Technology and Generation Differences

In the interview Sherry Turkle talks about a growing disconnect from the new tech savy, connected generation and the generation of yesterday. Furthermore, she implies that this new technology based generation could be bad rather than good. Yes it is true that our generation is more in-tune with technology, but as time progresses what generation isn't? Historically there have not been major changes to education in the last century, that is until the computer came along. Now we have students of all ages basically required to use a computer in the classroom or for the class. Cell phones computers with browser applications are replacing the need to go to a computer lab or whip out the laptop to do some quick research. The downside of all this is that our reliance on computers is almost to the point of no return. Children are not learning basic spelling or doing as much math because so much is done on the computer. This becomes a major problem because it creates a security issue that is difficult for most people to wrap their head around. All of this technology requires electricity and most requires the Internet. Everything comes to a halt when a storm kills the electricity for a few hours. What would happen if we were without power for several days? Rolling blackouts due to energy shortages, a terrorist attack, or a bad storm could have a crippling effect. So this is where I agree with Sherry Turkle - we cannot have so much reliance on computers and the Internet and we have to continue to teach children the basic ways of doing things. If this means making them stay in school longer then that is fine by me. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/my-life-aspergers/200911/is-technology-making-us-dumber