Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Computers Might Not Always Work in Education? Ruh roh Shaggy.


The Washington Post online featured writer Jay Mathews’s article “How computers can hurt schools”.  Mathews wrote about a lawsuit in Michigan.  His article discusses a lawsuit that involves a 7th grade boy who took English classes online.  The student states that the teacher sat at the desk as students worked and seldom walked around.  The teacher did not provide any instruction about the material; the teachers only graded papers and made sure students were keeping up on work.  The student is suing because he has fallen behind academically speaking.  Scholastic was the creator of the online program that this particular student used.  Mathews writes that a spokesperson, Kyle Good, said that programs don’t work “unless teachers are actively involved”.

From the administrator’s point of view I’m sure they see this as an opportunity to make larger class sizes thus removing teachers. 

From the student’s point of view I’m sure they like that they are able to work at their own pace and don’t have to listen to a teacher lecture. 

From a teacher’s perspective…BORING.  I would not want to sit at a desk and grade papers with minimal student interaction.  I like to talk to the students, see what they think about topics, and have students even teach me a thing or two.  It sounds like it is against a teacher’s Hippocratic oath”.  If used correctly, say in cooperation with that crazy concept called teaching, I think programs like Read 180 can be helpful, if used appropriately.

In my opinion, it sounds like the boy involved in the lawsuit has been cheated of his education.  Hopefully, it isn’t too late.

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