Summary/Response "Computers and Technology"

Alex Head
Summary Response to “Computers and Technology”
Richard Ohmann in “Computers and Technology” argues against the notion that all schools from elementary to college need computers in their classroom in order to prosper. Although there is evidence that some schools are making educational progress like the high school in “Hundred, W. Va., [that] leapt across the digital divide and now rank ‘above national mean in every subject’”, Ohmann argues that “this movement is by no means triumphantly linear” (2). Ohmann points out that even though some schools are making progress it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t have to rely on internet and computer technology to raise grades, we should also look to traditional methods that we used to rely on.
Ohmann refers to how computers can be useful in finding information quickly and offering an easy and convenient way to communicate between students and teachers but in the classroom the computer usually backfires in producing the outcome schools are looking for. Students end up “tuning out their professors while they send e-mail messages” and students are online for many things but not usually academic research (3). Students are using the Internet in ways that are more detrimental to their learning than what the original purpose was. If they’re not spending their time “horsing around”, they’re finding ways to “plagiarize more effectively” than before (3). Bringing computers and technology into the classroom was supposed to better aid the students in furthering their education but so far it seems to be only hindering any sort of learning.
Teachers too are getting frustrated and fed up with computers and the technology in their classrooms. Too often teachers aren’t trained in this new era of teaching so when the computer crashes that has that days notes, the teacher has to rely on another method of getting through the day. Ohmann says that “there is little evidence so far of gains in student achievement owing to use of this technology” because it hasn’t been well integrated into the classrooms just yet (3). Inadequate training and understanding of how computers and technology can benefit a classroom have made it more of a stressful obstacle than a helpful guidance.
Ohmann’s argument seems to largely contradict the idea of having computers and technology in the classroom but he’s not saying it’s all detrimental to learning. He agrees that it can be very useful and helpful in a classroom to have the Internet at your fingertips for both the teacher and the students. Ohmann is pointing out that its just not necessary for all schools to rely so heavily on computers and technology to get their student’s standards to average or above average. Computers and technology should be used as an aid not as a crutch.