Class Technology

 

AwakenWithJP  "Being a Millennial" Source

Technology. What a relative term it is. Why do I find it irresistible to speak of generational differences when I think of technology?

Okay...here goes. I'm a Generation Xer. I have children who are Millennial and Generation Z. I believe one thing we can all agree on is the role that changes in technology has played in our lives and that technology has, in fact, impacted our lives. Fortunately, I can't claim to need help from my kids to set up my blog or knowing how to find a meme on the internet. But, I do find myself longing for the simplicity of Street Fighter Two versus the myriad of controls my younger boys easily role through while playing Fortnite. I also find myself complaining to my kids about why they resist using the resources available to them on the internet to learn new things.

I find that my generation can't find a limit to how much useless instant information we are willing to cram into our heads from social media sites. Smart phones in the bathroom are way better than old issues of Reader's Digest, right? If I install a USB outlet above the toilet paper holder, will wireless recharging quickly make it obsolete? What an era to live in!

So, how does this all relate to class tools? I'm not sure if I can speak for all of Generation X, but I can say definitively that the combination of Canvas, Blogger, and Pbworks are a trifecta tool set that forces this Gen-Xer to think in a way that isn't completely intuitive. Responding to a subject in a conversational tone quickly while attempting to say something meaningful takes on a new dynamic when it is posted online. I'm not sure if I will ever be completely used to it. Never-the-less, the course work tools are arranged in a way that allows fairly easy path finding. I appreciate that the Wiki Tools pages are clean and straightforward. Given the fact that I came into the class late and that I have yet to use the grade declaration function, I reserve an opinion on that particular tool. It seems to be a simple enough way to tie the work done in Blogger, by the guidance of the Wiki, back into Canvas. Considering the cross platform technology resources being used for this course, I have to say, it works well for me.