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.