We've Been Here Before:
 The Digital Revolution and the Human Constant

Thurs., Sept. 24, 10-11:30 a.m.

Time: 10-11:30 a.m.

Location: Online

Cost: $40

With David Armstrong, Educator & Technology Specialist

Every major technology in the modern era has done the same five things. It has changed how people present themselves to the world. It has reshaped where and how they live. It has transformed the way they find love and build families. It has sorted society into those who benefit and those who get left behind. And, most importantly, it has inspired entirely new, unexpected ways for people to express empathy, support one another, and build communities.

From the arrival of personal computing and the Internet to the rise of the smartphone, cloud computing, and early artificial intelligence (AI), the last half-century has followed a remarkably consistent sociological script of human empowerment.

This single, fast-paced session treats the history of the last 50 years not as a series of cold technical milestones, but as a rich tapestry of human adaptability. By applying sociology's study of technology and society, we will step back from the modern headline anxiety and explore the long view: how human beings naturally steer new tools toward collaboration, resilience, and mutual aid.

Register by 12 p.m., September 21.

David Armstrong

Dr. David A. Armstrong holds an Ed.D. in Learning and Instruction from the University of San Francisco and an M.S. in instructional technology from San Francisco State University. He served as a faculty member and instructional technology resource specialist at Santa Clara University from 1996 until his retirement in 2016, teaching sociology and education and supporting faculty in the design of effective online and blended courses. His research focuses on the intersection of learning, technology, and human experience.