The era of technology has seized to surpass the conscious mind as to how it has affected us. Whether we cogitate about it or not, it is here to stay and greater than ever. Schools have adapted technology as a method to educate and reach kids on a different foundation and yearning to gain further academic growth. Since technology is engulfing our education system it is absolutely essential to consider some aspects. Schools should consider the cost and availability, the benefits, and the long-term effects these gadgets can grant on the children of the future.
A factor that schools dawn upon is the cost and availability in giving students these types of technology in their curriculum. Empire High School are starting with no textbooks in this upcoming year, instead of textbooks the school has issued laptop for students. “Instead, the school issued iBook’s – laptop computers by Apple Computer Inc. to each of its 340 students,… (Rotstein)”The main issue is the cost of all the laptops and the availability of the laptops.
Is the government able to purchase that many laptops for approximately 400 students? I don’t think so, our economy is in its lowest and the United States are already in debt to many countries. Though they say we are the richest country in the world, we are the number one country that has the most debt. School teachers and other faculty and stuff say that these technology are to help the students to engage them in work, but the thing is how much laptops are going to be available? I doubt the school is going to pay millions for every single student to have a laptop.
Another factor is the benefits of having technology in schools. There are definitely bad factors of technology but what about the good? Some benefits about technology in schools are now using communication through technology to keep in touch from teachers to parents. Schools are using this tool to not have to meet the parents from face to face but through the technology that we have now. Teachers are finding it easier to put assignments up onto the website and not tell the class directly. “Teachers are getting their classes to post writing assignments online so other students can easily read and critique them (Delaney).” Technology has found an easier way for teachers, students and parents to interact with each other.
Finally the long-term effects of having advanced technology is that every single child that lives in the United States of America will not be able to write without computers. “Even jolting down a note with a pen and paper feels strained….(Johnson)” Students will be typing more than writing students who had learned handwriting will have to learn this skill again. Typing should be something that we can use from time to time. Overtime handwriting or penmanship of their handwriting will disintegrated to a five year old writing. As said in source D “Pen and paper feel profoundly different to me now.” Later what will schools do? Writing is a skill that should be enhanced not typing.
In conclusion schools should consider the factors of the good and the bad of having particular technology in schools. Schools should consider cost and availability of the laptops to the students, the benefits of having technology in the classroom and the long-term effects of having technology for students. All these factors should be considered before deciding if the technology should run the school and where is all the schools getting the technology from? Students will be searching for the answers instead of learning, and eventually the future generation will lose many skills.
