Hello from my corner of the Little Bakery,
It is Wednesday, but it seems like it should be Friday. I have spent more time working: prepping, grading, Zooming, interpreting, studying and believing in myself, yes believing I want to do the best work I have ever done with my classes, be a class I have taught before, whether it be a class that has one student or many, a class that I was assigned or I inherited. There is so much to do, but there is more I wish I knew how to do. I am never content with the work I have done. Is that a good thing? I am honestly not sure. What I know is I want to improve each and every day at what I do.
Teaching, professing, is such an amazing thing to be blessed to do. Every day I am offered possibilities to make some small difference in the life of someone who has bought into the idea that a college degrees a reasonable thing to pursue. Even that reality has changed so much since I graduated in the first class of West High School in Sioux City, IA. I grew up in a seriously blue-collar area of my town of 100,000 people. Most of the people in my section of town did not attend college for two reasons: it was expensive, and they did not have the money, and second, college was not considered essential or required. If my figures are still accurate, 40% of my students are first-gen students. They come to college both excited and fearful. They hope with all their strength that they will one day walk across that stage to receive a diploma, serving up a dream they one day only imagined. They fear and tremble with much more trepidation then they perhaps even realize, wondering if they are prepared, but not wanting to go home saying they did not make it. And yet, the world of academy is changing rapidly. That change is necessary, but it too is alarming.
I have noted for my students the consequence of technology, and what my mentor, Dr. Daniel Riordan, called the rhetoric of technology. He was an incredible mentor to me, helping me navigate a difficult time in my own career as well as supporting me after I left Wisconsin. What I realize is he became another academic advisor of sorts, and I have embarrassed his curiosity and zeal for trying new things. His philosophy was simple: “Be curious! What you learn is yours forever” (Olson Funeral Home). Technology offers opportunities to learn in ways we seldom fathom. When I relate my experience of buying my first computer (A Tandy whose memory topped out at 640K) and what it would cost in today’s dollars (between 5 and 6K) and that it was on 1987, they are stunned by what little I received as well as how much it would cost. And the reason I asked to borrow money from a Great Aunt and Uncle was also surprising to them. I already felt like I could not compete with my classmates who were technologically ahead of me. That poor Riverside boy did not have extra money, and even though he was married, we barely had enough money to live. I think Susan made 5-6 dollars an hour. That computer made my senior year in seminary much more manageable. And more importantly, it pushed me into the technological world that was barely beginning, and it changed how I understood my abilities as a student. It changed my identity.
From graduate school, as I moved into parish ministry, our church was trying to understand how to create a computer-based office, and how would we get information from one terminal to the other. Networking?? Oh my . . . by the time I would return to do a second masters and soon a PhD, the computer lab in the Walker Building on the MTU campus had a Mac side and a PC side. It was called CCLI. I learned so much about technology in that lab. A summer of Computers in Writing Intensive Classrooms (CIWIC) with Drs. Cyndi Selfe and Gail Hawisher would change my relationship and understanding of technology in a way that was mind and life altering. Those changes would be fundamental and be important in my obtaining a tenure track position with my first application. Nothing I expected to happen. Technology has created more than a profound change in daily life; it has created an identity for its users. However, one must ask about the accuracy of the identity created, and at what cost? While my late 20th and early 21st century technology usage was role changing perhaps, I am not sure I allowed to to change who I understood myself to be. Social media would establish another layer of usage, but again, I am pretty sure I did not wish or attempt to change the image or the person I believed myself to be.
