Technologically Improving Memorization Efforts – Otherwise Known as “T.I.M.E.”
First things first, I truly do come up with the best titles. Evar.
Sorry about that. A writer just needs to pat themselves on the back every now and then because even the highest of praises sometimes just aren't enough.
OK, on to the topic at hand. Based on the title you must be thinking what the hell this post is going to be about. Well, to be honest, it really is just an over complicated title when it's compared to the subject. If you read my last post, I mentioned briefly how if you live in a free society you more than likely have access to the internet. So, I became motivated to elaborate a little bit on that. Just a little, don't worry.
This much, I know is true; information overload is information overkill.
I want you to do something for a second. Trust me it won't take long. I want you to place yourself somewhere other than where you are right now (mentally of course). Be it a desert island with no electricity, no computer and yes, no iPhone. Regardless of the location make sure you don’t have access to any type of electronic. Now, here's the question. What would you do if you didn't have access to any of today's technological resources? Crazy, I know.
The internet is an incredibly infinite place. Where information is free for the taking to whoever is willing to search for it. But, like any other magnificent mechanism that is man-made, it has its flaws.
At the click of a mouse and the stroke of a key, we can learn about anything we want. And yet it almost seems like even though we have all this wealth of information (forgive me for what I'm about to say) at our fingertips, society seems to be the dumbest it's ever been. The majority of time is wasted watching viral videos, reading about Charlie Sheen and poking people. Yea, you know what I mean sicko.
But see my problem isn't with the amount of time we waste on the internet. I couldn't care any less how many times Sheen's "goddesses’" are goggled. My problem is actually with the fact that all this information is sitting there up for grabs. Now, before you jump on me and call me a communist or fascists let me explain.
If you refer back to my last post I also mentioned that I don't like things to come easy. I said it in a completely different context, but the concept is the same. Easy come, easy go. You search it, read it and then forget it. Why, because there's no need for you to remember it. It's there available whenever you need it.
We’re coming to a point where memory seems to play a less and less integral part of our world. Here’s an example; every program that we use to type essays or reports has a spell check feature. When we spell a word incorrectly it fixes it for us. When that happens how many of you actually bother to remember how that word is spelled so you won’t commit the same error again. Yea, I didn’t think there would be a lot of you. And how about this; when you’re answering all the questions to a study guide, how many of you rather go online and Google a question instead of referring to your notes or God forbid check your text book.
Now, this entire rant leads us to this.
Times change, people change, technology improves, and an iPhone comes out every year. Your computer becomes obsolete the following week after you purchase it and your online dating skills can only get better. So why is it that we live in a modern society yet are educated through a cave man’s educational system? Our schools, colleges and universities expect us to memorize all the material that is given to be able to pass. Yet the world we live in doesn’t really require memorization skills anymore. Why should I have to memorize an entire list of chemicals or tax codes, when I can just Google it?
I’ll leave you with this:
About a year ago I went to the doctor due to a problem I was having. I was explaining to the doctor what I was feeling and guess what the Harvard Alumni did. He pulled out his iPhone and started to Google my symptoms.
I rest my case.
Sorry about that. A writer just needs to pat themselves on the back every now and then because even the highest of praises sometimes just aren't enough.
OK, on to the topic at hand. Based on the title you must be thinking what the hell this post is going to be about. Well, to be honest, it really is just an over complicated title when it's compared to the subject. If you read my last post, I mentioned briefly how if you live in a free society you more than likely have access to the internet. So, I became motivated to elaborate a little bit on that. Just a little, don't worry.
This much, I know is true; information overload is information overkill.
I want you to do something for a second. Trust me it won't take long. I want you to place yourself somewhere other than where you are right now (mentally of course). Be it a desert island with no electricity, no computer and yes, no iPhone. Regardless of the location make sure you don’t have access to any type of electronic. Now, here's the question. What would you do if you didn't have access to any of today's technological resources? Crazy, I know.
The internet is an incredibly infinite place. Where information is free for the taking to whoever is willing to search for it. But, like any other magnificent mechanism that is man-made, it has its flaws.
At the click of a mouse and the stroke of a key, we can learn about anything we want. And yet it almost seems like even though we have all this wealth of information (forgive me for what I'm about to say) at our fingertips, society seems to be the dumbest it's ever been. The majority of time is wasted watching viral videos, reading about Charlie Sheen and poking people. Yea, you know what I mean sicko.
But see my problem isn't with the amount of time we waste on the internet. I couldn't care any less how many times Sheen's "goddesses’" are goggled. My problem is actually with the fact that all this information is sitting there up for grabs. Now, before you jump on me and call me a communist or fascists let me explain.
If you refer back to my last post I also mentioned that I don't like things to come easy. I said it in a completely different context, but the concept is the same. Easy come, easy go. You search it, read it and then forget it. Why, because there's no need for you to remember it. It's there available whenever you need it.
We’re coming to a point where memory seems to play a less and less integral part of our world. Here’s an example; every program that we use to type essays or reports has a spell check feature. When we spell a word incorrectly it fixes it for us. When that happens how many of you actually bother to remember how that word is spelled so you won’t commit the same error again. Yea, I didn’t think there would be a lot of you. And how about this; when you’re answering all the questions to a study guide, how many of you rather go online and Google a question instead of referring to your notes or God forbid check your text book.
Now, this entire rant leads us to this.
Times change, people change, technology improves, and an iPhone comes out every year. Your computer becomes obsolete the following week after you purchase it and your online dating skills can only get better. So why is it that we live in a modern society yet are educated through a cave man’s educational system? Our schools, colleges and universities expect us to memorize all the material that is given to be able to pass. Yet the world we live in doesn’t really require memorization skills anymore. Why should I have to memorize an entire list of chemicals or tax codes, when I can just Google it?
I’ll leave you with this:
About a year ago I went to the doctor due to a problem I was having. I was explaining to the doctor what I was feeling and guess what the Harvard Alumni did. He pulled out his iPhone and started to Google my symptoms.
I rest my case.
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