[edi581] Re: Clifford Stoll article
- From: "Carrie Bencal" <cbencal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <edi581@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 12:34:11 -0500
Jerry,
I thought I handed that in...maybe I had an attack of stupid. That tends =
to happen when I get busy. If you'll still take it, here it is.
Children are very distracted by computers mainly because they are playing =
games on them. But if we don't show students how to use them in school, =
how will they learn how to type a paper and format it, or create a =
spreadsheet or database. I agree with the improved communication between =
students and peers and students and teachers and problem solving, but who =
says you can't have it both ways. I disagree with Mr. Stoll when he says =
you can learn a word processing program in one or two days. It sounds to =
me like he has never tried to teach a person how to use the word processing=
program to its full potential. If you want a student to know just the =
basics, then that will take approximately 10 weeks of class time. If you =
want them to know most of the ins and outs of a program like MS Word for =
example, that will take about a semester. This time frame may be a little =
shorter or longer depending on a student's level of education.=20
I use a computer which makes my life (job) a lot easier. Everyone who is =
a teacher or who has been a teacher knows that teachers are very busy =
people. If I hadn't taken classes in high school, I would have been lost =
in college. Every paper you turn in in college must be typed or word =
processed. Well let me ask you, how many of you still own a typewriter? =
Or, how many of you know what a typewriter is? I remember have my mom's =
old typewriter as a toy. I would have hated to have to use that old thing =
to type my papers on in college. I was fortunate I chose to take a class =
in high school. My question to you is, when are we going to start blaming =
the parents for the lack of discipline and communication? When did =
teachers become babysitters? Four out of five of the classes I teach are =
taught in the computer lab and I have plenty of communication with my =
students. I don't just give them a worksheet (handout) and tell them to =
get typing or whatever. The same goes for the class we all are taking*Comp=
uters in the Classroom. To me the only time a computer gets abused is =
when kids sit in front of it for hours and play video games. On the other =
hand, there is a time for play too!
Byron-Bergen Central School
6917 W. Bergen Rd.
Bergen, NY 14416-9747
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Class website: http://www.greece.k12.ny.us/taylor/suny/
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