Perhaps that is because I did not have to navigate my world online as the prepubescent, undersized, and frightened junior high school (now middle school) person I was. We managed things face-2-face with those around us. I did not have to worry that what happened in school would be broadcast far and wide. I was rocked to my core as I read about and watched the video of a 14-year-old girl pummeled in her school halls, and subsequently committed suicide. Certainly, there are many pieces unknown; undoubtedly, the number of levels this story is tragic or wrong are legion. I have since listened to the clips of a school board meeting where parents and students seem to indicate this sort of behavior is commonplace at this New Jersey district. I think there is more of a connection between our technology-laden existence and this tragedy than we are willing to consider. Let me offer a couple of observations. When you text someone in the house rather than call out to them or even walk up the stairs to speak with them: stop it. When you are in the same hall, the same house, the same building (within a bit of reason), go to the person rather than text, snap, or TikTok them. The importance of communicating face-2-face seems to continually lose its value, but that is an incredible mistake. As I tell my students, we are more connected now than ever before and simultaneously more isolated, and the past three years have only complicated that reality. From quarantines and isolation, from closed schools and businesses, my students admit they do not know how to interact with each other, even in class. They lament the fear they feel when required to be in a class or a social situation. Even as I write this, my brain is filled with ideas and concerns.
Those who know me well know that I am not against technology, and for the most part, I embrace it; but what have we created and what are the consequences? It is not by accident that two of my blogs lately have posted on technology. I am wise enough to know that it is not going backwards. As I write this a few days later after its inception, banks have failed, questions about how we manage our lives, things like AI and Chat GPT are on the minds of students and professors alike. Daily I read something about the consequences and concerns of this newest technology that will affect the masses. For those unaware, Chat GPT is an open source AI software (more than software I believe) that creates “a language model [and is] developed by OpenAI, [which is capable of] . . . respond[ing] to text-based queries and generat[ing] natural language . . . ” (chatgpt.org, 13March23). The concern about this ability is palpable. And yet, we should be afraid of it . . . fear generates anger, and anger generates rejection. We cannot merely reject technology because we are not sure what it will do. We cannot unplug from the world we have created. That is the verity of where we are, but is there a way we can manage it more thoughtfully? Too often it seems we have shiny object syndrome (and that is an SOS), chasing after whatever comes believe it is some panacea. I do believe what we have accomplished in the area of education has been primarily positive; however, I am willing to admit there have been unexpected consequences that have created pain, often straining the ability to achieve the outcomes that serve both student and professor most efficiently. For the most part, that efficiency, that effectiveness, is hampered by our willingness to no longer communicate effectively. When I ask students to come and see me during office hours, too often that invitation is interpreted as merely that, an invitation, something they can RSVP to or ignore. I do not believe they are impertinent; and, conversely, I believe most of them are good people, but they do not know how to be a student. That is an incredible statement, particularly in this country where being a student is what they do for 14 of the first 18 years of their lives. In my conversations with colleagues, it is apparent that my view is not unique to me. There is a great deal that makes us social animals, and the importance of our ability to socialize has been severely hampered by the limitations placed on us by COVID.
Before you think I am against all of those restrictions, I am not. On the other hand, it is possible we made mistakes individually, as a country, or as a globe . . . there is no doubt that is the case, but we did not know what to do. As I think about our world three years ago, we were stunned by what occurred in a very short period of time. We were stunned by the idea of being isolated, masked, locked-down, afraid to go anywhere. And yet, our government did what they believed best. The number of articles I have read in the last two weeks about consequence all have something in common. We perhaps went too far . . . we perhaps still needed to do much of what we did, but perhaps for not as long . . . we still do not have it all figured out. The world is different as a result. Technology and its effect on our life is much more profound than we might have anticipated. There is so much more we will continue to realize as we analyze what the global response to COVID was. It is my hope that we learn for the next time. There will be a next time; I believe this with all my heart and head.
In the meantime, I wonder what we will be as a society. I wonder how we will continue to integrate technology or it will begin to integrate us, perhaps. I wonder who we will understand the world to be as we are affected by the technology we use and develop. Perhaps the Styx song from 1983, Mr. Roboto. The song caused significant controversy when it was released, and its intention was the topic of a great deal of conversation. Perhaps it was more prophetic than we want to realize.
Thank you for reading, and I hope all is well.
