Computers in School is Wasted Money?

> Teaching would be an easy job

Have you ever taught? Doing a good job isn't easy. Regardless of how well behaved a class is.

HAHA - I wonder how long it would take schools to figure out that taking out a 20 year loan on a product that might last 5 years is a bad idea. Sure, computers are important, but figuring out how to use one is not all that difficult. Hell, most of what they teach in schools is how to work with applications, most of which will be outdated in a few years. If you want to teach computers, show students how to program - if you want to teach about nature, take the students outside.

I meant ratio...damn typewriter (j/k).

Tuna, trust me the ration of worthless bueracrats to computers is so high its staggering (at least in my limited experience, here in almost Hell West Virginia where the sun never shines and the banjo from deliverance keeps strummin' along). Note, if you just cut all the funding you might just get a decent tax cut there...but if we did that when you were in high school you'd be...well...a lot less fortunate (and there are only so many private schools...not enough for everyone even with that bizzare vouchers plan I keep hearing). Now I'm not saying I don't agree with you to an extent...computers in the school aren't vital. However, with all the *real* waste in the school systems (hey I can make a pretty good arguement for eliminating sports, band, and other stuff), I'm not too concerned about the computers. There are going to be a certain amount of computers in the schools anyway for administrative tasks...and a certain ammount for research purposes aren't a bad idea at all (infact, I have no problem with a computer lab in a school for some classes based around that...most high schools have like workshops, and keyboarding classes...it's not like there isn't any precedent for teaching job skills in school systems; and as keyboards (typewriters for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about) fade into obselesence (I know I mispelled that, I don't care...I si a smartee man prorgamerr) Computers can be handy for replacing them (they break a LOT...the typewriters I mean). I gotta go ICQ...be back later

Shit and here I thought the reason for having computers in schools was to teach kids how to use computers, since they will likely have to use them in their jobs, in one form or another, for the rest of their lives.

alrighty, time for my little take on this.

Our school has 4 computer labs, 1 lab has 286's (I think), one has p166's and the other two are fairly decent (333's maybe?). This is good, we have programming classes and I probably would never have got around to learning programming if it wasn't for these classes. The only problem I have is they also put one good computer in each class, no matter if it gets used or not. Most teachers don't even know how to turn on a computer and it just collects dust.

The computers do help education. I learnt to type fast in grade 9 due to computers in the class, I learnt how to type up good, professional documents (don't take this post as an example though heh) and am now learning c as well.

And the internet? Well.. I just use it to visit the shack when I'm done everything else. It's not as if our school pays for it though (or at least not much) since it's shared by the police station, fire department, town hall, etc.

Also, the reason so many students are animals now is because the teachers can't do much to them anymore, and they know that. I"m in all advanced classes so I don't have to deal with this much, assuming it's still a factor when you reach gr12. Maybe the students have matured a bit since then? maybe? .... well I haven't but anyways.

Teaches, if anything, should get paid less then what they currently do (in Canada, ON that is). Up here they are spoiled and don't know what a real job is. For the past 3 years they've striked and stopped all sports and etc. to try and get back at the government. All it's done though is ruin our time tables and shorten our vacations. I say fire all the teachers next time they try to strike (will be soon) and just put volunteers in (hell, even the military heh, not like they're doing much here anyways). If the teachers want to come back they can but otherwise they remained fired.

btw, my comp teacher is cool and knows what he's talking about. He even makes fun of daikatana with the rest of the class.

I've been at the same 2-12 school for a full nine-and-a-quarter years now, and I've been able to watch the integration of technology into the classroom over that time. Our school has unquestionably benefitted from the money spent on technology. The obvious benefits are four years of programming classes, computer apps classes, as well the advent of journalism classes that can actually produce a professional-looking product.

Beyond these, technology use drops off -- but it certainly isn't nonexistent! One of my favorite history teachers started two years ago to use CD-ROMs and the internet to share all sorts of primary sources and critical commentary with us. We got to see analyses of paintings on the classroom TV, new perspectives on the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, and explore the works of authors we discussed in the classroom. My Physics teacher used an interesting (if simplistic) program in one of the school's labs to show gravitational effects on projectiles and orbiting bodies. A French teacher used the computers to let us use a French version of "My Grandma and Me." They've certainly taken advantage of the computers we have... but at the same time they're really not being used to their full potential.

