A Project by Paul G. Day Imaging for Education Flinders University
Information Technology Schools of the Future Arguments are raging as to how much schools need to focus on IT as opposed to more traditional forms of supplemental education. There are a number of reasons why the argument even exists. Reasons why some are apprehensive about the new technologies might be:
- Schools are jumping in too quickly
- Fears about putting children at risk by exposing them to a medium with some admittedly frightening inherent flaws (the proliferation of filth in all its forms is one of them)
- The cost of setting up IT in schools where budgetary constraints are imposed more severely than others
- Problems associated with copyright and plagiarism by students
- Too much emphasis on the technology itself, at the expense of the overall welfare and education of the students
Now while these are all very important and legitimate concerns, there are some very obvious advantages for both students and teachers alike. Some of these are:
- Preparation for a workforce rich in IT related employment
- Basic skills in computing is fast becoming a prerequisite for further training
- Media-rich education has proven to be very useful in aiding the learning process of students
- Multiple technologies are available to each and every student for their education, enjoyment and creativity
It all comes down to how the whole IT issue is handled. Despite the arguments, one thing remains true. If schools don't adopt an aggressive IT policy, not only will their students be disadvantaged in their education, but the schools themselves run the risk of missing out on the all important funding from government.
Copyright©2000, Paul G. Day.
