Technology Limiting Creativity: Analysis

This speech explores the topic of how technology limits creativity and the impact it has on society. The speaker shares personal experiences and conversations with educators, parents, and young people. The speech discusses the need to find ways to utilize technology effectively without stifling creativity.

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CRITICAL THINKING: TECHNOLOGY LIMITING CREATIVITY
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TECHNOLOGY LIMITING CREATIVITY: ASSESSMENT
Hello.
Thank you for coming.
As I was taking a walk down the street today, I happened to come across a park. The
weather was nice, so I decided to make my way there to enjoy a bit of nature and to socially
interact with other people in my society. Upon arrival, I noticed an elderly couple chatting
away, discussing a topic many young people of our generation tend to avoid, namely the
rising trend of technology and the internet. I listened to their casual talk for a while and went
on my way, trying my best to think of it as a part of the routine but felt I was unable to get
that thought out of my head. Were they right? Is technology really eating away at our minds,
limiting anyways we have at generating creativity? My quench for answers made me drive to
an elementary school of our local area the next morning, as I found myself sitting in the
principal's room requesting to talk to any teacher available on this topic pertaining to research
purposes. When I met with the teacher, I started off with her thoughts on the usage of
technology in the current time and whether she was satisfied with it. The answer she gave me
was contrary to the perception that I had in mind. She thought that the usage of technology
and such dependence on it from a very early age was resulting in students being deprived of
using their own minds to cultivate new and fresh ideas. She was dealing with it on a day to
day basis. Students coming in and refusing to do work that was not on their tablets or phones
or getting cranky and out of ideas when being told to. Upon asking her, “What do you think
can be done to tackle this problem?” she simply replied, “Teaching our children to make
positive use of the blessing which is the technology we have and this can be done by the
understanding of the phrase charity begins at home.”
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I’m here today to talk to you about this thought and the reservations that come with it.
This topic, Technology limits Creativity, explores how the world of technology and
innovation not only makes things easier but also comes with the biggest disadvantage of
sapping away at creativity. Creativity is associated with growth and the process of learning;
my basic question is where we are going as a community and worldwide population if we are
confining ourselves to online sources for help on even the slightest of tasks?
When I speak of this, many people are bound to raise a question, when the tools and
technologies of the 21st century are the basic structures for learning in modern times, how do
we go against them? My answer will be, in the early times of education, crayons were
considered as building blocks for the education of young children and yet we have more
modern ways of studying now. Advancements will keep coming. It's how we apply them and
keep ourselves of their constraints that can aid in utilising them effectively.
The logical aspect of this speech considers the use of technology and how it is
stopping people of all ages from using their own intelligence. Need the solution to a math
question? Search the internet for readymade answers. Want to create a unique design for an
artwork? Look up a variety of ready to use designs online and edit from them. These one of
the millions of ways technology is making its way into our minds and limiting its usage for
creative solutions, and it is not limited to young minds only, but it also plays an important
role in the corporate world.
The significant part of this speech is the understanding of how these events are taking
place and why have we started relying on technology for most of our work, resulting in better
use of technology. Sure it should be used as a means of bringing ease but implementing it for
purposes where one should be using their own creative thinking abilities is a misuse of
technology.
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A question that many of you might have am I a saint in all of this? Well, the answer is
no. I use technology in all these aspects because I want to make my life easier and did not use
to think before that my brain would also need exercise by thinking creatively on my own. But
since this thought has plagued my mind, I am forced to consider changing my habits and
making more learning in this aspect and make sure other people also consider the same.
Now, these are not only my thoughts if someone is wondering. I decided to critically
think about the topic all the while considering the perspectives of others because upon
conversing with other people from various walks of life like the elementary school teacher, I
came to know many parents, teachers, entrepreneurs and even young people are battling with
the same issue. This thought and opinion is also a focal point of my own well being and what
I consider to be fruitful for the future generations.
Like many other critical topics, this one also has a few barriers to progress, one being the
backlash from the people regarding the display and non-acceptance of negative impacts of
technology. Some educational professionals also argue that the use of technology is
beneficial.