Dr. Martin
thewritingprofessor55 
Very interesting post. I do think the evolution of technology combined with the lockdown of COVID has had some adverse affects, especially on the younger generation. Growing up in this more technological age, it is easy to think that this is the way that it always was and this is the way that it is supposed to be. Back when I was a kid, the Iphone was not even a thing yet and computers were still fairly slow and clunky. It wasn’t until I got older that these pieces of technology really stated pushing through the boundaries of what we thought was possible. I somewhat miss the old days of technology. I see these 7 year old children having their own personal smartphone or other smart device and it almost makes me sad. Many young kids get glued to their devices and thus will not spend as much time developing social skills and being outside. Pairing this with the lockdown of COVID that nearly forced everyone to stay in their homes for 2 years, many children missed out on a lot of their developing years. Sure, when I was a kid I was playing games on the computer when I had the chance, but I also knew when to get off it and go outside and I would not throw a tantrum when my parents told me that it was time to get off.
Technology is amazing in how it allows us to communicate across the world, as a child I never would have thought that possible with my little flip phone trac-phone. I am not trying to say by any means we should go back to the times where smart phones and other devices were still new. Sometimes I just wish that people would treat the technology the same way they did back then and to not be so reliant on it that it skews our perception of how to act and treat other people.
Saying these things about “the good ol’ days” makes me feel old even though I am only 19. Things change fast however and they will continue to change fast. Before we know it the world will be a different place with different people, and we’ll just have to sit back and watch
This is a very interesting post to me because I regularly hear very similar thoughts from my mom and sister – both teachers. My mom works as a study support at my old high school, and sees students from 9-12th grade on a daily basis. She has many students who never learned how to adjust back to regular learning after all the shutdowns. My sister teaches 6th grade and has students who spent half of elementary school with online learning. They have no idea how to socialize or be an effective student. My generation grew up with technology, but before high school I believed many of us were well adjusted enough to not depend on technology. Unfortunately, I no longer believe this. The number of times people walk into me on campus or just blatantly block paths because they cannot look up from their phones is shocking.
That being said, technology is still a very useful tool. It greatly aids in learning and can improve our daily lives. To people who grew up without technology, it must have been a crazy concept to be able to talk to anyone regardless of where they were on the world. Any information that someone desires can be found in seconds by simply asking their cellphone. I believe that technology should continue to advance, even if I understand the negative consequences it may have on developing minds. In my opinion, elementary and middle schools should ease back on technology so these students can develop their social skills normally, while high schools should allow them for more in depth learning. There cannot be any one answer to how we handle technology, and unfortunately it is down to the individual how much time they want to spend on it. I always enjoy time away from technology while existing in nature, but I have also been outside with people who were miserable that they would not get cell service during a hike. Some people are growing too reliant on technology, and that is their burden to bear. I am very interested to see what studies come out discussing the impact on technology as my generation (the first to grow up with technology) grows older and enters the work force.
Dr. Martin,
It is natural to feel a sense of overwhelm when there is much to do, and the pressure to constantly improve can be daunting. I can relate to the desire for self-improvement and the pursuit of excellence in one’s work. When it comes to writing assignments I am never satisfied with how a piece of work turned out. However, it is important to acknowledge the hard work and dedication you have put into your teaching. It is also important to give yourself credit for the work you have accomplished and to avoid being overly self-critical.
I can understand your concerns and observations about the impact technology has on our lives. It is undeniable that technology has revolutionized the way we live, work, and learn. However, as you pointed out, there are also unexpected consequences that have arisen as a result of our increased reliance on it. For instance, I have seen videos on Tik Tok of students getting caught for having Chat GPT write their essays. Whenever I see those videos, I am grateful for not having access to such an advanced piece of technology throughout my childhood. It is horrifying to think about how much future generations will come to rely on AI software. Having said this, it is tempting to reject new technology out of fear or uncertainty, but it must be recognized that we cannot simply unplug from the world we have created. Instead, we need to learn how to manage it more thoughtfully. By doing so, we can ensure that we are using technology in a way that benefits us and enhances our lives, rather than detracting from it.
