Reflection- Chapter 4

In the beginning of time, all education started in the home.  Families performed every task based on previous family experience.  There were no machines to do all labor like they are today.  Men and women worked in the farm fields to produce all that was needed.  However, time has evolved to a place where technology does half of the teaching of education to students everywhere.  Chapter 4 give four instances in history that led to the development of American Schooling.  The Printing Press, The Reformation, The American Revolution, and the Industrial Revolution all contributed to universal schooling coming into existence.  Out of all four, I believe that the Industrial Revolution was the most influential because it turned the focus from all evangelism to a necessity.  The choice for children was crime vs. education.  The integration to cities enhanced the crime rate.  Families then came to see education as a viable source for their children.  Universal education has been built on a basis that cannot be changed.  Technology can only go so far. The classroom setting will always be needed  in order for education to be taught in a effective manner.  Technology should be used as an asset to traditional teaching.  

Chapter 3 The Technology Skeptics' Arguement

This chapter talks about the history of technology use in schools - how people have been skeptical at each stage of development from the move from slate boards to paper,  from pencils to pens, and from typewriters to computers. Some individuals believed that these advancement were either too expensive or gave students an unfair advantage.

The chapter also talked about the introduction of more government funding helped to boost attendance and graduation rates but brought regulations as well.

-While paper and pen are still the dominant tools in the classroom, the writers mentioned that technology use is increasing in the areas of planning, budgeting, and presentations.

-The author noted that the structure of schools, physical and socially, limit the advancement of technology for students

-Reformers are pushing for more innovative approaches using social aspects to improve education.

-There are barriers to advancing technology in schools including cost and access, classroom management, what computers can't teach, challenges to instruction, authority, and teaching and assessment.

-The chapter contrast how people who want to push for more technology in education often do not understand how things actually work in the classroom.

- The opposite is also true, educators often do not understand technology.

- The overall theme of the chapter is the conflict between the believers in technology and educators in the classroom

-The author presents both sides of the argument.

Britan Dickey

Chapter 1 How Education is Changing

Education is changing and so is technology. Technology changes everyday which requires education to also change. The chapter begins by discussing how technology has made a great impact in people's lives. Technology is very beneficial in that it is used as an educational tool. For example, in one of the stories told a boy dropped out of high school but he still took online courses to get various accredit ions from Microsoft and Cisco. He was successful in that, and this enabled him to get a job in the programming department of a large bank. People everywhere are driving their education out of schools into their homes, workplaces, and etc.. which allows them to decide what they want to learn, when they want to learn, and how they want to learn. Technology has changed so that people of all ages can pursue learning on their own terms. On the downside, public schools are facing a crisis because the public is demanding higher standards with policies that limit the the different learning opportunities. The best teachers are also leaving high poverty schools because they can make more money and respect in different districts. A new education system is forming with a variety of new learning alternatives. We are now going through an Information Revolution or Knowledge Revolution.This Revolution is fueled by personal computers, Internet, and cell phones. Occupations have changed dramatically because of the Revolution. Such as, the job of a farmer has changed from plowing and harvesting to them operating machinery and marketing their goods. "The computerization of work puts a premium on skills of accessing, evaluating, and synthesizing information (pg. 5;Ch.1; Rethinking Education)." I believe that modern technologies have been changing but this is a positive advancement. Computers guide people in the workplace and train them. Although schools have not necessarily adapted to the change of technologies and have kept to the digital technologies, I believe, as a future business technology teacher, that I will be teaching about these new technologies. I do think the way students learn is changing but I do not think this will have a negative impact on society. Technologies will create more opportunities and by teaching about them and having students interact with them, I believe that this will lead them to a great career early on.
-Chelsea Lucas

Reflection - Chapter 2

The Technology Enthusiasts' Argument

I thoroughly agree with the technology enthusiasts of how the world and technology is changing at a rapid pace.  There must be a parallel pace in educating and learning the realms of new technologies, and in order for those who or unfamiliar with new technology to learn, there must be an interest.  Interest in certain subjects will drive most people to learn and become effective in that area.  How can schools incorporate new technology without overwhelming the classroom? Today, new technology in classrooms seem to be welcomed with no reservations because many individuals are desiring change and learn at their own pace. As  discussed in Chapter 1, some individuals became boring with the routine of a classroom and decided to venture out to other venues to enhance their knowledge in what they were passionate about.

The abounding growth of technology, in many ways enhance our abilities to excel on our jobs, in our schools, in our everyday living, as well as communicating across the globe.  Many social medias such as facebook, twitter, instagram and etc, have allowed us to connect with friends and befriend people from around the world, but as you may know, it also have its negative implications.  How we use technology depends highly on the user.   Computers were designed to enhance the thinking capacity of an individual not to think solely for us, but you may find a vast majority who rely exclusively on the computer.  Is technology enhancing thinking capacity or in essence will it replace man’s thinking capacity? There is a fine line between enhancing or replacing the thinking capacity of an individual?


Technology has changed the way we interact with people on a daily basis.  I’ve noticed that we may text or email, instead of having a face to face meeting, in other words we loose a sense of personal interaction.  What will the world be like if we became a set of impersonal beings? Technology allows an individual to modify his/her life to fit personal preference.  Teachers who possess a revolutionary mindset often find it easier to incorporate modern technology in the classroom to get children involved. In conclusion of Chapter two, modern technology breaks to concept of routine and boredom in the classroom, which will cause students to develop an interest to learn effectively.

Reflection's by Amelia Mosley