PRO’S AND CON’S OF COMPUTERS IN THE CLASSROOM BY: SARAH STAMM, KODY SEXTON, CHSELA BUOYE

CON’S: OUR PERSONAL OPINIONS Sarah’s: In school: Playing risk with Mr. K, first day English 4 honors, first school computer. You tell kids to do a research paper then take them to the lab they only google. Then you yell when it’s not academic or if they’ve copied and pasted. If they have a computer they will be on facebook. Its isolated and kids don’t get proper social skills

CON’S: TEACHER’S VIEW. Not knowing how to use it wastes time and trouble Having to waste time to move the class to a computer lab and then they still might not have their information by the end of the period Teachers become frustrated and tense, especially if older and have no idea how to use computers, there is no support for teachers and staff “challenging problems for teachers because the role of the teacher changes from one of traditional lecturer to facilitator” -McNierney If there is going to be some form of technology it needs to be worth the time “I can’t believe what is happening to my department. Nobody looks up anymore when you enter the room. They are looking at their computers because they are checking , working on papers or doing research. The whole camaraderie is gone. The computer has taken away the social aspects of our interaction.” – Mary Expected to know it on your own. It’s a history or math class they can’t waste time teaching computer Loose an entire day of teaching if electrical problem George Washington’s birthday didn’t change just because we can now look it up on the internet instead of a book (personal not article thought).

CHELSEA’S CONS 3 main areas: Other students Communication Entertainment 1/4 th of students reported they spent over 50% of their time sending IM’s to friends 43% of students agree they would perform better during a lecture without the internet as a distraction

PRO’S: OUR PERSONAL OPINIONS Sarah’s Typing skills are needed today. Knowing how to work the basics of a computer as well Chelsea’s I believe computers should be allowed in the classroom. Computers are part of the 21st century and are a part of every day life for most people

PRO’S: IT PROMOTES TEAMWORK NOT ISOLATION, AND BRINGS CLASSROOMS INTO THE 21’S CENTURY If you have the money to get cameras and computers it’s good They had to work together, photographer ect each having their own job for the web page so being on the computer all day is interactive, where most teachers think computer=isolation Don’t let them passively skim web pages but actively use the internet. Take what you learn and put it on the internet for all “Most importantly, it solves the dilemma of having students in the classroom working alone and having no opportunity to develop the twenty- first-century skills needed for citizenship in our democracy.” - Scheuerell

CHELSEA’S PROS 5 main areas: Note-taking Academic activities Access to resources Academic success communication

WORKS CITED McNierney, D. J. (2004). One Teacher's Odyssey through Resistance and Fear. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 48(5), 66-71,. Retrieved from EBSCOhost Scheuerell, S. (2010). Virtual Warrensburg: Using Cooperative Learning and the Internet in the Social Studies Classroom. Social Studies, 101(5), Retrieved from EBSCOhost