I found
Marshall McLuhan presentation in the video,
Living in an Acoustic World, to be oddly relevant nearly 40 years after its filming. McLuhan
speaks of the "medium is the message" is something that is very
true today. He explains that this remark reflects "a hidden environment of
services created by an innovation, and the hidden environment of services is
the thing that changes people. It is the environment that changes people, not
the technology"(p. 11). As new innovations develop, the older way of doing
things becomes obsolete thus changing people. We now carry minicomputers in our
pockets and have the world at our finger tips. The way we interpret information
as well as the way it is presented is constantly changing. No longer are we
getting objective information but rather are immersed in whatever is happening
whether it be via computer, television, or the Internet. This immersion has
created a greater level of participation but it has also created social
isolation in many respects as well.
McLuhan suggests that education needs to bring
questions and dialogue into the classroom. I agree that this is the means to
develop higher level thinking skills. Students can get the answers anywhere but
true innovation requires an inquiring mind. This reflects Green’s approach to
literacy, specifically the critical dimension which requires “recognizing
the socially constructed nature of knowledge and literacy practices. Asking
critical questions. Constructing alternative perspectives” (Green, 1996). Jenkins (2010) states that for the past several decades
media literacy advocates have called on schools to, "foster a critical
understanding of media as one of the most powerful social, economic, political,
and cultural institutions of our era" (p. 31). I agree that schools do
need to assist students with becoming critically literate with regard to media.
To question is to find meaning and gain true understanding. Students need to
question what they see in the media and it needs to be discussed in the
classroom.
McLuhan, M. (1970). Living in an acoustic world. Marshall McLuhan Speaks Special Collection. Retrieved from http://www.marshallmcluhanspeaks.com/lecture/1970-living-in-an-acoustic-world
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI know – wasn’t that the strangest thing that something filmed so many years ago was so “right now”?! I found it interesting that even in the 1970s society was starting to become a more participatory culture. I suppose that every generation has always had to adapt to interpreting information in new forms though. I liked this interview because I think we sometimes forget that and feel we are the only ones adapting to radical changes. Yet, there have always been highly innovative people creating new modes of communication. I really liked when you stated “Students can get the answers anywhere but true innovation requires an inquiring mind.” This is really the heart of the matter. We need to be supporting students to empower them to be the innovators of now and tomorrow. I also agree with you about how critical it is for schools to ensure that students become adept at critically analyzing media. After our advertising deconstruction assignment that really hit home with me.
Hi Michelle
ReplyDeleteIt was amazing to listen to McLuhan speak about the technology and to know this was recorded so long is amazing in itself. Like Melanie, I also liked when you stated “Students can get the answers anywhere but true innovation requires an inquiring mind.” Its sad because students look for the quickest way to get the answers by using technology but do not always put thought into what they are doing.