Get Computers Out of Schools
- Thread starter Perham1
- Start date
Umm, if I got to eat my way through fractions, I'd guarantee that I would've had a better SAT score.
One has to wonder, though, at what cost does shunning technology interfere, or worse-venture past, one's ability to apply their rote memory and knowledge of basic learning priciples into real world scenarios.
I think this article, and these schools, are a wonderful experiment, and I hope that more research on the results of the students could prove to enhance school systems across the country. Get the US out of the doldrums of worldwide educational rankings, and enabling our children into making their own futures based on their brain-power, not how fast the memory on their iPads work.
I personally think that a mixture of heuristic knowledge and technology would be a fine line to toe, but would likely produce the best outcomes of all scenarios of teaching methods.
heck, this could even help with childhood obesity, ADHD/ADD issues and adolescent violence. just a guess.
One has to wonder, though, at what cost does shunning technology interfere, or worse-venture past, one's ability to apply their rote memory and knowledge of basic learning priciples into real world scenarios.
I think this article, and these schools, are a wonderful experiment, and I hope that more research on the results of the students could prove to enhance school systems across the country. Get the US out of the doldrums of worldwide educational rankings, and enabling our children into making their own futures based on their brain-power, not how fast the memory on their iPads work.
I personally think that a mixture of heuristic knowledge and technology would be a fine line to toe, but would likely produce the best outcomes of all scenarios of teaching methods.
heck, this could even help with childhood obesity, ADHD/ADD issues and adolescent violence. just a guess.
Better nutritional practices I think would go a long way to reducing ADHD and obesity, and having boys schools and girls schools would also improve focus in the classroom and certainly wouldnt hurt the violence level.
majorwhiteapples
5,000+ Posts
Didn't they say the same thing about calculators?
longhorn_melissa
250+ Posts
I'm a teacher, and I understand the Waldorf concept. It's a great theory, but there is so much that can be done with technology that I would hate to deny my students. I love showing them videos from the other side of the world, or being able to Skype with our classmate who moved to China.
I think a great classroom has a balance of hands on, real world experiences, but also exposes children to the possibilities technology lends.
I think a great classroom has a balance of hands on, real world experiences, but also exposes children to the possibilities technology lends.
Bevo Incognito
5,000+ Posts
If you ask me, the world went to hell in a handbasket when the abacus was invented.
Sounds great in theory. But what if I needed advice on maximizing productivity with my iPhone and I had to go through the humiliation of asking an adult for help? Much better that I can go to my 13-year old, who still depends on me for rides and an upgrade from school cafeteria food on Thursdays.
there have been numerous studies on this subject. computers and technology do not help kids learn. their brains comoute information much differently than adults. throw out the studies, all you have to do is look at statistics. kids are doing shittier in school as we spend more and more on technology. the technology is great but without a foundation in the basics, it does more harm than good.
Larry T. Spider
1,000+ Posts
Not surprisingly, those who suckle at the electronic teat are the most vigorous defenders of this form of "learning".
Computers do not teach children how to write, how to engage a subject deeply and comprehensively. One need only skim Maggie Jackson's "Distracted" to see the cognitive damage being wrought upon our minds.
Analysis now is a search string in Google followed by what is popular, or what result set Google has been paid to bring to the forefront. Nobody needs to remember things because it's all out there in cyberspace. Civil war? When was that? 1640? Wow, didn't think America was even a country then....
Like what ails religion, too many want to make education fun, entertaining, exciting. When the goal of education (and religion via such horrible inventions as the "praise band") is entertainment then we've already lost the battle.
As A. Bartlett Giamatti said, "To write well is to think well". Who can write well when one need only click on links to cobble together a jumbled set of pseudofacts, opinion posing as fact, and outright fabrications?
Computers do not teach children how to write, how to engage a subject deeply and comprehensively. One need only skim Maggie Jackson's "Distracted" to see the cognitive damage being wrought upon our minds.
Analysis now is a search string in Google followed by what is popular, or what result set Google has been paid to bring to the forefront. Nobody needs to remember things because it's all out there in cyberspace. Civil war? When was that? 1640? Wow, didn't think America was even a country then....
Like what ails religion, too many want to make education fun, entertaining, exciting. When the goal of education (and religion via such horrible inventions as the "praise band") is entertainment then we've already lost the battle.
As A. Bartlett Giamatti said, "To write well is to think well". Who can write well when one need only click on links to cobble together a jumbled set of pseudofacts, opinion posing as fact, and outright fabrications?
accuratehorn
10,000+ Posts
It's a tool, and computers can be an aid to educating students. But it is the parents who care about education who matter the most. Quit blaming schools, teachers, computers,calculators, or the abacus. Parents have to read to their young children, empahasize education, and demand good results. Schools full of students from such parents are good schools.
Schools can't overcome poor parenting.
Schools can't overcome poor parenting.
It's a tool...
A calculator is a tool, overhead projectors are tools; computers are far beyond being mere "tools". They are a portal to distraction and disinformation, delusion and denial. Computers materially alter the way we search for and retain information, the way we think. To foist this unhealty approach on our young is to deny them the fundamental rigor of learning the basics.
