Technology: Allison, Rachel, Laurel, Pat

TECHNOLOGY…
Pat had made some key points that I have copied here for all to read: "Now I am being asked to consider technology’s impact on literacy, and it finally dawned on me just how the internet, combined with a word processing program is more reflective of the way we think and write then just pen and paper or a typewriter. What brought this home to me was watching the video, which featured a hand writing the statement “technology is linear” then correcting the sentence to read “technology is unilinear.” What I found interesting about this statement is that the word “unilinear” does not even appear in my Random House College Dictionary, which was published in 2000. Nor does is appear in my computer word bank. It keeps appearing as a misspelled word, underlined in red. However, the prefix “uni” has the meaning of “one”, and linear refers to “line”. Perhaps, in relationship to technology and literacy, this means that technology reflects the way we actually think, how we actual contemplate, in that we do not necessarily think in one direction at a time, but that our synapses branch out in all directions, simultaneously, until we come to one solid thought, supported by a plethora of information. Technology now helps us to do this visually in that we can now insert graphs, pictures, links, as well as other supportive resources into our body of work – by way of the internet."
I find it quite interesting what Pat has said about the word unilinear...so what does it really mean.

I feel technology has become an essential part of my life. This class being a huge example of how we are using technology today. I would never imagine that I would be taking a class that is mostly online. I think that it is amazing that I am engaging in conversations with people from this each. I write something and they can read it right here on the Internet.
The You Tube video is an example of how we are always reading things on the computer. We can access email, news, TV shows, videos, research, and the list goes on. I have a sister that lives in another country six hours ahead of me. I think it is truly amazing that I have a conversation via email everyday with her. Once a week we chat, face to face via a computer screen. She sends news articles regarding what is going on in the Netherlands and I send her new articles about what is going on in the states.

“Many graduates started their school career with the literacies of paper, pencil, and book technologies but will finish having encountered the literacies demanded by a wide variety of information and communication technologies (ICTs): Web logs (blogs), word processors, video editors, World Wide Web browsers, Web editors, e-mail, spreadsheets, presentation software, instant messaging, plug-ins for Web resources, listservs, bulletin boards, avatars, virtual worlds, and many others.”
I feel like I am that student that started off with pen and paper, then began taking typing lessons, and then started using a computer to type all of my papers for school. Today I couldn’t imagine sitting down and actually writing a paper instead of typing it. One major reason, I hate my handwriting.

The article points out that literacy has always been influenced by the demands of life. In ancient times literacy was used mainly to record business transactions, record taxes and spread religious dogma. In many countries however, governments denied the citizens the chance to become literate as a means of subduing them. They thought that literacy would influence the people to disobedience and heresy. Democracy has changed all that. True democracy requires literate citizenry who can make informed and intelligent decisions. Globalization and economic competition and the emergence of the internet have forced governments to put provisions in place to better prepare the citizens for the future challenges.