Technology failings...

Technology is often viewed as an either or - either it is the answer to every problem or it is something that just gets in the way and makes things too complicated. A lot of that has to do with users either not understanding a particular technological tool, or using the wrong tool for the job. A quick example is my former boss who, more than once, would print an email, write comments, and then fax the hard copy to someone else - someone else who also had email. Instead of using email to simplify her process (click "Forward", add address, add comments, send), she would often default to whatever technology she felt most comfortable with. In this case, a fax machine.

Sometimes, though, the issues are with technology itself. Input has always been an issue. From punch cards and tape, we've switched to keyboards (physical and virtual) and mice for most input. Speech has still not yet panned out to be the 'easy input' that was promised years ago with products like Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Google has made great strides in incorporating voice into its Android phone software and its Google Home products. But it doesn't match up to what Majel Barrett could accomplish on Star Trek.

Access and cost have always been issues as well. While the cost of a basic computer has dropped considerably, most significant benefits of computers are realized when they have a high speed connection to the Internet - which again, costs money.

Computers and cell phones have also made significant impact on social interactions. People follow celebrity's on social media, re tweeting and 'hearting' Grams. The ability to respond instantly to anything comes with drawbacks. A student can respond to an online post in Canvas as easily as typing an email. The student might be in their dorm studying, or on the bus, or at a party. Does this kind of interaction prevent deep learning in favor of instant response? If so, is that necessarily the fault of technology? Or is it the electronic equivalent of a student being in class but doodling in his notebook instead of paying attention? 

Technology isn't either the ultimate answer nor an impossible problem. It is a tool that can be used well or poorly. Instructors need to work on their own technology literacy skills to better understand what is available to them. Understanding the situation and what pedagogical solution to bring to bear is how we can move education forward.