The Marshal McLuhan videos really interested me because
they were in the 60’s, more than 50 years ago and they seemed to bring up
issues that we are still currently struggling to address.
I thought it was intriguing during the introduction
by Tom Wolfe, that Marshal McLuhan noted the apparent distinction between
parents and children. He discussed that the generational gap was a result of “the
disparity between a print bred generation and its audio tactical neotribal offspring”.
His language used was how he referred to television and its effects; he said
that “television is not a visual medium but audio tactical”. McLuhan recognized
the influence of television on the youth at the time which seems to almost parallel
the impact the internet and new technologies have on the youth of today.
McLuhan also noted the need for change in schools as
a result of the technology and its impact on students and education. McLuhan said
that the “new generation was bound to sit baffled and bored in classrooms run
by print bred teachers. The educations system must be totally changed”. I question how much change has actually taken
place. I wonder how many students still “sit baffled and bored in classrooms” because
teachers are not adequately prepared to teach using new technologies themselves,
let alone about new technologies.
I think it is definitely up to school to teach critical
media literacy but teachers need to be taught first. Teachers have to be
willing to move outside their comfort zone and effectively reach students. I think
if students are engaged in certain stimuli why not use those methods to our advantage
but also guide students to use new technologies more effectively and
critically.
Works Cited:
Marshal mcluhan speaks [Introduction by tom wolfe].
Retrieved from http://marshallmcluhanspeaks.com/introduction/
Alexis,
ReplyDeletemy concern with technology is in line with yours and McLuhan’s. I, too believe there needs to be more of a focus on technology within schools. Teachers need to be trained, it needs to be provided and incorporated within lessons. Kids are consumed by technology these days outside of school and we have opportunity to create that same consumption within our educational walls. It offers so much potential with engagement. Kids are supposed to learn from us! In this era it is way to frequent that teachers are learning from kids when it comes to technology.