computers
Tina Pearson
computers, computers... thoughts
We are relatively new to the world of computers and world wiiiiiiide
web. I noticed in my own first forays, which were in using the word
processor and a little networking, that my thought process was decidedly
different when I wrote on the computer than when I wrote with a pen. My
fingers, although not rapid like a pro's are fairly fast because of
piano playing, so the words can actually slip out faster than what my
brain is accustomed to in my pen writing. I found this both exciting
and disconcerting. I noticed that sometimes it was just a little too
easy to type a lot of words without my usual contemplation, again which
could be either good or bad, I suppose.
I like words. I started to think that perhaps the possibility of a glut
of meaningless words might actually obscure any truth there might be in
my communicating. I've read some thoughtful writings from literary
figures who are wary of this same thing. Many writers do their work in
long hand and then edit on the computer. One well-respected and
seasoned fiction writer recently said that he could tell within the
first few paragraphs if a book was actually created on the computer or
written by hand, and has yet to be proven wrong. He bemoans this new
ability we now have to spew out many words very fast, and the resulting
proliferation of not-very-well-written books.
I have been thinking also about highschool teachers who only accept
assignments completed on computer word processing, graphics and other
programs. When I heard about this and thought about it, I came to the
conclusion that I would probably do the opposite -- I would want to see
the physical manifestation, in all its awkwardness and/or flowing
beauty, of a student's thought process and creativity as written with a
pen or pencil, with drawings and lines on a piece of paper. But maybe
I'm just old ...
Yes, computers are a part of this reality now, and they are a
powerful tool. I am wondering, though, about creativity and all those
zillions of little spaces and thoughts and ideas that don't fit into
the paradigm of one program of another. I know my daughter can be
creative with MSPaint, and I've had fun with it too, but the creativity
is within extremely limited parameters. Is it okay for a child to type
e-mail messages and stories on the computer if she doesn't want to learn
to write with a pen? I don't know. I know that we have spent less
time smelling tempura, getting our hands all mucky with clay, smearing
oil pastels and making our creative picture letters for friends and
family. So I worry that forms of communicating and thinking and working
through things that don't lend themselves to digital electronics may be
used less and less. Not a good thought. But reveals the need for a
balance.
I guess I am trying to be careful about this world of computers, while
at the same time appreciating the access it has given me to information
and worlds I otherwise wouldn't know about, etc. I am hoping that the
computer world will evolve through the input of the most brilliantly
creative minds around -- probably unschoolers, who value diversity,
autonomy, process, and all the rest ...
Tina in cyberlimbo.
We are relatively new to the world of computers and world wiiiiiiide
web. I noticed in my own first forays, which were in using the word
processor and a little networking, that my thought process was decidedly
different when I wrote on the computer than when I wrote with a pen. My
fingers, although not rapid like a pro's are fairly fast because of
piano playing, so the words can actually slip out faster than what my
brain is accustomed to in my pen writing. I found this both exciting
and disconcerting. I noticed that sometimes it was just a little too
easy to type a lot of words without my usual contemplation, again which
could be either good or bad, I suppose.
I like words. I started to think that perhaps the possibility of a glut
of meaningless words might actually obscure any truth there might be in
my communicating. I've read some thoughtful writings from literary
figures who are wary of this same thing. Many writers do their work in
long hand and then edit on the computer. One well-respected and
seasoned fiction writer recently said that he could tell within the
first few paragraphs if a book was actually created on the computer or
written by hand, and has yet to be proven wrong. He bemoans this new
ability we now have to spew out many words very fast, and the resulting
proliferation of not-very-well-written books.
I have been thinking also about highschool teachers who only accept
assignments completed on computer word processing, graphics and other
programs. When I heard about this and thought about it, I came to the
conclusion that I would probably do the opposite -- I would want to see
the physical manifestation, in all its awkwardness and/or flowing
beauty, of a student's thought process and creativity as written with a
pen or pencil, with drawings and lines on a piece of paper. But maybe
I'm just old ...
Yes, computers are a part of this reality now, and they are a
powerful tool. I am wondering, though, about creativity and all those
zillions of little spaces and thoughts and ideas that don't fit into
the paradigm of one program of another. I know my daughter can be
creative with MSPaint, and I've had fun with it too, but the creativity
is within extremely limited parameters. Is it okay for a child to type
e-mail messages and stories on the computer if she doesn't want to learn
to write with a pen? I don't know. I know that we have spent less
time smelling tempura, getting our hands all mucky with clay, smearing
oil pastels and making our creative picture letters for friends and
family. So I worry that forms of communicating and thinking and working
through things that don't lend themselves to digital electronics may be
used less and less. Not a good thought. But reveals the need for a
balance.
I guess I am trying to be careful about this world of computers, while
at the same time appreciating the access it has given me to information
and worlds I otherwise wouldn't know about, etc. I am hoping that the
computer world will evolve through the input of the most brilliantly
creative minds around -- probably unschoolers, who value diversity,
autonomy, process, and all the rest ...
Tina in cyberlimbo.