A pen is tool, a word processor is a tool with more features.
Well written does not mean in word format.
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Is teaching about technology as important as the three "R's"
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Technology IS an essential tool and will cause divide between those whom have the knowledge and money to use effectively.
There has always been a technological divide; it was created when a caveman picked up a rock and hit something with it, thereby inventing the hammer. The difference now is the technological divide grows wider as more knowledge is required to use the new tools.
School?s are behind the times. Many systems still feed the industrial work age.
Which industrial work we still need; it is simply augmented by technology where possible. Vocational/technical training will be required for as long as we need machinists, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, and other skilled trades. The training may take longer, but it will still be required.
Typing should be taught with more then just structuring words and sentences.
Typing is a tool used to make our writing presentable. If you can't write, you can type all you like and still not create anything except string of random letters. For example, asdfo;8aw4p98y35yerlyihgaweerdsasasfdog
If you want people to be able to type, word process, or whatever effectively, they must first know how to spell properly, create sensible sentences, and write creatively. Then and only then are they ready to use the tool technology has provided.
There has always been a technological divide; it was created when a caveman picked up a rock and hit something with it, thereby inventing the hammer. The difference now is the technological divide grows wider as more knowledge is required to use the new tools.
School?s are behind the times. Many systems still feed the industrial work age.
Which industrial work we still need; it is simply augmented by technology where possible. Vocational/technical training will be required for as long as we need machinists, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, and other skilled trades. The training may take longer, but it will still be required.
Typing should be taught with more then just structuring words and sentences.
Typing is a tool used to make our writing presentable. If you can't write, you can type all you like and still not create anything except string of random letters. For example, asdfo;8aw4p98y35yerlyihgaweerdsasasfdog
If you want people to be able to type, word process, or whatever effectively, they must first know how to spell properly, create sensible sentences, and write creatively. Then and only then are they ready to use the tool technology has provided.
"Technology IS an essential tool"
No, technology is merely a word to describe tools in the abstract. Can you image a class that teaches "technology"? It might go like this: "Class, we have 180 tools to teach you. today it is screwdrivers, tomorrow it will be spanner wrenches, and the next day it will be Powerpoint." At the end of the year, students will have obtained a blizzard of nearly useless, context-free demonstrations.
Don't teach "technology", teach ordinary life skill and engineering subjects, and in the course of those subjects, suitable tools can and should be introduced.
Not so long ago I took college algebra from the University of Alaska and the teacher required me to do matrixes, determinants and 6-term simultaneous linear equations with NO calculator at all. It was not much fun but I learned that branch of mathematics better than had I used a calculator. Incredibly, my daughter in elementary school is actually invited to work math problems with a calculator. I don't allow it at home of course.
I remember going to an airport with a very heavy suitcase, and the weight scale said "22". I thought to myself that I must be getting weak since my suitcase surely weighed close to the limit of 50 pounds.
Excessive reliance on "technology" weakens common sense in my opinion. The clerk lifts suitcases all day and should know a 50 pound suitcase when she lifts one; but she trusted her eyes more than her arms -- the scale said "22". Someone had changed it to "Kilograms" from "Pounds" (Kg/Lps pushbutton switch), probably to sneak some overweight baggage on the flight. I imagine you could have some fun in Europe doing the reverse.
No, technology is merely a word to describe tools in the abstract. Can you image a class that teaches "technology"? It might go like this: "Class, we have 180 tools to teach you. today it is screwdrivers, tomorrow it will be spanner wrenches, and the next day it will be Powerpoint." At the end of the year, students will have obtained a blizzard of nearly useless, context-free demonstrations.
Don't teach "technology", teach ordinary life skill and engineering subjects, and in the course of those subjects, suitable tools can and should be introduced.
Not so long ago I took college algebra from the University of Alaska and the teacher required me to do matrixes, determinants and 6-term simultaneous linear equations with NO calculator at all. It was not much fun but I learned that branch of mathematics better than had I used a calculator. Incredibly, my daughter in elementary school is actually invited to work math problems with a calculator. I don't allow it at home of course.
I remember going to an airport with a very heavy suitcase, and the weight scale said "22". I thought to myself that I must be getting weak since my suitcase surely weighed close to the limit of 50 pounds.
