Jen Myers
SLM 521
“Face to face
meetings are far more meaningful -- and valuable -- than disembodied network
interactions.”
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/%7Estoll/silicon_snake_oil.html
I
think this is totally true especially in elementary and middle school. Students
are just beginning to develop computer skills along with all of their other
social skills so having interactions with their peers and teachers is very
important. Not to mention the fact that at this age they have not developed
enough self management to effectively take classes through a computer.
Face-to-Face meetings are extremely important for children to develop social
skills that they will need for the rest of their lives.
“Information
available over the Internet is often stale, incomplete, misleading, unreviewed,
or simply wrong.”
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/%7Estoll/silicon_snake_oil.html
As
a teacher I think this statement is a definite concern. We tend to find
information on the Internet and assume it is true. However often we find
inaccurate information. As teachers we must teach children how to find
reputable information when using the Internet. Another key point in all of
education is not to believe everything you see or hear until you find out if it
is true.
“Watch any kid
play Nintendo to sense the shallowness
of computer games.”
http://ed.tsud.edu/tcubed/reflections/Fall01/shallowness_games.htm
This is so true I think as parents and
teachers we need to encourage children not to just sit in front of the computer
or video games all day but to get up, be active, and read. The violence found
on television and games is definitely impacting our children. We need to
regulate the time they spend on the computer and make sure that when they are on
it they are using nonviolent educational games. Research proves games can help
students learn when they provide reinforcement and are nonviolent!
“Stoll even
claims that computers are not necessary for most college studies. There is an
element here of the attitude: I learned the hard way. They can learn the hard
way. When more than 50% of jobs now require some computer skills, and when more
and more businesses are
getting online, I find this claim to be elitist. Students graduating
without some basic computer skills are unqualified for the real world.
Computers and telecommunications are integral to the real world we live in.”
http://www.ibiblio.org/cmc/mag/1995/sep/mcgreal.html
This
is a terrible attitude to have because no matter how Stoll would like the world
to be the truth is it is being driven more and more by technology. Therefore it
is necessary for students to have computers! I cannot imagine how I would have
made it through college with out a computer and I even need it now for Graduate
School! I think the use of technology has to be taught at a young age because
of its major role in society.
“In the past,
schools tried instructional filmstrips, movies, and television; some are still
in use, but think of your own experience: name three multimedia programs that
actually inspired you. Now name three teachers that made a difference in your
life.”
http://ed.tsud.edu/tcubed/reflections/Fall01/Classrooms_and_computers.htm
Wow,
this statement is so true. I actually remember hating having to watch
filmstrips in school every Friday when we would pile into a teachers room.
However I do remember those positive relationships I formed with teachers. It
was because of those relationships that I learned so much in school and was
willing to try whatever they asked me. I am sure my students will not remember
the computer games they played but they will probably remember the keyboarding
and word processing skills I taught them, but over all they will definitely
remember me, their teacher.
"Few
aspects of daily life require computers...They're irrelevant to cooking,
driving, visiting, negotiating, eating, hiking, dancing, speaking, and
gossiping. You don't need a computer to...recite a poem or say a prayer."
Computers can't, Stoll claims, provide a richer or better life.”
Computers may not be needed for every
aspect of our day but I think they can enrich our lives in some ways. They
provide quick, easy and inexpensive ways of communicating with friends and
family. IM allows you to hold an actual conversation. Computers also assist us
in finding product information, driving directions, recipes, and research.
While they will never take the place of humans or actual friends they can be
very useful to us.