Long Live The Geeks!
As I was perousing the net for some interesting computer images I came across an interesting article called Geek Redefined which looked at the evolution of the term “geek” as displayed below:
Definition of “Geek:”
· Circa 1970 (Merriam-Webster): a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake.
· Circa 1990 (common usage): a nerd who loves computer code and techie gadgets.
· Circa 2007 (Wikipedia): an individual who is fascinated by knowledge and imagination, usually electronic or virtual in nature.
I found it interesting to see how having technological expertise is becoming a much more valuable asset as time progresses and technology continues to become more and more highly developed. As discussed in this article, society now has a new found respect for ‘geeks’ and no longer regards them as “nerds with bad clothes” with “no social skills”, but rather as people who are knowledgeable and completely vital in a computer crisis. I think this article just strengthens my desire to make my students feel confident in using technology in the classroom. In doing so, I feel as though I will be preparing them for any technological challenges they may in the future as well as setting them up for success as members of a society where technology is progressing at a rapid pace.
