Could a laptop be an albatross around your neck?
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 | Computer Usage, laptops
Two hundred years ago Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote a poem – The Rime of the Ancient Mariner – about a ship that was driven off course by a storm until it reached Antarctica. A friendly albatross – a huge bird that could weigh up to 8 kilograms and with a wingspan of 3,5 meters – guided the ship to safe waters.
The mariner shot the albatross, and for his punishment he was forced to wear the carcass of the bird around his neck. Imagine the discomfort after weeks and months of wearing this heavy decaying burden.
From this story the saying – an albatross around one’s neck – was derived. It refers to an annoying burden; something one has done, or something one has acquired, which now causes problems.
This is an apt analogy for teachers owning a personal computer. Like the albatross, a computer can lead a teacher through uncharted waters. It could be a productivity tool, an excellent teaching tool and bring empowerment to the owner.
But a laptop could also be a burden.
The cost of acquiring a laptop, insuring it, and having internet connectivity may create a heavy financial load. Keeping the machine safe may also pose a problem. It could become an albatross around your neck.
Just having a computer brings no benefits – a dead bird cannot guide one – and you can expect a locked-up computer to become a burden that must be carried.
I am sure that the mariner shot his albatross in ignorance. Don’t shoot down the idea of a laptop before you have considered the facts.
2 Comments to Could a laptop be an albatross around your neck?
My employer provided many of us with pagers 10 years ago. It was a way to get in touch with us to fulfill the employer’s need. We were told it was NOT for personal use. As a result, the many costs of acquisition, connectivity and learning how to use it were ill spent. Most soon sat in drawers or had dead batteries.
“Child Safety” means that great tools like laptops are often conservatively managed. Not only do we block material certainly harmful to children, but we block grey area materials as well, as well as web based email, social networking, etc. Employers retain the “rights” to anything we create while using “their” technology. Like the pagers, we all lose the benefits of teachers having laptops because we don’t encourage teachers to become proficient and knowledgeable at things we are afraid to understand.
Technology has a life. In 2-3 years that laptop SHOULD be beat up, somewhat broken, and ready to be replaced. I don’t want a 4-5 year old laptop, even if it is in perfect condition.
I try to encourage teachers to learn everything they can about the technology, and rather than spending resources on some of the protective measures, I budget for what will inevitably be the consequences of not having them in place - a laptop dropped off the bleachers at a swim meet, another stolen from a car. Fortunately, because the teachers feel ownership and it is important to them, there are actually fewer accidents because they don’t want to face the times without. And, hopefully, they are more knowledgeable about the technology they have in their hands, and can translate that to their classrooms.
KathyWednesday, 4 February, 2009
Good analogy of an albatross. But lots of practical issues to consider in order to keep this bird in the air. Last Friday I worked with a bunch of teachers who have all been given laptops. After a few questions I realised we have so many practical steps to cover…. All need to download free antivirus software - but obviously need internet connections for initial download and updates. Lots of basic questions to answer and practical help needed… some afraid to ask…
One thing I learnt was that it would be tremendously useful for these teachers to have two or three standalone printers around the school - many were frustrated by the demand placed on the school’s network printer and its geographical inaccessibility. They wanted to be able to plug in and print, where they are sitting and working on their lovely new laptops. As a teacher myself, I understand this need and I think that a smallish expense like this (not forgetting cost of ink) will significantly raise the level of usage by teachers in this particular school.
Wednesday, 4 February, 2009