Still a skeptic

I admit that when it comes to the classroom, I am a technology skeptic.  And yes, I admit, it has to do somewhat with my age and how I was educated.  With that said, I do believe some of my arguments are valid.

Honestly, the chapter did not really sound like a Technology Skeptic’s point of view.  It sounded more like simply an explanation as to why there is not more technology in the classroom though there should be.  I was left with the impression that everyone agreed that the majority of teaching should be done via technology.  The chapter stated the reasons why this has not come to fruition such as budget issues or the physical configuration of the schoolrooms themselves.  To me, a skeptic’s point of view would include reasons why self guided learning through technology while the teacher simply facilities is not an effective way to educate children. 

When writing, for example, a student can spell and grammar check a paper before submitting it for a grade.  That tool will correct grammar mistakes but does not explain why it is wrong.  If a student writes the sentence, “Its wonderful” in his paper and then spell & grammar checks the paper, the computer will suggest that he change the sentence to “It’s wonderful.”  I am positive that most students will upon the computer’s suggestion make the change and never understand why that is correct.  The computer can not capitalize on that teachable moment to help students understand the difference between the contraction and the possessive the same way that a teacher could.  And, the dependence on such a tool does not require the student to understand the mistake or avoid it in the future.  The next time a student writes a sentence and makes the same mistake, it is ok because the computer will fix it. 

I am not against using technology in the classroom.  Nor do I believe that all I really needed to know I learned in Kindergarten, though living in a houseful of boys, I can agree that learning to flush is an important life skill!  I am somewhere in the middle.  As the book states, I would fall into the “co-opt the technologies” category.  Technologies are extremely useful tools but just that, tools. 

There is so much more to being a teacher than guiding students through lessons.  Good teachers can connect the work done in class to the real world.  It may seem like a waste of time to teach kids how to properly make an outline.  Who cares that Roman numeral I. comes before A. and if you have 1. then you must have 2.  But there is long-term value to be gleaned from such exercises.  You are teaching students to collect, organize and support thoughts.  It teaches students to narrow focus to create a compelling argument.  Timed tests on basic math facts may seem like a waste of time but it teaches kids that some things you just need to know.  You are not always going to have the time to figure out 15-8.  You need to just know that it equals 7.  Another important thing to learn is that when you enter the workforce, you will not have an unlimited amount of time to get a job done.  You will work with deadlines and if you learn the basics of your job and not have to always figure it out, then you will be able to meet those deadlines, finish the work and reap the reward in the form of a paycheck.  A computer is not going to explain these things to students not will students discover these truths as they self guide their way through the curriculum.

I can agree that technology skeptics have been proven wrong in the past.  No, it is not necessary any longer to know how to write on a slate or use a pen knife to sharpen a pencil or mix your own ink.  I don’t believe that the Bic pen caused the demise of public education, however I do see some truth in the statement that the values of thrift and frugality were compromised by these disposable items, but that is a subject for a different rant & rave.

One question that remains in my mind which I would pose to the technology enthusiast is, “if technology in the classroom is suppose to increase student learning, then why do test scores continue to decline in so many of our schools?”