06th May 2007
pretty cool
I just sent my first letter to the NYTimes op-ed page, which I guess is a kinda cool thing. First, it makes me feel like I stood up for something and second, what if they printed it? That would be really cool…. It was about an article on laptops in schools, which was the usual soundbites from superintendents but this time that they were going to take the laptops out because the kids were IMing and cheating. Duh. We have to teach *how* to use the technology effectively, and put classes and programs in place that engage students rather than giving them the opportunity to cheat and screw around. As cliched as it sounds, they are just cheating themselves out of opportunities to learn and participate that they might not get again. Too much of technology use in schools is still Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing software, the bane of every substitute teacher who ever stood in for a computer teacher. Trust me, I know from experience….
way cool that you wrote the editorial. i was bent by the same article. it’s like saying let’s take away the pens/pencils and paper because the kids doodle and write notes to each other.
Funny, that’s just what Chris and I were IM’ing to each other — no more pencils, no more paper for you kids until you learn how to use them wisely…. Couldn’t you just see that? Yikes!