Thank you,
Alenis Pena
It is crazy to me to see the difference in childhoods from when I was younger to now. Even the difference between my brother and me. We are four years apart and he had a phone before I did, plus has done lots of schooling and schoolwork on a computer since he started going. I loved the days of being outside, playing, laughing, doing work, anything that was done out there. It seems to me that some kids do not experience that because to them technology is their life. I never understand why parents that their kids grow up in front of a screen when I am sure lots of the parents today did not even know what technology was when they were a kid. I guess it is just the world we live in today, which is kind of sad.
Although, I hate the idea of what technology has taken from us and the children growing up, it does have its benefits. Let’s use connect with loved ones far and near to letting people that may need to work from home to do what is best for their family. It lets people get video calls for important appointments that may need to happen immediately but there are hours of traveling between the two. Technology has done so much for our world and continues to let us grow with it, but I will always be for having kids grow outside of technology. I have always been the one that says for when the day comes and I have kids of my own, there is will a time limit on technology. If I have one huge reason for giving my children a phone, it is for their safety because again this world has changed, and it is scary.
I believe that COVID has made technology advance at a faster rate. I recall, before COVID, that innovations were more stagnant. People wanted advancements. Now, I see, and feel, terror as we are beginning to rely on technology. If one were to take cell phones, computers, or what have you, away, then I have an inkling that they would not know how to survive. I am the same way, so I do not blame them. Part of me wishes that I had grown up before these innovations, because I feel that these devices have hindered my intelligence.
To expand on what you have said, and a little of what my parents have said, about students and the internet, I would like to say that I have seen, and experienced, first hand what it is like to be a victim of highschoolers and their internet use, since it was just beginning, and luckily I graduated before things escalated like they have now. It is absolutely earth shattering to see somebody you care about being belittled because of a pictures, videos, and even texts that somebody decides to take out of context. It is much worse now than it was back then, but it still happened to everybody that I know. It is unfortunate that had they been born just a few years prior, none of this trauma would have been instilled upon them. Technology is a dangerous thing, especially when a thousand or so kids are grouped together in one place for 4 years.
Throughout the past few years, technology has become more important for communication with my peers, but despite being good with technology, I have difficulty using it to communicate. As you mentioned, social media allows users to create another identity, however, I rarely use social media, so I communicate digitally in the same way I would in person. In high school, and even during COVID, most of my friends were from scouting, so we communicated in person rather than online, so I didn’t have much of a chance to develop social media communication skills. My messages on social media are the same as what I would have said in person, and that has created a communication barrier between me and students who communicate differently on social media.
Technology has changed the ways that people present themselves and communicate with each other, so the differing levels of embracing new technology has created gaps in society. The integration of social media into people’s lives has changed behavior, created new slang terms, influenced personal interests, and changed self-perception in many people. I am fearful of the influence Tik Tok has had on people, so I have rejected its use, and have never installed it. Some may say that I don’t get it and that I’m being unreasonable for avoiding a large part of modern culture by not having Tik Tok, but my fears are based on empirical evidence that apps like it are harmful to mental health. I have a large interest in the evolution of technology, and I embrace change, but only when change is natural. Modern technology isn’t made solely to be useful to the user; technology has become an increasingly powerful tool for the exploitation of time and wealth. Technology is so entwined with the modern world that we can’t just get rid of the harmful effects right away, but I hope that people will learn how to limit their interaction with technology to a healthy level so they are not consumed by it.
