The Effects of Computers in the Classroom
David Gelernter author of the essay, “Unplugged: The Myth of Computers in the Classroom,” used some rhetorical appeals but not many in his essay, whilst trying to logically persuade his audience that computers could be utilized in the classroom, but under certain stipulations. Gelernter has great credibility for speaking on education and technology, as he is a professor of computer science at Yale University, so he more than anyone should know the outcomes of using a computer as a tool while teaching. However, when it comes to technology a lot of older generations usually are pretty biased when discussing technologies advancements, Gelernter still had some very good points! Using computers while teaching our young children can be useful but with strict moderations; when, where, and why, because if not heavily monitored, computers could be extremely detrimental to the learning experience and processes for many students.
Gelernter, is informing and also analyzing the utilization of computers in a learning
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Gelernter has very straight forward honest facts which help to accurately explain his views on using technology to teach students. Computers can be a very useful tool when used in moderation. A computer should never replace a teacher however, but simply be used as a tool. I think the author’s rhetorical situation provided great facts, and hard evidence which strongly supported his argument. How can we continue to evolve as a species when we solely rely on technology and do not think for ourselves, but instead type in our questions in google expecting an answer? We simply cannot, as he states in his essay, “While we worry about basic skills, we allow into the classroom software that will do a student’s arithmetic or correct his spelling” (Gelernter
Over the past few decades technology has advanced quite a bit. The use of calculators, computers, and other techniques in many fields has increased significantly. In a large scale, technology is replacing the method of instruction in the field of education. Many people believe that adopting technology in learning process can increase productivity. However, David Gelernter, who is a professor at Yale University as well as a leading figure in the field of technology, suggests to limit the use of technology in the classroom in his article “Unplugged: The Myth of Computers in the Classroom” which was published in the New Republic magazine in 1994. In this article he offers well illustrated analysis which makes the readers to regulate the use of technology in the classroom. He thinks that the technology comes in a way of building strong foundation of basic skills. He insists that computers should be used to aid the learning process, not to replace cognitive thinking.
Our world is changing gradually bringing these changes into people’s daily life styles; consequently, a person’s potential to embrace these challenges and revolutionize with them has become an important factor to analyze people’s way to prepare themselves for the future. According to Gilbert Valdez, educational technology, especially computers and computer-related peripherals, have grown tremendously and have permeated all areas of our lives. It is incomprehensible that anyone today would argue that banks, hospitals, or any industry should use less technology. Most young people cannot understand arguments that schools should limit technology use. For them, use of the Internet, for example, plays a major role in their relationships with their friends, their families, and their schools. Teens and their parents generally think that use of the Internet enhances the social life and academic work of teenagers. Nonetheless, not all people has the possibility of changing towards a technological society due to the lack of personal progress through technology, and the misunderstanding of this tool is leading future professionals to become technologically dependant; in other words to rely only on technology without considering the possible consequences that it might have on future professionals development and their educational background. The overuse of educational technology has been growing over the recent years due to the emergent technological developments around the world; however, it can be solved by searching for a new balance between the uses of technology within education.
He states: “Over the last decade an estimated $2 billion has been spent on more than 2 million computers for America’s classroom.”(Gelernter 97) Gelernter starts his article by giving a data about computer to shows how much money people spends computer in school. By giving a legitimate fact right from the beginning of his article, Gelernter easily get his audience attention and make them little more interested in what he is going to say about how computers can make a big impact in everyone’s life. And this fact itself works as proof to prove to his audience that the topic he is talking about is realistic because they are not debatable; they represent the truth. Gelernter also uses logos to prove his point about how calculators make student forget about their basic math skills. Gelernter says, “In Kentucky, as The Wall Street Journal recently reported, students in grades K-3 are mixed together regardless of age in relaxed environment. It works great, the Journal says. Yes, scores on computation tests have dropped 10 percent at one school.”(98) The author did his research and see that using calculator in such young age can really affect student, calculators make student have a lower grade than average even though it supposed to help students in the first place. He continues his argument by comparing Japanese kids and American kids and how Japanese kids are so much better in math than American
...he home. With the proper use of computers teachers and students can use computers to help them with the curriculum. It is important for teachers to be guided and instructed on how to help benefit their students through the use of computers. The computer cannot take the place of a teacher because computers cannot speak or instruct students to read, write, and add, the way a real teacher would in a live situation. The presence of a live teacher is unique and necessary for a well-rounded education. People should not fear computers because they cannot replace the importance of a professional teacher. The computer should be used as a tool to enhance education and not replace it.
