Does a screwdriver make a good hammer?

February 26, 2008

My dad is a Mr. FixIT guy. It would make him nuts when I would grab whatever tool was handy and use it as a hammer or to pry something open. He is a firm believer in having (and using) the correct tool for the job at hand. We need to remember this as professionals working with technology integration. We are the ones who understand the tools. We are the ones who should model and assist others in selecting the correct technology tool and assist others in utilizing it to accomplish the job at hand. We can quickly look in the toolbox and select the correct tech tool.

Those of us that mainly focus on videoconferencing as our technology enjoy the interactive, visual, synchronous nature of the medium. This was highlighted in T.H.E. Journal article, “Face Time” in January. Then, Janine posted her rant which got me thinking about what is the value of synchronous vs. asynchronous and how they intersect.

Flash forward to her latest post on interacting with scientists, which made me think of how we have to know the purpose of using any technology or Web 2.0 tool before we use it just to use it.

(I am headed toward making a point…hang on) Look what Wes Fryer posted yesterday…scroll down past the picture of all the gadgets to get to the part that caught my eye.

For those who believe and continue to act in ways which reveal their belief in learning as a fundamentally transmissive act, a day HAS dawned when fear is justified. Every teacher and learning interaction which CAN be replaced by a virtual learning experience SHOULD be replaced. I tire of dealing with folks who continue to not only cling to, but vigorously defend the anachronistic, 19th century teaching model of “asynchronous, non-interactive” face-to-face learning.

And he has even started a graphic to represent how technology tools fit into these categories. This fits right into the ongoing synchronous/asynch discussion and adds interactive vs. non-interactive.

So, keep this in mind as we continue to plan projects and select supportive technologies…don’t use a screwdriver when you really need a hammer! You might hurt yourself :-) 

Posted in Supportive Technologies