John Haney
Slm 521 sp 03
Silicon Snake Elective
1. On his website, Stoll states that the Internet is “a poor place for commerce.” I have purchased a few items over the Internet and found it to be extremely fast and easy to do. I was able to use the Internet to research want I wanted to buy. The site that I used is a truck performance wholesaler that deals exclusively over the Internet. In comparing their prices with regular dealers I found that I saved a good sum of money. On this statement I totally disagree with Mr. Stoll.
2. On his website, Stoll says that e-mail is inefficient, slow, and can be quite expensive. I again disagree with this statement. I find it very easy to send e-mails and have always received them within minutes, not days as ordinary mail takes. For me, e-mail is totally free. I have been using Yahoo! for almost four years and have not paid one penny for it. Up to this point, my e-mail has never let me down.
3. Stoll states that “computer networks isolate us from one another, rather than bring us together.” In my opinion this is simply not true. I have spoken to friends on Instant Messenger and contacted the professor a few times this semester. I would not have been able to do either of those things without my computer. I also have a friend who met his girlfriend on-line. In ways like this the computer has brought us all closer together.
4. Stoll believes that computers do not belong in the classroom. My girlfriend teaches 5th grade and says that the computer enriches her lessons and makes learning more meaningful for her students. This class has shown me that the Internet is a valuable tool for teachers no matter what content area they are in. In one of my practicum experiences, the mentor teacher took her physical education class to the computer lab for research. This was unheard of years ago and a great way to enrich instruction. If anything, the Internet and computers are not being used to their fullest extent in the classroom.
5. Stoll feels that computers are expensive, difficult to use, and become obsolete quickly. This is true, to the beginner. Computers are expensive, but their prices have been falling and you can get yourself a quality setup for a minimal cost. I used to feel that computers are difficult to use before this class. Now I am comfortable working with my computer and am learning new things everyday. Computers are improving all the time but you can purchase upgrades easily. You can purchase more memory, faster processors, and newer operating systems as you need it. If you purchase what you really need, your computer will be serviceable to you.