One of the things that we know for sure is that technology is something that moderates power. Largely the technologies that do the most moderation are those that deal with communication. So when we think about those who don’t have access to technology, we usually look at those that don’t have the money. But what about those that, even in our own back yard are not empowered because they can’t communicate in a manner that we (the great we) can understand?
This came to me this morning after reading a few articles. First, the Technology Review article on using eye tracking to replace the mouse, the second was Wes Freyer’s iPhone post and the last was TechLearning’s article on kids with special needs being the forgotten part of the divide. It was also inspired by my nephew’s first words in both baby sign and “talk” (da-da).
All these bits talk about somehow making use of an alternative interface to make use of technology – even using Hawking as an example of what technology has enabled one individual to do – but we know that the interface is not going to be enough, we need to change the environment as well (that whole web2.0/school2.0 thing). If we keep thinking that exams have to be taken in a certain way and we don’t look to see what our new tools allow us to do, then it seems to me that all the innovations in communication are for not.
We need to ensure that students have every opportunity to be able to communicate their level of learning to the instructor in their own manner. Granted that won’t sit well with people who are going to turn around and say that they don’t want their lawyer to explain law using pictures, but this is not what we are going for. If a student is able to get the ideas out when, where and how they want, they can experience success and that may eventually enable them to explore other avenues of communication. So many of us are in jobs that even a few years ago didn’t exist so how are we to know what types of communication skills our students are going to require when they hit the workforce?
They are not all going to manipulate text, so why force them (because it’s easy right?)? They are not all going to be dancers, but for those who are, why deny them in school? There are some subjects and topics that won’t lend themselves as easily to alternative communication methods, but many do and for those, I hope that as we create new teachers and new scholars, that they are able to understand these alternative means of input. If we allow this, then the touch input of the iPhone and similar devices will open up a world to a range of people who may never have been able to manipulate mice and keyboards or allow for icon driven interfaces that even the very young can use. Eye tracking can allow for people who are only able to move their eyes to communicate in the same manner by manipulating icons on the screen. If these doors are opened for those with limitations to their physical ability as we see it now, can you imagine what others without similar impediments could do? Maybe nothing that great, but at least then they would have another mind to communicate with.
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