Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Article Assessment # 5

The Overdominance of Computers by Lowell W. Monke

In this article, The Overdominance of Computers, Monke makes a compelling argument about the use of computers in the classroom. He outlines how teachers need to help students develop responsibility and compassion before setting them loose with technology. Without these key components, students can easily abuse technology and create great injuries to individuals and society. He argues that even though we live in a highly motorized world, we do not teach six year olds to drive. Instead, we concentrate on raising responsible children that will someday bring this outlook into the driving world. In much the same way, at a young age kids need to be encouraged to explore the world around them and interact in person with other individuals. Only after students have explored the world surrounding them and have developed a sense of themselves in relation to the world, should they be encouraged to use technology.

  • Computers are powerful tools and can be used for both good and evil.
  • Students need to develop ethical discipline in order to resist the temptations presented by technology.
  • Kids need authentic experiences rather than the symbolic reality provided by technology in order to become complete, well-functioning adults.
  • One study shows that the use of technology overall has lowered the test scores of students.
  • Face-to-face interactions are one of the most important keys to reading-readiness.
  • The current generation experiences 30% less of face-to-face interactions than previous generations.
  • Computer time must be balanced with other activities in school.
  • In order to fix the mess that we have made of the world future generations will not need only technical skills but will need to be ethical, responsible adults.
  • After students develop responsibility and ethics it is important to introduce technology into the classroom in order to prepare students for the technological world we live in.
  • By high school digital technology must be prominent within the classroom.

I think that this article makes some great points and that educators should keep in mind exploration of the real world and human interaction when teaching. While incredibly important at an elementary school level, these things must be remembered even at the high school level. I get frustrated when my students are hesitant to interact with each other face to face but instead ignore the people around them in order to maintain text-message conversations with others. Technology is important and it does have a place in the classroom, but I think that other mediums need to not be forgotten.

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