Rethinking the Technology Paradigm

Rethinking the Technology Paradigm

Article for Comp II
by
Fred Sharpsteen
A month ago I went to the Technology Conference. At one of the seminar, "Education on the Internet". I was having one of those moments of thought on this day. Are we doing the right things in our society and schools with Technology as it changes so rapidly. The presenter stimulated me to think with these items that are listed. Think about these Items and how they relate to thing that you have heard people say about computers and modern technology.

· Teacher's Conference 1703: Students today can't prepare bark to calculate their problems. They depend on their slates, which are more expensive. What will they do when the slate is dropped and it breaks?

· Principal's Association 1806: Students today depend on paper too much. They don't know how to write on slate without getting chalk dust all over themselves. What will they do when they run out of paper?

· National Association of teachers 1907: Students today depend too much upon ink. They don't know how to use a penknife to sharpen a pencil. Pen and ink will never replace the pencil.

· PTA Gazette 1941: Students today depend on these expensive fountain pens. They can on longer write with a straight pen and nib.

· Federal Teachers 1950: Ballpoint pens will be the ruin of the education in our country. Students use these devices and then throw them away. The American values of thrift and frugality are being discarded.

· 1992: Students today depend too much on the hand held calculators.

By the way what ever happened to the Slide Rule that every engineer had until the middle of the 80's? After looking at these things that have been wrote in the past. There was that sudden moment of clarity for me, that we each experience now and then. Yes we are doing the right thing as a society with computers and modern technology. Other words I would be writing this article on bark.