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StaffIncremental BloggerBooks v. Computers in Schools: Where Do You Stand?

Books v. Computers in Schools: Where Do You Stand?

Judith Sotir offers an interesting commentary about the recent Texas judge opinion that textbook money cannot be used to purchase computers for schools. Sotir says she reluctantly understands the judge’s reasoning.

I especially appreciate her urging educators to reinvent the box, not just think outside of it about uses of technologes in schools.

I wonder, though, if we can imagine a new metaphore to replace the box. Something with permeable boundaries. Or maybe “no boundaries.”

I like books. I like their feel and smell almost as much as their messages. Mrs. Cheney, my fifth grade teacher somehow sparked my appreciation for books and reading.

I have accumulated and given away tons (literally) of books. Still, I collect more weekly.

Yet, I mostly read and write now with a Tablet PC.

I tried for decades to get the hang of using computers routinely. It just seemed easier to use pencils/pens and papers.

It wasn’t until I got a Tablet PC that computers began making sense for my daily tasks.

I keep it with my books, because I like both.

I wonder how many of the Texas School Board members use mobile PCs daily, or if they’re still paper and pencil people with staff to handle their computing?

And the judge, what electronics does Grey Abbott use daily?

I’ll bet Board members and the judge have not yet moved to the point of seeing books and computers both as (hardware) tangibles for conveying intangibles between people.

That view requires a paradigm shift. Maybe younger law clerks who have grown up with electronic and printed paper technologies will help established jurists make that paradigm shift to the advantage of Texas students.

Robert Heiny
Robert Heinyhttp://www.robertheiny.com
Robert W. Heiny, Ph.D. is a retired professor, social scientist, and business partner with previous academic appointments as a public school classroom teacher, senior faculty, or senior research member, and administrator. Appointments included at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Peabody College and the Kennedy Center now of Vanderbilt University; and Brandeis University. Dr. Heiny also served as Director of the Montana Center on Disabilities. His peer reviewed contributions to education include publication in The Encyclopedia of Education (1971), and in professional journals and conferences. He served s an expert reviewer of proposals to USOE, and on a team that wrote plans for 12 state-wide and multistate special education and preschools programs. He currently writes user guides for educators and learners as well as columns for TuxReports.com.

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  1. Good point about ‘out of the box’being trite…and I agree it needs to be something only momentarily tangible…outside the bubble? Worthy of some discussion.