Does Technology Bring False Promises to Schools?
Todd Oppenheimer is the author of a book “The Flickering Mind: The False Promise of Technology in the Classroom and How Learning Can Be Saved“.
He participated in an interview with an on-line education site in which he was asked to put his views on the use of technology within schools. I have to confess that I found myself nodding as I read each of his responses. My favourite quote:
“There is no greater hoax in this story than the rush to put young children on computers in the belief that it will prepare them for tomorrow’s jobs. It won’t — in fact, doing so may well put them at a professional disadvantage.”
He does concede however that technology (computers) has a place as a supplement to the teaching of many subjects, but not as a replacement for traditional studies.
“Some of the best software offers great tools (again with older students) for expanding understanding of sophisticated mathematical procedures such as scientific modeling. And obviously, the Internet offers valuable resources for research projects.”
Hey, someone had to be an antidote to Prensky!
