Technology Provides Positive Opportunities
Did you know that technology has been changing as long as we’ve had technology?
And what is technology anyway? When I started teaching, (so long ago 😊) technology studies were not digital technology, computers were slow and lumpy, and the internet had not been invented. Technology back then meant ‘materials technology’. The technology back then was studies of wood, metal, textiles and food. Nowadays, technology is almost exclusively used to describe digital technology.
But there were technologies that pre-date all of those. Have you heard of Gutenberg?
Johannes Gutenberg was born somewhere around 1400 AD. A quick search shows that history knows very little about him. But there is one thing known about Gutenberg that outweighs all the unknowns … Gutenberg invented the modern printing press. He invented a mechanical way to print words onto paper, and to do it fast.
Before Gutenberg’s printing press, books were made by people sitting around tediously copying all the words, word by word from an existing book into a blank book. It took days and days and days and days. It probably caused RSI…!
Gutenberg invented a metal alloy from which he could shape letters on little blocks. He made it so the little blocks could be swapped around with each other within a frame. He invented a new extra-oily type of ink that would stick to these metal-block letters but also transfer onto paper. He adapted a screw-press from farming machinery, so that it would squish the inky letters onto paper evenly, leaving the imprint of the words on the page. And what all of that meant was that from the mid-1400s until today, his technology has allowed ordinary people to be able to afford books, to learn to read, to share ideas worldwide, and to open the whole world of vicarious experience that is captured in literacy and the wonderful human art of words.
The first book of mass-production in human history was the ‘Gutenberg Bible’. As Christians, who believe that the Bible is a most significant way that God guides us, it is not trivial that Gutenberg used his creativity and mechanical skill to produce the book that Christians affectionately nickname, ‘God’s Word’.
When technologies appear, there appear opportunities. Opportunities can be used for good purposes, or for selfish preferences. Our mindset and objectives will determine how we use the opportunities that present to us.
An example in our MCC experience is the good and wholesome use of connectivity. Thrust ahead by need, digital technology has developed to the point where a teacher can be online from their office at MCC, and their students can be online at home in their dining rooms. Melton Christian College now has students who live anything from 30 minutes drive from either of our onsite campuses, up to 8 hours drive away.
The technology that has enabled business meetings across the nation, also allows Mr Bendall and his team to teach students in any locations. That is exciting and wonderful.
As you think about our school, please be proud of the innovative minds, and willing hearts of staff who have seen and implemented a technology-guided opportunity, and like Gutenberg, deployed it for good, good purposes.
David Gleeson, Principal