Reading Matt’s blog regarding his concern about the use of interactive tools in the process of learning echoed the thoughts I have towards these tools as well. I agree with Matt; I also “fear that all these additional steps/tasks to master/tackle multiple user names, pseudonyms, passwords, sites, pages will impede the actual learning we are here for”. I have wondered even in the course of this orientation if the time spent to set up a blog or record audio was truly necessary. I understand there are unique challenges with distance learning and finding ways to interact with colleagues’ work, however, I wonder if there are perhaps simpler ways to do this?

I should perhaps give some background. I am a millennial, I have advanced technical skills when compared with peers who are not working in the tech sector, consider myself quite digitally literate, and professionally work with youth (14-18 years old). I frequently use various mediums of technology to communicate with co-workers as well as with teenagers. In my experience, I have found that while using various tools to communicate can be immensely beneficial, it can also easily waste hours of time. In Understanding Generation Z Students to Promote a Contemporary Learning Environment, Mohr and Mohr state: “Assignments that require students to access information online should be very clear as to goals, sources, time-spent, ways to glean and evaluate the content. Providing strict guidelines for online searching and viewing and segmented assignments could help students avoid the binge mentality that can cause them to consume time and lose focus.” 1 This can be true when learning new technology as well. I, at least, can easily find myself “binging” on the new technology, trying to figure out all the nuances and capacities that it has. Before I know it I have wasted hours completing a simple task due to exploring a new software and interface. I think that as technology continues to advance, and we have unlimited tools at our disposal, which tools we use will be of immense importance.

I wonder if my experience of technology is true for others? I wonder if it is true across generations? Do we think through not only the benefits of the technology we use enough, but also its limitations? Do we think about how the limitations of certain software or apps could actually benefit us?

1Mohr, Kathleen A. J. and mohr, Eric S. (2017) “Understanding Generation Z Students to Promote a Contemporary Learning Environment,” Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence: Vol. 1 : Iss. 1 , Article 9. DOI: 10.15142/T3M05T