So I read the article about the advantages and disadvantages of having personal laptops in school, and it really didn't sway my opinion very much. Mostly, this was due to their acknowledgment of the students taking advantage of having the computers all the time, but there was no concrete proposal of what to do about it. So the question stands, what is there to do about it? Take the computers away? But then, doesn't that defeat the purpose? You can't monitor where the kids are 24/7. They're going to take advantage.....even the considered "smart" ones. Having the technology required to be right in front of you is a huge temptation, and it encourages them to become completely hooked on it. At least in the classrooms without computers, the teachers are more likely to see the students faces once in awhile, rather than just the backs of the laptops.
I'm not saying there aren't advantages. It would be nice to have all the information you ever need for your students at hand whenever they need it. But that also takes away book learning and paper/pencil work. It didn't kill us to do those things as kids, and it certainly wont kill them. The best reason to continue to learn these things is aimed at the dependency of technology. It's always breaking down. So what happens when these overly dependent students experience a complete wipe out of the technology? They will be so lost, they wont know what to do. It just feels like technology as a requirement in the schools does not hold any advantages worth pursuing.
About Me
- Stasi
- Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent. Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.
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I know this sounds really old fashion but I personally think that the system we have now is good. If you want to use computers, there are computer labs. In my opinion the problems outway the benefits. I also do not think it is developmentally appropriate to have students using computers before they understand the basic concept. Computers should be used to further prior knowledge not teach it. That might just be my opinion but with all of the problems I've heard I'm not yet convinced that having computers are a good idea yet. I totally agree with you Stasi!!! ( is developmentally appropriate the right thing I'm thinking of, I can't decide if that is quite what I'm trying to say?)
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