Technology Refusal- SA

After reading chapter 3, I was left with very little understanding of what “technology refusal” actually meant. My first idea was that it meant schools refuse to use the new existing technology except for basic things like research. Then I found an essay written by Steven Hodas in 1993 entitled “Technology Refusal and the Organizational Culture of Schools” where it was defined as a set of behaviors rooted in the increasingly archaic purposes of schooling. Hodas writes "They (schools) are systems for preserving and transmitting information and authority, for inculcating certain values and practices while minimizing or eliminating others . . . " Technologies which support these purposes (intercoms, overhead projectors, chalk boards, CAI and ILSs) are welcomed and embraced while others are shunned, isolated or bent to fit the outmoded purposes (Hodas 1993).

So my next thought was how much has changed since this essay was written in 1993? The case of Ridgeview, where the young ladies was not allowed to use the internet because of access to inappropriate content hardly seems germane today because of all the filter software used by places like the Public Library and even some agencies that disallow access to social media sites as well as sites deemed pornographic in content, so what might be a reason for technology refusal today?? Since I have no formal teaching experience I am at a lost. From the readings, I gather that it's a systemic issue that evolves around the attention span of the students. There was also much written on the “culture of education”. Hodas writes, school practice and teaching structure has remained unchanged for seven hundred years (Hodas 1993). So the present system is based on a structure from the year 1315 or better yet, a structure that started before the United States was born. This to me explains why there is technology refusal. The system of teaching or rather the culture is based on very old ideas and concepts and has yet to catch up to the advantages that technology has brought. Technology is described as a curricular topic, like math or science rather then a set of social practices (Leander pg 61).

Slam Poetry in my opinion is a form of expression much like rap, only without musical accompaniment. Having grown up in the era of the 60's and 70's I dont see it as new. I remember the Last Poet's and Gil Scott Heron. I also remember spoken word contests much like the free style rap of today. I agree with Vasdevan who writes that educational spaces must become spaces that readily accommodate and encourage literacy experimentation, exploration and discovery (Vasdevan 2009).  Technology refusal is an impediment for allowing this.....