Whether for high schools, higher education, corporations, or the military, Human maps for the Digital Age is a must-read educational guidebook. The book is authored by one of the leading coaches in the United States, Andrew C. Shurtleff. He dissects the challenges arising from the digitization of life with a keen interest in helping the broader education system adapt to current and emerging global crises. The book is heavily researched and draws extensively on the traditions of Harvard University and Columbia University. It centers on helping people leverage the power of classical literature, philosophy, and the humanities while utilizing New Media Technologies as tools to help us connect despite our differences. The purpose is to understand humanity from our greatest heights to our lowest depths, where the Human Maps of classics-based core curricula help us navigate crises now and into the future.
Technology has evolved and become a crucial component of our lives. There has been increased digitization of transactions in all forms. With COVID-19, containment measures bolstered this move as companies and individuals adopted digital exchanges and public spaces were redefined. Amidst this new development, the biggest fear has been whether technology will make us less human and humane. How do we retain our humanity in a world increasingly saturated by technology? How do we use the power of the classics from the past to help us navigate present and future crises?
Technology Education Challenges
- Humanistic Maps Are Less Considered
Education plays an integral role in preparing you to navigate your life in the Digital Age. As technology continues to be highly adopted and integrated, the education system increasingly emphasizes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at the deficit of the arts and humanities. This overemphasis on STEM risks neglecting the humanistic maps derived from studying classical works in the arts and humanities. And yet, emotional intelligence, and social-emotional learning in general, are increasingly emphasized as essential to adapting to digital disruption and technological change.
Education will therefore serve America’s best interests if STEM disciplines and the humanistic maps of the past are joined. Combining the Human Maps given to students through education in classical philosophy, literature, the arts, and the humanities, as well as STEM’s emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math, will enrich America’s education system and better prepare us to live in a rapidly changing world.
- Debilitates Our Communication
In so many ways, the Internet is wrecking relationships. We tend to spend more time chatting with online friends than with our partners. Did you know that as the world digitizes, we are increasingly creating a world with limited face-to-face in-person communication?
Did you know that if you spend less time with your partner, you may not understand what they are going through because you’re emotionally “checked out”? Without proper communication, couples cannot offer one another the moral and emotional support they need. If you become less authentically connected and humane, you may suffer the pervasive problem of failed marriages and relationships. You may prefer more technology and less from others as you become increasingly alienated and alone.
How The Integration Of STEM And Human Maps Will Better The World
STEM disciplines alone can easily reduce humans to machine-like objects. However, the purposeful interaction of humanistic study through the classics with STEM fields will help digital technology improve human life. As one example, STEM knowledge can help us present data in visual forms through graphical representation. Human Maps can help us interpret these graphical figures into easily understood information that is actionable in our lives. The purposeful amalgamation of artistic and humanistic maps with STEM tools will improve the overall effectiveness of the broader education system.
What Measures Will Help You Remain Human In The Technological World?
- Even as everything moves digital, some life activities cannot digitize. Having breakfast with a friend and calling your suppliers or customers will require you to maintain traditional operation methods and styles of communication. You can, however, adopt technologies that remind you of your to-do list or other similar day-to-day tasks. In this way, using technology as a tool can serve a purpose while you remain mindful of maintaining and not losing your human qualities when engaging with other individuals.
- Maintain a proper human and technology mix. Balance is key, and taking breaks from technology is especially encouraged when you feel overwhelmed, experience burnout, or need help setting healthy boundaries online. Taking time for yourself, exercising, and spending time in nature can help you balance your use of New Media Technologies.
Even as the world evolves technologically, we won’t become robots. Customers will be more likely to remain loyal to companies with high-touch person-to-person interaction. As you use chatbots to respond to customers’ queries both in and outside the office, maintain a team of customer service specialists. They will help offer personalized services to customers and keep your leadership personnel informed by helping promote your brand’s relevance, reputation, and sustainability. This focus on people will help you remain humane in a world increasingly saturated by technology.
Wrap Up
Human Maps will continue to play a complementary role as the world evolves if utilized well alongside STEM disciplines. This approach will help us maintain proper and healthy human-technology relationships to ensure that technology best serves humanity. You can purchase your copy of Human Maps For Digital Age on Amazon. You can also connect with Andrew C. Shurtleff directly to set up a keynote speech, workshop, or seminar to serve you and your organization’s needs.
If you want to learn more about Andrew’s work, please visit his website and follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