Unless computers are seamlessly integrated into the classroom, as a previous poster said (in the example about LCDs in the desks, etc.) they'll never be used to their full potential. As it is teachers must make a planned interruption to their class in order to go to another room and use the computer lab, in most cases. Realizing this, my school has stopped the practice of putting several computers in every classroom: instead, we have large labs of computers that can seat an entire class and are more than powerful enough for our needs (G3s, iMacs, and P-IIs). This way we can more than one class can use them, and every student, or at least every pair of students, gets to share a computer. But as I said above, the full potential of computers as learning tools can never be realized until a teacher can teach to a classroom full of students who are sitting in front of their own computers, using multimedia applications to understand scientific, historical, and rhetorical concepts. Imagine the potential of interactive science textbooks where media is integrated seamlessly into a lesson, and history textbooks that showcase paintings, photographs, and maps as the teacher discusses them. It's mind-boggling.

I swear, if I ever make a billion bucks, I'm putting it into a school like that.

J4NUS

Here's my take on American Education... Not that it means a whole lot :)

1) Computers in the classroom: Total waste of time and money. Computer skills? gimme a break, you think the teachers are qualified to teach them that? (I mean k-6, when the kids are all in one classroom). Internet access? what for? so they can learn to shop online?

2) Calculators in classroom: Stupidest idea ever. Teaches nothing except how to rely totally on a machine to do simple math. My children will never be allowed a calculator in class until they reach Algebra 1 and can prove to me that they can multiply up to 12x12 in their heads.

3) Overcrowded classrooms: Shouldn't be an issue. as long as they can hear the teacher they can learn. The real problem with large classes is that one teacher can't easily discipline 35+ kids at once.

4) The REAL problem with US schools?: The kids and to a large extent their parents. Have you seen some of these classrooms today (most of you are smart and are probably in advanced classes where kids are well behaved)? They're fucking animals, poorly behaved, no discipline, no attention span. In other countries when kids dont behave, they are simply not tolerated and sent away or punished severely. In America, if a kid is sent home with a "bad" note, ususally the parents complain to the principle/school board that their "precious little child" isn't being treated fairly and that the teacher is at fault for their child's problem.

5) teachers should make more money, but it's not really the answer either. I don't think raising the base salary of teachers will entice more "talented" people into the teaching pool. Teaching would be an easy job (with a 3 month vacation built in, lets not forget) if the kids acted appropriately.

Solutions: corporal punishment? possibly.... Accountablilty is better. the shit has to come down on the kids and parents if they misbehave and disrupt the classroom.

You know, this IS wasted money. They're pushing computers on everyone at my brother's school, and he STILL can't fucking type for shit. He types with his fuckin index fingers! At least teach the damn children some typing skills.

"Tell me, and I forget.
Teach me, and I remember.
Involve me, and I learn." - Ben Franklin


Every tool has the potential to be wasted...

chomp chomp

I type 50 wpm with my index fingers.. I never did learn to touch-type.

well, from my school, at least... a big resounding "duh" to the people who did this report.

it isn't going to raise test scores for thier math/science/english..but the most important part, is that they aren't going down. and the kids are gaining computer skills at all. I thought that was the whole point of putting the computers in the classrooms.

yes, my l33t high school had a couple of labs with macs in them ... they had a whopping 4mb of ram, woot! this was in 1998 :( absolutely pathetic imho - i never used them. The only people who ever used them were people who were inexplicably addicted to simcity 2000.

I think the comment that the money spent on computers should instead be spent on increasing teachers salaries was spot on. Or in the case of my old hs, the money should be used to hire good teachers after they fire all the assbags that "teach" there now.

hey anon@omega.stu.adelphia.net, are you in fl?

There three things I want to add to this descussion.

First I agree with many of you that a. computers are WAY under used in the classrooms that have them and b. that having good teachers and paying them well is VERY important.

Second I am pretty shure that computer skills was not one of the subjects being mesured by these tests. I don't know how educators and polititions can not see that in todays society computer skills are one of the most important things that our schools MUST provide for students.

