Friday, January 18, 2008

RMSLA Presentation Questions and Feedback

I had the opportunity to present to the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Special Libraries Association last night. This post is for any questions you have or feedback you would like to give. Thanks to Wanda and all the nice folks at RMSLA for having me – it was fun.

2 comments:

  1. We ran out of time before I got to ask -- do you think kids need to learn how to create their own white space in their lives? Or do you think they're doing it and it's possible I'm just not recognizing it? And yes, I do mean unplugged white space, with time to hear your own thoughts and the wind rushing by.

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  2. Marcia - I do think we need to help kids think about this. I know from experience that it is very easy to get caught up in all the wonders that technology can bring to you - and then get that overwhelmed feeling. I think some kids already know how to do this, but many probably haven't really thought about it.

    But I'm not sure all kids need the same thing. While I think many (probably most) need "unplugged white space," I'm hesitant to say all. Many folks' idea of getting away from it all might be laying on a beach reading a good book, yet I can imagine a similar conversation taking place many years ago lamenting the fact that kids were reading books instead of doing something else.

    I think as technology changes, we need to be careful about assuming that what might be good for us is always good for them. For some kids, being connected might be their white space (or perhaps white "noise".)

    In any event, I think it's definitely a conversation we should be having with all of our students.

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