The Edweek Exchange
Got something to say? We know you do. That's why we post a TalkBack online discussion forum with at least one commentary in every issue of Education Week. We're also planning to let readers post comments to all Education Week articles. We want to know what interests our readers, and we consider TalkBack one gauge of popular interest. But maybe it's not a good yardstick. Maybe you don't have time to participate even if the topic does interest you. Maybe the people who post responses are only those who like to hear themselves talk (or type...).
As we've mentioned before, we're working to add even more multimedia storytelling to the site-via podcasts, photogalleries, and audio segments. Besides reading and watching education news, talking about educational issues with other readers may be even more productive. Our online chats give you a chance to send questions to featured guests, including policy wonks, researchers, educators and members of the media, and read their answers live or in our chat transcripts. We hope that our "In Other News" blog will give you an enticing taste of some of the slightly offbeat stories and goings-on we may not include in our regular coverage. TalkBacks provide the opportunity to discuss issues with other readers. Comments on every article would expand on this, giving you the chance to respond to any article you wanted. Would this be helpful? Or just distracting? We're curious.
Some people say technology is creating a more isolated world where every interaction is separated by two monitors, a keyboard, a mouse, a video screen. This type of removed conversation may be instantaneous, critics say, but it's less meaningful, less personal. Plus, who can resist the smell of fresh newsprint, the definitive turning of a page, the rustle of a creased paper, the safe place to rest your coffee mug on your desk or kitchen table? We know it's hard to compete with old faithful, The Printed Word. But, the way we see it, we're not competing, we're enhancing. Edweek.org is your touchstone, your town square, a place to voice your opinions and meet with the rest of the education community. So enjoy your weekly fill of education news with paper in hand. But, when you're done, stop by for some conversation. Raise your hand, pass a note, talkback.
And thanks for dropping by.
Rebekah Lewis
Online Producer
Edweek.org
Comments
"...Technology and Creating Isolation..."
A generation ago we blamed television for the lack of motivation in students. Today, we as educators, continue to blame television,computer games, and the solid focus on Standardized Testing on the school's rate of performance.
The reality is that we, as educators, tend to focus too much on the standardized test scores and very little on the student as a unique individual of diversity. Focus has had a tremendous tendency to slip away when it comes to the beneficial activites that stimulate creativity of their mind. All of us want our students to do their ultimate best on testing, however, we let the test and the use of computers; although stimulatulation of the computer is helpful for some, and the art of learning how to critically think does not receive the benefits of a student's use of their mind.Benjamin Franklin would have never discovered electricity if he did not have the inginuity to fly a kite with a key on its tail.
Reading, writing, and mathematics are essentials (along with learning a foreign language)in life. Students need time to think, to be challenged, and most of all learn how to think.
As educators, I feel it is our responsibility to be accountable. Developing imaginations, diversity to problem solving, encourage critical thinking and teach them the importance of diversity in cultures that surround us every day. As generations after us graduate, their potential is come down to meet the "staus quo" just to get by and make ends meet.
Appropriate use of time management, in the classrrom, for learning the use of computers, having the knowledge base to critically think about what was taught to pass the Standard of Learning Tests (without making it a primary focus in curriculum), and having the knowledge and ability to still use their imagination through creativity will help to nurture our students and help enhance enrollment.
For these reasons, I feel that there is power in the "Printed Word" and less power in the over kill of computer use in our school systems.
Posted by: Donna L. Klos/Educator | November 7, 2006 3:53 PM