Comments on: The new natural: blogging with iPod touch. http://learningischange.com/2008/03/13/the-new-natural-blogging-with-ipod-touch/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:44:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: GingerTPLC http://learningischange.com/2008/03/13/the-new-natural-blogging-with-ipod-touch/comment-page-1/#comment-350 GingerTPLC Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:12:05 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2008/03/13/the-new-natural-blogging-with-ipod-touch/#comment-350 In February, Japan launched a satellite that will provide *hyper*speed wifi connectivity to all rural areas of that country and also provide service to certain other parts of Asia as well. More Kizuna details here: http://inventorspot.com/articles/japanese_satellite_provide_super_11016 and here: http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,142791/article.html They're pioneering the technology, so I'm sure it won't be long before we have our own access and it will be very difficult to be off the internet grid, even if we're off the power grid. I wonder if instead of needing to *protect* our kids, we simply need to ensure that they're aware of another option to enjoying life. Some may call it a "simple" life, but I'm not sure that's an accurate term. While I'm fully embracing all the wired/wifi possibilities, sometimes that tin foil hat appears on my head, I cannot shake the image portrayed in the book Alas, Babylon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alas,_Babylon, where due to catastrophe, we're plummeted back to absolutely no connectivity. What does humanity do then? There's a piece of me that clings to the knowledge of our ancestors; of how to survive, learn, and thrive without any of these tools. So while I'm for going full-steam ahead with teaching to kids' futures, I think it's vital to frequently appreciate the wilds of nature, especially as our children continue to be more naturally connected. Maybe that's my prairie or my hippie upbringing. I am a child of the 70's/80's after all! In February, Japan launched a satellite that will provide *hyper*speed wifi connectivity to all rural areas of that country and also provide service to certain other parts of Asia as well. More Kizuna details here: http://inventorspot.com/articles/japanese_satellite_provide_super_11016
and here: http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,142791/article.html

They’re pioneering the technology, so I’m sure it won’t be long before we have our own access and it will be very difficult to be off the internet grid, even if we’re off the power grid.

I wonder if instead of needing to *protect* our kids, we simply need to ensure that they’re aware of another option to enjoying life. Some may call it a “simple” life, but I’m not sure that’s an accurate term. While I’m fully embracing all the wired/wifi possibilities, sometimes that tin foil hat appears on my head, I cannot shake the image portrayed in the book Alas, Babylon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alas,_Babylon, where due to catastrophe, we’re plummeted back to absolutely no connectivity. What does humanity do then? There’s a piece of me that clings to the knowledge of our ancestors; of how to survive, learn, and thrive without any of these tools.

So while I’m for going full-steam ahead with teaching to kids’ futures, I think it’s vital to frequently appreciate the wilds of nature, especially as our children continue to be more naturally connected. Maybe that’s my prairie or my hippie upbringing. I am a child of the 70′s/80′s after all!

]]> By: Kevin Honeycutt http://learningischange.com/2008/03/13/the-new-natural-blogging-with-ipod-touch/comment-page-1/#comment-347 Kevin Honeycutt Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:16:35 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2008/03/13/the-new-natural-blogging-with-ipod-touch/#comment-347 Great questions and thoughts here. This always online world can be overwhelming at times like always being "on". I wonder though that kids need us as deeply into their digital lives as we dare go. To earn the right to be a mentor is to be where they are. I think when we offer advice and limits to them without understanding their world we lose their respect and the relationship becomes adversarial. Moments like this conversation offer rest areas to reflect on the journey. Great questions and thoughts here. This always online world can be overwhelming at times like always being “on”. I wonder though that kids need us as deeply into their digital lives as we dare go. To earn the right to be a mentor is to be where they are. I think when we offer advice and limits to them without understanding their world we lose their respect and the relationship becomes adversarial. Moments like this conversation offer rest areas to reflect on the journey.

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