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until these contingencies harden into technological necessities and become nearly unchangeable in future generations. There’s an old story that is basically true: Ordinary Roman carts were constructed to match the width of Imperial Roman war chariots because it was easier to follow the ruts in the road left by the war chariots. The chariots were sized to accommodate the width of two large war horses, which translates into our English measurement as a width of 4′ 8.5″. Roads throughout the vast Roman empire were built to this spec. When the legions of Rome marched into Britain, they constructed long distance imperial roads 4′ 8.5″ wide. When the English started building tramways, they used the same width so the same horse carriages could be used. And when they started building railways with horseless carriages, naturally the rails were 4′ 8.5″ wide. Imported laborers from the British Isles built the first railways in the Americas using the same tools and jigs they were used to. Fast forward to the US Space shuttle, which is built in parts around the country and assembled in Florida. Because the two large solid fuel rocket engines on the side of the launch Shuttle were sent by railroad from Utah, and that line transversed a tunnel not much wider than the standard track, the rockets themselves could not be much wider than 4′ 8.5.”

“So, a major Space Shuttle design feature of what is arguably the world’s most advanced transportation system was determined over two thousand years ago by the width of two horses’ arse.” More or less, this is how technology constrains itself over time.

In addition to the primary drive of preordained development (force #1), and in addition to the escapable influences of technological history (force #2), there is society’s collective free will in shaping the technium (force #3).

When something that I see online gives me a light bulb moment, I modify it for my personal use

Back-to-school time often coincides with the arbitrary banning of toys, apparel and assorted nick-knacks from our classrooms and playgrounds. It seems as if instinct takes over whenever administrators encounter something kids care about. The reflexive impulse is to forbid these objects from the educational environment

There are several reasons for taking a deep breath and exercising caution before enforcing the next pog embargo. We risk alienating children from school and missing potential curriculum connections.

High-tech devices allowed today may integrate prohibited technologies in the future. Convergence will bring increasing power to kids and headaches for administrators. What happens when the book bag contains a laptop, the laptop contains a cell phone or sneakers contain a laptop and a cell phone?

y, my response to ed tech is “It depends.” And one key consideration on which it depends is the reason given for supporting it

But the rationale that I find most disturbing — despite, or perhaps because of, the fact that it’s rarely made explicit — is the idea that technology will increase our efficiency

Other people, particularly politicians, defend technology on the grounds that it will keep our students “competitive in the global economy.”

“Every student in the school had a voice — whether it was an ESL student who can’t speak the language, or someone who has a learning disability — everybody has a page or a book that’s their own,”

“It made writing meaningful and purposeful.”

“writing came alive during this process,”

Contextual information (literary form, historical and cultural context and human author’s intention) assists the reader to gain deeper awareness of Old Testament texts. The intention of the human author is important in determining the nature of the truth revealed in the text (e.g. historical truth, factual truth, religious truth).

Contextual information (literary form, historical and cultural context and human author’s intention) assists the reader to gain deeper awareness of New Testament texts. The intention of the human author is important in determining the nature of the truth revealed in the text (e.g. historical truth, factual truth, religious truth).

eligious Knowledge and Deep Understanding The writings and key messages of the founders of religious orders influence the way of life of religious communities (e.g. prayer life, apostolate, dress, spiritual practices, beliefs, symbols, daily life).

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