Digital Disengagement

[BAJR]

Digital Disengagement (leave some behind).

Posted by Henry Rothwell

http://digitaldigging.net/digital-diseng...me-behind/

Read the full post above...

As I write this I have a Google Doc open on another screen, apparently writing itself, as participants in this open doc discuss gathering together to debate digital engagement in academia. This is a direct result of a tweet about engagement which included a link to the doc. People are jumping in.



The debate has already begun. Suggestions are already being made about how people can be better included for the debate ? the discussion about inclusion is happening before the proposed event is fixed ? including how to avoid alienating ?traditional? academics who are either wary of digital technology, or have yet to see the benefits.


Mentions of elitism have already emerged however. Caution is being recommended. I am bemused. I was under the impression that ubiquitous digital technology was the best possible tool ever to be developed for inclusiveness. I have had my own brushes with resistance to technology. I understand when people have difficulty getting to grips with the new methods of communication and knowledge sharing the internet provides...............

[tom wilson]

What's this chap on about?

I've read it twice, with particular attention paid to the section entitled "So what's my point?", and I'm still none the wiser.

The internet is very handy; OK, I understood that bit. But what is it that is being resisted, and by whom?

[P Prentice]

i thought he was saying that using digital technology was no more complicated than driving a car
though as one must assume to find his words of wisdom one must already be interfacing with digital media
so i guess he is a proponent of surf-driving (commonly known as crashing)

[Dinosaur]

Afraid I'd rather leave my contibution to archaeology, such as it is, in a format that'll last after someone's forgotten to pay the subs on the server or whatever-comes-after-twitter has made it obsolete and everything on it lost as if it had never happened. At least cars have lasted fine for more than 100 years, and will continue to work through the next solar storm, so I can still talk to people by the old-fashioned method of face-to-face conversation in a (candle-lit) pub

....b***er, bottled beer again....:p

[tom wilson]

I think Mr. Rothwell might have a very good point. I'm just not sure what it is.

I think it might be something to do with access to data, or collaboration between commercials and academics and 'amateurs' (not sure of the prefered nomenclature these days), or maybe about some regressive social instrument that perpetuates the pedagogic hegemony, or something.

I also think that the piece reads like perhaps he doesn't want to be too specific or name names, or possibly that it is aimed at a particular audience who is already in the know. I'm not though.

Happy to be proved wrong, as always.:o)

[CARTOON REALITY]

Information Super Highway road rage?

[serpentine]

I wasn't particularly aware that there was any widespread resistance to digital technology for collaboration or engagement, though there might be a lack of understanding. It's new, lively and rapidly evolving, and is becoming a whole new specialism in its own right. But its strength lies in its immediacy - it's technology of our time and the instant-gratification mood of the country. But I can understand wariness from academics in terms of the permanence of publishing online, or fear of plagiarism or remarks out of context. I agree with Dino - I think there will always be a place for more traditional modes of working, you can't replace the social side of actual face to face conversation, and books will always win hands down for me. Sometimes half the interest is in the outdated content (cf recent nostalgia over old Encyclopaediae Britannica editions).

(Hello everyone, by the way. First post from long time lurker; seem to be a few of us taking the plunge lately.)

[tom wilson]

(Hello everyone, by the way. First post from long time lurker; seem to be a few of us taking the plunge lately.)

Welcome aboard!

[Unitof1]

I should watch it serpentine - this a bizarr non field archaeology dont know what it is, theme, to first post on. Hosy put it up he should tell us what its about might also might like to comment on this Dales Heritage Field School 2012 (affordable Field School) . I think that they might be connected. Possble this is what was ment by As I write this I have a Google Doc open on another screen, apparently writing itself, could be that Her Rothwell had bajr on screen and was calling that a Doc although it wouldnt surprise me that microsoft have copyright on anything doc and google should beware

[CARTOON REALITY]

Notwithstanding that stern warning from Unit - Welcome Serpentine!