Techsploration

I am in kindergarten. Tears silently rush down my face, leaving a path of despair in their wake. I walk up to my teacher preparing to tell her earth-shattering news: I forgot to give my Tamagotchi to my brother for the day. 

For those of you who are confused, let me give a brief explanation about the bonanza that were Tomagotchis in the early 2000s.  Tamagotchi are essentially electronic, handheld pets that originated in Japan. As a Tamagotchi owner, it was my responsibility to attend to my pets needs; this manifested in various forms of care from “feeding” it to playing games with it to giving it attention when it was feeling lonely or bored (yes, my electronic pet got bored).  With my school day in kindergarten being completely consumed with lego constructions and read alouds, I passed my Tomagotchi responsibilities onto my brother as my daily ritual. If I didn’t, neglecting these duties could lead to my pet becoming sick or even passing away. Hence the tears that were so visceral to my six year old self that I remember them to this day.  I admit in retrospect, constantly being faced with the prospect of my beloved Tomatgotchi passing away was a pretty morbid reality to have been faced with at such a young age. But I digress- if only because I was completely and utterly obsessed with my bright pink, pocketable companion. 

Tamagotchi and LeapFrog and computer labs that were- gasp- shared by the entire school constituted the technological reality of my childhood. In the span of the few years it took me to grow up, my world has transformed into one that rapidly embraces technological advancements that would seem dystopian to my Furby collecting, Teen Titan watching, Razor Scooter riding younger self (I’m looking at you Apple Vision Pro). I find myself straddling two distinct eras: the physical and the digital. But in that position of discomfort, I also find myself considering how we can preserve the simplicity and imaginative spirit of the analog era I grew up with, while leveraging the convenience of the digital age that we live in today. 

I was prompted to write this post after a conversation with my mom and grandma about the educational opportunities that the internet has brought forth.  This summer for example, I am completing a program through Wellesley college to learn Italian.  By the end of the summer, I will be able to read, write, and speak in the language of Italian- feats that will be achieved thanks to the screen and keyboard sitting in front of me.  Aside from Italian, the pixels of my computer have allowed me to explore my passions ranging from cyber security to law. This accessibility and opportunity is powerful. 

Alongside seemingly materializing learning opportunities from thin air, the Internet has also incredibly elevated the quality of preexisting educational experiences.  Simply put, the Internet allows me to take school into my own hands.  I am no stranger to a Khan Academy lesson or Youtube video to supplement my learning in school.  Further research on databases gives me a more comprehensive understanding of class material, and a quick Google search on current events allows me to see the relevancy of academic content in the real world. But for my mother and grandparents, I cannot help but sympathize with the undoubtedly challenging educational landscape they were forced to navigate. A landscape painted by a reliance on textbooks and scouring library shelves and whole units jammed into 40 minute class periods. 

I believe it is completely true that we don’t know what we have until it’s gone. Considering what life must’ve looked like for students only a few decades ago has instilled a greater appreciation in me for the internet’s ability to revolutionize the way we learn and access knowledge.  

However, alongside this appreciation stands an acknowledgement of the unsavory aspects to the digital age we live in. Yes, the internet is powerful. But, I continue to watch this power transmute to a suffocation of all other aspects of life. It is imperative that we strike a balance between the analog and digital. Playing cashier or pretending I’m solving mysteries in Rome while standing in my living room as a kid set me up for a life of creativity and curiosity. But everyday, these tactile experiences continue to be replaced by alternatives that fit the agenda of the “modern world.”  Playdates between elementary schoolers are spent with noses glued to screens. Family dinners are disrupted by cheers of victory and exclamations of defeat in one of the seemingly thousand survival games available on the app store.  This is not an imaginative childhood.  These experiences evoke no problem-solving or curiosity. I fear we are living experiments, waiting to witness the lasting consequences of deviating from common childhood occurrences that have been prevalent in society since the dawn of time.

I like to think about it like this… There is no room for deviation in binary code from 0s and 1s; just as there is little room for deviation or imaginativeness in the realm of the digital world.  We should be able to recognize the revolutionized education the internet provides, while not letting it engulf a well-rounded childhood experience- and overall life experience- in return.  To use and to not be consumed is key.