Entry#6: Does Technology Worry You?

  When it comes to analyzing technology and the extrapolation rate of advancement within our society, many worries start to surface. The biggest worry I have is the fact that technology is leading humanity further away from the way we have lived for generations. This change can be seen in newer generations, and more predominately in the ones that follow. Think about what consumes people today: Facebook, Twitter, “reality” television shows, cell phones, laptops, and iPads. 

Important news you must read from BuzzFeed

These technological innovations and media platforms are corrupting us in ways we cannot yet comprehend. Each day the depths of our conscious and unconscious psyche are being attacked by advertising, pop ups, and information deemed “important” for consumption; I’m talking to you BuzzFeed.

         

Have you experienced this?

          If you were born in the early 90’s, like I was, you may recall being outside for a majority of your childhood. Technology that exists today was not as prevalent back then, as it was just surfacing into the world. Jumping to current day, how often do you see children with some type of electronic device? That could be a cell phone, iPad, personal computer, etc. The roots of our being were to be in nature, as it is a vital part of natural development. With advancing technology, children spend more time inside and isolated, in front of a screen rapidly placing images within your brain. It’s no secret that over the last 20 years, cases of depression, anxiety, A.D.H.D., and others have exploded and become more rampant. How can one not question the cause of this? It is a fact that children and teenagers who spend too much time watching television or playing on the computer have a higher risk of developing A.D.D. or A.D.H.D. at earlier ages. This may then result in a poorer performance in various aspects of their lives if not treated.

The many distractions of Facebook and anxiety

            Granted, without technology we would not have the advancements in medicine, sciences, and other fields that we do today. Most professions these days require the use of technology in some form or manor. Yet, when these profound innovations start affecting the development of children and teenagers, when and where is the line drawn? Technology has the power to rewire our minds and make us think differently than we would without it. I can attest to these differences. Most nights I venture outside to lie in the grass and graze up at the sky filled with billions of stars. I’m filled with thought and wonder. Contrary, a friend of mine almost obsessively lives her life on Facebook and suffers from extreme anxiety. This could be a coincidence, but the rising numbers of mental disorders don’t lie. Something has to be causing this change. There are many studies investigating Facebook addiction and its effects as well.

Keep your brain healthy!

            I think we as a society must be careful in how we approach these amazing, but potentially detrimental innovations. We must be cognizant of how they’re affecting our brain function and thought process. Advertising is the process of convincing someone to consume their product. It is highly studied and geared to manipulate its audience. When children are seeing hours of commercials in a single day, how can it not be insinuated that that is having a harmful effect? In the end, technology will keep advancing, and if we chose to do nothing, we will eventually be controlled by it. Not necessarily physically, but mentally. What do you think?

Entry#5: Arizona60 Initiative

In the article, Ducey: Why Arizona needs more college grads, we are introduced to the governor of Arizona. Yet, he switches the voice/tone of the article to appeal to citizens of Arizona by stating that he wants to talk about education as a husband and father, not an elected official. Therefore, this may expand the audience size that find interest and relate to this article. The purpose of the article is to emphasis the importance of educated people in Arizona and how that will beneficially impact the state (Ducey). Ducey tells the reader about the Arizona60 initiative, which details the state’s plan to have 60% of Arizonians with a college degree or certificate by 2030 (Ducey).

                Firstly, Ducey mentions that with a degree or certificate, a person’s opportunity pool increases (Ducey). With that, a person may be able to find a job easier; this would lower the unemployment in Arizona, as well as welfare dependent families (Ducey). I believe that in today’s society a degree, associates or bachelors, is almost a necessity to do anything. With increasing competition and population, employers seek to hire the most qualified person for the position. People that only have a high school diploma are severely limited in the options available to them regarding career paths. Not only that, they make less money than a person that has a degree or certificate (Ducey). As Ducey points out, 2 out of 3 jobs will require some sort of degree by the year 2020, which is coming very quickly (Ducey). It’s not too farfetched to think that number will increase in future years.

                Ducey states his plan of action for the Arizona60 initiative: providing an added $142 million to K-12 education and an additional $38 million to universities (Ducey). While this may sound good, he vaguely states what the money will be used for. Ducey says that he looks to provide new resources to educators with a specific goal in mind:

Increasing college readiness, working with employers to identify skills needed for today’s jobs, improving high school graduation rates and making it easier for Arizonans to finish their certificates or college degrees – these are areas that we know will move the needle. (Ducey)

I find this to be lacking details and it leaves the reader with many questions. How is the money being spent going to increase college readiness? Is it change to the education goals and process? How exactly do you improve high school graduation rates? He says in the quote above that he will make it easier to finish college degrees or certificates, but how? By making the material taught less difficult? What are the aspects that make a college degree difficult to obtain? Personally, I think the responsibility falls on the student. The student must have self-discipline, motivation, priority and time management, etc. Money isn’t going to make it easier to earn a college degree, unless the initiative wants to incorporate motivation classes into high school. I don’t see that as part of the plan.

                Ducey ends the article stating his goal to make Arizona the best place to live, work and get an education (Ducey). While the intentions of the Arizona60 initiative seem good-natured, I feel that as a citizen of Arizona I am left asking how. Indeed, the more money put into the education system the better. But this doesn’t necessarily address the specific problems that are interwoven within the current education system. For example, a local school district (Dysart) allows students to retake tests an unlimited amount of times to earn a grade they’re satisfied with. How does this policy teach students responsibility for their grades? It doesn’t. In fact, it encourages students to neglect studying entirely, skipping the vital process of learning. Moreover, this puts significant expectations on teachers to remake new tests each time a student wants to retake. The Dysart school district puts quantity over quality. They show high average grades of their students within the district, as if it was an achievement. The truth is, those district grade levels are only achieved due to students being able to countlessly repeat tests and assignments until they’re satisfied. There is no punishment for a lack of studying, besides a temporary, replaceable grade. While I hope the Arizona60 initiative corrects specific issues like this, it will take more introspect than plainly giving more money to the state school system.

Works Cited

Ducey, Doug. “Ducey: Why Arizona Needs More College Grads.” Azcentral, The Republic, 17 Sept. 2016, www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2016/09/17/arizona-needs-more-college-grads-ducey/90363958/.