Proper Usage of Computers in Schools Proper Usage of Computers in Schools: Is America doing it wrong? A comparison essay DRAFT 1 Proper Usage of

Proper Usage of Computers in Schools

Proper Usage of Computers in Schools: Is America doing it wrong? A comparison essay DRAFT 1

Proper Usage of Computers in Schools: Is America doing it wrong?

I am not a carpenter but I do have a basic understanding of carpentry that I learned from my woodshop class back when I was in high school. One of the very first lessons taught to me was to use the right tool for the right job. If you need to drive down a nail then use a hammer, if you needed to cut a piece of wood to a precise angel then use a miter saw1. Just knowing what tool to use is not enough you must also understand how to use it correctly. Just like a hammer, a computer is tool. When a computer is used properly in a classroom setting, it can have a major positive impact on a child’s education. If used incorrectly it can cause harm in the child’s basic learning process.

Many experts believe that computers are a required tool to have in the classroom to help in the advancement of a child’s education. Some of these experts have claimed that the American school systems have been relying far too heavily on the use of computers and have are neglected teaching students the basics of math, writing and other foundation building courses. Others have debated that we are in a new area of learning a “revolution” in the education process and that computers need to be used in the classroom and more than ever. They argue that with the increasing amount of computers in the classroom, children are writing more than any previous generations before, have a bettering understanding of how to write for a large audience and not just to a professor.

Regardless of these two opposing arguments, both sides can agree that computers, if used incorrectly, are significantly handicapping the overall learning process of American students.

In the essay “The New Literacy” written by Mr. Clive Thompson, a well establish and renowned writer. He states that access to the internet and other forms of media with the use of computers is motivating students learning in literacy in “cool” new ways. That never before has any previous American generation written so much. (Kennedy, Kennedy, & Muth, 2011) Mr. Thompson describes that students are learning to write better every day and learning to write for a large audience. When a student post a blog2, chatting online in a public thread they are addressing a large audience as if they were in an auditorium or public venue. In doing this, it teaches the student better writing techniques to get their opinions across to their readers. If a student writes a blog that has poor grammar and sentence structure their readers, might not understand what the writer is trying to convey and stop following their blog or leave the writers chat room session.

Mr Thompson explains that from these new methods of communication, the students are more motivated to write then if a teacher gave them an assignment. Although Mr. Thompson is enthusiastic about the use of new methods of communication through computers, he agrees that students still need to be taught the basics in writing and other crucial areas. (Kennedy, Kennedy, & Muth, 2011)

From Mr. Thompson essay, he seems very excited about how children are using computers for communicating and that more usage of computers in the area of writing is improving student’s literacy skills.

The opposition to this argument regarding the heavy use of computers in expanding student’s skills and knowledge in writing comes from Dr. David Gelernter. Dr. Gelernter express concerns that although computers are a much needed as well as a valued resource in a classroom, teachers and students are relying on them far too much. That student are not learning the basic tools to expand on their writing skills and teachers are blindly accepting that a computer program is able to teach children better than previous traditional teaching methods.

Dr. Gelernter’s essay “Computers Cannot Teach Children Basic Skills” states that “computers discount words in favor of pictures and pictures in favor of video” (Kennedy, Kennedy, & Muth, 2011) and that computers are not teaching the proper methods on how skillful writing should flow but is instructing how to write in quick non-liner sequence formats. This he argues is not the correct way to teach our children. He also expresses concern that teachers are allowing computers to complete student’s arithmetic and correct their spelling mistakes and no one is teaching basic spelling and math or at least explaining why the computers are making these corrections for them.

Dr. Gelernter agrees that computers are a wonderful tool that they can assist the learning process but that if teacher rely too greatly on them, computers can do much more harm the good.

Both Mr. Thompson and Dr. Gelernter disagree on the level of use that students are using computers in school however; they do agree that computers can be very helpful in aiding student education. It seems that traditional teaching methods still need to be enforced but in conjunction with monitored computer use.

Works Cited

Kennedy, X. J., Kennedy, D. M., & Muth, M. F. (2011). The Bedford Guide for College Writers with Reader, Research Manual, and Handbook. Boston: Bedford / St. Martin's.

1 Also known as a chopsaw. Used for making repeated straight or miter cuts and it uses a circular blade that is pivoted to the correct angle, then dropped onto the material, which is clamped stationary on a turntable

2 A personal website on which an individual records opinions, links to other sites, etc. on a regular basis