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Thread ID: 58754	2005-06-11 03:59:00	Computers in Schools: Bad, Not So Bad, or Mostly Good?	Strommer (42)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
362943	2005-06-11 11:44:00	Theres a post in another forum from a teacher at what she says is a low decile school in Akld and she wants to know where she can get 6 or so free PCs. Total waste of time in my opinion. Its become trendy to have them. Anything she's likely to get free will be a piece of *^%$$#. And then require continual free support no doubt. For what? Most kids pick up how to download dodgy files and browse for porn with no help at all from an adult.	pctek (84)
362944	2005-06-11 12:14:00	The research is summarized in this month's PC Authority magazine. Thanks Graham. I remember now, standing in Books n More, reading PC Authority, :) but did not purchase it.	Strommer (42)
362945	2005-06-11 12:27:00	Computers: More Harm Than Good from here (firstclass.wellesley.edu) : Efforts to close the digital divide between upper and lower income students may have actually been weakened by the introduction of computers. Some school libraries have been replaced by computer labs, yet the effect that computers have on a student’s education is unknown and could possibly have a negative impact on the learning process. Research has found computers to be detrimental in closing the reading gap between low and high-income children. Students were observed doing activities on computers that contained little educational value (Neuman & Celano, 2004). Also children in low-income communities tended to be less confident in reading. Instead of using computers as a tool to strengthen reading skills, these children used them in non-academic ways. Unfortunately computers are not improving the students’ education, yet are still consuming the majority of funding from schools already over budget. Research suggests computers have limited impact on pupils' achievement full article here (www.literacytrust.org.uk) The assumption that ever-greater use of ICT in schools boosts standards has been challenged by research published by the Royal Economic Society. In its report, Computers and Student Learning, it said, "Computers in the classroom have no discernable positive effect on children's educational performance while computers at home could be actually detrimental. "It appears that computers at home are not exactly used for running education software, mining the internet for useful data or composing better homework assignments, all things that would have a positive impact on performance, but rather for playing games, chatting and otherwise providing entertainment." Does introducing children to computers too early do more harm than good? Dr Jane Healy, an American educational psychologist, and author of Failure to Connect: How Computers Affect our Children's Minds and What we Can Do About It. After two years of researching the use of computers in the classroom and at home, she concluded that they probably did more harm than good: "Small children would be better off playing with the box the computer came in and making a playhouse out of it than playing with the computer," she says. See also: British Journal of Educational Technology here (www.ingentaconnect.com)	Strommer (42)
362946	2005-06-11 12:40:00	I must say, I am rather pleased with myself that I did not become computer-literate til' age 14 or so . . . It is the ample lot of spare time that I have in NZ that makes me more IT-conscious and learn more about this wonderful machine . I still remember whenever I stumble upon a computer question, I always sent an email to Don McAllister, the person responsible for IT section in NZ Herald . Kindly enough, he always reply to my questions without grumbling (or so have I thought) . Many thanks to my parents for bringing me over here! :thumbs: Cheers :)	Renmoo (66)
362947	2005-06-12 00:33:00	I am mortally offended :angry :annoyed: :yuck: :groan: The computer has been the way for me to develop my intelligence and has also stopped me from becoming one of the hoboe types that just walk around the grounds talking about negative things and not getting involved in school actvities . Computers are one of my hobbies but i can tell i am not addicted to them because i can go up to several weeks without computer usage (Thats why i didnt post a PF1 for a while) . Computers if used with sensibility are fun and can be very educational .	techiekid (7219)
362948	2005-06-12 00:38:00	Basicly, kids are leaving school without the ability to do simple arithmetic or to spell somewhere near correctly. It's my opinion that calculators and computers should be banned from all primary schools. Children must be taught the basics before all else. Just to make a point i have a fifteen year old spelling age even though my cronological age is only 11 also i have a 15 yr old reading age and a 13ish math age (note: i actually gained most of this knowledge from the computer) No Offence intenced	techiekid (7219)
362949	2005-06-12 02:30:00	TechieKid, you appear to be the exception. Congratulations. However, the research still stands as valid.	Strommer (42)
362950	2005-06-12 03:33:00	TechieKid, you appear to be the exception. Congratulations. However, the research still stands as valid. Yeah Probably :rolleyes: :lol: :lol: :cool:	techiekid (7219)
362951	2005-06-12 09:34:00	I taught some computer night classes in a school for a couple of years. One lab was definitely to be avoided. The computers were full of spyware etc and you could never guarantee that enough of them would actually turn on and work. Computers in schools - particularly those used by 16 year old males - need close supervision.	Mercury (1316)
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