Ashamed by the Truth

After a day of recording what technology I used, how often I used it and for how long, I was ashamed of myself. I woke up to my alarm clock going off on my iPhone, sent a few text messages and forced myself to get up. I then put in my headphones and played music while I walked to get oatmeal at Starbucks. On the way I stopped at the AC lab and turned in an assignment on Blackboard and once again sent a few text messages. Luckily I always keep my phone on silent (except for my alarm) because it doesn’t force me to use technology instead it allows me to use it when I want. Anyways, I went to Starbucks while listening to music and got my food and headed to class, during this time I probably sent five or six text messages back and forth to my girlfriend. In class I used my computer to present a PowerPoint and used a touch screen projector, yes a touch screen projector. I have never seen one of those in my life until this year, and yes it was exhilarating. After class I checked my phone multiple times to look for messages and to check the time. Almost immediately after class I had practice and was able to be away from technology for about two hours. After practice I routinely checked my phone again and called my girlfriend and my mom whom had both called during practice. Next came study hall, I had to get a lot of work done for my microeconomics class so I refrained from using my iPhone as much as possible but of course checked it a couple times and sent texts out. After study hall I was very tired and went to bed to take a nap and woke up later that night and once again checked my phone and sent a couple texts. And now I am here, at least a hundred phone checks and text messages later, feeling sorry for myself because I have to admit that I need technology. I do feel like I at least use it sparingly and only when I am not completely focused on something else. I believe that as long as you are productive you can do whatever you want, everyone deserves a vice and I guess mine is technology.

Observing AWC Students

After a day of watching students around campus closely like some kind of private investigator I noticed things that I had never noticed before. Almost everyone on campus is connected in some way to some device. There are athletes walking around campus with their Beats by Dre or some other headphone or speaker system blasting their music like everyone and their mother wants to hear it. There are the gamers in the cafeteria and the 3C building showing off the newest handheld gaming device and flat out plugging in Xbox 360’s into any outlet they can find. In the lobbies of all the dorms you can find a few people sitting and watching sports or the news on the big screen TVs. The computer lab has people who are doing work on the computer while listening to their iPod and texting at the same time! I would say this is shocking but hey, I do that all the time too. In class there almost everyone checks their phone at least once and there is the typical few people who never even look up to see what the teacher is doing or saying. While walking around campus I saw an abundance of people with either headphones in or heads down texting. Hardly was there anyone without a phone in their hand. The best part of my “investigation” was getting to see someone who had their head down texting walk into a puddle grassy section and step right into what must have been a couple inch deep section. They proceeded to jump up, look around to make sure no one saw, and walk around, still looking at their phone. To be honest I hope it happened to them again, Darwinism will eventually teach them. 

Technology and ME!

Is technology causing me to lose as much as I gain? The answer to this question is simple for me, NO! I know that technology, like any other fun thing, is addicting and exciting and time consuming if I let it be. This is why I don’t; when I was less mature I was addicted to technology as well as other things. I will never deny that I spent entire weekends in high school sitting at my desk playing World of Warcraft, literally for about 8 hours at a time, only taking breaks when my mom would yell at me to stop being a slob and go eat or go outside (I would sneak back as soon as possible). Nowadays I use technology more sparingly to entertain myself when I’m bored and have nothing else to do. I also cannot deny that I procrastinate but I do not ever miss assignments and I get good grades so obviously technology isn’t affecting me too bad. Also I know that if I play videogames before I go to practice I have this hazy, lackadaisical feel so I don’t play them before practice, plain and simple. Technology is extremely helpful, I could never have been able to use a typewriter, my backspace button has been pressed so many times that it sticks sometimes and I have to keep pounding it until it’ll go back to normal. Also I can stay in touch with my friends and family in San Diego and other far off places and my girlfriend who still goes to USC. Overall technology is a good thing for me. The picture above is of my vibrams at Machu Picchu, Peru. The video below is a kid without his WoW.

Interview with a Staff Member

Kyle Isaacs, my assistant basketball coach as well as an administrator for AWC agreed to allow me to interview him on the topic of the use of technology by college students. As a coach Isaacs has had trouble with players using cell phones during film sessions. But, he knows that because of the technology of cell phones and the internet it is much easier to communicate with players in order to relay practice times and also for recruiting purposes. On the other hand, he believes that technology does more harm than good for those who are distracted easily saying, “there are a few players who get distracted too easily during study hall and I have to step in and regulate”. He of course was not referring to me because I am extremely studious and would never get distracted easily or procrastinate. Isaacs also works in the admissions department and says that he has problems with students coming to meetings unprepared despite there being “clear instructions posted online” for what to bring to the meeting. Because of the failure to use technology by these students it causes a hassle for Isaacs because he has to walk them through step by step what exactly they need before they can come back and receive guidance. Isaacs as a whole says that “technology is a good thing for students, I was fortunate enough to go to school when technology was becoming a bigger part of education which made it easier than it was in the past.” This reflects the benefits of technology in research. 

Fellow Student's Opinion

I have interviewed a student, and great friend of mine I must add, who has the view of technology being great for society. Dalvin believes that technology is "a great thing for college students because if I didn't have it, I would be extremely bored here in Yuma.” Dalvin uses technology on a daily basis with his cell phone, his iPod and his Ps3. He is quite fond of his Ps3 and says that he spends at least 3 hours a day playing NBA 2K13 which is his favorite game because he himself is a basketball player here at AWC. He says that he sends text messages throughout the day and also makes phone calls regularly to contact college coaches and his friends and family. He also stated that “without technology I would be lost, I would probably curl up into a ball and wither away into oblivion.” All sarcasm aside it seems that he is quite engulfed in his many uses of technology and that without his devices he would most likely suffer from extreme boredom and possibly develop some withdrawal symptoms. This being said, Dalvin also said “Now that I think about it, technology could be a little harmful if it is abused.” As I understand Dalvin believes that technology is good to a certain extent and he may be struggling with some attachment issues that make him worry about his potential world without technology. Overall Dalvin has a positive outlook though especially for entertainment purposes on the use of technology.

Introduction

Hello All! My name is Tanner Clayton and I am a student-athlete at Arizona Western College in Yuma, Arizona. Let me tell you this place is pretty boring. The two nearest main cities, San Diego and Phoenix, are both at least a two hour drive away! Luckily I have school and basketball to fill my time because otherwise I might go crazier than I already am! Another time filler for me is my Iphone, my MacBook and my Playstation3 (which I use only for the Netflix app). School isn't too difficult after spending a fun-filled year at USC that ended in a pitiful GPA and then a boring year at a community college living at home in San Diego to get my grades and successful lifestyle back on track. What I've learned throughout my adventures in school is that time management is key, and that everything you need to learn to pass is in a text-book, so why not read it? Anyways, here at AWC I'm looking forward to enjoying my first 4.0 in my whole life and I am planning on transferring next fall to play basketball at a Division I school. I use technology every day both for school, and personal uses. I use my laptop everyday to check school email, upcoming assignments and to write papers. I also use my laptop to check our basketball game schedule and to play games on a plethora of video game websites. I use my phone just about the entire day to listen to music, play games, text friends and family, and to talk to my girlfriend on the phone. Overall, technology plays a large role in my life.