Knowledge, Technology and AT&T

Reading Krug, it’s easy to see he’s a determinist (or in my words, a negative Nelly when it comes to technology). While I don’t subscribe to the determinist theory, I was particularly struck by his discussion of knowledge, or logos. Krug points out that we often wrongly believe technology will make us smarter, which is contrary to what AT&T wants us to believe:



Like AT&T, we often mistake access to information to be the same as knowledge. As we discussed in class on Tuesday, information means nothing until we interpret it and give it meaning. The ability to look up massive amounts of information on the Internet doesn’t make us any smarter. In fact, many argue it does the opposite. Just like the introduction of the alphabet reduced our ability to memorize, similarly search engines inhibit our capability to “know’ anything. We rely on Google to find it for us.

Krug presents knowledge to be “a process of engagement with the world.” He points out that we don’t gain knowledge by having access to books, encyclopedias, or the Internet. Rather, we must experience knowledge for ourselves. Our graduate program is built on this concept which is why we use the Socratic Method in a seminar setting instead of being tested on memorizing theories and researches.

Knowledge comes as we create meaning for the world and the many relationships we observe within it. Unfortunately for many education reformers, introducing technology to the classroom is not a solution to make our students smarter or more competent individuals.

Are there any teachers out there? What role does technology have in your teaching?

An Extension of Ourselves

In the beginning of McLuhan’s Laws of Media, he introduces the concept that artifacts are extensions of our physical bodies and mind. One of the first examples is weaponry. Instead of using our fists and teeth to fight and defend ourselves, we use guns, swords and knives. The further the weapon distances us from the target, the less restraint we have inducing violence. It makes the violence more impersonal. The Frontline documentary touched on this McLuhan concept when it featured the virtual bomber pilots. The leader of this group stresses the reality of the situation to his pilots on a regular basis, but the documentary asked, do they fully comprehend the weight of their decisions?

I thought this was an interesting concept, and I asked myself if it transferred to social media. What are some situations online where we can see a lack of restraint? I came up with several common examples :

- Cyber bullying. A prevalent problem now being addressed by schools and parents, the effects of cyber bullying have been as drastic as victims committing suicide. Are kids meaner or more sensitive than they used to be, or is the technology impacting their behavior? Cyber bullying could be due to the fact children don’t witness their victim’s reaction in person. They are distance from the consequences of their actions.


Source: isafe.org



- Online gambling. A credit card was an extension of an extension; it is a virtual representation of our money which is an extension of our labor. People gamble online using their credit cards without feeling like they are truly gambling, and they can lose thousands of dollars in the process.

- Slander. It seems like every day someone is retracting a comment they tweeted or posted on Facebook. We get a false sense of security and privacy online, and often we share information or “say” something that we quickly regret. Many college students have experienced this phenomena when they realize a YouTube video or Facebook pictures has cost them a job.

I agree with McLuhan to a certain extent that these extensions lead to a lack of responsibility for our actions. I think we still feel responsible for our actions, but it has to be made real to us. Participating in the virtual world makes us feel removed from the situation, and It can take a dose of reality to make us feel responsibility and remorse. For instance, the outcry of a community can lead someone to apologize for a statement posted online, and a face-to-face confrontation with a bullying victim can motivate us to change our ways.

Classmates, what do you think? Does technology distance us from reality? How connected do you feel to your online interactions? Do you view them as a separate world or reality? (Think of the World of Warcraft people) What other examples can you think of that demonstrates this concept?

About Me

Welcome to my blog! I've created "Musings of a 20-something" as part of my graduate communication class. I'll respond to assigned readings here, per the syllabus, but I also hope to share some insight into my life: a twenty-something employee, student, and wife.

A little bit about me:

I'm an Alma College grad. I've quickly realized this is very unique in the masters program at Grand Valley State University. Everyone else seems to be from GVSU or Western Michigan University. My small, obscure liberal arts college doesn't even seem to be on the radar. That's alright. I studied Communication and Sociology, sang in the Alma College Choir, and did college student stuff, like eat a lot of cereal and make life long friends.

I've worked at Baudville for three years, starting one day after I graduated from college. My current title is Public Relations Coordinator, and I do a little bit of everything PR, web, marketing and employee recognition. I've edited and maintained Baudville's blog for over a year now. If you're interested in employee recognition, check it out!

In my free time, I love to read fiction, go running, and hang out with my husband around our Middleville house. We like the quiet of the country, and our home is our little escape. He's also in graduate school at GVSU, so you may see us around campus before or after class. We're kinda cute.

I decided to go back to school because I think a masters degree will be important in 10 years in the working world. Many of my contemporaries went to graduate school after college because there were so few jobs available. I believe graduate degrees are going to be expected of our generation, and I want to make sure I compete in the future. Getting my masters is also a personal goal of mine to further my education, and I believe it will help me lead a marketing communications department in the future.

That's enough about me. What about you?