How the The Digital Revolution is Shaping Education

363 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Impact of modern technology on education

How the The Digital Revolution is Shaping Education

"The most transforming technological event since the capture of fire." This is the way one expert describes the revolution introduced in this century by computers. Such extravagant interpretations aside, there is no doubt that the acceleration of computer technology has produced enormous changes in all our lives. As late as the 1950s, computers were rarely seen outside university centers. Now, of course, they are everywhere, in classrooms, libraries, offices, stores, factories, research labs, and, increasingly, in our homes.

Even those who fear that it may lead to the decline of the book acknowledge what appear to be positive effects of the new technol-ogy: easier revision of writing, greater access to information, rapid solution of difficult problems, greater freedom in selection of the workplace, additional sources of entertainment, and global communication, both personal and professional.

But the number of naysayers is growing. In the words of Nicholas Negroponte, professor of media technology at the Massachusetts In-stitute of Technology, "Every technology or gift of science has a dark side." We have already identified some of the problems: loss of em-ployment, invasion of privacy, unscrupulous use of the technology, isolation from the physical world and other people. In time we will un-doubtedly solve some of these problems, but others will remain.

Some critics have asked if the revolution can be halted, or at least slowed, if it encounters serious resistance. But, according to one view, "It is coming, whether we like it or not." Given its in-evitability, then, does the greater freedom of this medium, which en-ables anybody to publish his or her views, mean that our discourse will be enriched? Or are we simply creating more noise? Not least, will the development and embrace of this technology affect our

human nature? Marshall McLuhan, an influential scholar, remarked, "We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us." Will we be-come different creatures — separated from nature, isolated in front of our screens, unable to distinguish between the reality and the image?

As students, you are at the center of an important controversy about the distribution and use of computers in schools. In his State of the Union address in 1996, President Clinton called for computers in every classroom and library by the year 2000. This ambitious goal is not likely to be met, and if it is not, will children in schools with access to technological innovation enjoy a significant educational advantage over children in schools without?

Show More
Related

  • Analysis of Unplugged: The Myth of Computers in the Classroom, Article by David Gelernter

    755 Words  | 2 Pages

    Over the past few decades, technology has advanced significantly. The use of calculators, computers, and other techniques in many fields has increased. On a large scale, technology is replacing traditional methods of instruction in the field of education. Many people believe that adopting technology in the learning process can increase productivity. However, David Gelernter, a professor at Yale University and a leading figure in the field of technology, suggests limiting the use of technology in the classroom in his article “Unplugged: The Myth of Computers in the Classroom,” published in the New Republic magazine in 1994.

    Read More

  • Black Lives Matter Summary

    1028 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Stephen’s article, he talks about how technology has helped in a positive way when it comes

    Read More

  • Mark Bauerlein's The Dumbest Generation

    843 Words  | 2 Pages

    Technology opens the door to opportunities that past generations didn't have and that have expanded our abilities over a period of time . Andrea Lunsford , also a professor at a university , is quoted in Clive Thompsons article (source7) “The new literacy”saying that we

    Read More

  • A Crisis: Funding for Educational Technology in the United States

    1872 Words  | 4 Pages

    The United States is a country that thrives through technological advancement. The wealth and success of this nation is dependent on providing every child, regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender, with the opportunity to obtain technological skills that are essential for a successful future. Unfortunately, educational funding for technology has failed to take precedent. In realizing that, the question then becomes, how is a country expected to thrive from the use and advancement of technology, when failing to properly train future leaders? Funding must be provided for schools to purchase technological equipment, such as computers, in order to ensure that each child has an equal chance to thrive in a country that is defined by its advancement in technology.

    Read More

  • Are We Digital Dummies Analysis

    647 Words  | 2 Pages

    The topic of technology and our society has become a very controversial subject today. Many people believe that technology is an essential component of our modern world, helping us to improve communication from farther distances as well as giving us easy access to important information. On the other hand, there is the opinion that too much technology is affecting social interactions and our basic development. “Technology…is a queer thing, it brings you great gifts with one hand, and stabs you in the back with the other.” (Carrie Snow.) The CBC Documentary “Are We Digital Dummies” displayed the pros and cons when it comes to modern technology that we use in the western world everyday.

    Read More

  • I Want to Study Computer Science

    560 Words  | 2 Pages

    If nineteenth century was an era of the Industrial revolution in Europe, I would say that computer and Information Technology have domineered since the twentieth century. The world today is a void without computers, be it healthcare, commerce or any other field, the industry won’t thrive without Information Technology and Computer Science. This ever-growing field of technology has aroused interest in me since my childhood.

    Read More

  • Computer Technology in the Classroom

    1102 Words  | 3 Pages

    Not many people would argue that computer technology is bad for the K-12 classroom. There is, however, a serious and thought-provoking debate going on regarding computer technology in the classroom. At issue is to what extent and at what age should computers be integrated in American classrooms. There is no question that a certain level of technology will bring improvements in academic achievement. In one study on children of low socioeconomic status a definite improvement was seen. It was noted that, “Increasing the technology available to students encourages, facilitates, and supports student achievement – at the elementary level, the most profound effects were found in the area of mathematics” (Page 391). Page also states that, “numerous studies have demonstrated that young children’s self-esteem or self-concept directly affects their academic performance” (Page 391).