As a person who grew up in the early 2000s when technology was already a thing and becoming more popular, all I know is technology. My parents were very adamant about me not having a phone until I was a little older and never have too much time in front of the TV or any type of electronic device. My dad used to tell me stories about when he was younger and making plans to hang out with friends at school or having to walk to their houses to ask them to hang out. I didn’t grow up in an era like that and I wish I did. People my age rely so much on technology that it is almost sad and myself included. Although technology can be extremely useful and provide useful information with a few little words typed into Google, it gives us a screen to hide behind. I wish I didn’t grow up in a time when people compete to look the best or get the most likes on social media, or when we’re so comfortable sitting on our own phones inside missing the world around us. Having this mask of technology also allows for a much harsher world too. It is so easy to be anonymous online. That gives you the ability to use it in a very negative way and I’ve seen it firsthand. I graduated from Emmaus High School with a class size of just about 900 students. Cyberbullying was huge in my high school and let me tell you, even though the school was big, that stuff was spread like a rapid wildfire. Saying I wish I grew up in a generation without social media can sound a little hypocritical because in reality it is a choice to have it or not and I do have it but I genuinely do wish I was never introduced to it.
COVID-19 shattered my world. One day I was sitting in class in my senior year of high school and the next we were being sent home for two weeks because of a foreign sickness that was spreading quickly. We never came back to school after that. I never had a graduation, I never had a senior prom, I never got to walk the halls that I had spent almost 4 years in, or say goodbye to the teachers who impacted me as a student, or sit at the lunch table with the people I would most likely never see again after high school. It completely altered one of the biggest accomplishments a young person makes in their life. I had so much more confidence with things like public speaking, interviews, or just meeting new people before COVID-19 hit. After being isolated for so long, especially in such a socially impressionable time, it made me a lot more anxious about things like that. I get so anxious and timid when meeting new people for the first time or having to speak to groups of people. Even so much as talking on Zoom calls or phone calls makes me nervous. So, trying to relearn social skills when coming back to college (my second year cause my first year was also taken over by COVID) added more stress. I know many students struggled with this same problem.
Dear Dr. Martin,
I also remember my first computer: a Gateway 2000 with a CRT monitor. That baby had 128MB of memory for my adobe flash gaming (RIP Adobe Flash). It is funny to ask about everyone’s first personal computer. Many students will say now it was a smartphone or laptop, and they will never endure the noises of dial-up internet or booting up the machine. Whatever our first technological device was will be our starting point for using that technology. For example, you used it for your writing. Sadly for me, it will be gaming, first and foremost. For some, it will be for communication with others over the internet. This is how our identity starts and builds off it.
I was an avid social media user but only went a little deep into it as others did in high school. Myspace was all fun in games for me in my early teens, but at 13 years old, that’s when things changed. Cyberbullying became rampant in my school, and kids made fake profiles sending mean messages to each other. We had multiple school assemblies telling us the negatives of our online actions. Some students listened, and some didn’t; I ignored it and kept to myself.
After some growing up, I can fully use my technology to aid in my life without being a hindrance to me. I use it for my learning, Job, and personally. COVID-19 did have a significant impact on me in a different way. I was activated in the National Guard since the state was looking for volunteers. I had to learn all the things about Microsoft Teams. This was the big push for everyone to know this program to keep everyone connected. At the time, since things were changing so fast, no one was using email, just Teams chat channels. After the state relaxed its restrictions, people could hang out publicly and interact again. I remember feeling odd when things returned to normal since I didn’t remember how to interact with people I didn’t know. In time I got used to it; however, for some people, it’s harder for them to be social with strangers. While reading your post, I was jamming out to Mr. Roboto, such a classic. I didn’t know there was controversy over it. Again, thanks for sharing your thoughts Dr. Martin.
Luis Fuentes
Hearing the self-conflict to continue to improve is admirable, however if you’re unable to get satisfaction from the work you have done, then that could be harmful to your growth. I hope that you are able to find ways to be more content with your writing in the future. I’m sure reflecting on the improvement of your writing throughout the years could bring a better outlook on your work.
Moving forward, I really like the quote which mentioned curiosity. I feel like I can relate to desire for learning new things, especially as a kid during my time in Boy Scouts.
It is really fascinating considering a world in which modern technology doesn’t exist and today’s ancient technology is just being invented. Growing up with the ease of integrating technology in my life made so many things such as learning, entertainment, and navigation worry-free. Along with this it provided an additional way to express myself and project the person I want be to the world. There are certainly costs to this level of freedom and exposure, however as long as caution is practiced and firm rules are established, it is possible to navigate the technological world and avoid trouble. Situations do arise when technology is improperly being used like in your example, but I feel a main cause for these cases is poor judgement and ignorance.
