How did *I* get involved in this conversation?? Actually, digital broadcasting is the next big thing, broadly defined. Microsoft already makes a player (marketed to children) that downloads Windows Media files for viewing later. Next-generation MP3 players have wireless Internet cards built-in. The line between your TV and your computer will disappear. (Between your cellphone, too, although I find the small screen too annoying to play with.)
I know all the computers-are-bad-for-you-blah-blah-blah arguments from my close association with Media Ecology (http://media-ecology.org) at NYU. I think it's like anything - neither Valhalla nor doomsday, and that people have a choice about how they are going to integrate it into their lives. That includes educators. I was an editor for Electronic Learning Magazine back in 1996-1997, at the height of the educational technology madness. Most of the stuff that was being marketed to schools was snakeoil, and teachers and principals were under a great deal of pressure from parents to purchase educational technology because it was perceived that their children needed to "know computers" to survive in the world. This might have been true, but the stuff they were selling back then was terrible. The stuff they are selling today is much better, overall. The smart educator in 1996 is the same smart educator today - use the computer as a medium for research and expression, not for "math drills" or stupid mindless games that are supposed to teach something. (Oregon Trail fans, I am sorry I offend you.) sj ---- Original message ---- >Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 16:13:07 EST >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Re: [UC] computers bad for learning? >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Cc: UnivCity@list.purple.com > > In a message dated 3/31/2005 3:55:05 P.M. Eastern > Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > VR is the next big deal. > > ...... the "wire-heads" ...... They'll be > commonplace > in 10 and ubiquitous in 15! > > As a result, we will have the best damned fighter > pilots and tank commanders in the world, until Bots > take over. This is one area where I am rooting for > MIT's continued dominance in the field. > > Isn't it lovely how sex and war are the two dominant > power plants for technological achievement. This > speaks boldly for the USA to become the world's > greatest net exporter of marijuana. Keep the rest of > the world high and happy, while we get leaner, > meaner, and shaper. This is what the digital > revolution is all about, Dr Susan. > > Aint Amerik@ great! Susan Jacobson Assistant Professor Dept. of Broadcasting & Telecom Temple University http://countlessstories.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
