Harry- my short answer is yes. I see technology as a tool used by an educated or educating human. I'd go a step further and claim that school or a degree is not necessary for a liberal education. Ivan Ilich in "Deschooling Society" observes that we tend to confuse an institution with the aims of an institution; healthcare is not necessary or sufficient for health, as school is neither necessary or sufficient for education. I also think of Louis L'Amour's autobiography, "Education of a Wandering Man" as an example of curiosity and desire to learn satisfied schoolessly. Medieval universities considered a liberal education composed of seven subjects broken down into the trivium and quadrivium- the trivium, grammar, logic, rhetoric necessary and prefatory to the quadrivium -arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy. I believe the early German universities placed strong emphases on "philology" a mixed study of language and history, which today might encompass cultural awareness- or diversity!
I wax pedantic to assert that these respectable examples of liberal arts education did not include specific study of the tools of that study, I assume scholars learned how to sharpen a quill, as students are encouraged to learn software.
Regarding your link, I'm reminded of the joke about the secretary applying for a job being asked, "How many words a minute can you type?" her reply, "Well, how many words a minute can you speak?". I have a vague feeling that the information half-life we speak of in certain subjects is some kind of straw man argument for changing the basic idea of a liberal education (though, perhaps a real concern for a technical education.) I just don't see how a shift to technologically based instruction is part of the liberal education discussion. If I cannot inspire the urge to curiosity, content understanding, mastery of logic and thought, or love of learning at the lectern, odds are I can't do it with a computer.
Thanks for your always provocative posts.
Rick Jagels
From: Teaching Breakfast List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nowak, Rhea
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 8:19 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Liberal Arts and Technology
I thought education already was cradle to grave. I understand it that one of our main purposes was to help students learn how to learn and develop/keep/ inspire the curiosity and self motivation to keep learning.
Rhea Nowak
Assistant Professor of Art
SUNY College at Oneonta
Oneonta, NY
(607) 436-2827
From: <Pence>, Harry <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Reply-To: Teaching Breakfast List <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 8:05 AM
To: "[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Subject: Liberal Arts and Technology
Here's an interesting take on the current state of liberal arts. Can you have a true liberal arts education in a technological society without including information on the basic technical skills that are fundamental to modern society?
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/cio-insights/tech-skills-is-it-getting-harder-to-keep-up/39749543?tag=nl.e099&s_cid=e099
Harry
Harry E. Pence
SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus
SUNY Oneonta
________________________________
From: Teaching Breakfast List [[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>] On Behalf Of Greenberg, Jim
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2012 11:06 AM
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Pew Study on Reading Trends and Library Use
Interesting study...
http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2012/10/23/younger-americans-reading-and-library-habits/
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