Cendie Stanford
ETEC 526-Espinoza
September 15, 2004
Abstract # 1
Oppenheimer, Todd. (1997, July). Computer Delusion. Atlantic Monthly, 85(1), 45-62.
SUMMARY:
This article gives a detailed explanation on how schools have become more dependant on computers teaching school children versus the standard classroom. The author suggest that studies are inconclusive and do not tell the truth about the real situation at hand, “What is the computers responsibility in the classroom.” Looking back in history when technology first came into play, the author notes that for years people have been predicting a dramatic change in education through technology. The author suggest that computer companies where donating these computers to boost their sales nationwide, and that researchers for the companies never noted the downfalls of using computers instead of the traditional teaching methods. “Artificial Intelligence” was the term used to describe the since of being that the students are experiencing. The very thing that technology is doing is more “Project oriented”. Schools are removing the long-established discipline subjects such as Art, Shop Class, and Music, and replacing them with computer rooms. One librarian even lost her job in order for the school to fund a computer lab. The article discusses how early is too early to start children on computers, and are we making them dependant on computers instead of teaching them to think. A few teachers were questioned on how they feel about computers in the classroom, and one quoted “There’s magic in the screen!” The article also mentions specific programs that promised to make change, but instead decreased the student’s originality or imagination. A few educators that were interviewed believed that they had to teach it because everybody else was learning it and the child needed it in order to keep up.
REACTION:
Here is my view; the article is true! How effective is a hundred thousand dollar computer lab that doesn’t have the trained staff to utilize it. The computers responsibility to me is to enhance what we have already taught them. To get them actively involved and not dependant is why the computer is used. We should teach them how to use a hard copy of the dictionary first and then show them how to use spell check in Word. Therefore, I believe that because so much emphasis has been put on computer integration that we have to “Conform to the World”. Of course business are going to get involved because in the long run they are the people who benefit from it, but what happens when the calculator breaks and you need the answer to a long division problem right now? I agree that computers are very useful tools in education but to a certain extent. Yes, many teachers are relieved that they teach for them, but this is not correct practice. The author touched on many valuable points; however, he did not look at the situation in every classroom, he conformed entirely to the negative. In addition, my last thought about “Real Job Training”- Think about it, if computers started being utilized 50 years ago, then of course the upcoming jobs are dependant on them. How can a company function with out them? Long ago, we did not have them and everything was done by hand, computers were built and know everything works faster. I think educators should keep computers in their place, on the side, for reference and enhancement. The conventional saying used to be, “Okay class, open your books to page 35”, know its, “Okay class, start up Excel in your laptops”.