Third a big part of the problem (of students not learning from computers) is that the software avalable for education os sooo dated and pourly developed that it is a. not effective and b. students don't WANT to use it. (Origon Trail and Where in X is Carmin SanDeago anyone??) And YES I plan on doing somthing about that!!

Computers in school aren't wasted money. Think of the people that don't have computers at home. Sure computers in school aren't going to improve their grades, but it can spark their interest in computers and give them the opportunity to gain some computer experience.

Anybody who thinks ploppin a kid in front of a computer will increase their grades is simply wrong. It's probably more LIKELY to help than TV, but really you're unlikely to see any difference between the two, from a grades standpoint. I mean, kids don't seek out the history channel, and they don't seek out educational web pages either.

ST: Voyager Elite force, has been ripped and released by MYTH

I spose that means it will be on shelves soon for people :)
(looked worth buying to be honest even for "light" trekkers)

Computers in Schools = Wasted Money.

Or at least in my case.

I grew up on an all Macintosh Environment :(

Computers don't help with learning if everytime that you search for information on anything useful, Net Nanny blocks it out because it has an offensive word in it's text: ASSume for example.

They use some crap like that at my brother's school. He doesn't even bother to use them.

And they say the only intellectual conversations on the 'Net ar at Slashdot...

-Rat
(Next on Opra: Women who love dogs, and the men who video taoe them.)

When i was at school, i would just fuck around with the quake 2 source code and play games, i guess it helped me learn c, but after a couple years of drugs i forgot it, now i work for the movie industry... i have wasted my life :(.

When I was a youngster, in grade school,(around '81-'82) they brought in a appleII to demo for the school. They let us keep it for a couple weeks to see how we liked it. I was fascinated by it, and would come in 2 hours early and leave 2 hours late so I could learn it. Without bosting, I can sy that my interest in the machine was a big influence on bringing computers into teh schools in my little town in wyoming years before anywhere else around there did.

You know what? Having libraries full of books isnt making these kids smarter either, so lets get rid of them. Having sports isnt improving test score, its about time we dropped that. to expensive anyway. Music and Drama? Please.

What a mixed up, backward place we live in that we now blame haveing computers in the class room for low test scores.

In my experience, the best way to get good test scores is to have GOOD TEACHERS AND PARENTS!!! And not just smart ones, ones that know how to motivate and inspire a student. And for god sake, pay them like they are more important then a burger king manager.

This study will change nothing about the placement of computers in classrooms. They are now a vital communication tool and almost a requirement. You could see a study that it causes aids in 1/100 of the classrooms and it still would be kept there....

How about we spend less money on computers so that the money goes to the teachers' salaries and building more schools so that the classroom size is less? That way teachers can have more attention on kids. Computers aren't really helping the kids in school, because all I see them do is play games on them or surf for enterntainment purposes. They just beat up the kids doing actual research on the computer.

mofo. (hmm...)

Bullshit. Kids are learning how to use computers. WHat more important skill is there? ;)

computers in schools are shit. I can honestly say that, with the SOLE exception of computer programming class, computers in school (they were in every classroom, dammit!) had nothing to do with me learning anything whatsover.

I think that who the computers really help are the teachers: almost all of my high school teachers do their grades on computers paid for by the school, and for things like newspaper and yearbook club. I cannot see how putting a pII-400 in an english or history class would do anything at all.

whenever there was a computer demonstration it would just be "okay don't pay attention" they did nothing.

Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die..

Heh I remember my Junior year in HS (It was 1997-1998) and our library just got new PCs.

Our school had one of those tech club thingies and they decided to install Quake in the tech club folders and a few of us guys got a few passwords and played Quake during our study hall every day. (around 5 of us) The teachers didnt care.. they were like "wow cool"

Then came my Senior year.. teachers found out more about the internet and got paranoid. We started to have Internet passes and if you didn't, you were punished.

I got banned off of the school PCs near the end of the year because one of my teachers ratted on me for searching homework without a pass.

I was like "wtf?"

Its funny how paranoid the school system is about the internet when they dont know all of it.

testing post damn it