Reading response to Birkerts

Looking back at my in-class essay, my main focus came from the Youtube video by Michael Wesch. In this video the main idea that I took from it was the idea that technology may be hurting students more outside the classroom and also could be taking away from students education. This idea also formed into the thought that as of now it is hurting the students but if technology was used in the proper way than it could really have positive benefits on students.

The quote from “The Owl Has Flown” says, “ Where do we find the fixed context that allows us to create a narrative of sense about our lives? Ideally, I suppose, one would have the best of both worlds, the purposeful fixity of the local, fertilized by the availability of information. The computer, our high speed, accessing, storing, and sorting tool, appears as a godsend.” This quote from “The Owl Has Flown” really challenges my ideas. In this essay Sven Birkert is basically saying that the use of computers, relating back to technology from the Youtube video really is a great thing that will most definitely help you out. This idea is almost opposite from mine I choose from the video so that’s why it challenges it. Also, this quotation leads into the idea that was brought up on the video that technology can benefit us if used properly. Sven Birkerts idea can definitely lead my ideas into new directions with his different view on the subject.

Birkert states that all the properties of a computer such as it’s high speed, storing, and sorting, appears as godsend. Basically, Birkert is saying that we are lucky to have the computer around in out lives and that technology is really changing many things and is now the most prominent.

Birkerts quote does not change any of my ideas, in fact, what he was saying is quite obvious to anyone. The computer is the technology that is great to have around. However, my ideas are influenced by the quote I used. The video does not say it directly but it has the idea that technology, for example, the computer is a great invention for our classrooms. It just has to be used correctly in order for it to benefit us.