Do you remember "Sneakernet"?
The Importance of running shoes to education
As our lives change, it's funny how we forget things we took for granted a few years ago. I was talking with my 29-year-old daughter recently, and I showed her the new bracelet I got at the Gallery (see ad on front page of Statesman website).
"Isn't this neat?" I said. "It's made out of typewriter keys!"
"What?" said my daughter.
Maybe she didn't hear me. I know she's old enough to remember typewriters. Or is she? She was born in 1982. Back then, we were just beginning to switch over to computers at Oran High School in Scott County, where I was teaching. I wonder if she ever had to use a typewriter??
I mentioned this issue on Facebook, and my favorite blogger buddy, Ken Steinhoff (www.capecentralhigh.com) added his usual unique perspective. Here's his definition of a typewriter:
"It's a wireless input/output machine that is portable and operates without external power. Its messages are communicated by sneakernet."
When I asked him what "sneakernet" was, he said, "You put on your sneakers and carry your communication over to the person next to you!"
Yep, that's how it was, even with the first computers we had in the "resource room" at Oran. You won't believe how HARD it was! Here's how it went on a typical day of "typing":
My English room was on the top floor of the old school (which was built in 1925), so my students and I had to hot-foot it down the concrete stairs, out the door, through the cafeteria, out the other door, down the covered sidewalk to the elementary school room, where the computers were. (I lost a lot of weight during this process.)
The computers were Apple PC's, circa 1985 or so, with DOS operating systems. The word processing program was called Bank Street Writer, and each unit had to be booted up with a special 5 1/2 floppy disk.
Students could then key in their compositions for about 15 minutes, before it was time to save their work. This process involved my running around from one computer to the other, inserting yet another 5 1/2 inch floppy disk, making sure that the student's name was recorded somehow, so we would know which disk had his composition on it.
Then we would charge back to the high school to be on time for our next class. I once again had to run back up the stairs. If that group was scheduled for the computer lab, I could just tell them to meet me at the grade school (leaving a note on the door for those who forgot).
However, since there was only one lab and 10-12 computers for the entire school (both elementary and high school), it was impossible to get all my classes scheduled for the same day. The footrace was unavoidable.
Bank Street Writer had its own flaws, too: The line of copy wrapped around, so that we couldn't see what the page would look like. And, of course, we had dot matrix printers that were incredibly SLOW, so it took forever to run off each student's paper.
These days I am amazed when I visit the schools and see students using the portable laptops in the individual rooms. The flat screen monitors amaze me, as well.
And the future is???
Heaven only knows where we're headed with our technology. As much as I rant and rave against change, I have to admire how our teachers get to use "smart boards," instead of the old chalk boards. Power Point never fails to leave me awe-stricken; I was in the process of leaving the classroom when that particular technology was just becoming popular.
Though I am amazed with technology and am jealous that I didn't have it when I was teaching, there are some fields that can never be replaced with high-powered machines. Spell Check is a wonderful tool, but - mark my words - it is NOT the be all and end all! Not by a long shot! And, as for a grammar check--Sorry, folks! That ain't gonna happen!!! The English language is just too complicated for a machine to decipher all the nuances and shades of meaning!
There are still a few things left that students are just going to have to LEARN. Experts may never find a shortcut for teaching spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
Ah, yes--I hear your objection: "Well, let's just do away with them, then!"
I think this is the next step in the decline of the English language. Since we can't master the 4 necessary "evils," let's just render them OBSOLETE!
I can see the future--mankind will have mastered technology beautifully--but his language will indistinguishable from that of the apes!!!
Comments
- -- Posted by goat lady on Tue, Oct 25, 2011, at 12:31 PM
- -- Posted by kkcaver47 on Tue, Oct 25, 2011, at 1:36 PM
- -- Posted by Dexterite1 on Tue, Oct 25, 2011, at 3:20 PM
- -- Posted by goat lady on Wed, Oct 26, 2011, at 5:06 PM
- -- Posted by gdh1958 on Wed, Oct 26, 2011, at 11:28 PM
- -- Posted by lovebooks on Sun, Oct 30, 2011, at 7:59 AM
- -- Posted by goat lady on Wed, Nov 2, 2011, at 7:05 AM
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