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What is technology, our master or servant?
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Many church members have varying opinions regarding the pros and cons of using digital scriptures and the traditional print scriptures. Taylor Halverson defines technology as any tool or process created or used by humans to solve a need and includes, books, clothes, tools and language. - photo by Taylor Halverson
Our world seems to be awash in technology. Each day, some new device or app is marketed with so much glitz that Mark Twain might prefer the modesty and constraint of his derided Gilded Age.

When we hear the word technology, the associated words are electronics, the future, change, disruption, innovation and invention. However, I believe these are very limiting, constraining views of technology.

The word technology derives from the Greek words "techne" and "logos." Logos means word, such as in the famous introduction to the Gospel of John: In the beginning was the Word (logos), and the Word (logos) was with God, and the Word (logos) was God.

But logos also means study, science, discourse." Thus in the many fields of learning, you see such titles like biology (the study of life), theology (the study of God), musicology (the study of music) and anthropology (the study of human beings). And though you wont see astrology (the study of the stars) taught in most westernized educational systems because it is associated with magic and other discredited forms of knowledge making and sharing, we instead have the term astronomy (the laws of the stars), which is a far more respectable title for describing a serious scientific endeavor. A similarly named field is economics (which in the basic Greek literally means the laws of the house).

Techne is an interesting word in Greek. It means something like art or craft. What is significant about techne is that it goes beyond science (Latin for knowledge) to include creative application of science and other acquired knowledge and experience to do something, to create something, to solve something.

I define technology as any tool or process created or used by humans to solve a need.

I believe that this definition of technology is far more expansive, inclusive, useful, and appropriate than the common understanding that technology is about electronics or innovation.

I work in higher education. I sometimes hear strong criticisms against technology in the learning environment. Some criticisms are about technologies disrupting class time, such as students texting on phones or web surfing, which truly are disruptions to a traditional learning environment. Or there is worry about technologies displacing teachers. Criticisms about technology in teaching and learning are often grounded in very real concerns about technology interrupting the developing human relations that are core to all learning or displacing teachers who have spent years developing skills and knowledge that matter to the world. If teachers are displaced, how will their skills and knowledge be shared with others in meaningful, relationship-based ways?

I think that these concerns have validity. But I also believe that these criticism are influenced by a very limited definition of technology. If, instead, technology is defined as any tool or process created or used by humans to solve a need, then the conversation changes. There would be far less resistance to and criticism of technology. Why? Because technology is everywhere.

Clothing is a technology. Language is a technology. Lights are a technology. Books are a technology. Even lecturing is a form of a technology, since it is a process created and used by humans to solve a need (knowledge transfer). The question is not, How do we avoid technology in teaching and learning? Rather, the real questions we should be asking and answering are, What technologies will best help learners learn? And, If existing technologies (tools and process) do not help learners learn as well as they could, what new technologies should be developed to meet those needs?

If technology is any tool or process created or used by humans to solve a need, then the possibilities for understanding, developing and using technologies are magnified.

We should fully embrace technology to solve problems new and old. And as we embrace technology, we should use design-thinking methodologies to ensure that the solutions meet the needs of real people in real circumstances today instead of clinging tightly to the traditions of the past. Sure, we shouldnt tear down fences if we do not understand their purpose. But we also should not be slaves to the technologies of the past just as we would hope that future generations would not be slaves to the solutions we designed for our present needs.

It is our day to act for ourselves, not simply to be acted upon.
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How to avoid 'sharenting' and other paparazzi parenting habits
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A recent study revealed parents often spend up to two hours staging a single photo of his or her child to post online. - photo by Amy Iverson
Before having kids, some people just dont appreciate their friends baby posts. But after having a child of their own, three fourths of new parents jump right on the parental social media bandwagon. If you have become a member of this group, there are some rules to follow for posting responsibly.

Much of a parents worry is how to teach their children to use social media responsibly. We talk with our kids about privacy, oversharing, and setting restrictions on their devices to keep them safe. But parents themselves need to look in the digital mirror once in a while. Before having children, it doesnt take as much effort to think about what to post online. Its up to us to decide what we share about our own lives. But once you become a parent, there are many questions to think about regarding what is appropriate to post about your kids on social media.

In a recent survey, kids clothing subscription company Mac and Mia surveyed 2000 new parents to find out how they are documenting their kids lives on social media, and what concerns they may have.

First of all, people without children seem to feel a bit differently about the onslaught of baby pictures online than those who are parents. 18 percent of people say before they had kids, they were annoyed by their friends baby posts. But after having children of their own, 73 percent admit they post progress pictures of their little ones every single month.

Not only are new parents letting the world know each time their baby is a month older, but they are posting about their kids every few days or so. Men and women report they post 6-7 times per month about their baby.

And while 70 percent of new parents say the benefit of using social media is how easy it is to help family and friends feel involved, there are some downsides. Here are a few tips to avoid the pitfall of becoming paparazzi parents.

Dont miss the moment

In the Mac and Mia survey, some parents admitted to spending up to two hours to get the perfect shot of their baby. That seems a little extreme. New and old parents alike should be careful about spending so much time taking pictures and videos that they dont enjoy the moment. Years ago, I decided to never live an experience through my phone. A study by Linda Henkel, a psychology professor at Fairfield University in Connecticut, found that when people took pictures of objects in an art museum, they didnt remember the objects as well as if they simply observed them.

This photo-taking impairment effect can happen to parents as well. If we are so consumed by getting the perfect photo, we can miss out on the moment all together, and our memory of it will suffer.

Dont forget about privacy

60 percent of couples say they have discussed rules and boundaries for posting their babys photos, according to the Mac and Mia survey. Even so, men are 34 percent more likely to publish baby posts on public accounts. If parents are concerned about their childrens privacy, keeping photos off of public accounts is a given.

In the Washington Post, Stacey Steinberg, a legal skills professor at the University of Florida, and Bahareh Keith, a Portland pediatrician, wrote that sharing too much information about kids online puts them at risk. They write that all that sharenting can make it easier for data thieves to target out kids for identity theft. Check that your privacy settings are where they should be and never share identifying information like full names and birth dates.

Dont be paparazzi parents

36 percent of parents say they take issue when their childs photo is posted online by someone else. Responsible social media users will always ask permission before posting a photo of another child. But parents should also think about whether their own children will take issue with their own posted photos a few years down the road.

When parents are constantly snapping pictures and throwing them on social media, it can be easy to forget to pause and make sure the post is appropriate. I always use the billboard example with my kids. I ask them to picture whatever they are posting going up on a billboard in our neighborhood. If they are okay with that, then their post is probably fine. Parents should ask themselves this same question when posting about their children. But they should also ask themselves if their child would be OK with this post on a billboard in 15 years. If it would cause embarrassment or humiliation, it might be best to keep it private.

Once children reach an appropriate age, parents should include them in the process of deciding what pictures are OK to post. Researchers at the University of Michigan surveyed 10- to 17-year-olds and found children believe their parents should ask permission more than parents think they should. The kids in the survey said sharing happy family moments, or accomplishments in sports, school and hobbies is fine. But when the post is negative (like when a child is disciplined) or embarrassing (think naked baby pictures or messy hair), kids say to keep it off social media.
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