Synthesis Activity 2

Technology, an important part of society, has been slowly replacing teachers, and taking over education. Richard Ohmann and Clifford Stoll both express their concern for the increase of dependence on computers. .”…it’s easy to get the impression that computers can save U.S. education. Colleges and universities as well as public school districts have been acting as if that were so, with schools budgeting three times as much on technology in 2000 as in 1992.” (Stoll) These days it’s possible and sadly common to take on online course, and never even meet the teacher. “Perhaps a couple of million students are taking courses online, but the distance learning spin-offs that may colleges and universities looked to as an easy source of income remain dicey propositions.“ (Ohmann) Computers are distancing students from teachers. Both authors agree that computers are becoming a negative part of education.
There are some positive effects of computers and education which Ohmann recognizes. Ohmann states that ”…this technology does speed us toward some fulfillments and pleasures. It eases some work that we choose to do; enables some to do work they could not otherwise do at all; allows fast communication among student; facilitates some kinds of liberatory teaching…” (Ohmann) Stoll however states that, “For all the claims of education technologists, a child in from of a computer is like a child in front of a TV set.” This quote contributes to Stoll’s extreme dislike for computers and education.
Creativity and plagiarism are also on the rise since computers have become so important in education. “Rather than encouraging creative writing, network computers promote a copy and paste attitude that promotes plagiarism and denigrates scholarship.” (Stoll) If there were no computers, or internet websites to take information from plagiarism would be much less prevalent.
The articles ‘Computers and Technology’ and ‘Who Needs Computers’ both disagree with using computer and the internet for education. They believe that Americans are depending on this technology to much, and therefore are missing out on true education.

Synthesis Activity

Statement:
The relationship between the two articles is that both authors believe that computers and technology should not replace teachers in the classroom.

Outline:
Compare how computers positively effect education
Compare how computers negatively effect education
Compare statistics
Look at the future of technology and education.
Compare the similarities of the articles

Computers and Technology Summary

In the article ‘Computers and Technology’, Richard Ohmann expresses his concern for the growing dependency on technology in education and the workplace. He starts off by stating that schools are using three times as much technology in 2000 than in 1992. High schools and colleges are more and more depending on computers and the internet to raise test scores, and educate students. Studies in Ohmanns essay support this dependency. One school where students all had laptops had exceptional test scores. I think this is why Ohmann is concerned, because people are thinking that it is okay for technology to get the best of people, and it makes them think that just because good test scores are the possible result of receiving technology.
Although this increase in technology does help students, if is also harming their learning process. Some professors are now having to put a ‘kill switches’ into effect. These ‘kill switches’ are to prevent students from tuning out their professors, to the distractions of e-mails, instant messaging, and other internet annoyances. Ohmann believes that since the increase in technology in education, students are not being prepared for the workplace.
Ohmann does not argue that there are some positives in technology such as learning from computers and video games. Overall I think he is disappointed that the negatives of technology overweigh the negatives.

Hidden Intellectualism

Summary:
In the essay ‘Hidden Intellectualism’, Gerald Graff expresses his concern for students who do not appear to be academically intelligent but succeed in other nonacademic fields. Since society has such a closed-minded view of intelligence, we don’t consider cars, dating, or TV as factors of intelligence. The author believes that students should pursue their nonacademic interests, in an academic way. Graff argues that schools and colleges are missing an opportunity to help students succeed, by pushing away theses nonacademic interests that could benefit the students. He believes, “Making students’ nonacademic interests an object of academic study is useful, then, for getting students’ attentions and overcoming their boredom and alienation…” Overall schools have a stereotypical view of intelligence, but need to realize that intelligence is not limited to book smarts.

Questions:
We used the template on page 14 to help us outline our summary. It seemed to work well, by keeping our thoughts organized. No we did not shift our strategy. Another strategy we could have used would be not to use a template. Two alternate purposes would be to agree or disagree. If we were to agree with Graff we wouldn’t have to revise the summary. To disagree we would have to state the summary and reasons why we disagree, backed up by examples.

'Dont Blame the Eater' Response

Response 1
When you go to McDonalds you can order something cheap, get it fast, and unknowingly consume hundreds of calories. You can also just go to grocery store and get a healthy snack like a piece of fruit, for close to the same price, and nowhere near the amount of calories. The only difference is that when you go to that local grocery store you actually have to get out of the car and walk inside, instead of just going to a drive through. Fast food is not for people who want something quick and easy. It is for extremely lazy people who want something fast and easy. There are so many other healthier and inexpensive places to get food besides McDonalds and Burger King. Finding these places are not hard. Places that sell healthy food are not hiding, they can be found just as easily as finding a McDonalds.
Blaming the fact that McDonalds is cheap, and fast is not an excuse for these unhealthy eating habits. Plus eating healthy should be more important than prices. If McDonalds were expensive it would not be near as popular. So next time you know you are going to be pressed on time bring a healthy meal from home, instead of stopping at a fast food restaurant.
Response 2
Suing a fast food restaurant for making you fat? Seems like a stretch. These days suing people and companies is very common, and McDonalds could not go unnoticed. True fast food is convenient and cheap, but they aren’t doing anything illegal by packing a burger with calories, therefore they should not be being sued. These restaurants, combined with time, money and accessibility are making people obese. It is not just the restaurants alone that are the problem. They are a major cause of obesity in America though, and even though they should not be being sued, they should be required to help the customer make a healthier decision when they purchase food. Posing nutrition facts, having healthy menus and cutting back on the advertisement of unhealthy foods would be a start to helping America fight obesity.

English 106 Response

(Alternate Assignment)

http://ilovetocheatdiet.com/blog/nutrition-education-has-little-impact-on-kids/#more-143

The article Nutrition Education Has Little Impact On Kids is only an 'I say' article. The author only presents one side of their argument. They state that nutrtional education is not going to help children with their poor eating habbits. However unstead of blaming McDonalds or other fast food restaurants like many do,they blame parents for not watching what their children eat. Realizing that children are going to usually choose junk food unstead of fruit and veggies when their parents are not around, the insist that when the parents are around the must demand healthy eating habbits. Nowhere in the article are the positive effects of nutrition education listed. It is only about the negative, and unsuccessful results of nutrition education, which makes this article very one-sided.