Philosophy
I read Nicholas Carr's book The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains and have a number of questions about it to bring up here. The thesis is that on-line activity causes alterations in brain structure that limits our ability to read deeply for long periods of time, an ability that developed originally because of our interactions with books. I don't want to talk about the thesis itself today, but something he uses to motivate the notion. He speaks of not being able to edit on the computer, but having to print work out and edit on paper and then go back and make changes. He wonders whether those who will be brought up on screens will have the same preference, thinking the answer will be no.
I, too, always edit on paper. Is this common? Do those of your in college or grad school edit on screen or on paper? Is there, in fact, a generational split here?
- Is Language A Technology?
Came across this sentence in Nicholas Carr's The Shallows: "Language itself is not a technology." his argument is that because it is "native to our species" that it is not an artifact and anything that is not an artifact cannot be a technology. Is...
- The Objectivity Of Grades
I was going to respond to the ongoing thread in yesterday's post, but thought that the argument deserved its own space in order to be thorough. The claim has been put forward and agreed to that grades on work like papers is subjective and thereby...
- Can You Deny Gratitude? What Does A Book Dedication Mean?
A friend has written a book and wanted to dedicate it to a well-known figure who had inspired his work. He sent a note and the figure's people responded that while this well-known appreciates the sentiment, the book was NOT to be dedicated to him....
- Another Grading Question
It is one of those unquestioned beliefs in the world of higher ed that grading is subjective. Some instructors are easy graders and others are hard graders and there is no fact in the world about what an assignment really deserves. But I had an experience...
- Jan Swafford's Thoughts On "real Books"
"Bold Prediction" Why e-books will never replace real books. by Jan Swafford June 29th, 2010 Slate Because we perceive print and electronic media differently. Because Marshall McLuhan was right about some things. In case you don't recall one of...
Philosophy
Editing on Paper
I read Nicholas Carr's book The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains and have a number of questions about it to bring up here. The thesis is that on-line activity causes alterations in brain structure that limits our ability to read deeply for long periods of time, an ability that developed originally because of our interactions with books. I don't want to talk about the thesis itself today, but something he uses to motivate the notion. He speaks of not being able to edit on the computer, but having to print work out and edit on paper and then go back and make changes. He wonders whether those who will be brought up on screens will have the same preference, thinking the answer will be no.
I, too, always edit on paper. Is this common? Do those of your in college or grad school edit on screen or on paper? Is there, in fact, a generational split here?
- Is Language A Technology?
Came across this sentence in Nicholas Carr's The Shallows: "Language itself is not a technology." his argument is that because it is "native to our species" that it is not an artifact and anything that is not an artifact cannot be a technology. Is...
- The Objectivity Of Grades
I was going to respond to the ongoing thread in yesterday's post, but thought that the argument deserved its own space in order to be thorough. The claim has been put forward and agreed to that grades on work like papers is subjective and thereby...
- Can You Deny Gratitude? What Does A Book Dedication Mean?
A friend has written a book and wanted to dedicate it to a well-known figure who had inspired his work. He sent a note and the figure's people responded that while this well-known appreciates the sentiment, the book was NOT to be dedicated to him....
- Another Grading Question
It is one of those unquestioned beliefs in the world of higher ed that grading is subjective. Some instructors are easy graders and others are hard graders and there is no fact in the world about what an assignment really deserves. But I had an experience...
- Jan Swafford's Thoughts On "real Books"
"Bold Prediction" Why e-books will never replace real books. by Jan Swafford June 29th, 2010 Slate Because we perceive print and electronic media differently. Because Marshall McLuhan was right about some things. In case you don't recall one of...