Innovation – Threat to Society or Foundation of Future Generations?

“I’m not sure he’s wrong about automobiles,” he said. “With all their speed forward they may be a step backward in civilization —  Booth Tarkington, 1918

This Tarkington quote could serve as a sentence starter for so many of the innovations we see in education today. Let’s play with this for a moment…

 

“I’m not sure he’s wrong about ‘internet’ he said. “With all their speed forward they may be a step backward in civilization…

 

“I’m not sure he’s wrong about ‘smart phones’,” he said. “With all their speed forward they may be a step backward in civilization…

 

“I’m not sure he’s wrong about ‘social media’,” he said. “With all their speed forward they may be a step backward in civilization…

 

“I’m not sure he’s wrong about ‘cloud storage’,” he said. “With all their speed forward they may be a step backward in civilization…

 

“I’m not sure he’s wrong about ‘e-readers’,” he said. “With all their speed forward they may be a step backward in civilization…

 

“I’m not sure he’s wrong about ‘virtual collaboration’,” he said. “With all their speed forward they may be a step backward in civilization…

 

“I’m not sure he’s wrong about ‘augmented reality’,” he said. “With all their speed forward they may be a step backward in civilization…

 

“I’m not sure he’s wrong about ‘digital textbooks’,” he said. “With all their speed forward they may be a step backward in civilization…

 

“I’m not sure he’s wrong about ‘game based learning’,” he said. “With all their speed forward they may be a step backward in civilization…

“I’m not sure he’s wrong about ‘online learning’,” he said. “With all their speed forward they may be a step backward in civilization…

Ask the average person today to imagine the impact not owning an automobile would have on their daily life, their ability to earn a living, ability to get groceries, to socialize, to seek entertainment and so forth. How will the innovations of today, that some are hesitant to embrace or see as a threat to civilization, become foundations of everyday life for future generations?