Overview:

In his article "The Overdominance of Computers," Lowell W. Monke suggests that the presence of computers in schools be reconsidered on the basis that inner resources like morality and insight should be developed before technological skills are taught.

Monke's argument focuses on his ideas that morality and knowing one's position in the world as a human being amongst human beings is a crucial foundation to build before giving students the immense power to impact the world through and with technology. He suggests that technology integration enters the curriculum in the last two years of high school. By this age, Monke believes that the moral framework would be ready to support the responsibilities and possibilities that students need to put technology to use that might actually benefit the world.

Plus, Monke points out that teaching grade school kids technology that will be long obsolete before they enter the adult world is a waste of time--time that could be spent humanizing students.


Reference Points:

• Computers are powerful tools that can do great harm to individuals and groups of people.
• There is not any hard data that suggests computers raise achievement--rather, the opposite might even be true.
• "It is the lack of qualities like hope, compassion, trust, respect, and sense of belonging, moral judgement, community support, parental care, and teacher competence and enthusiasm that keeps so many students imprisoned in ignorance."
• 2003 percentages of student tech use: High school 97%; Middle school 95%; Grade school 91%; Kindergarten 80%; Nursery School 67%

Reflection:

Overall, I agree with Monke's assertions concerning technology use in schools. I was shocked by the statistics showing percentages of technology use by nursery school and kindergarten students as being so high. I think Monke's stance against teaching technology which will be completely obsolete by the time the students are adults is relevent.

More importantly, I believe that the moral framework should be focused on in the earlier years of school. Honesty, integrity, compassion, and HOPE, are all far more important traits to have compared with typing, researching, or creating powerpoints.