The Computer Delusion

The first thing I felt when I read Oppenheimer's article was shock and horror.  I cannot imagine something more terrible than cutting art and music programs in order to make way for new technology.  Now don't get me wrong, I feel that technology is very important in education, but if we start cutting disciplines, what are we using technology to teach?  It seems counter-intuitive to cut educational programs in order to buy more tools to improve education.  But I am not really that surprised because most decisions made in education are counter-intuitive.  The fact that teacher think technology is more important than reading, history, science, etc. is probably a good example of why our educational system is in shambles.  Again, I think technology is important in education, but it is not more important than education itself.  I fear for my children if that is the philosophy our schools and educators are adopting.

When hearing about the misinformation found in the "studies" surrounding computer technology, again, I can't say I was surprised.  Technology is a tool not a panacea.  Technology will not fix bad teaching.  Best teaching practices such as project-based learning, collaboration, inquiry-based learning, and UDL all improve student learning.  Technology is a piece in that puzzle, not every piece.  Ortiz's experiences at Sanchez school just reinforce this idea.

The article states, "Other options mentioned in the group's report -- reducing class size, improving teachers' salaries and facilities, expanding hours of instruction -- were considered less important than putting kids in front of computers."  I have to strongly disagree with sentiment.  Nothing is more important than small classroom sizes and good instruction, not even technology.    I also strongly disagreed with Michael Fellows, who stated: "Most schools would probably be better off if they threw their computers into the Dumpster."  This is a ridiculous and backwards statement.  We need to find a middle ground between the two sides.  We need to have students who have experience in the real world and with technology.  In this society, students need to be developmentally ready for anything.  I also disagree with the idea that student shouldn't be exposed to the inaccuracies of the web.  Students need to be taught about credible resources, not protected from them.

Overall, I think that this article made some very valid and interesting points.  However, I think they are far too pessimistic about technology and its virtues.  Overall I agree with Steve Jobs (quoted in this article): "'What's wrong with education cannot be fixed with technology,' he told Wired magazine last year. 'No amount of technology will make a dent.... You're not going to solve the problems by putting all knowledge onto CD-ROMs. We can put a Web site in every school -- none of this is bad. It's bad only if it lulls us into thinking we're doing something to solve the problem with education.'"  Well said Steve.