OVERVIEW
The article written by Lowell S. Monke, The Overdominance of Computers, discusses the growing disillusionment with the promise of computers to revolutionize education. Monke clearly has a negative view on the overwhelming amount of technology available today. She makes the arguement that technology is being pushed at too young of an age. Monke points out that technology at school on top of all of the technology outside of school such as video games, television, i-pods and cell phones maybe a bit excessive. "Our students need inner resources and real-life experiences to balance their high-tech lives", says Monke. Monke agrees that computers have great power so students need to be shown how to use them properly. Another arguement against technology is the research Economists Thomas Fuchs and Ludger Woessmann of Munich University found. During research performed in 2004, "they found, after controlling for other possible influences, that the more access students had to computers in school and at home, the lower their overall test socers were". Monke also states that we are paying for compensating technology for individual qualities. Qualities such as 'hope, compassion, trust, respect, a sense of belonging, moral judgement, and stability'. Is technology really taking over?
REFERENCE POINTS
- Computers today are used in Excess
- Percentage of Students in 2003 who used computer in the U. S.
- 97% of high schoolers
- 95% of middle schoolers
- 91% of students in grades 1-5
- 80% of kndergarten students
- 67% of nursery school students
- Excessive use of computers lowers test scores
- Influencing technology at a very young of an age should be done
- Qualities are being forgotten due to today's technology era
I feel differently than Monke does on computer usage. I do agree that there is possibility for excess but not if controlled. Not all of todays technological tools are bad. I use alot of technology that it interactive and most importantly requires a response for the question at hand. I have found that using clickers that are similar to cell phones you will get honest responses. I can ask any type of question at any point in time. I even use the clickers when the students are on the computers. With clickers at hand you can ask questions at any point in time. For example, how many times have teachers asked the question do you understand? or get it? Of course students say yes. Ocassionally you will find the middle school student who will ask questions but not usually. When required to give a response based on wheither or not the understanding is really there I feel confident that they are truely grasping the knowledge. It also allows me to know who's not getting to provide extra help.
