The Milwaukee Sentinel has what appears to be a “back to school” series on “Is Tech in School a Fad?”
The short answer appears to be – it is too early to tell.
Research results are mixed. But most studies conclude that for computers and other technology to have much effect on student performance, a number of conditions are necessary: Teachers have to be technologically adept; classroom assignments have to allow for exploration; and curricula have to abandon breadth for depth.
Although schools have made changes in some of those areas, particularly increasing teachers’ technical proficiency, the predominant uses of computers remain word processing, heavily filtered Internet searches and the occasional PowerPoint presentation. In addition, with pressure rising to improve test scores, more schools have embraced skill-drilling software that contributes little to long-term student learning, observers say
Among the issues raised is the frequent observation that actual student use is less than one might expect given the increase in access to technology.
I must add this. My next door neighbor (actually the kid living on the next farm down the gravel road) and high school friend was Lowell Monke. We have pretty much gone separate ways since heading off to college. Lowell is interested in ed tech too –
For Lowell Monke, an assistant education professor at Wittenberg University in Ohio and former advanced technology teacher, the lack of results and questionable uses of technology have destined them to become another educational fad.
For an extended comment by Dr. Monke see – The human touch. How ironic is that?
Anyway, article two in the series Critics say popular PowerPoint pushes students toward ‘infomercials’. Now don’t get me started, blog entries are supposed to be brief.
