Thursday, June 26, 2008
Franklin's idea on prescriptive technology and its relation to education
Since, students in prescriptive technology play a different role in the process of producing something, Franklin states that” technologies are designs for compliance” (Franklin, 1990). However, technology is a multifaceted entity that acts as an agent of ordering and structuring. I see that it is used in schools in a way that launches students into cooperative learning, where a positive effect can happen to students’ empathy, tolerance for differences and self-confidence.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Franklin's idea on prescriptive technology and its relation to education
In Chapter 1, Franklin talks about two types of technology: holistic and prescriptive. On p.17, she says: “Today’s real world of technology is characterized by the dominance of prescriptive technologies. Prescriptive technologies are not restricted to materials production. They are used in administrative and economic activities and in many aspects of governance, and on them rests the real world of technology in which we live. While we should not forget that these prescriptive technologies are often exceedingly effective and efficient, they come with an enormous social mortgage. …”
She goes on and says that while these prescriptive technologies bring a wealth of important products that have raised living standards and increased well-being, they have created a culture of compliance.
This is a very important point that Franklin makes which very much reminds me of Foucault’s idea on “panopticism”; i.e., using power to control social behaviour, a kind of power that is visible but unverifiable. After some time, people may not see it as control since they have internalized that power. Therefore, even if the power of authority is not present, they will behave as if the power exists.
I now relate Franklin and Foucault’s idea to ‘technology and education’. Based on the above, can you give examples of the ways that technology is used in schools/education as “prescriptive”; i.e., while that technology can be used for improving people’s well-being, it is used in a way in schools that controls students’ behaviour? I really like to know what you think about Franklin’s idea on prescriptive technology and its connection to education.
-mahboubeh