#2 Where I Am and Where I Want to Go

The majority of society is now almost completely engulfed by technology in a variety of forms. Television entertainment, internet, video games, cell phones, and even down to robotic telemarketers are examples of how technology has entered our lives. Yet what about those from the younger generations born in the early 2000’s? Technology for them has been been part of their lives since birth, an invisible extension of their identities they can neither ignore or escape. As a result people today are simultaneously closer and more separated than ever before. News travels quickly but can we truly understand its impact on communities if we are unaware that we share similar experiences, don't notice physical proof in our communities, and create a desire for inquiry and truth if we believe that what exists online and in the media are the only truths? I have chosen to investigate the possibilities of utilizing technology such as VR in the classroom so that students can be exposed through media in which they understand and welcome yet can take them to places that are new so they can have mock experiences that challenge their preconceptions about their world. The subject matter for such investigations will revolve around my discipline of art and I will investigate the possibilities of using software and tools related to VR, audio experiences, creation software such as adobe, and etc. What I already know about this topic is that technology, most specifically the internet, eliminated the middle man of investigation and research. People can now get a direct answer or opinion to the questions they have by simply googling it. As an artist it is our unspoken duty to manifest our challenges and questions to the world and we do so through a variety of tools. Artists use technology to look deeper and reflect upon what makes our world the way it is. What are the issues that face us today? What personal experiences do we have that have caused us to question? These are a few of the many questions that artists arrive to as they pursue their own investigations on a multitude of topics. For my topic here I am already aware of many forms of technology that has been created for the enhancement of the users experience of things such as game play and drawing. What I want to know now is what can the combined efforts of artists, scientists, and educators do to foster future generations that have an enhanced intrinsic drive to better themselves and their communities. Resources: http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/technology-in-education/index.html https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2016/09/what-horizon-education-technology https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/jun/19/technology-future-education-cloud-social-learning