The Purposeful Use of Technology
Technology is a wonderful thing…or at least it can be. It can also be frustrating when it crashes, doesn’t work properly or is less intuitive than we are smart. It can also be a complete waste of time as we sift through mildly entertaining YouTube clips, follow facebook links, and skim through entertaining yet irrelevant data for a “few minutes” that somehow turns into hours. It’s a bit like turning on the TV skimming the channels in search of just the right show…but not watching anything for more than a few minutes… then realizing WOW, 3 hours has gone by.
The studies recently published on the amount of time kids spend texting and on facebook tell us that far more time is being spent on far less depth than ever before… culminating in the nurturing of a narcissistic culture that emotionally stunts the development of real character.  In short technology acting as culture accelerant moving us towards a “Shallow Hal” society. Far too many people, spending far to much time with far too little purpose, depth and meaning on the internet. One could easily write a book entitled 10,000 Keystrokes to Nowhere! (On Twitter - it could be only 140 strokes).
Still the potential of technology is too great to abandon, the possibilities to do great things and improve life with it are too numerous to count, and to infinite to imagine. So what is one to do? It’s a question whose answer is greater than I have the time or talent to answer in full. But in part I would simply suggest a mindful and deliberate focus… for “the Purposeful Use of Technology.” Â
FOR EXAMPLE - I wanted to have my own kids spend less time on facebook, line rider, and tetris, but still continue to keystroke on their computers. So for us, the “Purposeful Use of Technology,’ is focused on using technology to aid in the telling of stories and the sharing of insights and inspiration that may help others to realize more of their own potential as parents, peers, pals, or just as everyday people. And of course it is to keep current with all the tech trends - or at least attempt to.
I’ve asked our 3 oldest children… Brittany Age 14.5 , Jacob age 13, and Joshua age 10, to write weekly content for 3 separate blogs. Two of these blogs are, in my opinion, ready enough to share with you. I invite you to check them out… if inclined please offer feedback, if not - just enjoy the content. The sites will improve and get better as they do. It is my hope that this purposeful use of technology will inspire other adults both young and old to spend less time wastefully and more time thoughtfully.Â
The quote Brittany posted on “Quotes My Kids Like” yesterday” is certainliy worth consideration.
http://quotesmykidslike.wordpress.com/
http://dateswithdad.wordpress.com/
Please understand.. I’m NOT saying I have all the answers.. or that what I am hoping to do is the right thing or the best thing. But for now, it’s the best thing I can think of to do the right thing for my kids future. I want technology to do more than entertain or engage them. I want it to do far more than just provide a service for them to participate in. I want them to know how to make technology serve them as a magnifier of their natural strengths and abilities. I don’t want them to be along for the ride… I want them to be driving the car.Â
Kirk Out
May 27th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Correction… I’m “NOT” saying I have all the answers! Sheesh! Kirk
May 27th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Kirk:
I understand your concerns. I believe many of our generation and older wonder whether our younger generations are wasting their time.
I would suggest you read Don Tapscott, who has been researching children for years. I had heard of him and seen his book “Wikinomics.” But it wasn’t until I took a class last week about managing the “Net Generation” that I understood what he’s saying.
I think you’ll find his comments interesting about how our children are processing information more efficiently than we do because of their involvement with technology.
He makes several good points. But here is one that resonates and should make us Baby Boomers stop and think for a moment: Our children are the first generation where children are the authorities on “something important.” In an age where information rules, children are the ones who know how to access it faster and use it to build communities around issues faster than we ever could.
Through Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Yammer, etc., our children are connected to vast numbers of people. We weren’t when we were their age.
I won’t try to make all of Tapscott’s arguments. I can’t. But read up on him, if you haven’t.
Having your children create blogs was a great move. I would just ask you to rethink the underlying argument for doing so.
Thanks for the work you do.
May 27th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Hi Kirk,
I think it is a wonderful idea and a great way to open new doors of opportunity for our kids to learn purposeful ways of using their time, the internet, and most of all, develop their wrtiting skills…
I think I will forward this idea to their teachers at school.. It might get them to start a class newsletter…
What a great idea you had!! thanks for sharing this wit us!
Marie
May 27th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Correction: Thanks for sharing this ‘WITH’ us!.. sheesh!!! lol
May 27th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Hi Kirk — when one does something purposefully and positively, one fulfills a promise to ourself, to give something of ourselves to the growth of the world around us. Technology can allow us to extend the boundaries of that world, pretty effortlessly. Exponential growth! Perhaps your children already cherish that which you try to teach them — great effort — and good blogs!