Reflection+-+Technology+Matters

Reflection Paper #3 //Technology Matters// EDL 755

There was a lot of information presented in David Nye’s //Technology Matters.// I appreciated his observations and examples especially regarding the themes of the landscape of technology, work ethic, change process and education. Overall, there was a lot included in Nye’s book, with some application to my classroom and leadership experiences.

The introductory material presented by Nye was thought provoking. I liked when he created a much larger context for me to think of technology in. So often I get stuck thinking of technology in terms of computers, ipods, and web tools. He broadened my view when he stated, “Technologies have been part of human society from as far back as archeology can take us into the past” (7). It is interesting that simple tools that we take for granted once represented change that had to be adopted and adjusted to.

Nye spent some time discussing the flattening of technology. In connecting with each other we are seeing that there is a shift in perception of culture. He stated, “Indeed, the greater the pressures of globalization the more attractive difference became” (85). We also have seen that, “multiculturalism as a whole might be seen as a part of the invention of tradition” (85). These statements were interesting to me in the balance of what we learned about the world being more connected, and the cultural impact we all have within the context of social justice.

Another topic that was discussed was the landscape of technology. Nye believes that, Landscape is not natural, it is cultural. It is not static, it is part of an evolving set of economic and social relationships. Landscapes are part of the infrastructure of existence, and they are inseparable from the technologies that people have used to shape land and their vision (88-89). This landscape reminded me of our conversations about change and the leadership role that we have. I am reminded that the changes around me are evolving and part of cultural and social change. As a leader it is essential for me to use wisdom when the landscape looks like it is changing, or when I am causing the change to occur.

Work ethic was another theme that was discussed in this book. At the beginning of chapter 7, Nye discussed how there has been a change and shift in how work is done. I spent time thinking about his statement about work, when he wrote, “Work is a social practice, requiring coordination between people, and a workplace contains an ensemble of tasks that must be orchestrated” (110). This reminds me of the days “songs of learning” that I share with my students. I need to remember to coordinate with my students and collaborate with other professionals.

Nye went on to discuss how changes in the work place have gone on to influence a change in ownership and control. He refers to the thoughts, “If you like control, then it is frustrating. Data opens the organization. Everyone has to be more humble, modest, and open” (124-125). This struck me because we have seen several times in the last year where technology and that access of data has had major political implications. I am reminded of the times that information is shared through web technologies that make information instantly accessible for all.

The next area that I found interesting from Nye’s book is about education. He gave an example from the Scandinavian countries about educating their people rather than changing the technology in vehicles to combat the problem of drunk driving. This sample struck me because I think we sometimes want to take the quick and impersonal way to fix a problem. In this case, going back to the basics of educating their people (and giving a large fine) impacted the behavior of their population.

One final point that Nye made was contrasting single-tasking and multi-tasking. I often think that we are trying to cram too many things into our fast paced lifestyles. He supports this when he said, “An increasingly technological society may be driving us toward sensory overload” (186). His statement particularly struck me after reading the book, //The Shallows.// I will be reflecting more of those thoughts in my next reflection paper, but for now I am struck by the consistency of these ideas.

Overall, I enjoyed the ideas that Nye shared in this book. I liked many of his ideas, and found several strong connections to my classroom and our leadership focus. I found it interesting when he said that we must “adapt to each new instrument and device and learn to (re)interpret the world…” (185). As a professional it is essential for me to challenge myself to continue to pursue changes and adaptations in technology, while at the same time creating and encouraging the skills and relationships that my students need in the real world.