teachers to capture their attention. An English teacher at Troy High School in Fullerton, Calif., states, “I’m an entertainer. I have to a song and dance to capture their attention. What’s going to happen they don’t have constant entertainment?” (Richtel).  I think that all teachers should incorporate technology in their studies to keep up with the times. I wouldn’t necessarily call teachers ‘entertainers’ but I believe they should engage their students and technology is the new way to do that. Why not incorporate technology into your lessons? Technology is gradually being seen everywhere and the classroom is definitely one of those places.

Technology is taking over. The use of technology could be seen everywhere and I wanted to relate my opinions based upon Chandler-Olcott and Mahar’s research. So the question is are you prepared for the takeover?

Analytic Response

Works Cited

Lewin, Tamar. "If Your Kids Are Awake, They’re Probably Online." New York Times [New York City] 20 1 2010, n. pag. Web. 5 Feb. 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/education/20wired.html

Chandler-Olcott, Kelly, and Donna Mahar. "Tech-savviness’ Meets Multiliteracies: Exploring Adolescent Girls’ Technology-Mediated Practices." Reading Research Quarterly. 38.3 (2003) : 356-385. Online.

Collier, Anne. "Kids online: Social media sites can help develop identity, study says." Christian Science Monitor. 31 Jan 2013. Web. 5 Feb. 2013.

http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Family/Modern-Parenthood/2013/0131/Kids-online-Social-media-sites-can-help-develop-identity-study-says

Ritchel, Matt. "Technology Changing How Students Learn, Teachers Say." New York Times [New York City] 1 11 2012, n. pag. Web. 5 Feb. 2013.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/education/technology-is-changing-how-students-learn-teachers-say.html?pagewanted=all