Technology refers to equipment developed as a result of applied scientific knowledge. Its goal since the invention was to reduce manual work and make work easier.
It has resolved many problems and caused other ones at the same time. For many of us, it has created a dependency.
Onryll Lewis, a junior psychology student at Florida A&M, agrees that students have developed a dependency on technology.
“Absolutely,” Lewis said. “I do everything for class from my laptop. That’s where I take notes and all of my books are e-texts. I hardly brought pens and paper because there’s really no use for it when I can store everything in one place.”
Young people cannot go without social media.
Kaylen Hayes, a junior pre-physical student, agrees that students have developed a dependency.
“I truly believe without a doubt that students have developed a dependency for technology,” Hayes said. “The population that makes up this stigma are generation Y and generation Z. The use of phones, computers, tablets have become an essential, one cannot live without. With such an attachment to these devices I believe it has limited our thought process; by simply remembering a phone number because technology has become so convenient and resourceful. Unfortunately, students will continue to use technology to prolong their knowledge in the future, but must find a way to use it to an advantage without losing site of what the mind can do on its own.”
Sites like Google and YouTube have become students’ best friends, especially when taking part in classroom activities such as assignments or discussion groups. They no longer allow themselves to brainstorm on concepts learned. Google will provide the answers they need when they need them. It is no longer a matter of understanding what is taught; it is related to computer literacy.
In many ways teachers have embraced and encouraged this, as more assignments are given to students online.
Asha McKinley, a junior journalism student, agrees technology is a dependency.
“Yes, this generation has used technology our whole lives so I would say we definitely are dependent on it,” McKinley said. “If technology were to disappear today there would be a lot of people on the verge of a mental breakdown. I am one of those people.”
Many institutions have embraced educational technology, encouraging students to adopt to it at a very young age. From this stage in life, it is hard for them to cut off a connection that has been instilled in them since they began school. Dependency is like a reliance on an object or situation. Students rely on technology in their education and social dealings.