To put computers in schools seems to be the right thing to do. It is done in the belief that these computers will enhance teaching and learning.
What are the chances that this belief will become a reality? Or are we so blinded by the vision that we are not able to see the reality?
The minister of education wants to give notebook computers to all teachers – what realistic effects can one expect?
Computers are put in schools with the expectation that they will be embraced by teachers to improve teaching and learning – what does experience show?
There is a view that if a school is connected to the internet, light bulbs will go on in the minds of all the learners and that they will suddenly blossom academically – how much substance is there in this notion?
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The expression “to bury one’s head in the sand” originated in the belief that ostriches hide their heads in the sand or bushes when faced with attack by predators.
This is a myth. It is true that ostriches sometimes lie on the ground to make themselves inconspicuous, but there is no truth in the claim that they hide their heads in the sand.
In spite of it being non factual, this expression is used to describe a situation where a person assumes that, if he can’t see, he can’t be seen either. This implies a belief that the best way to make a problem disappear, is to refuse to face the problem.
While we are making great strides in providing computers to learners in the Western Cape (more than 33 000 have been distributed by Khanya to date), is there a possibility that, at times, our heads are in the sand?
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The first self-service grocery store opened in Memphis, USA in 1916: the name of the store was Piggly Wiggly.
Before Piggly Wiggly, and all the other supermarkets that followed, a person would go to a grocery store and ask the clerk behind the counter what was needed. The clerk would then fetch the required items, pack them up and calculate the total cost.
With the emergence of supermarkets, shoppers are allowed to roam freely among shelves packed with a variety of items. In most such stores today the selected items are scanned at the exit point, and a plastic card is used to transfer funds electronically from the customer to the store.
Can you imagine a world without self-service stores and the role technology plays in them?
Can you imagine a world with self-service schools: the choice of learning offerings is presented electronically; the selection is made electronically by learners; learning materials are made available electronically; even assessment and certification are electronically done.
The role of the teacher in this futuristic school: facilitator, guide and mentor.
Impossible?
A century ago, who would have thought that supermarkets are possible? And who would have dreamed of ATMs and internet banking? Yet these things are as much part of our life as milk and bread.
Perhaps a Piggly Wiggly school is not such a far fetched idea after all.
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One of the objections against the use of the internet in schools is that it is impossible to verify the reliability of the information it contains. Anyone can publish information without a guarantee of its correctness. It is therefore argued that the internet has the potential to misinform learners.
This may be so.
But consider the other side of the coin.
Have a look in your school’s library. How old are the reference works? Do look at the date of publication.
Given the high cost of reference works, such as encyclopaedias, most schools cannot afford to replace them regularly. It may not be surprising to find in school libraries books that were published a few decades ago.
A publication date of 1950 is fine for a novel, but is it acceptable if the book deals with subjects such as science, technology, geography or even modern history?
With the recent explosion of information and knowledge, many of the facts in old reference works are incorrect or irrelevant.
What is the best option: accessing reference works that have been correct at the time of printing, but could now be out or date, or using the internet where information may not always be verifiable but at least is current?
The answer to this question will determine whether one will throw out all the old reference books in the library and replace them with an internet connected PC, or maintain the status quo.
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A huge investment is made in computer facilities in schools. All should be encouraged to care for these facilities: teachers, as well as learners.
One simple way to care for the facility is to keep it clean. Consider this picture that was taken recently in one of our schools.
How is it possible that one could allow a keyboard to get so filthy?
Why does this happen?
How do we clean a keyboard in this state?
More importantly, how does one prevent it from happening?
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