Technological Transparency: A Myth of Virtual Education Export

@article{citeulike:4163584, abstract = {In this article, the idea of technological transpar ency refers to the setting of computer artifacts to make them invisible. Transparency is treated as a mythology because it hides the tremendous social impact that computer-mediated communication has in contempo rary societies. This argument is supported by Ellul's assertion that technology has a systemic, rather than an instrumental, relation with society; therefore, it has to be explored as La Technique. La Technique is a systemic connection of human-artifacts-knowledge that reconstitutes society according to autonomous technological aims, disintegrating anything that cannot be converted into technology. This article discusses how computers mediate communication as a major universal source of La Technique and alters language structure, social relationships, space, time, and identities. Some clues are given to reconceptualize pedagogical notions, such as technological transpar ency, to overcome the reproduction of mythologies and to find better signifiers for understanding the impact of virtual education in society and culture. 10.1177/027046769801800305}, author = {Gayol, Yolanda}, citeulike-article-id = {4163584}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/027046769801800305}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://bst.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/18/3/180}, day = {1}, doi = {10.1177/027046769801800305}, journal = {Bulletin of Science Technology Society}, keywords = {online\_education}, month = {June}, number = {3}, pages = {180--186}, posted-at = {2009-03-23 19:42:38}, priority = {5}, title = {Technological Transparency: A Myth of Virtual Education}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/027046769801800305}, volume = {18}, year = {1998} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:4163584 L3 - citeulike-article-id:4163584 N2 - In this article, the idea of technological transpar ency refers to the setting of computer artifacts to make them invisible. Transparency is treated as a mythology because it hides the tremendous social impact that computer-mediated communication has in contempo rary societies. This argument is supported by Ellul's assertion that technology has a systemic, rather than an instrumental, relation with society; therefore, it has to be explored as La Technique. La Technique is a systemic connection of human-artifacts-knowledge that reconstitutes society according to autonomous technological aims, disintegrating anything that cannot be converted into technology. This article discusses how computers mediate communication as a major universal source of La Technique and alters language structure, social relationships, space, time, and identities. Some clues are given to reconceptualize pedagogical notions, such as technological transpar ency, to overcome the reproduction of mythologies and to find better signifiers for understanding the impact of virtual education in society and culture. 10.1177/027046769801800305 IS - 3 JF - Bulletin of Science Technology Society EP - 186 TI - Technological Transparency: A Myth of Virtual Education VL - 18 SP - 180 KW - online_education AU - Gayol, Yolanda PY - 1998/06/01/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/027046769801800305 ER -