Not to mention penmanship.
A calculator is a tool, overhead projectors are tools; computers are far beyond being mere "tools". They are a portal to distraction and disinformation, delusion and denial. Computers materially alter the way we search for and retain information, the way we think. To foist this unhealty approach on our young is to deny them the fundamental rigor of learning the basics.
Not to mention penmanship.
Larry T. Spider
1,000+ Posts
Accurate wins this thread. I could teach kids from good homes in a field with a few books and be better off than teaching in my fancy classroom with neglected children.
Very well, Perham. Should I also stay off your lawn while suckling? I’d hate to muss your begonias.
Let’s take this in another direction then.
Let's say we remove from schools the computers and iPads and internet access and all of the electronic abominations that have been foisted upon our deluded culture. (I assume this is what you would advocate?) Meantime, the rest of the world successfully proceeds into the digital age. Innovation and invention are flourishing, new avenues for small business are opening up, access to information about science, literature, history, philosophy, art, music and countless other disciplines has been opened up to millions of people around the world.
While everyone else is learning to embrace the new ways, what would you have us do—give the kids some Charles Dickens, a Big Chief tablet and a No. 2 pencil?
Seriously, if you prefer we slay the evil techno-dragon, tell me the alternate way forward in the modern world and how we prepare our kids to prosper in it.
Let’s take this in another direction then.
Let's say we remove from schools the computers and iPads and internet access and all of the electronic abominations that have been foisted upon our deluded culture. (I assume this is what you would advocate?) Meantime, the rest of the world successfully proceeds into the digital age. Innovation and invention are flourishing, new avenues for small business are opening up, access to information about science, literature, history, philosophy, art, music and countless other disciplines has been opened up to millions of people around the world.
While everyone else is learning to embrace the new ways, what would you have us do—give the kids some Charles Dickens, a Big Chief tablet and a No. 2 pencil?
Seriously, if you prefer we slay the evil techno-dragon, tell me the alternate way forward in the modern world and how we prepare our kids to prosper in it.
FridayNiteLites
500+ Posts
HornHusker that was excellent. I can use the computer in the classroom as an enhancement to instruction. There are far more resources at my fingertips that I can use now that were not readily available to me in 1982.
Monahorns
10,000+ Posts
I think there is a difference between 1) using computers to teach and 2) relying on computers for every aspect of teaching and giving free access all during the day.
I agree with 1. They can be great tools and enhancements once you have learned the basics like Perham1 has said. I also agree with the idea of teaching one to think critically and analyze. You can even use a computer to do those things if you supervise and limit computer usage.
However 2 is a big problem. There is a high school doing this and the laptops are a huge distraction to the students. They are actually learning less by having the computers on hand.
I agree with 1. They can be great tools and enhancements once you have learned the basics like Perham1 has said. I also agree with the idea of teaching one to think critically and analyze. You can even use a computer to do those things if you supervise and limit computer usage.
However 2 is a big problem. There is a high school doing this and the laptops are a huge distraction to the students. They are actually learning less by having the computers on hand.
Meantime, the rest of the world successfully proceeds into the digital age. Innovation and invention are flourishing, new avenues for small business are opening up, access to information about science, literature, history, philosophy, art, music and countless other disciplines has been opened up to millions of people around the world.
__________________________________________________
I'm curious. I'm over 40 and even I had computer science classes when i was in junior high school. Kids have had endless sources of information for years. Kids graduating today have always had computers and internet. Computers apparently are not good enough, now they have ipads. With all of this technology, why are there fewer and fewer engineers being produced? Why, as Bill Gates put it better than me, are we having an education crisis where fewer and fewer kids are obtaining basic skills in mathematics since this is the most important skill set for the future and why are all of these companies hiring kids from India and bringing them over here? They are not giving kids ipads in India. I am curious why this has happened. Our schools spend more per student than any country in the world.
__________________________________________________
I'm curious. I'm over 40 and even I had computer science classes when i was in junior high school. Kids have had endless sources of information for years. Kids graduating today have always had computers and internet. Computers apparently are not good enough, now they have ipads. With all of this technology, why are there fewer and fewer engineers being produced? Why, as Bill Gates put it better than me, are we having an education crisis where fewer and fewer kids are obtaining basic skills in mathematics since this is the most important skill set for the future and why are all of these companies hiring kids from India and bringing them over here? They are not giving kids ipads in India. I am curious why this has happened. Our schools spend more per student than any country in the world.
FridayNiteLites
500+ Posts
I am always wary when people compare our education system to those of other countries. Many other countries have different educational tracks that kids are placed on when they reach a certain age (15-16). Some continue on toward college/university educations and some are placed in the trade skills track. The brightest students continue on to higher education. In the US the classes are mainstreamed with special populations that only allow a teacher to move on when the slowest student moves on. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of other problems, caused by government intrusion in my opinion. Comparing our scores to other countries, not really a fair comparison.
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