Changing schools

reading+class

We all agree that technology is a great learning tool- the key word here is tool.

Some good points were given by Beth's blog- Changing schools to avoid the misuse of technology by educators during their lecture circle presentation. They were presenting the journal article on how to support the system or render it obsolete by Milken Family Foundation (2004). A smart illustration of how the benefits of technology can be wrongly used was made - a stagecoach was drawn and the following question was raised: How do we make it faster? A few answers were proposed: more horses, a smoother road, less weight or even a rocket attached to the stagecoach. While the suggestions were made, more details were added to the drawing. It was drawn to our attention that all of these suggestions would fail- new technologies can not be attached to the old ones. This was a brilliant metaphor of what we can not do with technology. We need to use technology to support our students' learning..

In fact, Papert (2004) sees the goals of technology in school is to improve existing school practices, including the teaching of current content and to iintroduce a very elementary form of ‘computer literacy’ or ‘technological fluency’ in the form of vocational knowledge.

Resources:

- Papert, S. (2004). Technology in schools: To support the system or render it obsolete. Milken Family Foundation.

- http://flickrcc.bluemountains.net/flickrCC/index.php?terms=stagecoach&edit=yes&page=1