i get drawn into the modern technology very easily. i like gadgets, i like having new, shiny toys. and i have fallen into the trap that i think that modern and technological is always better then what was there before. now, there are some things that i love that are vintage: furniture, clothing, records, artwork.
especially for school i fall into the mindset that "the computer is the best thing ever to happen to education since the invention of the written language." and technology is very useful for education. i love using my ipad as a book reader, a notetaker, and calendar. it's incredibly useful. instead of lugging pounds upon pounds of books, i'm able to consolidate my text books and library books into a single item that fits into my purse {amazing!}. technology in general has changed aspects of higher education in the liberal field. i have access to journals that i would never be able to afford on my own. through the digitization of books and journals my school can financially afford to give access to the students. i have an incredible amount of information available to me through my web browser!
but i fall into the trap of thinking "if i can't get it through the internet it must not exist" and it's an easy trap to fall into. if i can't find it through jstor or google, i give up. i forget there is a library that may hold information that isn't available through the internet. in class the other day, we had a research librarian do a presentation on effective ways to research. i would argue that i am a master researcher when it comes to websites and databases available online, but i fail miserably at even checking the school library for resources. so while the librarian was educating the class on research i took a moment to browse the school library about my thesis topic. and oh my god! i found so much information that isn't available online. i found primary source documents that i had given up for lost! i spent a good hour clearing out the library shelves of all books on my thesis. i was giddy like a child in a candy shop!
i had forgotten how much i love libraries and what an essential part they are to research. the computer isn't everything, and it definitely cannot beat a hardbound book! so, fellow students, step away from the computer. stop focusing on the internet, and check out your local library and be amazed at the wealth of information!