Excessive reliance on "technology" weakens common sense in my opinion. The clerk lifts suitcases all day and should know a 50 pound suitcase when she lifts one; but she trusted her eyes more than her arms -- the scale said "22". Someone had changed it to "Kilograms" from "Pounds" (Kg/Lps pushbutton switch), probably to sneak some overweight baggage on the flight. I imagine you could have some fun in Europe doing the reverse.
Back in the day, they made all of us, boys and girls, learn the basic skills of living like a grown up out in the world. We had to learn to cook, and sew, and use tools and take shop etc.
Today's basic tools are often technology related. There's no excuse for not having basic computer skills these days.
The problem is that no one teaches good, basic computer skills. The courses in today's college's are poorly written, and poorly researched. You would think that text book writers would at least do research and use proper spelling and grammar. Never mind getting the facts of the course correct.
Read some of Microsoft's course materials some time. They're terrible. Most course books aren't much better. Some of them don't even have the history of the course subject correct or the facts of the subject.
So it's a catch-22 right now. I think people SHOULD learn about technology and how to use it correctly. But good luck getting that education.
Watching my relatives and friends at various stages in their education makes me fear for the future.
Today's basic tools are often technology related. There's no excuse for not having basic computer skills these days.
The problem is that no one teaches good, basic computer skills. The courses in today's college's are poorly written, and poorly researched. You would think that text book writers would at least do research and use proper spelling and grammar. Never mind getting the facts of the course correct.
Read some of Microsoft's course materials some time. They're terrible. Most course books aren't much better. Some of them don't even have the history of the course subject correct or the facts of the subject.
So it's a catch-22 right now. I think people SHOULD learn about technology and how to use it correctly. But good luck getting that education.
Watching my relatives and friends at various stages in their education makes me fear for the future.
In South Carolina, as far as I know, the only people required to take such courses are those identified with learning disabilities. Those courses are available to the student body in general as electives, but very few take them.
I think all students should graduate from high school with knowledge equivalent to the IC3 certification. (Check out a self-evaluation here: http://tinyurl.com/ymy7hg)
It's very basic knowledge that most technicians already know, but imagine how much time could be saved if everybody knew at least this much about computers.
Edit:
I think all students should graduate from high school with knowledge equivalent to the IC3 certification. (Check out a self-evaluation here: http://tinyurl.com/ymy7hg)
It's very basic knowledge that most technicians already know, but imagine how much time could be saved if everybody knew at least this much about computers.
Edit:
How to use a spreadsheet, or what you need to know to write a program with a spreadsheet interface.
Before you take a step down this path you've got to clearly split how to use a tool and how to make a tool.
Either way it's immaterial in terms of fundmamentals. You need those for the how to make the tools and if you don't have them any use of the tool is a complete waste of time.
Before you take a step down this path you've got to clearly split how to use a tool and how to make a tool.
Either way it's immaterial in terms of fundmamentals. You need those for the how to make the tools and if you don't have them any use of the tool is a complete waste of time.
Remember we owe our survial, existance,and intelligence, to those from the past, 6 million years, who shared and preserved it for us all. One generation after another. Millions, died to make knowledge known to us all. This is a endearing statement of humiltiy, and I feel it very much now.
We, can see so far, because, We are standing on the shoulders of Giants.
We need to change our attention to humanity and stop all war, killing our young adults, and victumize the women and children daily.
We, can see so far, because, We are standing on the shoulders of Giants.
We need to change our attention to humanity and stop all war, killing our young adults, and victumize the women and children daily.
We need to change our attention to humanity and stop all war, killing our young adults, and victumize the women and children daily.
Although there is a noun/verb disagreement, the way I was taught to read, this sentence sounds like we should:
a) stop all war,
b) kill our young adults, and
c) victumize women and children daily.
Although there is a noun/verb disagreement, the way I was taught to read, this sentence sounds like we should:
a) stop all war,
b) kill our young adults, and
c) victumize women and children daily.
that made sense though!
LOL
I like the cut and paste error by the way
victumize.
Always knew americans couldn't spell
victumise is n't it?
LOL
I like the cut and paste error by the way
victumize.
Always knew americans couldn't spell
victumise is n't it?
Remember we owe our survial, existance,and intelligence, to those from the past, 6 million years, who shared and preserved it for us all. One generation after another. Millions, died to make knowledge known to us all. This is a endearing statement of humiltiy, and I feel it very much now.
We, can see so far, because, We are standing on the shoulders of Giants.
We, can see so far, because, We are standing on the shoulders of Giants.