I would like to elaborate on the fact that this speech is not a hate campaign against the
rising era of technology but only the enhancement of its use. There are multiple ways that can
help us utilize it in an efficient manner such as making use of the digital tools, devices and
applications for creating a new world of opportunities in which people can imagine, make
and share in creative ways, using technological methods to foster curiosity, confidence,
innovation, respect and co-operation in young minds. We should make elaborate use of
technology instead of letting it take over our lives and thinking from the simple things such as
designing a portrait or creating an effective solution plan; people should at least try their hand
at experiencing all things before technology reliance. This will make technology beneficial
for us in multiple ways.
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I hope that I managed to create even the slightest bit of awareness and acknowledge
you all regarding this serious matter as it is not something we can simply ignore for the future
capabilities of our youth depend on it. Make a promise with yourself and convince others as
well, to consider bringing about a change so that we can tackle this issue together because
simply doing is not enough if we don’t get to use our creative sides.
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TECHNOLOGY LIMITING CREATIVITY: ANALYSIS
The introduction to the speech is immediately started with the employment of one of
Brookfield's language tricks which is the use of a personal story to make a connection and
create understanding with the audience (Brookfield, 2011). By doing this, the speech has used
a personal aspect of the speaker to connect with the audience and make the ideation of
Technology, limiting creativity well known to them before even starting the concept. The use
of this method for communication has a positive aspect in terms of response and
understanding of the speaker with his audience on a personal level.
The introduction of a concept to an audience must be intriguing or made through a
connection that is relatable so that the audience has a better understanding of the topic which
relates to technology sapping creativity from our minds (Strauss, 2012). The second
paragraph of the speech explains the main theme and question of the speech, which is if the
statement is correct and what it means.
Following the introduction of the theme of the speech, the speaker uses the Learning I
aspect of Bateson’s Levels of Learning which implements that the person in question gathers
information to gain more knowledge of the question and to help with the devising of answers
for it (Guddemi, 2011). The justification is that the speaker relates his personal story with the
theme of the speech, where he hunts for answers through informative sessions with other
people.
The critical thinking model by Paul Elder is applied while constructing the speech and
the speaker uses the various attributes of Intellectual Standards and Traits to associate them
with the topic in question (Paul and Elder, 2013). This can further be justified with parts from
the speech as follows;
INTELLECTUAL STANDARDS OF PAUL ELDER MODEL
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1. Clarity: - The speaker is clear about the topic and its main points that are to be
considered.
2. Accuracy: - The speaker mentions that this statement can be verified through various
examples in daily life, (Need the solution to a math question? Search the internet for
readymade answers. Want to create a unique design for an artwork? Look up a variety
of ready to use designs online and edit from them).
3. Precision: - The speech adheres to the word limit advised and did not use any
ambiguous or unnecessary statements that may waste the time of the speaker himself
or the audience. The content is straight to the point with short examples and
statements.
4. Relevance: - The speaker stayed relevant to the topic by providing what good results
can come out if the change is made, (This will make technology beneficial for us in
multiple ways).
5. Depth: - The factors that made the focal point difficult to convey were (Backlash
from the people regarding the display and non-acceptance of negative impacts of
technology. Some educational professionals also argue that the use of technology is
beneficial).
6. Breadth: - The other perspectives that the speech has for looking into this topic
include the fact that the study is not limited to young minds only but that it also plays
an important role in the corporate world.
7. Logic: - The evidence from the study of Rethinking Technology & Creativity in the
21st Century regarding the comparison of Crayons and Technology as educational basics
show proof that the speech used relevant findings to justify the topic that technology
limits creativity (Mishra, 2012).
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8. Significance: - The importance of the speech and its topic can be shown through the
understanding of how these events are taking place and why have we started relying
on technology for most of our work, resulting in better use of technology.
9. Fairness: - The speech is fair in terms of taking into consideration the opinions and
perspectives for others, as stated in the speech, (These are not only my thoughts if
someone is wondering. I decided to critically think and speak about the topic because
upon conversing with other people from various walks of life like the elementary
school teacher; I came to know many parents, teachers, entrepreneurs and even young
people are battling with the same issue).
