Teachnology Incorporated into School

Modern computers and technology are changing the way people learn for the better.

Computers are changing the way people learn. According to Richard Ohmann, author of “Computers and Technology”, schools New Jersey are very technologically up-to-date. When they became ‘wired’, “NJ went from failure and a threatened state takeover to the highest scores of any New Jersey city on state tests” (2). Obviously, there’s something about technology and “getting wired” that schools need to pay attention to and act on.

According to David Williamson Shaffer et al in “Video Games and the Future of Learning”, video games “give a glimpse of how we might create new and more powerful ways to learn in schools, Communities and workplaces” (3). Online video games enable players to interact with people from around the world on goals they actually care about. This is a valuable skill to that students should be required to learn and should therefore be incorporated into schools curriculums. As stated by Shaffer, “School is increasingly seen as irrelevant by many students past the primary grades” (10). If kids play these life-simulating video games, then they will become more interested in school and will also learn the very valuable and often overlooked skills needed to succeed in life. Some of these ever-important skills are “integrat[ed] thinking, social interaction, and technology (3).

Although technology has, and will be, a great aid for helping students learn, there are some downsides to consider. Shaffer states that “Teachers and good school leader fight for new technologies and new practices” but they don’t always get it (10). Technology is expensive to keep up with and many schools would rather spend the money on other things. Also, there is always the risk of technology distracting students when they are supposed to be working on schoolwork. In Ohmann’s article, he mentions that “students are tuning out their professor while they send their e-mail messages… and otherwise multitask their way through their [degree]” (3). But distractions in school are nothing new. Students will always be distracted by something, whether it be doodles on the side of their paper, passing notes, making faces at their peers, and so on. Teachers have learned to deal with these distractions, and the internet will be no exception.

I believe that even though these downfalls seem a little overwhelming, the positive effects of learning through technology will outweigh the negatives. Students will learn first hand how the real world as an adult works. Video games simulate real-world situations so that when the students are actually faced with life, they will have already had a little experience and will learn to be more confident. Students can discover new identities that could possibly lead them to decide what they want to do with their lives.

The Summary of the Decade :D

In "Computers and Technology"by Richard Ohmann, he explains how computers are becoming a huge part of the education system. He says this is a good thing, considering computers are used in the work world, so students will have already been exposed to it in school. Computers help kids in school perform better. Although there are some downfalls to having computers in the classroom, such as students being distracted by email and online social communities, all in all, computers in the classroom have, and will continue to improve the quality of learning in school.

thesis and outline

Thesis: Computers in the modern day are changing the way people learn and perhaps learn to adapt to the "real world" more quickly.

Outline:

Citing: “Who Needs Computers?” and “Computers and Technology"

Online Courses/schooling:
-Changing the way people learn
-Schools becoming more "wired"
-Better test scores in NJ
-But, the downside of using technology in school
-Why positives outweigh the negatives in using technology in school

-How online video games simulate real world situations
-Presidential elections
-"Exploring new identities"
-Being a part of a global community
-helps kids to be more aware of how adult life as an adult works

Fast Food Fatty Lawsuits Legit? You Decide

In David Zinczonko’s “Don’t Blame the Eater”, he believes that many people suffering from obesity due to consuming excessive amounts of high-fat fast food are people who cannot afford to buy higher quality foods. People like young children from low-income households, high school students, and college students who have little time to work a full time job, let alone having one that pays more than minimum wage. He also argues that anyone can take a ride down a typical American street and find a fast food joint without any effort, but if you wanted to find something healthy for the same price, you’d run into difficulty. But I question that claim. There are some healthy options that are affordable to low-income individuals and families. Rice is very healthy and one cup helps to fulfill the daily requirement for children. Rice can also be bought in bulk, which helps to minimize the overall cost per pound. Bananas are an excellent source of energy for the price and grapes are high in fiber and vitamin C. There are plenty of other choices at bulk food stores or even at your local grocery store, it just takes a little more effort to find them. One thing is for sure, these cheap foods will not make you pack on the pounds nearly as much as a McDonald’s Big Mac will. Happy eating!

In David Zinczonko’s “Don’t Blame the Eater”, he claims that fast food chains should take responsibility for making people obese. He supports by saying that these restaurants do not provide sufficient nutritional information in order for the consumer to make well-informed decisions on what they should and should not put in their bellies. Did these consumers expect that eating two meals at McDonald’s was going to make them as fit as Michael Jordan? No matter how misinformed America is about fast food nutrition information, it takes a large deal of denial to believe that fast food joints are solely responsible. McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants market and advertise their products like any other company—to make as large of a profit as possible. But no matter how many L.A. Tan advertisements we hear on the radio, we do not expect people to blame tanning salons for making them look 20 years older when they are the ones who chose to go tanning 4 times per week. What makes eating too many McDonald’s Big Mac’s any different?

Tinky Winky... gay?

In the article "Gay Tinky Winky Bad for Children", the author quotes from many people from differing standpoints on the issue. It starts by saying that the Reverend Jerry Falwell does not approve of the Television show. He claims Tinky Winky serves as a poor role model for young children simply because he is gay. The article then goes on to explain Falwell's point of view and how he might feel that way. At the end of the article, the author includes opposing arguments who say that just because he acts gay doesn't mean he really is. Other quotations point out that overall, Tinky Winky is a sweet-hearted character and had no intentions of doing any children harm. The author obviously wanted to show both sides of the argument to allow the reader to make a decision for themselves. The author most likely knew that he couldn't change the readers' values, but he could make them more informed on the subject.

In the second argument about Tinky Winky being gay entitled "Crabmommy, is Tinky Winky Gay?", the author does not seem to support themselves with an effective "they say" argument. The author simply blames Polish people for being "conservative" and goes on to state their own opinions on the subject. Other people made comments about their own opinions on the subject, but no one clearly cites what "they say". This was more of a conversational forum than anything else. In effect, the ending result is a disorganized cluster of opinions without any clear, legitimate references to what anyone else has said on the topic.