I have 2 degrees in technology, went to school in the 70's and 80's and I don't understand how my 15 year old daughter can blog and build My Space pages (which I have trouble with) yet she cannot do simple fractions with out a scientific calculator!!
We live in a high tax base area and my kids don't always have access to take home textbooks this is a tragedy I was just informed of this recently when she started failing some classes I asked her why and was informed that they cannot bring their books home!!! how can they study? After approximately 10 years of buying college books I know I cannot afford to buy her books every year. I have decided to enroll her in the states virtual university as a measure of help to help her to at least graduate. This makes me wonder just where tech upgrades and teztbooks rate in the school budgets and who really wins here????
We live in a high tax base area and my kids don't always have access to take home textbooks this is a tragedy I was just informed of this recently when she started failing some classes I asked her why and was informed that they cannot bring their books home!!! how can they study? After approximately 10 years of buying college books I know I cannot afford to buy her books every year. I have decided to enroll her in the states virtual university as a measure of help to help her to at least graduate. This makes me wonder just where tech upgrades and teztbooks rate in the school budgets and who really wins here????
... is in the tasting. "I don't understand how my 15 year old daughter can blog and build My Space pages ... yet she cannot do simple fractions"
There's your answer. A person can excel in one or the other, probably not both.
There's your answer. A person can excel in one or the other, probably not both.
If she was using excel she could do simple fractions in decimal 
That's the real change I could do simple fractions at ten years old.
Learnt that at school, when they used to teach you something that was useful for life as opposed to until the next release.
That's the real change I could do simple fractions at ten years old.
Learnt that at school, when they used to teach you something that was useful for life as opposed to until the next release.
That's "excel", not "Excel" !
Also, an excellent example of WHY people need to capitalize the things that need it and *only* the things that need it.
Also, an excellent example of WHY people need to capitalize the things that need it and *only* the things that need it.
Must be hard without a sense of humour.
Back to the main point aside from shocking ignorance how does being excellent at blogging and using myspace stop you from figuring out what a third of a quarter is?
We aren't talking euler functions and lebesque integrals here , this is as basic as tying your shoelaces.
Back to the main point aside from shocking ignorance how does being excellent at blogging and using myspace stop you from figuring out what a third of a quarter is?
We aren't talking euler functions and lebesque integrals here , this is as basic as tying your shoelaces.
She shouldn't need the calculator at all. At my school, I remember being tested on reducing fractions and decimal equivalents of fractions, with no calculator at all.
I had students in my electronics classes who could not convert 4/4 to 1, much less 1/4 to 0.25, without a calculator. Many didn't understand why the first week of class was spent refreshing them on algebra, and calculating relative power (logarithms) glazed their eyes over completely.
How do I spell "electronics?"
a-p-p-l-i-e-d m-a-t-h
edit: clarify
I had students in my electronics classes who could not convert 4/4 to 1, much less 1/4 to 0.25, without a calculator. Many didn't understand why the first week of class was spent refreshing them on algebra, and calculating relative power (logarithms) glazed their eyes over completely.
How do I spell "electronics?"
a-p-p-l-i-e-d m-a-t-h
edit: clarify
Even if they were they cost about two weeks wages for my dad.
Log tables now that sorts out the modern student of basic mathematics.
Disguise us as kids and put is in the modern day classroom, we'd be on tv as child prodigies.
This guy can work out 19 x 17 in his HEAD!
So is it ?
190 + 70 + 63
Or
340 - 17
Hold on, let me get my calculator.
P*sses me off !
Log tables now that sorts out the modern student of basic mathematics.
Disguise us as kids and put is in the modern day classroom, we'd be on tv as child prodigies.
This guy can work out 19 x 17 in his HEAD!
So is it ?
190 + 70 + 63
Or
340 - 17
Hold on, let me get my calculator.
P*sses me off !
But, its not as important as the 3 R's. Those are definitely more important and there should be greater emphasis on them. Good communication skills are becoming a lost art today.
then the body of the post calmed me down a little.
Students should not be allowed to use any more advanced technology than pencil and paper until they can demonstrate a firm grasp of the fundamentals. The only exception I would allow would be audio-visual reinforcement (i.e. Reader/Math Rabbit-type software) during the learning process.
Students should not be allowed to use any more advanced technology than pencil and paper until they can demonstrate a firm grasp of the fundamentals. The only exception I would allow would be audio-visual reinforcement (i.e. Reader/Math Rabbit-type software) during the learning process.
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