Skill of the Week: Use of Technology
Technology is often used for entertainment purposes, and it also has many learning and development applications. It is easy to spot some purely entertainment options (i.e. t.v. shows, movies, videos & memes), and there are many purely educational and business technologies (i.e. accounting software, coding, creating infographics, bibliography/citation, & testing/quizzing activities).
Those lines have become increasingly blurred: social media platforms and collaboration platforms can also be utilized for education, and gamification is becoming increasingly common in classrooms (for a few examples); also, in the business world social media is being used to engage potential customers for the purpose of marketing and building rapport.
Regardless of the chosen use of technology, it begs the question, “What makes using it a skill?”
Description
Technology is the most pervasive and exponentially accelerating phenomenon in the last few decades. There is little debate over what constitutes technology these days, but it is far more controversial to what extent we ought to engage with it.
The skills in using technology involves selecting and applying technology without being used by it. In order to select appropriate technology, one must have an understanding of its uses- both its benefits and its limitations. This does not mean understanding the coding or algorithms used in the technology; rather, an understanding of its applications and its impact on us as users.
To be able to apply the technology appropriately depends on the circumstances around its uses. For example, if you want to create a graph, there are many apps, tools and software programs that you could use. You might want specific features or capabilities and that might narrow down the options a bit, but the specific tool that you use also depends on which ones you are familiar with using. It may not make sense to use a more complex program that you are unfamiliar with (and therefore takes a long time to create the graph); on the other hand, the tools you are familiar with may not be capable of the desired end result. At some point, it makes sense to take the time to learn how to use a new technological tool.
Common Problems
There are two ends of the spectrum that can hold us back from using technology to its greatest potential: a lack of experience (and comfort) with technology, or an over-dependence on technology to the point that it negatively affects other aspects of the individual’s life. One is an under-utilization of technology, the other is an overindulgence in technology.
The multi-billion dollar question is, “how much technology is too much?” There are countless studies that have been done that emphasize a greater use of technology in our lives (and our kids’ lives) while many other studies have raised significant cautions on how attached we become to our technology.
I don’t have the solution, but I believe that the user’s age plays a significant role.
Children, teens and young adults are often drawn to technology as "digital natives", so getting kids comfortable learning how to use technology is rarely the issue. The big battles in family homes revolve around uninhibited use of technology to the detriment of their developing brain and in-person relationships.
Those aged 30+ likely had limited exposure to technology through their childhood and teenage years, so as “digital immigrants” are more likely to be cautious about learning and integrating new forms of technology into their work and lives.
Caveat: I am not suggesting that every new tool and piece of echnology is worthy of our attention, but if you find yourself reluctant to engage in a new program, app or software simply because it is new, it may be time to take a second look.
Approaches to Improve
Parents of kids or young teens have a significant role to play in guiding their children toward wise use (or consumption) of technology. I would highly recommend limiting passive technology engagement (i.e. TV, movies, YouTube videos, video games, etc.), while encouraging using technology to accomplish something for learning purposes (within reason). We need to be purposeful in how we engage our kids/teens in discussion about how we use technologies- identifying both the benefits it brings, and the drawbacks of its abuse and dependence.
If young teens are given clear guidelines on the appropriate use of technology and are accountable to their parents, then as they get older and (hopefully) begin to see the wisdom in this approach for their benefit, will continue in a similar pattern of use without dependence.
For those of us who are no longer minors (some of us well past that), there are some questions to consider when you are faced with the choice of whether to use technology (or which tool to use):
- Do I have control over this tech tool/app/program, or does it have control over me?
- Is this the best tool to accomplish what I have set out to do?
- If there is an unfamiliar tool that is better than the ones I know, is it worth my while to learn it (i.e. will I likely use it again)?
- Is this tech tool making my life easier, or just requiring more of me with no real gain?
If you are a reluctant user of technology, take a class, ask for help, or look for a helpful how-to video on YouTube. It really does have everything.
If you have developed a reliance (or even an addiction) to a technology, it may just take a bit of time away from specific programs/apps, or setting time limits for its use to come back to a more healthy relationship with our devices, and enable us to develop strong inter-personal in-person relationships that our very souls crave.
All the best in your quest to restore a right relationship with technology.
Matt Bean
www.foundationscareercoaching.ca
