Technology has college students in a chokehold. They use technology for every class, every assignment, and (thanks to Covid) almost every assessment. Even when college students need a brain break, they consume entertainment on technology as well. It’s safe to say that the digital age has made its impact on college campuses, but this wasn’t always the reality. Understanding how technology has evolved in higher education is integral to understanding what new opportunities technology presents.
Ann Stein, a retired sociology professor from the College of Charleston, remembers a time before every student was required to have a laptop.
When we sat down in the bustling Starbucks on King Street to talk about Stein’s experience with technology and teaching and I struggled to get my laptop set up to transcribe our interview, Stein told me to just write it out. I have to admit, I looked up at her blankly for a moment before closing my laptop and pulling out a notebook and pen. There I was, about to conduct an interview on digital literacy while taking notes by hand. What are we, in the Dark Ages?
It was at this moment, that I remembered I was conducting an interview with the professor who only accepted essays if they were printed out on paper and turned into the stack at the front before class started. I pushed that thought to the back of my head, and we began our conversation that would end up lasting two hours and over six pages of notes.
Stein began by telling me what her experience was like in college and grad school. Back when computers took up entire rooms, weren’t connected to the internet, and we’re apparently called “word processors”. She learned data statistics but it was closer to what programming is today. And the most inconvenient sounding part, in order to get something from the library, she would have to turn in a paper request and go pick up the book the next day.
Everything took so much longer than it does today, and Stein had quite the laugh trying to get me to picture it.
It was surprising to find out that Stein actually loves technology for this reason. She explained that she enjoys how accessible information is for students now. Before every class, she would look up statistics that she had in her PowerPoints to make sure they were as up-to-date as possible. This wasn’t an option for Stein at the beginning of her career and she appreciated not having to wait for an annual census to update her information.
Obviously, throughout the time of her 35 years of teaching, there was quite a leap of technology. More importantly, digital literacy. Digital literacy is the ability to navigate a digital interface and understand how to troubleshoot and problem solve. Stein expressed to me that she was constantly having to learn and adjust to keep up. She took all the courses offered by the college that help professors learn new digital literacies. With every new wave of students, there was more and more of a demand for technology use; however, she told me, “I knew that I wasn’t going to be as up to date as my students, but I didn’t want to be that far behind.”
To keep her students engaged in their assignments, Stein regularly edited her syllabus to stay relevant. At one point she had a “Virtual Tour” that taught students how to use the internet. She only kept it for four years before it wasn’t necessary anymore. The introduction of the internet allowed so much opportunity for research, and although she expressed concern, “it’s hard to trust what you read”, Stein capitalized upon the opportunity for her students to gain further understanding.
Moreso, Stein enjoyed getting to connect with other sociology professors and get opinions on how to teach different content. The internet provided her with a network of professionals that were able to share and improve alongside one another. Stein is a lifelong learner and loved getting to connect.
The connection was a big point for Stein. As our conversation floated to the coronavirus, Stein explain to me just how integral technology was. She admitted that it was quite the learning curve for most educators; however, the ability to connect during quarantine was needed. Luckily new technology was able to fill the gap somewhat.
Technology in the classroom isn’t always perfect. It can definitely be a distraction. Despite this, Stein believes the pros outweigh the cons.
By the end, I was a bit shocked to find out how much Professor Stein appreciated technology. I told her I was surprised and she just smiled and explained, “A pencil is technology, technology is interwoven into education.”
It’s important as college students that we appreciate the advancements and opportunities that technology equips us with. It’s a tool that we oftentimes take for granted, but that allows us to expand our worldly perspective. Professor Stein revealed how much has changed from her first time in a classroom to her last. The biggest takeaway is that college students in the present day can be the leaders of our education if we choose to do so.
My last question to Stein was why she insisted upon a printed paper copy of our essays. After cracking a grin, she explained that she always preferred a physical representation of the work her students did. It connected her in a way that reading from a Dropbox never could. Also, “who would want to stare at a computer screen all day? It hurts my eyes.”