In reading Kevin Kelly's What Technology Wants, I was intrigued by the term technium which he coined to describe the complex of humans and the tools we have created. Kelly is one of a number of recent author who have argued that we humans and our technologies cannot be separated.
In further exploring his idea, I have been messing about on Kelly's web site. On one section, Kelly lists "Cool Tools," and it does indeed list all sorts of cool technologies. Ostensibly, this section is a good time waster or maybe a good place to find gift ideas for the person who has everything. On further reflection, however, the creativity on display on this page is incredible. We know that something happens to students in the years between when they enter school and when they leave school that results in a terrific (make that horrific) loss of creativity.
Perhaps pointing out creative tools such as are identified here and encouraging students to include them as elements in their writing or otherwise use them in their academic life can reduce this loss of creativity.
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