Technology Today and Yesterday

A Computer Smarter Than Me?

Growing up, I would frequently sit back and listen to my Great Grandma tell stories of her life. Several were of the adventures that she went on and things that she encountered throughout her years. To this day, I still sit back and ponder on how much different her growing up was then mine is. So many items of technology that I take for granted, she never had the opportunity to possess. For instance, the microwave: so often when I want something to eat, I can easily pop it in the microwave to heat up. My grandma didn’t have the advantage that I have. She couldn’t run inside after playing with her friends and heat up pizza or whatever was in the refrigerator.

Technology has been advancing so fast over the past few years. This increase in advancement has required the people of today’s society to worry less on their personal skills and more on the things of the world. Instead of teaching our children thoroughly how to compute mathematic equations properly, they are learning the several functions of the calculator. What is more important? Yes, our children should know proper functions of the calculator, but by focusing more on using this tool of technology, they are losing their independency. They will have to depend more on the calculator instead of being able to compute these problems quickly by themselves. They are relying more on technology than themselves.

In the video, “Shift Happens”, it mentioned that students are being prepared for jobs that are not yet available or yet discovered. Students are being trained to work machines and equipment that are not yet developed. I understand the point of preparing students for their future. But not all students will be going into the same field, using the same instruments. So they are receiving unnecessary training. It is important for our children to know of the new technology and to have a basic introduction into what the invention is and what it does. But, why prepare for something that is not yet available?

George Carlin could not have discussed politician’s beliefs in education any better. They believe that it is the answer to everything. “We need more money for education, more books, more teachers, more classrooms, and more schools. We need more testing for the kids.” It doesn’t matter how much money is spent, how many teachers are hired, or how many classrooms or schools that are built. The importance of education is the quality of teachers. A teacher must be of great intelligence and is more worried about teaching a student rather than being a friend. Once a teacher becomes a friend to the students, then the information taught is not respected and cared on. In most schools, the test