Jan 12 RTS 1-2: "I Hate Paradigms"

Jan. 12 - RTS, Ch. 1 and 2

I want to say first of all that I really hate paradigms, especially ones that pertain to education and sociology. Paradigms are rarely presented humbly with the disclaimer that the viewpoint expressed is subject to interpretation (although pertaining to a topic that is). They are almost always presented as hard and fast reality. The detriment of these paradigms is the proverbial "Box" that must always be thought outside of to hold weight and credibility. If one is to think outside of the box, why is a paradigm even made?

However, the ones presented in this chapter are ridiculous for presentation as authoritative. There are two in the first two chapter of Rethinking Technology in Schools, both of which contain 4 labels each that resemble vague archetypes. The first paradigm contains on its horizontal axis "Responsible Citizen" versus "Savvy consumer." These two personalities are illogically placed as oppositional to one another. To my knowledge, the most responsible citizen is often the savviest consumer as well. To be moderate on this scale suggests both irresponsibile citizenry and stupid consumption. On the vertical axis, the flaw is that the two labels, "Casual Acceptance" and "Skeptical Rejection" have little to do with real perspectives of adolescents. Whether or not technology is rejected is mostly based on practicality--that is, demand for the technology (a combination of desire and ability to pay) and its ease of use. If a teen rejects software, maybe he/she is untrained or unable to use it or has no desire for it. Highly desireable technology, like MP3 players, are usually rejected for their price and not because of skepticism.

The second paradigm also has two dubious labels opposed to one another--"Cultural Critic" and "Educated Consumer." If I'm not mistaken, both of the instructors for this class try to fashion themselves as both. Someone in the middle could be considered culturally passive and an uneducated consumer in this odd model. On the vertical axis is "Celebrant" and "Protectionist." Both of these terms mask deeply complicated issues with misleading labels. Someone who celebrates technology does so for a number of reasons. Technology is celebrated in advertising for monetary gain (think of colorful iPod ads). Techonology is endorsed by world leaders to advance education and information wars for political power (think of the Cold War). Someone who shuns the use of technology as a "protectionist" may have many different reasons as well. Parents may be wary of giving young children access to the internet because of security reasons (pedophila and kidnapping) or ethical ones (pornography, censorship). Schools may advise against technology because of its cost and liability of theft. Even some religious sects denounce the owning of technology as entanglement and nonconducive to a good lifestlye. What needs to be understood is that technology is always a means to an end and except for those who study them, the world is less interested in technologies than in the results they achieve.