interferes with today's education. With the number of kids not actually knowing the depth of what is being taught, technology should not replace real hands on learning. Computers interfere with the chance of learning true education.
With the programs of games that is suppose to give students the knowledge of what they should be learning, gives them only rewards for right answers. For example, "NFL Math and its many brethren typically present questions in the format 4+ 3=? They can accept only the obvious answers. Like Skinners pigeons, you get rewarded for pressing the right button," (Stoll4). Problems that are given on computer programs expect right answers. It only wants to have one input of the right answer. A student can not go about in typing multiples of answers because the computer is programmed to read what the programmer has put in. A computer cannot be what a teacher is. It may teach, but it doesn't give the real lesson. For example, "A real teacher might well ask, "Seven equals what?" A fascinating question with an infinite number of answers: "Three plus four," "Ten minus three," "Days in a week ," (Stoll4). This gives the students the chance to be able to speak and to interact. If a student doesn't understand, they then get the chance to ask the questions of: who, what, when, where, why, and how. If the student is lost, the teacher is there to guide them. On the other hand of the computer, it can not answer back. It's only responses can be: "Sorry wrong answer," "Please try again," or "Better luck next time." The computer acts as an accessory and the teacher is the
guide. On the other hand, there are those who feel that computers is a great part of learning. For example, "Why shouldn't learning be entertaining? Webster's Ninth College Dictionary gives the third and fourth definitions of the verb "to entertain" as "to keep, hold, or maintain in the mind," and "to receive and take into consideration," (Tapscott1). His feel of learning is through entertainment. He feels that for a teacher to be the entertainer it builds the enjoyment, motivation and the responsibilities for learning. Tapscott's view of his teachings is to sit back and let technology do all the work. "The students learn to cooperate, work in teams, solve problems and take responsibility for the own learning--by doing. If there's something they don't understand, they must ask everyone else in the class before they can ask the teacher," (Tapscott3). Tapscott believes that working as a team, without an instructor, students are able to accomplish anything. Individuality may help to start off on learning but if a teacher isn't involved, how will a student know what is wrong and what is right. It's just like leaving a baby on it's own with a newly bought toy that has to be assembled and the baby is to be expected to know what to do with the unassembled box toy. Through the entire time a student may think that they are doing fine and believe that they will receive a letter grade A, but in the end receive a C. The student is going to be clueless about what was actually being expected and what they thought they learned. Guessing is not the key to actual learning and getting right answers. A path taken without a guide, is a path that leads to no where. Education is merely suppose to be hands on, to where the teacher is the center of attention and the students are sitting down learning. Computers is a great thing in life. It is the thing that millions of people depend on in their everyday lives. It has many great tasks. It helps use type up reports for work and school, we can get information on the internet about anyone and anything, pay bills online, it gives us extra curricular activities, such as games and color activities and it helps us learn about typing, math and so much more. But the thing is, is that it doesn't help us learn a lot. It doesn't give us the full potential of information. It also doesn't give us the full knowledge, full lesson that we should know. Its lesson programs, such as math and English is like little notes that is jotted down to give us a brief summary of what is being taught. It doesn't give us the entire encyclopedia, like how a teacher would. Teachers on the other hand, gets into the books. They become the book. I've experienced from my years of going to school. They make us read word for word and then re-teach what we have read so it can fully get into our heads. The two authors views were opposites but they both come down to the fact that technology is here. Stoll's view on computers in education was that it takes away real teaching and learning time. Tapscott's view on computers in education is that it teaches kids that they can work together and learn things that they never thought that they could learn and overcome. Tapscott's view is very positive but the way it is taught can not help a student actually know what they are learning. If a student wants to overcome education and take it furthering life, a student should expect to work hard. A great education is never easy. "Learning takes work," (Stoll1).