Seeing the Good in Technology

This image is from toromail.azwestern.edu

Yesterday I had the pleasure of interviewing a fellow college student about their view on technology. Matt is an Engineering major in his first year at Arizona Western College. He strongly believes technology exists to help the greater good.

In Matt's daily life, technology best serves him for educational purposes. His homework and assignments are in the online database Blackboard. Blackboard allows students to check any information about their classes and to also turn in work.

When asked about the specific times he used technology, Matt could not decide. "It becomes so prevalent nowadays, that I think we use it a lot of times without realizing it."

Matt feels strongly that technology can greatly aid the lives of college students. "Lots of professors that I've had will write out their notes on the Smart Board, and then they'll post those notes online so we have the professor's work that we learned in class available to us. We can communicate with other students on the Internet...we can look at what we need to do on Blackboard. Lots of colleges nowadays have iPads they can give to students...all of their curriculum is based on that iPad. They don't even need textbooks."

His idea for helping technology advance the college scene would take place in the classroom. "I think it would be cool if all lectures were recorded. If you missed a class, or if you fall asleep during class...it'd be like you were there[in class] again. You could still learn if you weren't there."

When faced with the question on why others might see technology as negative or overbearing, Matt gave a sophisticated and analytical answer. "Technology itself isn't the problem...I think of it as a tool." Matt uses a hammer as an example. "A hammer in itself isn't bad, but if you use it wrong and accidentally hit your thumb...then you can see it as bad." "It's what people do with it, that can make it a negative thing. If they use it wrong, it can become their life and that's when it becomes a negative thing."

Even though I might be a little old-fashioned I believe Matt created an excellent argument for the benefits of technology and how it could enhance our world for the future.

A video from YouTube