Technology is a nonstop advancement in this day and age. When it comes to society, technological advancement is something to be kept up with; hence, digital literacy is on the rise. This brings one to the question of whether or not this rise in digital literacy is a negative or positive event. As we move further into the future, the digital literacy and knowledge seems to be increasing, not only on a group level but on an individual level as well. This effect is largely because of the computer. With its high demand and lower costs, it is becoming more available to a wider audience. All of this availability brings us to a slight domino effect. As technology increases, so does the computer, and then so does the digital literacy; hence, the argument can be proposed. Is all this technological advancement positive or negative on individuals?
When it comes to society and its technological developments, the amount of the societies advancement funnels down to the advancement of the individuals. Digital literacy can now be introduced. Digital literacy is the ability to locate, organize, understand, evaluate, and create information using digital technology. The amount of people able to do this now is only increasing. Computers are introduced into kindergarten classrooms, according to the Universal Design for Statistics, at a rate of five students for every 1 computer. This means that children at the young age of six, children are improving their digital literacy from simple interactive games on the computer to loging into a class website. Clearly the upcoming generations are becoming more digitally savvy, but are they truly improving their skills about technology or are they just being controlled and simply using a tool, as Selber would say. This brings up the argument again of whether this technology is positive of negative to the individual.
Selber views individuals becoming users of technology versus producers of technology. This statement can be seen from both sides of course: a student becomes more literate but only to use the tool, not necessarily to create one of its own. From personal experience I would have to support Selber on this statement, because yes, I learn how to use the iphone even though I don’t have one. I learn how to work the new ipods, cameras, computer programs, and hip websites including facebook. In the end though, I would never venture out to create my own. This could be because of the lack of interest in my personal preferences, or simply because I don’t know how. Any reason or other, digital literacy is becoming more developed at a young age, and as of now, it seems to be a positive outcome. Young people are able to adapt to technological advancements around them, and become more enveloped with the technology so that maybe one of the 100 kids will want to create his or her own technological creation.
As the digital literacy increases, the amount of technology that is in the classrooms is also at a rise. Students and teachers are becoming more adjusted to using technology in the teaching/learning process. Does this mean that the negative effects of the technological advancement is that the individual becomes dependent? One could say of course, because there are cases to support it. According to the American Statistics website, 99% of schools have computers readily available for students at all times. Beyond computers even, overhead projectors that connect directly to the teachers computer is a technological advancement. In colleges, the slideshow presentation can not be done without this overhead technology, does that make the teachers dependent? I would have to say not so much, because the information can be taught in other ways. The over head projector just makes it easier for the teacher to teach the material. Assignments are posted online, some teachers even use blogs/websites to keep in constant contact with the students, which means that the computer rules. The computer is the networking and connecting key to society now days. The dependent question can be brought up again in this sense; students need to check their assignments so they must have a computer. Dependent on the fact that it exists and works. But to strengthen the argument, the calculator can be introduced. It is a technology, just a tiny one that many people over look. In a math class a student can use his or her graphing calculator to graph any of the whimsical algebraic equations in the click of two buttons. This is where dependency on technology is revealed. If you ask the student to solve the equation without the help of a calculator, the chances are higher that the student would not be able to versus the fact that the student could. Does this mean that students are not truly learning the concepts behind the math; technology was supposed to just help and speed up the process of learning the equation, but it generally does not. Technology can create dependency as well as aid the learning process quicker(clicking 2+2=4 is much faster than writing it out completely on the chalkboard). So the argument is there, but can be fought from both sides: technology and its advancements are positive or negative to the individual?
Every day leads to new technologies. As technology is introduced into schools, generations go by and become more digitally literate. This digital literacy in return helps create new technologies. Like a circle, it’s a continuous process. As this process goes on, and society advances, one can narrow down the technological advances into each individual. As individuals become more digitally literate and learn to manipulate technology, it benefits them for the future: technology effects the individual positively. On the contrary, technology is so readily available, one can become very dependent on it; hence, technology has negative effects on the individual. I am not to push my opinion about technology onto the reader, I am only here to present the argument and case, because technology is growing at a rapid rate, and it will be up to the individual to decide whether he or she wants to be the user or use technology as a tool.