NASSPE2010 Section II Q3
Being a Generation Y baby, I have been exposed to much new technology ever since my childhood years. Since then, technology has transformed drastically with the appearance of the Apple iPad, iPhone, High Speed Internet, so on and so forth. There are many ways in which technology has moulded the way I live my life and hence has made itself somewhat essential to my daily activities.
Every day, I persistently check my smartphone for any messages or notifications that might pop up just so that I will be kept updated with the latest news from my friends and family, whether on Facebook or Twitter, and the occasional emergency message from a teacher to inform the class to complete a certain homework assignment. Sometimes, I log into my computer and start up Skype, which keeps me connected to friends and family all around the world, and start chatting with whoever is online.
Whenever I am given a project to finish, the first and foremost thing I would do is to search the topic on the Internet. The Internet gives all of us relevant information to whatever we are looking for. If we're looking for a picture of a cat, it gives it to us with a single click. If we're researching a planet that we've never even heard of, the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration's website is always there for us to refer to. In addition, the Internet keeps us updated with current affairs such as the health of the world's economy and the latest global health threats.
Technology also has impacted education greatly. The teachers in my school infuse rich new media into the classroom with the help of technology to make our lessons more interesting and enriching. Furthermore, students, such as myself, use laptops and tablets to work on projects which make work a lot more efficient and also enjoyable. This is especially so when I was doing an Inter-disciplinary Project which involved a lot of cooperation with my peers over many months. The computer and Internet made teamwork a breeze.
However, technology may not always be a necessity when it comes to work. One problem is the distraction technology can be to me. Whenever I use the computer to study, I always find myself straying away from the work to Social Networking Sites such as Facebook or even online games hence affecting my productivity. As such, I try to find better ways to study, like studying in a library or in school, to make technology inaccessible to myself.
Technology can also destroy physical social environments. When I meet up with friends after school, we usually have lunch before heading home. What I realise is my friends are always on the phone messaging or simply browsing the Internet even when people are around them. This reduces the amount of time we actually spend talking to each other and the physical contact.
As aforementioned, technology can help us whilst we research for projects however, the Internet can provide false and inaccurate information and what is worse is that students will be tempted to plagiarise. Plagiarism is a serious offence which can lead to a termination of grades in examinations and even more serious consequences especially at higher levels of education.
To what extent is technology essential in my day-to-day life? Well, I should say it has its benefits and disadvantages and whether I see technology as an essential part depends on how I can control my temptations to stray away from work and to reach out for my phone.
591 words
Please do grade me out of 30 marks and leave constructive criticism so that I can improve on my future compositions. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Milton
