Too "high-tech" you say?!?!

http://www.mercurynews.com/community/ci_9034769?nclick_check=1&forced=true

Everyone has an opinion about the way that schools should be run and how subjects should be taught. Using relevant technology and updates in our teaching methods could only benefit the student. I have used both ways of learning, the traditional textbook way that most students resent and the modern computer way, which is exciting ever changing and allows for unfound creativity. Not only would we as students not be able to access more relevant and current information every single day with individual laptops at school, but once a school spends the initial expense of purchasing a good class set of laptops, the cost is fixed. When a teacher assigns a research project a student has a few options. If a student reads a book in the library like every other student in the past had and every student in the present class will, well, there is only a few amount of books. The information may be biased, over used and not very broad. Not only that, what does the student do when all the other books are checked out. The Internet offers a convenient and valuable portal into the past worlds of some of the most heroic men and women on earth. While learning about one great person anyone could accidentally stumble upon someone they will admire even more. All computers do in the classroom is give students and teachers more convenient, efficient, effective, creative and useful learning tools. As long as a student is watched and it is insured that they are using their computer for the assignment then it is hard to find a downside. Information is constantly changing and so is the Internet and computer programs. Getting young adults comfortable with change in their learning patterns will only make them more flexible people in the future. It is easy to ask for help and work together when we can all share information on the computer and the best way to learn social skills is while working in groups. Though it can be argued that computers make students less social, I think that is a personality trait that would have been expressed with or without technology as an excuse. Like the expression says, don't shoot the messenger, it seems like everyone is looking for something to blame on lax education and school policy, low test scores and lack of motivation in the youth. It is more depressing for a group of young individuals to walk into a classroom open their books to chapter 13 and continue on with the same drills as yesterday's math problems. When I walk into my math class I am applying math to childhood games and using computers to design brochures and communicate with my partner. I eliminate the stress of wondering if my printer at home is working when I have a huge paper due because I know I can always use the schools set. Their is something inspirational about walking into a room and feeling comfortable and at home and knowing I can express myself any way I want. That has never happened to me in a classroom before I came to High Tech High International and i truly believe the environment and the relationships are what make me feel that way.