TECH-NIQUE-OLOGY

Teaching video production, I work in a technologically burdensome field both for teachers and students. There are always new softwares and versions of old softwares to be kept up-to-date with, not to mention new cameras and codecs to be familiar with. This is of particular concern for teachers who worry about being left behind. One solution is to limit students access to technology. I’m not a big subscriber to this approach as I like to try new things and I want to encourage students with the same proclivity. Another approach is to emphasize technique over technology. Technique trumps technology every time;  technology is ever changing, technique, not so much.  Thus in teaching any mode of expression or creation, one has to keep in mind that learning specific technologies (software, equipment) can have limited long-term usefulness whereas the techniques that those technologies bring to bear are another story.