A Skeptic's Guide to Technology in the Classroom

Skeptics of technology firmly believe that advancements in the classroom will force students to develop the attitude: "Learn what you need when you need it." However, if an individual is so naive to think that taking a pencil and paper test where you list the presidents, doesn't support the "learn what you need when you need it" attitude, then your thinking must be as extinct as the Beta VCR. No offense to those of you with a Beta VCR, I have one myself. Unfortunately, a majority of students have already adopted this model, but we must realize it is not an attitude brought on by technology, but all education. Most asked question in a whiny tone, "Why do I need to learn this?"

Though this quote is not expressed until the final paragraph in chapter three, everything subtly hints at this attitude. The main argument of the skeptics is that technology does not help develop a basic foundation of learning strategies, but limits a student's knowledge to coming "just-in-time." Despite this argument being made ad nauseam, the section I found most compelling was Assessment.

"In the traditional view, learning consists largely of memorizing essential facts and concepts, and performing procedures until they are automatic...[o]nly a small minority of educators hold the belief that education should be about students constructing their own understanding using computer tools." If this is the alternative to technology, and technology is wrong, then I don't want to be right!

The skeptics fail to recognize that technology gives students the ability to transcend memorizing. It can help students "carry out in-depth research and complete meaningful projects." Much like teachers teach what they were taught, most educators educate in the same way they were educated. If pencil and papers were what the educators had, then it is what their students will have. These skeptics seem to be wearing nostalgic lenses, and feel the way they learned was best. I am sure they would be skeptical to see me typing this. Additionally, they should be skeptical if I was using a pencil and paper. Perhaps I should return to my cave and resort to painting...