Wesch discusses the problem of significance and how students in general are just going through the motions of school without tying any meaning to their education. He talks about the fact that learning should generate deep, thought-provoking questions and yet the only questions that students ask are more administrative - how long does this paper have to be, will this be on the test, etc. Education is more of a game of grades. Wesch explores the idea that teaching can actually be a hindrance to learning and that teachers should act less like deliverers of content and more like managers supporting a learning environment of collaboration and questioning. One quote that stuck out to me was where he said "if we are ultimately trying to create 'active life-long learners' with 'critical thinking skills' and an ability to 'think outside the box' it might be best to start by getting students to ask better questions." I find it interesting that he throws out these buzz words and phrases that are so often used in education but makes the point that we are not reaching these goals unless we motivate students to dig deep in their learning and ask the "right" questions.
Turkle discusses the fact that although we are constantly connecting with each other through social media on our phones and tablets, it does not count as real conversation. She makes the argument that although we are connecting with each other through social media in tiny little pieces throughout the day, it does not add up to a full conversation. Conversing with someone requires you to see things from their perspective, to get the know the person on a deeper level, and talking through technology does not engage us in these processes. She warns that the flight from conversation can lead to dumbed down questions in order to receive faster responses, missed opportunities to learn skills of self-reflection, or forgetting to really listen to and understand each other.
I think that Turkle and Wesch are allies in this discussion of new media and technology. They both stress the importance of collaboration and real conversation as essential pieces of understanding each other as humans, building relationships, and generating meaningful learning. Turkle says, "We expect more from technology and less from one another and seem increasingly drawn to technologies that provide the illusion of companionship without the demands of relationship." This reminds me of the idea Wesch tries to get across - that students in a traditional classroom are just trying to get by in classes without engaging in real constructive learning. Wesch believes that "students need to recognize their own importance in helping to shape the future of this increasingly global society" and that we need to connect on a deeper level in order to guide our Spaceship Earth in this grand narrative of life.
I think it's great how you connect both Wesch and Turkle's ideas; when you think about it, in many ways Wesch is seeing in his classroom the lack of connection that Turkle writes about, or at least a by-product of it. You mention the need for instantaneous results that while, yes, are results or answers, don't have us diving deep. And I love your reference to the Spaceship Earth!
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