This last year in one of our professional development sessions we were introduced to a new software product that is supposed to help teach students to do research, organize their thoughts and write well. It relies on a program that gives them a choice of several templets to work with. They are supposed to be writing a newsletter on a topic. The software takes what they write and fits it into the predesigned spaces. Cool. If they quote something (cut and paste) the are supposed to give citations for what they share. We used to call this copying and bibliography.
With modern technology they don’t even need to type the material in. As I said, cut and paste. They don’t need to learn how and why do do a bibliography. All they do is chose which one they want to use and the computer does the work. Cool. Stupid.
I have read opinions about the world of news and the word I get is that soon they will have software that will take an AP story and rewrite it for the local market, no human need be involved. I imagine if that doesn’t work they will have boilerplate with blanks to be filled in.
Is this leading in the direction of thinking and communicating or is it training a bunch of low level, underachievers? I think you know how I feel about it. We are not training leaders we are conditioning drones.
They want teachers who work that way also. I have always wondered why we need to spend so much time on things like the Common Core Standards (CCC). One of the reasons is that the teachers don’t know enough about the subject to teach it without the crutches. When I came into education you could give me the text book, give me a rough idea of what you wanted me to cover and I could do the rest. Now it seems like the teachers need their hands held each step of the way.
How about getting some people who know their subject, enjoy young people and are willing to work and turn them loose. What are we afraid of? Are we worried that the kids might learn to think instead of follow the company line?
homo unius libri
Dumbed down and stupid is much more easily controlled than smart and informed. If our society ever has to start thinking for itself again, we are in deep trouble.
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly the reason that the socialists have taken control of education. I have a friend who taught 4th grade in Nevada. He told me that they did not teach history in 4th grade. The emphasis was Language Arts and Math with an occasional nod to science.
DeleteGrace and peace.
"Company line" - I believe that's called hitting the nail on the head.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is so common today whether it is religion, politics or education.
DeleteGrace and peace.