Several months ago an article appeared in the opinion section of USA Today. It has stuck with me because it is constantly reinforced as I walk through campus or stand in front of my students. “Txting away ur education” (http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/06/txting-away-ur-education.html) discussed how T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, VA banned electronic devices including cell phones and iPods from its commencement ceremonies. The action spawned great debate in the school community over the value, threats, and role of electronic media devices. As I said, the article has made me more keenly aware of the usage of media devices at NCC and it is on that issue that I’d like to reflect.
One of the most entertaining parts of my day is walking in from the parking lot to my College Center office. Inevitably I meet someone on the phone. Some people are talking on the phone while they walk with their friends; others are seemingly talking to themselves on their Bluetooth; and others are talking to everyone as their voices echo through the quad. It’s great to catch up on who’s waiting for whom, who’s going where later in the day, and who’s running late for class. It occurred to me through all of this that talking on the phone is now a social activity. People do it in order to share their lives with the world. You don’t need to Twitter, you can just get on the phone and share your thoughts and life stories with everyone around you. I mean, why else would you talk on the phone when so many people can hear you. Of course, if you want to be private, you can text.
The second most entertaining part of my day is watching people text as they walk around campus or sit in a classroom. I like to see how long it takes before they start paying attention to what is going on around them. Usually they never pay attention to what’s going on around them, however, they are prescient enough to know when they should not be texting. It’s fun to make a game in the classroom over this. Standing in front of students, I peer around and over people to see who is hiding their phones or attempting to be coy in their texting conversations. I stalk my prey, watching to make sure they don’t notice as I move toward them. Then I pounce on them with the question, “So, what’s your conversation about? Are you telling your friends how great class is today?” Alternatively, I watch text-walkers to see when they are going to run into a person or a wall, especially those low walls in College Center. That could hurt!
Ultimately, though, aside from my farcical amusements with the digital communications going on around me, I do worry about the digital generation. As people rely more on cell phones, Twitter, Facebook, and texting, they are disconnecting from the interpersonal communication that can make life more vibrant and entertaining. Students are also becoming more attuned to quick answers than they are to analysis and reasoning. Don’t get me wrong, technology can and should be used to great effect in the classroom, but we need to reinforce to students that digital media is a means of communication, not just an entertainment medium. My point is this: as educators we need to make a place for these media that have taken such hold of our students, and we need to teach them the appropriate use of these media. They should not replace paying attention in the classroom or the world around us.
About the Author: Dr. Robert Smith is assistant dean of humanities and social sciences at Northampton Community College and a teacher and student of history. He earned a B.A. in history summa cum laude from Gwynedd-Mercy College, a master of arts in history from Villanova University and a PhD in history from Lehigh University. He texts, but not in class.
The Northampton Community College faculty and staff includes experts on everything from art to nanotechnology. As teachers, they enjoy challenging students and each other to think carefully and critically about topics in the news. Whether you agree or disagree with the views expressed in their blogs, join the discussion by posting your own thoughts. To do, so, click on “Join” (above) and then sign in, or e-mail your comments to hbutler@northampton.edu for posting.
Posted
Nov 25 2009, 09:42 AM
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nccfaculty