To understand why there would be a need for technology in the classroom you must put yourself in the student’s shoes. Let us imagine there is a student in a class full of two hundred plus people. This said student is listening to the prepared lecture for the day and the professor explains a concept. The student does not fully grasp the information so instead of adding to the numerous questions the other two hundred students are asking, she pulls out her laptop. Just a few clicks away is an explanation of the topic. She now understands and is able to continue paying attention to the lecture. If her professor had some sort of switch, similar to the one mentioned in Ellin’s essay, that stopped students from having internet access, she would have to continue the lesson confused. Instead of hindering our education, we should use our most valuable resource and progress. Technology seems to be both a blessing and a curse at times yet, college students should have the freedom to choose which one that should
Ultimately, I am in agreement with what Albert Einstein supposedly predicted “I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.” Some historians dispute that the most brilliant brain of the 20th century ever really said that, but nonetheless, it appears that the prophecy is coming true. All we have to do is look around us, whether we are dining in a restaurant or sitting in a college classroom, we will see people glued to their smart phones or doing internet searches on their laptops. There does not really seem to be any meaningful social interaction amongst individuals. Along the same lines as Greenfield’s research paper is an article printed in Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection that presents views on both sides of the technology and education argument. Although this article presents opposing views on the topic, the critics suggest that the drawbacks of technology are the tools can be difficult to use and prohibitively expensive and it reduces or removes the human interaction that many believe is crucial to education (“Technology and Education.” par. 3). Basically, technology severs social
It seems today everything is being done electronically, homework, job, and even college applications are submitted online. People learn so much through various types of technology. Years ago in the classrooms there were not as many chances to incorporate technology into the classroom. As the years progress there have been more technological advances yet there is much controversy over whether classrooms should be permitted to have their students learn with the new technological improvements. IPods are helpful to everyday life and could be especially in the classroom, they can be used to help students study meanwhile act as a stimulate to the mind, beneficial towards getting work accomplished and in general becoming technologically advanced. Some argue that they are a distraction, and another way to cheat. While these may be true there are still positives of the emerging products.
To begin with, before anyone can develop an opinion as to whether technology is a useful tool in the classroom, one needs to understand that technology plays an important role in today’s world. However, the use or over-use of technology in educating young children in teaching literacy to young children is a much debated theory. There are many opinions regarding the positive influence technology can have as a useful tool in the classroom, yet there are those, like myself, who also see the negative aspect of too much technology.
...ass. School administrators should remember not to force technology into their curriculum unless they are confident in the student 's ability to learn and correctly recall information presented. When students have no desire to learn and are given tools to distract themselves technology hurts them, or rather their test scores, more than students who learn with book or oral based teaching because the absence of distraction. Computers and iPads are very difficult to repair or replace compared to books, and because most people are not yet “technologically literate” enough to perform basic tasks for the maintenance of their computer, then it would just be easier to use books. These issues create question as to if students are ready for classes to require computer knowledge when some have difficulty learning the material as it has always been learned for thousands of years.
As what Paul Thomas says: “Teaching is a human experience. Technology is a distraction when we need literacy, normalcy, and critical thinking."
Do you ever think about how much technology has changed the way we work, learn, play, and even think? Technology is a major beneficiary to society; especially in the classroom where we get the opportunity to learn and grow. In recent years, schools have begun implementing tablets and other devices in the classroom to better student’s education. The use of technology in the classroom provides more of a personalized learning experience and gives students a widespread availability to engage in learning. Technology is necessary in today’s modern globe, it is basically “the pen and paper of our time and the lens through which we experience much of our world” (Warlick, 2013). Technology is not just considered the “internet”, it is so much greater than that. Overall, it enhances the quality of education and engages students deeper than ever before. With all the significant gains, why would people argue that technology hinders students more than it helps? Critics may try to repute the use of technology in the classroom but I believe what really matters “is the way we use it, the context that we use it in, and the learners who we use it for” (Chong, 2012).
Does technology changes the way society functions? In the society we live in today, technology is used for everything. No matter if we are checking our e-mail or checking the weather. Computers are the most used technology. Many people use computers for work or school. Some seem to think that computers can be a huge distraction at either work or school. Like everything else there are pros and cons when it comes to using computers in class. There can be a lot of pros when using computers in class it just depends on if a teacher or student knows how to use it. Although many people believe that using computers in class is a huge distraction, there are many positive outcome of using computers in school. Using
When I become a teacher there is no doubt that I will use computers in my classroom and my students will do activities with computers. It is just the way to do things now. There are so many valuable programs out there to help students learn and to help teachers teach that computers are pretty much a necessity in classrooms. In my opinion for an elementary classroom there should be at least five to ten computers in each room. Without the access to the computers it is hard to take advantage of all the wonderful things a computer has to offer. Even using the internet has a source of information for the students or has a tutorial for students who are struggling. There are so many ways that classrooms will benefit from computers.
As time goes by, advances in technology will provide more and more avenues for learning by way of the computer. The Internet has opened the doors of the world and unleashed limitless possibilities in research and education. It may be only a matter of time when the classroom is brought online to all children and attending a school classroom outside the home is a thing of the past. Looking back over the last 20 years, I never would have imagined that computers would come this far and impact our lives so much. Just imagine where they will be 20 years from now.
Andy Carvin states “ internet access in schools isn’t worth a hill of beans if teachers aren’t prepared to take full advantage of technology” (2000). Schools spend a lot of money on computer hardware and software as well as other technologies without realizing that many of their employees are unprepared to include them in their teaching and use them to their advantages. Educators often use technology as a classroom management tool rather than an educational one, allowing computer time as a reward for good behavior (Clark & Gorski, 2001). The problem with this is that students learn to use the computer for games and such because it is their reward instead of using it on their own time for educational purposes. This is teaching them the wrong idea. Margaret Honey, director of the Center for Children and Technology in NYC said it best, “The bottom line is, you don’t just put technology into schools or into homes and expect miracles to happen. The technology is only as good as the program that surrounds it” (Meyer, 2002, p.2).