Dr. Martin,
I completely agree with your thoughts on technology. While I would still consider myself part of the generation with a lot of growing technology, I was born in the early 2000s. All we had was an old computer that was rarely used and one of those big TVs in our living room. That was until I got a bit older and everyone in my family had flip phones. I remember seeing my first iPhone when I was in junior high and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Now they make a new one every few years and they’re able to unlock with your fingerprint or by recognizing your face. We now have flat-screen TVs in almost every room of my house, and I own way too many Apple products.
I enjoyed that you mentioned the benefits of technology. I feel like most of the time all I hear is how it’s destroying our world, which I can see as understandable at times. There are definitely benefits to technology, but as you mentioned, things like Chat GPT make it a little scary. I find myself guilty of overusing technology. I try not to check my phone in the morning, because it leads to me staying in my bed for an extra hour or so, wasting my time on social media. It has definitely affected the way I communicate with people face-to-face.
I can relate to what you said about not being content with the work you get done. I think in a way it’s a good thing, but can also see it as being self-deprecating. I could get everything done on my to-do list and still tell myself I should’ve done more. I think having a trait like that shows a hard-working person. Wanting to be a better version of yourself is definitely a good thing!
Something I thought a lot about when in high school was, “Do I need a college education to get a decent job?” I grew up around a family that dabbled in a lot of different things; my dad went to college for about a month, then dropped out, but landed a job as a production superintendent for a local gas company; my mom has her LPN and also a health science degree, and my closest aunt went to cosmetology school and then 15 years later changed and became an LPN. I watched my dad succeed without a college education, but to this day, he still wishes he would’ve at least gotten an associate degree; I landed on the conclusion that college is pretty important, but it isn’t for everyone. I originally wanted to be a petroleum engineer… odd, I know, considering I’m almost finished with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. However, all it took was for me to look at what my life would consist of in college to change my mind to something I would enjoy more.
Along the topic of college, technology is HUGE. I got a handle on technology, considering I spent the entirety of my college freshman year online due to COVID-19. Still, I’m not too fond of some things about the internet and computers because I felt it took away some of my experiences in nursing school. For example, I wasn’t able to have anatomy and physiology in person, so I was stuck looking at my computer and Zoom all day instead of using hands-on techniques to learn. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for the advancements in our world that allow us to continue our education in the comfort of our own homes, but there’s also a lot to learn.
Something I’m appreciative of is the advancements our healthcare system has made. My dad suffered a stroke at the age of 45; with the technology we have, neurologists were able to scan his brain to show not only what caused it but what damage it had done. I’m thankful every day for those advancements that attributed to the care of my dad, and his overall recovery. I get to see these miracles every day in the line of work I do, and I don’t think everyone appreciates it as much as they should; I’m not dismissing the fears people have of technology, because they are valid, but I see it as one more step towards curing and treating diseases/conditions that we couldn’t before.
As I read through your post I started to think to myself how I couldn’t agree more to what you have to say. Front he technological differences we see today and what you went through during the early stages of your career is amazing but also scary at the same time. When we speak of identity, the first thing that comes to my mind is how I perceive myself in-person rather than online or through a profile. The days of an identity being what you say and how you act without that being pushed through social media is closing in rapidly. That is what I find so scary at the same time.
Technology has become a great asset to those trying to reach out and spread their message to those willing to receive it has truly been remarkable and does what technology is supposed to do, make life easier. At the same time, we start to lose all sense of humanity piece by piece through each text and each post that we send out. Instead of talking to somebody face to face, it has become much easier to send a text and to have them reply back via text. I believe our world is changing for the better but at what cost? Our humanity? Our identity? I believe only time will tell how this next generation will play out. As much as I am excited for the next stages of my life, at the same time, I also worry for what is to become of ourselves.