Disadvantages of computers in the classroom
To begin with, the most important fact to note is that the computer is a tool, and as with any educational tool, from books to crayons, it can be used to enhance the curriculum and promote learning, but it can also be misused and abused. . In this essay, I will discuss the disadvantages of having computers in classrooms due to the misuse and abuse of this tool.
I had a hard time finding research that has been done on this topic because not only is research on the effectiveness of computers in the classroom scant, but what research does exist is often done by software companies and therefore can be biased (Emmans 2001). Although there is no clear answer to the question of whether a computer is friend or foe in the classroom, having an unresolved question of whether it is good or bad brings up many problems.
For example, the fact that much of the software designed for children is attractive to them. If nothing else, it at least holds the kids’ attention. Although this may seem like a positive trait, consider this, just because a TV show grabs your attention, does it necessarily educate you? The answer to this is simple, maybe some do but certainly not all, most are just plain entertaining. This makes me raise an eyebrow at some, not all, programs. As a teacher, one should not use time fillers, because a child can watch TV or play on a computer at home, but as a teacher, we should educate, and if there is no educational value in software, what good is it? for a teacher?
In defense of teachers, another reason why computers are a deficiency is that sometimes the software is not obvious that it is not educational. This can be a common mistake of any educator, to be fooled into thinking that a product can be educational when it is simply entertainment software dressed in an educational guise aimed at these gullible teachers.
According to Cindy C. Emmans (2001), Professor of Educational Technology at Central Washington University, about software in the classroom…
“Often feedback is the key to learning, and computers are attractive because this feedback can be immediate, which of course is a very effective learning tool. Unfortunately, this feedback is often not as effective as it could be.” be, perhaps because it is not easy to go back to the original question to try again, or the student must start from the beginning to review the original content instead of going back a step or two. wrong answers is more engaging than correct answers, making students try to get the wrong answer simply for entertainment value.”
Gerald W. Bracey sums it up nicely in a magazine article called Principal by basically saying that all the bells and whistles are there, but the education isn’t, because it wasn’t produced by someone who understands how children learn. (1996, p. 6).
More arguments in the area of research continued in September 2000, the Alliance for Children published a statement against the use of computers in schools. More than 85 experts in various fields, including psychiatry, education and philosophy, signed the statement calling for the promotion of the introduction of computers in the country’s primary schools to be suspended until there is a more careful evaluation of their effect (Hafner, 2000). Another influence opposing computers in the classroom is Jane Healy, an educational psychologist and author of “Failure to Connect,” a book critical of educational applications of computers. Thomas Crampton interviewed Ms. Healy and she stated that computers “can harm children’s personal skills, work habits, concentration, motivation (and) the development of social skills” (IHT, October 2000, p.19).
Another reason that classroom computers would prove to be a disadvantage is the availability of classroom computers for each individual student. It is rare to find a school that, in every classroom, has a computer provided for every student. This brings up the problem of scheduling and rotating students to available computers. (You have 2001) This starts a whole new ball game where you are now consuming a lot of time that could be used for more productive measures instead of scheduling computer time for each student. If this is the case, and only a specific number of students can be on the computer at one time, then you are dividing your classroom and not integrating it, as it should be. This causes many difficulties in teaching whole group instruction, leading to problems in skill development as some students lack attention. (Tienne 2001).
On the Colorado State Education website (2003), I was able to find questions teachers were asked regarding the computers in their classrooms. Teachers were asked, “What do you find unattractive about teaching in a computer classroom?” One teacher commented that “students tend to come with their printouts at the beginning of class instead of coming to class with a hard copy…” Another teacher said, “Tech difficulties, your entire lesson could be thrown away for the day if the computer crashed. When teachers were asked about the difficulties they face with themselves and with students due to computers in the classroom, they replied, “It’s hard to get students’ attention when they’re on computers.” Another teacher commented, “There are times when I send them to work and instead they are interacting with each other.” Another teacher expressed her fear of the computer room saying that “students are on their own screens, they are in their own little world and they are not talking to their classmates, sometimes I think they don’t even know half the names of all the people in your class. (Barnes 2003)
I feel like the feedback from these teachers is very important when looking at the topic of computers in the classroom, because these are the people who actually interact with the kids in the classroom, they’re not just a random research study done by a computer company. software, these people are real, and they see how computers are affecting their classrooms.
Another problem of computers in the classroom concerns the health of the child. If a child was working on a computer for a long time or with a wrong position, it would inadvertently obstruct her own health, some of the problems caused by this include musculoskeletal injuries and vision problems. (MacArthur and Shneiderman, 1986).
Another problem related to the use of the computer in the classroom is that many teachers have not been trained to use a computer and many do not know how to do it. Teachers would have to spend an enormous amount of time learning both computer hardware and software. They would also need time to collaborate with other teachers. Time is something many teachers spend planning weekly lessons and events in their classroom. The other problem just mentioned is the training of teachers. Some educators do not have local training options available to them. Some don’t have the time or money to spend on it. Another problem is that even if a teacher is trained, there are always unsuspected things that can go wrong with a computer. If a teacher had to base his entire lesson on one computer, and it crashed, and the teacher had minimal computer skills, he wouldn’t be able to fix the system so he could continue with his lesson. (He’s 2001) So a tech expert would be needed on site at all times in the event of any of these occurrences and frankly I don’t think there are too many school districts looking for another expense.
Another reason why computers are a disadvantage in the classroom is that if the computer has Internet access, if this is the case, then children may be exposed to Internet content that is not appropriate for their age level . They may also be exposed to child predators, which is a huge concern in today’s world.
Although this may seem exaggerated, it really is not in an article posted on the gurdian angel website in 2000 states,
“The facts are clear. Children are being targeted, solicited and victimized by pedophiles. What do ratios or statistics matter? Isn’t it too much? These predators range from the naive closet pedophile who has emerged because he believes they are safely behind your account alias, for the highly organized and skilled child pornography rings operating efficiently outside the US territory, behind quick-discard websites and anonymous forwarders, promoting their products Horrible for big profits.Bossed or kidnapped in your hometown?Don’t you teach your kids to be on the lookout for certain things and not to talk or go anywhere with strangers just for that reason?This is our point.So Just as there are real-world lessons that you teach your children, there is a need to teach them cyber-world lessons.” (Hook, 2000).
In a nutshell, are you sure your child is being closely watched when accessing the Internet at school? It sure would be difficult for a teacher to keep a close eye on each individual student in the classroom when everyone is accessing the internet at the same time. So, are you, as a parent or teacher, really sure that a computer is necessary for learning at school? I mean, didn’t you, the parent or the teacher, learn in school without the computer? I agree that learning the latest technology is a must, but I disagree with using computers for classes like math or reading.
To sum it all up, Computers in the Classroom lacks research that it is an advantage in the classroom. Computers in the classroom may not provide students with the proper education they need if the software being used is not appropriate. Depending on the school, computers may not be available to every student. Students’ attention is harder to get when they are on the computer. A teacher without technology experience can cause a lot of problems in the classroom, consuming valuable time that could be used for teaching. Most schools do not provide an on-site technician in case a difficulty arises. Children’s health can be affected by long-term use of computers, and probably the most frightening is that these children can be exposed to child predators and inappropriate unfiltered content via the web while at school and in their classrooms they are supposed to be receiving their education.