INTELLECTUAL TRAITS OF PAUL ELDER MODEL
1. Intellectual Humility: - In the speech, (A question that many of you might have, am
I a saint in all of this? Well, the answer is no. I use technology in all these aspects
because I want to make my life easier and did not use to think before that my brain
would also need exercise by thinking creatively on my own.), shows the humility of
the speaker.
2. Intellectual Courage: - In the speech, (But since this thought has plagued my mind, I
am forced to consider changing my habits and making more learning in this aspect
and make sure other people also consider the same), shows the courage that the
speaker gathered to address the topic of Technology limiting creativity.
3. Intellectual Empathy: - In the speech, (I decided to critically think about the topic all
the while considering the perspectives of others, because upon conversing with other
people from various walks of life like the elementary school teacher, I came to know
many parents, teachers, entrepreneurs and even young people are battling with the
same issue.), shows the speaker's empathetic behaviour towards the feelings and
perceptions/opinions of other people regarding this topic.
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4. Intellectual Autonomy: - In the speech, (This thought and opinion is also a focal
point of my own well-being and what I consider to be fruitful for the future
generations.), shows that the speaker has the willingness and ability to be independent
and show autonomy.
5. Intellectual Integrity: - In the speech, (The logical aspect of this speech considers
the use of technology and how it is stopping people of all ages from using their own
intelligence.), shows the integrity of the speaker.
6. Intellectual Perseverance: - In the speech, (Like many other critical topics, this one
also has a few barriers to progress, one being the backlash from the people regarding
the display and non-acceptance of negative impacts of technology. Some educational
professionals also argue that the use of technology is beneficial.), shows the
perseverance of the speaker in terms of factors opposing the topic of the speech.
7. Confidence in Reason: - In the speech, (Sure it should be used as a means of
bringing ease but implementing it for purposes where one should be using their own
creative thinking abilities is a misuse of technology.), shows the confidence that the
speaker has in the reason and understanding of the topic.
8. Fair-Mindedness: - In the speech, (I would like to elaborate the fact that this speech
is not a hate campaign against the rising era of technology but only the enhancement
of its use.), shows the fair-mindedness of the speaker in terms of being reasonable.
The speaker also uses speech tactics like assumption of the fact that the audience shares
the same facts as himself through the final appeal (I hope that I managed to create even the
slightest bit of awareness and acknowledge you all regarding this serious matter as it is not
something we can simply ignore for the future capabilities of our youth depend on it.). The
speaker also makes use of the fact to showcase that educational professionals also have a say
in this matter and that they may not agree with this topic (Christopher, 2018).
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The speech also gave an insight into solving the problem, (Wei and Lee, 2015), (There
are multiple ways that can help us utilize it in an efficient manner such as making use of the
digital tools, devices and applications for creating a new world of opportunities in which
people can imagine, make and share in creative ways, using technological methods to foster
curiosity, confidence, innovation, respect and co-operation in young minds.), through which
the audience can be better educated (Henriksen et al., 2018).
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REFERENCES
Brookfield, S.D., 2011. Teaching for critical thinking: Tools and techniques to help students
question their assumptions. John Wiley & Sons.
Christopher, (2018). Technology limits Creativity – Youth Voices. [online] Youthvoices.live.
Available at: https://www.youthvoices.live/2018/02/16/technology-limits-creativity/
[Accessed 16 May 2019].
Guddemi, P., 2011. Conscious purpose in 2010: Bateson's prescient warning. Systems
Research and Behavioral Science, 28(5), pp.465-475.
Henriksen, D., Henderson, M., Creely, E., Ceretkova, S., Černochová, M., Sendova, E.,
Sointu, E.T. and Tienken, C.H., 2018. Creativity and Technology in Education: An
International Perspective. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 23(3), pp.409-424.
Mishra, P., 2012. Rethinking technology & creativity in the 21st century: Crayons are the
future. TechTrends, 56(5), pp.13-16.
Paul, R. and Elder, L., 2013. Critical thinking: Tools for taking charge of your professional
and personal life. Pearson Education.
Strauss, V., 2012. Is technology sapping children’s creativity?. The Washington Post.
Wei, W.J. and Lee, L.C., 2015. Interactive technology for creativity in early childhood
education. Jurnal Teknologi, 75(3).
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