Chapter 3

I really do not think the skeptic’s argument was very strong. Technology does not need to dominate the classroom, but should be integrated. They said that many teachers do not understand new technology and that it makes it difficult to teach with it. This problem could be resolved through teacher training workshops. Also, teachers do not have to use all technology in the classroom. They can use technology that they have learned to use and feel comfortable using. Obviously, it is important that a teacher know what she is doing in order to keep her authority and teach the students. Another point they made was that teachers lose their authority because computers provide access to more information than a teacher does. This is not a bad thing! The teacher should be a model to the students. She should humbly tell them that she doesn’t know everything and that she uses computers and the internet on a regular basis to gain more knowledge. They also said, “But television, radio, and film also provide sources of information for students that make them question what teachers tell them and tend to downgrade the image of teachers.” This argument is weak because even before technology, students had the opportunity to research topics for themselves through the use of books and encyclopedias. Students should be encouraged to research information rather than just accepting what people tell them. The author also noted the individualistic nature of schooling. He explained that students are expected to know information and test on them individually rather than sharing ideas with others and that this is the opposite when using technology. With technology, people can look up information they need rather than knowing it and can share it with others. I think this is a good thing that needs to be incorporated more into school. In most professions, people work together to find solutions to questions and problems. They are trained in the information that they need to know for the job and are not expected to know a huge amount of information that is not useful. The chapter also pointed out that computers can cause classroom management to be difficult. Students who work together at a computer may make noise that disturbs other students. Also, the time it takes to install programs and get students situated on the computer takes up teaching time. I do not think these issues stem from the computers, but from behavior management and being prepared. The teachers can train students to work quietly and can already have the computers ready for the children when it’s time to use them. The part of the argument I did agree with was the cost of computers. In order to use computers in more than just centers time or the computer lab, there would need to be lots of computers, possibly even one for each child. If the teacher doesn’t know how to fix all the little glitches, they would have to hire computer technicians to stay on the premises all day. When they run into problems with the computers, it could take away learning time unless the teacher has a back up plan that can be implemented quickly. It is true that “teachers bring many things to learning that computers can never match,” but that is why teachers and computers should be used together. Both sources can provide more effective learning for children than one alone. As a teacher I am going to use technology in my classroom in conjunction with more traditional forms of learning and real-life experiences. I only want to use technology that I feel I am ready to use. I want to have a good understanding of how to use it effectively.