WebliminalBlog

A Brain and A Book is yet another excellent article on teaching by James M. Lang. It appears in the May 29, 2007 edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education in the section Chronicle Careers.

Lang begins with some of the points made by Marc Prensky in his essay “Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants.” That widely discussed and referenced essay identifies most faculty as digital immigrants, most students as digital natives, and articulates the need to work with the natives on their own terms. Lang credits the essay but also brings into focus two other views. One is that there is a great deal to be learned and accomplished by people working with ideas, words, and books in a traditional form, and the benefits of recognizing the beauty of nature and where humans fit into that beauty.

I’ve been enjoying reading through the latest issue of Funny Times this week. The issue contains a section of quotes from Kurt Vonnegut as a memorial. One especially seems to fit in with the discussion of technology and teaching/life.

Kurt Vonnegut on telling his wife he’s goign out to buy an envelope: “Oh , she says well, you’re not a poor man. You know, why don’t you go online and buy a hundred envelopes and put them in the closet? And so I pretend not to hear her. And go out to get an envelope because I’m going to have a hell of a good time in the process of buying on envelope. I meet a lot of people. And, see some great looking babes. And a fire engine goes by. And I give them the thumbs up. And, ask a woman what kind of dog that is. And, and I don’t know. The moral of the story is, is we’re here on Earth to fart around. And, of course, the computers will do that out of us. And, what the computer people don’t realize, or they don’t care, is we’re dancing animals. You know, we love to move around. And, we’re not supposed to dance at all anymore.”

Kurt Vonnegut was  smart man. His statement above is as extreme as it is not really completely true, but it has the truth in it plainly only a level or two deep.

I think both Lang and Vonnegut are saying learn, think, observe, enjoy yourself, and  dance.

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DoD Confirmation List Latest Coalition Fatality: May 28, 2007

Source: Iraqi Coalition Casualty Count