The Impact Technology Will Have on Effectiveness of Education
What fundamental assumptions of our society will be altered as a result of the computer revolution?
The first thing to understand regarding the question posed is that this revolution is not an event but ongoing evolution. I believe that fundamental assumptions that will be altered by computers are centered on the role of computers. In relation to education, the human mind is strengthened and personal intellect is advanced by study and consideration. The role of computers in those endeavors is indirect at best. Computers will not create expression nor will they provide us with intellectual advancement but they can serve as tools to stimulate and possibly accelerate the process. In some cases they can become the catalyst to the process but will not carry the process. The general assumption by society, however, is that computers will provide some measure of creation of expression or provide intellectual advancement. The assumption may or may not be overt but expectations seem to be that mastering certain software is synonymous with mastering a field of study. In other words, we may have disproportionate expectations of computers.
There was previous discussion, in this class, concerning whether or not students might ignore learning grammar and English skills because word processing functions such as spell and grammar checks, did it for them. The debate over this issue makes the assumption that students will be able to communicate without these skills, using only word processing software. More succinctly stated: will students have the perception that they can communicate without these skills, using word processing software? The response to that is “yes, students may have that perception but the reality is, regardless of their perception, “no, they can’t.”
The erroneous assumption that students will not have to learn grammar and English because word processing software...