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Technology Today

    1128 Words  | 3 Pages

    Technology surrounds almost everyone in today 's modern society. Technology is constantly changing, and advancing to make our everyday lives somewhat easier. Throughout history, people have looked for better ways to meet their needs and satisfy expectations. Technology has helped people out in many ways, such as: healthcare, education, jobs, and online shopping. Almost all goods and services rely on technology. Although technology has tons of upsides to it, it also has several downsides.

    Read More

  • The History of Computers in Education

    868 Words  | 2 Pages

    Computers were first introduced into schools in the late 1950, however, at that time they were only used by large universities for clerical work such as accounting, payroll, and for storing student records. Computers began to emerge more and more in the 1950, but it was still uncommon to see computers in schools. Today, one will find that quite the opposite exists. Since 1977 there has been a rapid growth in the use of computers throughout schools. Today the average public elementary school has 110 computers and 98% of these schools have access to the Internet. The ratio of students to computers, as of the year 2000 is less than five students per computer (Kafer np). Since their first appearance they have greatly changed education and have proved to be useful, valuable resources both in and out of the classroom.

    Read More

  • Education and the Digital Divide

    2435 Words  | 5 Pages

    Closing the digital divide involves many components, starting with the education program and teachers. While schools are integrating new technologies into their programs, teachers are supposed to keep up with the latest technologies and use them in their curriculum to teach students. According to a U.S. Department of Education Report (1999), only 24 percent of new teachers felt sufficiently prepared to integrate technology into the curriculum they were using (Brogan, 2000). The problem is, many teachers did not grow up with computers and are not receiving the training they need to operate them (Brogan, 2000). Starting work as early as 7 a.m. and leaving school as late as 5 p.m. to go home and do even more work, leaves teachers lacking the time to learn new technological skills. Many schools offer training programs for teachers. For example, the Palm Beach County, Florida school district teaches Web basics for teachers at middle schools and magnet schools (Brogan, 2000). This is a great idea because it is giving teachers the opportunity to learn about technology and it is showing that the school district is interested in helping its employees become better at what they do.

    Read More

  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology

    1380 Words  | 3 Pages

    Technology has changed modern society drastically, both positively and negatively. Technology has influenced every aspect of our life, making it simpler but not necessarily better. Albert Einstein was concerned about the advancement of technology. "I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction."1 Undoubtedly, what has changed the most are communication, the spread of information, and how business is practiced. Consequently, practically everyone knows how to use a computer, connect to the Internet, or use a smartphone. This is demonstrated by the way the Internet is used daily by millions of people to communicate, to sell, advertise, retrieve, and share information. Thanks to the Internet, information from anywhere in the world is at our fingertips. As a result, the advancement of technology has changed our life in many ways including; sharing of information, communication, business, education, social interaction, simplifying everyday tasks, replacing basic skills and jobs.

    Read More

  • The Computer Evolution

    2687 Words  | 6 Pages

    The computer evolution has been an amazing one. There have been astonishing achievements in the computer industry, which dates back almost 2000 years. The earliest existence of the computer dates back to the first century, but the electronic computer has only been around for over a half-century. Throughout the last 40 years computers have changed drastically. They have greatly impacted the American lifestyle. A computer can be found in nearly every business and one out of every two households (Hall, 156). Our Society relies critically on computers for almost all of their daily operations and processes. Only once in a lifetime will a new invention like the computer come about.

    Read More

  • Use of Technology in Education

    966 Words  | 2 Pages

    As time goes by, advances in technology will provide more and more avenues for learning by way of the computer. The Internet has opened the doors of the world and unleashed limitless possibilities in research and education. It may be only a matter of time when the classroom is brought online to all children and attending a school classroom outside the home is a thing of the past. Looking back over the last 20 years, I never would have imagined that computers would come this far and impact our lives so much. Just imagine where they will be 20 years from now.

    Read More

  • The Effects of Computers on Everyday Life

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    The biggest and easiest seen change that computers have had on today’s society can be seen in the workplace. Before computers became an office tool and were made available to the average employee, paperwork and sharing information in an office setting was done by many different individuals constantly filing and looking up figures. Now a computer can store large amounts of information that is readily available to virtually anyone with the click of a mouse button. One person can complete a job that in a time before computers would take many. Computers have made file cabinets and libraries almost obsolete. Businesses can share information nation or even world wide in a matter of seconds. For example, a word document file can be sent from an office in New York to an office in Los Angeles in under a minute, in the past this same information would have taken a week to be sent through the mail. Computers have changed the way that factories are run too. On an assembly line, before computers every job, no matter how easy or difficult, had to be done by an employee. Now, however, computers run machines and do most of these tasks.

    Read More

  • Are We Too Dependent On Computers?

    1261 Words  | 3 Pages

    From classroom activities to space flight and everything in between, computers are a vital part of daily life. Everything we do and every aspect of our life is affected by modern technology, like the computers. Computers let us dissect any sort of data. Computers make us reflect, hence we develop. Because of computers and the Internet, we can talk with individuals from diverse nations, and even see them via webcams.

    Read More

More about How the The Digital Revolution is Shaping Education

Open Document